“We are sharing a room,” I continue to protest-slash-explain, “but we are not a couple. Can my treatment be moved to a separate room?” There is no way I can lay next to Nick, naked and separated by a mere few inches, for the next fifty minutes while Jake’s massive hands knead the stress from my body.
“Unfortunately, all of our other rooms are booked. And Chelsea and I specialize in couples massage. It would be difficult to change the program at this point.”
I shoot daggers at Nick. Is he smiling? What the fuck could he possibly find funny about this hellhole of a situation? This might be worse than waking up next to him in bed.
“Come on, Jess.” He finally breaks his silence. “It’s just a little massage. How bad could it be?”
Chapter Fourteen
Nick
I put on my smirkiest of smirks, but on the inside, I’m about to go into full-throttle meltdown mode. When I asked Hilary to book me a massage, this is not what I had in mind. How the fuck am I supposed to relax with Jess lying six inches away from me, completely naked while another man rubs his hands all over her body?
But she’s so utterly freaked out by the idea of this couples massage that I feel like I have no choice but to pretend like it’s no big deal. Like I want nothing more than to watch someone else lotion up his hands and work the kinks from her shoulders.
I swallow thickly.
She glares at me.
I realize too late this is the second time in as many days that I’ve pushed her into something she doesn’t want to do. I open my mouth to let Chelsea know I don’t need a massage after all. Let Jess have her moment with Jason Momoa’s twin brother, even though the thought makes me want to hurl.
But Jess speaks before I can. “Now that I’ve had asecond to think about it, a couples massage sounds great. Should we take our robes off now?”
Something seems to have lodged itself permanently in my throat because no matter how many times I swallow, I can’t seem to catch my breath.
Chelsea and Jake exchange a round of nervous glances.
Finally, Chelsea clears her throat. “We’ll step outside so you can disrobe in private. Take your time and get comfortable on the massage tables. We’ll have you start face down, please.”
The two therapists scamper from the room, and I can only imagine the conversation they’re having about us in the hallway.
The door clicks shut and Jess immediately turns up the heat on her glare. “I cannot believe you! How can you be so nonchalant? I can think of nothing I want less than to have a fucking couples massage with you!” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest, and it’s so cute I almost make a life-ending mistake and smile. “Just because we’re writing this book together doesn’t mean things can just go back to the way they were, Nick.”
“I know that, but this appears to be a genuine misunderstanding.” I shrug like my heart isn’t pounding out of my chest, like this stupid massage didn’t just destroy whatever progress we’ve made. “We’re here, and there’s nothing we can do about it now, so we might as well try to relax and enjoy.”
And since we’re here about to get a fucking couples massage, then now is the time for me to take full advantage of the situation, make the next move in this undeclared, sexual-tension-laden chess match we’ve been engaged inover the past few days, starting with that fuck-me red dress. I move my hands slowly toward the belt of my robe, making my intentions clear and giving her plenty of time to turn away. She wants to leave her lacy red bra and thong draped over the shower door for me to find in the morning? Well, two can play this game.
The pulse flutters in her neck and the internal debate plays out over her face. Her eyes drop to my waist, and if she wants a show, well, I don’t plan on denying her.
This attraction between us has been flaring since the moment I saw her. For the past three days, I’ve had nothing but reminders of how my body reacts to hers, longs for hers, aches for hers.
And as much as she tries to hide it, I know she wants me too.
I let my robe hit the floor.
She sucks in a little breath, a hint of a gasp.
At some point she gives up the ruse and straight up ogles me, her eyes tracing over my chest, down to my feet, then back up, lingering for so long on my dick that I’m half-hard by the time her gaze travels back to my face.
I arch one eyebrow in a silent challenge.
Her hands flutter around the tie of her own robe, but she hesitates, and the last thing I want is to make her uncomfortable. This game we’re playing is a dangerous one, and I don’t want to push her so far that she quits before I’ve won.
I slip between the sheets of my massage table and turn my head in the opposite direction. I hear the soft whomp of her robe hitting the floor and have to reach down toadjust myself at the sound of her skin sliding against the sheets.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
I take that as my cue and turn my cheek to face her. Which is a mistake because she is right there, close enough that it wouldn’t take much to close the gap between our mouths. And from the soft look in her deep brown eyes, I don’t think she would stop me.
