Page 54 of Broken on the Mountain
I blink at him. "You booked us acouples massage?"
"Of course. Figured after the hike and the waterfall, you might be sore."
"Chase..."
"What?"
The knock comes again, and he pulls away with a rueful grin. "Hold that thought."
He answers the knock, and Lina is everything a spa therapist should be. Calm, warm, impossibly serene as she drifts in with a whisper, setting up oils and towels by the fire while soft instrumental music plays from a speaker.
"We'll start with a guided relaxation," she explains, gesturing to the two pop-up massage tables she's arranged. "Then I'll walk you through some techniques you can use on each other."
Chase and I exchange a cheeky look.
"On… each other?" I repeat.
"Mm-hmm. It's very popular with couples." She smiles, already warming oil between her palms. "Builds intimacy."
I bite back a laugh.We've already built plenty of intimacy, thanks.
But I lie down on the table, face in the cushioned cradle, and let her work her magic. Her hands are so strong, kneadingtension I didn't know I was carrying. I groan into the cushion and feel the world melt away.
"That's it," she murmurs. "Just breathe."
Then I hear Chase's voice from beside me. "Can I try?"
Lina pauses. "Of course. Here—like this."
His hands replace hers on my shoulders, and my bones immediately forget their structural responsibilities. He's not as practiced, but there's something about the way he touches me that makes my entire body melt.
"You two already seem very… at ease," Lina observes, her tone knowing.
"He's… talented," I manage, voice muffled and wrecked through the face hole of the table.
Chase leans closer, breath warm against my ear. "What can I say? I'm a very hands-on learner."
I canhearLina's smile. "Entirely understood. I'll leave these here in case you decide to continue… independently."
She sets a basket of oils and a tip envelope on the table, eyes twinkling like she's seen this exact scenario play out a hundred times.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening."
The door shuts behind her, and I lift my head. "Did we just get politely kicked out of our own massage?"
"Nope. I think we got an upgrade." Chase grins, reaching for one of the oils. "NowIget to do whatever I want."
"That's a dangerous amount of power."
"You love it."
He loosens the belt of my robe, and I shiver as the fabric falls open and falls to the floor. His hands slide down my spine, slick with oil, kneading and stroking every inch of my body until every sharp edge I've been carrying rounds off.
"Breathe," he murmurs, pressing oils into my skin, rolling his fingers over my hips, palming my breasts. "Relax. Let go."
I do. I let go of Chicago and Mother and Maxwell and the ticking clock that says I have to leave tomorrow. I let go of everything except the feel of his hands on my skin and the warmth of the fire and the sound of his voice telling me I'm safe.
When he finally turns me over, his eyes are dark with want.
