“Wow.”
“I know. I guess that should’ve been a clue that he was a bit of an arse.”
Dom agreed. Anyone who ignored their partner’s fears like that wasn’t a keeper. But then, “I know it’s none of my business, and feel free to tell me to fuck off, but why did you agree to go?”
Henry scowled and Dom braced himself, expecting to be told where to go. “You sound like my sister.” His features evened out then, and he sighed. “I don’t know why I went along with it, really. Maybe I felt like I had to since he’d paid and everything. I’ve only just finished uni, so I’ve not got loads of money to spare. I felt bad for never being able to do stuff, I guess.”
Now it was Dom’s turn to frown. “I thought you said you were twenty-six?”
“I am.” Henry raised an eyebrow, as if challenging Dom to comment. “Not everyone goes to uni straight from school. I wanted to save up a bit first so I didn’t have horrendous loans when I finished.”
“Fair enough.” They’d been talking for so long that when Dom glanced at his watch, it was almost quarter to twelve. “You ready?” He gestured to Henry’s mug. “It’s almost time for our slot.”
Henry drained the last of his drink and stood. “Lead the way.”
They walked round the lake towards the spa in silence. Not exactly awkward, but not comfortable either. Dom wondered if Henry regretted saying all that to a virtual stranger. “Look,” he said, drawing Henry to a halt. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. We’ve only just met, and I asked you some pretty personal questions.”
Henry met his gaze. “You did. But I asked you some earlier, so fair’s fair, I guess.” He glanced at the lake and slipped his hands into his pockets, looking suddenly shy. “I didn’t mind. For some reason, I find you easy to talk to. Maybe it’s because you are a stranger and I’m never going to see you again after this. So what does it matter?”
That last part stung, but Dom hid his reaction. Theywerestrangers. Why would Henry want to spend any more time with him when he’d obviously come away for some time alone? “Maybe.” He carried on walking, but as he reached for the door to the spa, he turned to Henry and offered a small smile. “For what it’s worth, it’s easy to talk to you too.”
Chapter 2
“Jesus.” Henry sucked in a breath as he closed the glass door behind him. Hot didn’t even begin to describe it. The air felt heavy and wet, sweat already covering his skin as he sat down on one of the benches in the sauna. “Will Lucifer be joining us any time soon?”
Dom laughed. “I wouldn’t say no to Tom Ellis.”
“Me neither, although I’m not sure I’d be capable of anything in this heat.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“It’s roasting.” So hot, in fact, Henry also struggled to appreciate the sight of a tattooed and glistening Dom in his black and grey swimming shorts. He let his head fall back against the wall behind him and tried to relax, butfucking hell, it was hot.
“It’s good for you. Opens up all your pores, lets you sweat out the bad stuff.”
Henry grunted. “Assuming I don’t die of heat stroke.”
According to Dom and the leaflet Henry had been handed when he walked in, there were many different rooms to try out, each one with a slightly different experience.
Admittedly, he hadn’t paid all that much attention to it and had no idea whatexperiencethey were in at that moment, but despite the intense heat, Henry did find himself relaxing.
Dom nudged his knee against Henry’s. “See, not so bad once you get used to it.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m used to it.” Nor was he used to the way the fleeting touch of Dom’s leg had made his stomach flutter. “I think it’s more that my body has accepted defeat.” Sweat trickled from his hairline down the side of his face, and Henry wiped at it with the back of his hand. He chuckled to himself.
Pretty sure Dom isn’t interested, considering I must look like shit right now.
He didn’t need a mirror to picture his red face, sweaty unruly hair, and the lack of a six-pack. Just as Henry glanced down at his relatively flat but undefined stomach, the door to their room pushed open and a tall, blond, tanned specimen of a man in peak physical condition walked in.
Wonderful.
The man smiled, showing off equally perfect white teeth, and Henry found himself sitting up straighter and sucking his belly in. Dom’s soft laughter sounded beside him, and Henry turned to see Dom staring at him, one eyebrow raised. “What?” he mouthed, shaking his head a little.
“Come on.” Dom stood and held a hand out for Henry, which Henry automatically took. “I think we’ve been in here long enough.”
He led them out into the main area, and Henry sighed in relief when the cooler air hit his skin. “That feels so nice.”
Still holding his hand, Dom tugged Henry over to a couple of waterfall showers near the far wall. “Come shower off and we’ll go for a swim.”
