Page 25 of Just Say Christmas
He still had her hand, and now, she turned it so her palm was against his, rose to her toes, pulled his head down, and kissed his mouth, slow and hot, until he got his hand under her bum, pulled her up against him hard, felt her intake of breath, and took over the kiss.
“We might get . . . married someday, though,” she said when he let her go, when she was breathless. “Maybe we should . . . practice.”
14
The Edge of Bliss
NYREE
Nyree lay on her table under the stars in the warm night with her cheek resting on her upper arm, yawned, waited for Marko, and finally closed her eyes. She’d just rest them for a . . . minute . . .
A voice above her said, “Oi,” and she jerked awake, blinked, and asked, “What?”
“You were snoring.”
“No, I wasn’t. I don’t snore.”
“Oh. Maybe that was somebody else, then.”
Her face was just above the level of his waist. It was a good view. She said, “You have very nice abs. I should paint you sometime.”
“You don’t do portraits. Other than of dogs, of course.”
“I could make an exception.” She closed her eyes again. “This is very relaxing.”
A soothing voice came from behind her. That was relaxing, too, especially as the voice floated on a field of clear, pale blue, like a flash of opal. She could just . . .
Wait. They were meant to be doing massage, and she was about to sleep through the whole thing. Chrysalis was saying something, too. “Let’s talk about pleasure,” was what it was.
Sounded dirty. Probably not, though. It was a massage class. A bit like a workout class, probably. Of course, she hated workout classes, but if all she had to do was lie here, and then touch Marko, when it was her turn, as long as she could manage to get up after this part . . .
“The first thing I’d like you to do,” the pale-blue voice went on, “is to create an intention to take your sweet, sexy time. Boys, especially, this is for you. Otherwise, she can try to hurry to the finish line, worried that you’ll get bored, that you’ll give up on her. Sexual pleasure is like an iceberg, if an iceberg were soft, and warm, and wrapped all the way around you. If all you ever see is the bit on the surface, you miss out on all the wonderful fullness of it, when there it is, ready and waiting for you to explore together. Tell her you want to do that. Let her know that you have time. You’re not buying a loaf of bread in the supermarket and going through the express checkout. You’re browsing. Tasting. Experimenting. You’re connecting with her yoni, with the power of the divine feminine in her, in the most intimate, the deepest possible way. Do you want to stay there, at that highest peak of pleasure, and keep her there with you? Do you want to please her all the way, and satisfy her?Trulysatisfy her? All it takes is your time and your attention, so tonight, let’s take the destination out of the picture and focus on the journey. Soft music, soft lighting. Massage candles, too, if you like. The warm wax can feel absolutely lovely if you drip it on her in the right spots. The backs of her knees, her inner thighs . . . spots that were made for sensation. You give her the chance to feel the warmth, to accept it, then take your time rubbing it in. Mmm, wonderful. Butonlya cool-burning candle. Nothing sexy about burns. Stimulation, though, and then more stimulation, over and over again? Yes, please.”
Wait,Nyree thought. Above her, Marko muttered, “I knew it.”
“For now,” Chrysalis went on, “boys, dip your fingertips in your dish of massage oil, then rub your hands together. Doesn’t it smell divine? She’s smelling it, too. Breathe it in together. It’s almond oil mixed with a little honey and rose oil. Natural, safe, and edible, too, so you know. I want you to take your hands, now, and cup the crown of her head. Hold her there, in your loving hands, and tell her you want to please her tonight. Ask her to tell you how. She’s going to want to pleaseyou,so let’s take the value judgments out of it. Instead of ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ she’s going to say, ‘More, please,’ or ‘Not today,’ and you’re going to open your mind and your heart and listen. Keep asking, all the way through. Listening is showing love, so listen. You can start now, with her head in your hands. She’s making herself vulnerable, letting herself trust you. Let her know it’s safe to be with you, and it’s safe to share with you.”
“Bloody hell,” Marko said softly, but there was laughter in his voice, and, yes, his handswerearound her head, his thumbs massaging at the base of her skull for good measure. That felt . . .reallygood. “I must love you,” he said, “if I’m doing this in public. I draw the line at dripping wax on you out here, though. Fair warning.” He blew out a breath. For all his complaining, she noticed he was still massaging. “Right, then. Nobody ever said I wasn’t coachable. I’m listening. Tell me how it feels.”
“Mmm,” she hummed. “Nice.”
“You’re meant to say, ‘More, please.’”
“More, please. With your thumbs. Do that. Oh, yeh.”
“Now,” Chrysalis went on, after another minute, or possibly ten, because Nyree had drifted off into a lovely warm haze, “go on and fold the sheet back to her hips. Take a moment to look at her. Appreciate her, and tell her what you see.”
Nyree opened one eye and said, “Maybe not,” and Marko laughed, but it was soft, and that was nice, too. “I see you,” he said. “And I appreciate the hell out of seeing it.”
Other people were saying other things. Nyree wasn’t listening to them. Marko’s hands were on her shoulders, the oil slicking over her skin, his warm body so close to hers. The candles flickered in the breeze, and the scents of almond and rose mixed with the smell of jasmine, perfuming the air.
“We’re going to start, now,” Chrysalis said, “with the lightest, stroking touch, using more oil when you need it. Start at her head, and move slowly over the back and sides of her neck, her shoulders, then work your way down. Think waking up the nerve endings. Slowly. You have time. So much time. You’re kissing her with your hands, running them over her sides, and up again, on either side of her spine, all the way to her tailbone. Spend some time there. You’re tracing all of her. Learning her, as if all you have is your touch to do it.”
All right, that was lovely. Nothing wrong with that.
“OK?” Marko asked. “Tickles?”
“No,” she said. “I mean—yes, please. More of that. I forget my words.”
