Page 35 of Fight For Her
It was a sound I may not have heard had my head been in the cradle. Nothing lookedunprofessional, but that didn’t stop red from flaring across my field of vision.Katie stepped back up to the head of the table after also working my low back. I wish I could have actually enjoyed her craft, but there would be no melting of muscle for me. Not in here.
“If you’re more comfortable, you can keep your head to the side like that Mr. Barnes,” Katie said sweetly. “You may get a crick in your neck though.”
Fuck it. My neck was already tense, and there was no way that would change, so I nodded and let her go about her business.
Midway through a super eerie track of wolves howling set against somber piano music, I felt Katie re-drape my back and move on to my legs with a gentle palm against the sheets. That was when I lost my shit.
Chapter 16
Kendahl
Liamundrapedmylegall the way up to my inner thigh. My exposed skin pebbled from the cool air. I peeked my head up an inch to spy on Coby inconspicuously. His therapist was still working his back, and he actually looked peaceful. Maybe I should stop messing with him. He already went all alpha male before. I didn’t need to goad him more even if it was fun.
Liam cupped my feet with his warm hands and slid them upward in one long stroke that ended at my bikini line. Trailing his hands down, he repeated the move but with deeper pressure. Everything felt great, amazing even. I certainly didn’t want to disrupt Coby again; I was done messing around with him. I don’t know exactly what happened when he started on a third pass, but a sob slipped out of my lips from some unknown depths in my chest. Liam stopped moving. He didn’t say a word just waited.
I was fine.
He started again, kneading into my foot with his thumb. It felt so… freaking… good. Before I knew what was happening, the most harrowing banshee moan cut through the quiet room.I tried to control it and stuff it back down, but it was no use. Liam’s freaking angelic hands had massaged something loose and whatever it was needed to be released.
Being facedown I couldn’t see Liam’s reaction but felt his hands still as soon as the wailing began.
“Kendahl? Did he hurt you?” Coby’s voice was laced with venom.
I ignored Coby and attempted to control my breathing. Liam moved to the head of the table and placed a reassuring palm on my back. “Are you okay? Did I use too much pressure?” He sounded panicked.
“No.” Sob. “You’re fine.” I sniffled. “I just need a minute.”
“May we have the room?” Coby’s commanding voice sounded closer, maybe he had sat up. I was too embarrassed to look. Embarrassed andverysnotty.
“But Mr. Barnes…your treatments aren’t over and…” Coby’s therapist hesitated. “Sure. No problem, take your time.”
I breathed in through my stuffy nose. It felt like I was trying to fill up a balloon through nothing more than a pinhole. The door closed with a click, and I still didn’t want to get up. My head was too heavy anyway. There was no explanation as to why I was in hysterics.
Coby kept seeing me at my absolute worst. Then the thought crept in.No wonder he left just like Ben and everyone else.
I choked on another sob.
“Baby, did he hurt you? I’ll rip him apart limb from limb.” He spoke slowly, his voice thick with barely-contained anger.
The air stirred around my still undraped leg. Coby pulled the covers over me and gave my foot a comforting press. I still wasn’t ready to look at him, so I shook my head. “He didn’t hurt me.”
He released a breath. “Do you want to talk about it? What’s upsetting you?”
Yes.I want you to hold me. Bring me in to your comforting chest and let me spill my soul out. My insecurities, my fears, my failures.
“No,” I squeaked out, shaking my head.
The room was quiet for a beat, the only sound being a rather unfortunate playlist of wolves howling that reminded me of a haunted house soundtrack.
He placed a hand on the table beside my shoulder, reassuring me that he was there and that I wasn’t alone. “Can I touch you?” he asked in a low voice.
He was already so close to me. Without seeing anything at all, I knew. Warmth radiated from his fingers like an aura.But he waited, even as his index finger moved the slightest bit toward me. My body wanted…needed to feel his touch. My head said otherwise. His finger danced along the curve of my shoulder gliding over nothing but air. I stayed quiet wanting to see how long he’d wait for me.
One breath, then two, until my sobs were replaced by needy pants. Dammit.
“Coby?” I hardly recognized my muffled voice.
“Kendahl.”
