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“Well, here, let me help,” I say as I instinctively move to kneel behind him.
“I’m fine, Lo, you don’t have to … hmm.” He lets out a deep, throaty groan as I press my tiny fingers into the sore spot. “Oh, man. That’sreallynice.”
I clamp my mouth shut as I continue working my hands over the tight muscles of his neck and shoulders, and he lets out another low moan.
“I had no idea you were so good at this.”
I huff, trying to cover up the way he makes me shiver. “What kind of underhanded compliment is that?”
He laughs softly. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
“It’s not like you give me much of a chance to do anything nice for you. You’re always too busy trying to take care of me.”
“Eh, you know how much I get off on one-upping you,” he replies with a smile and his eyes still closed.
“Ha ha,” I retort.
“Seriously, though. You’re literally risking your life for me and our girls. Moving a few boxes seemed like the least I could do.”
“Well, thank you,” I say after a while, my voice thick. “I really do appreciate everything, Blake. And I’m sorry if I haven’t always been so gracious about it.” I sense his muscles are finally loosening up, so I slide my hands up back of his head.
He sighs contentedly. “I’ll do all the dishes and satisfy every one of your late-night cravings, if only you promise to do this to me every once in a while.”
I bite my lip so hard it might bleed. He tilts his head back so I can run my fingers through the rest of his dark blond hair, and he emits a low hum this time. Then he opens his eyes and cranes his neck to look at me.
“I know it’s against the rules for me to say it out loud, but this feels so damned good.”
I furrow my brow but continue, because I secretly love playing in his hair.
“I’m only telling you in case you need to bribe me later. Because this is my Klondike bar, my kryptonite,” he continues.
My breathing quickens. “You mean, the shoulder massage or the hair thing?”
His head shakes slightly as he turns his body to face mine, leaving my fingers entwined. “The hair is my favorite, but it’s the same every time you touch me ... wherever you touch me.”
I watch his Adam’s apple dip and his chest rise and fall. And I can’t bring myself to remove my hands.
“Blake …” I begin. But he shuts his eyes again and slides a hand up over mine.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, then he drags my palm down to his scruffy cheek. It makes a scratchy sound, and I can’t help but fantasize about the feeling of his face against mine. I’ve never kissed a man with this much facial hair before, but I don’t think I’d mind the beard burn. I sit back on my heels as he opens his eyes, his hand still holding mine over his jaw.
I’m not sure what comes over me, but I tilt his face up and press my lips to his, just for a second, though I could certainly stay longer. I pull away quickly and drop my hand, and he stares back at me with widened eyes.
“What was that for?”
I roll my lips in, trying to stop the tingling sensation. “I don’t know. I just felt like you needed it,” I say after a while, stealing his favorite line.
He nods and swallows hard, his eyes darting down to my mouth, and for a second, I think he might pull me back in.
I sure as heck wouldn’t stop him right now.
Instead, he clears his throat and stands abruptly. “Thanks,” he says awkwardly. “For the massage, I mean. My neck feels much better.”
“Yeah. No problem.” I frown and sink further into the couch.
But he doesn’t move away. Instead, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and keeps his eyes trained on the ground. I know him well enough by now to recognize his signature nervous stance. “So, um, I think there’s still pizza in the fridge from last night. You know, if you’re hungry.”
“That sounds great,” I reply quietly.
