She is the water.
“Incredible.” I’m momentarily distracted by her powers.
She comes Up and says, “Thank you.”
Her skin glows and she’s grinning. A fat drop of water balances on her lip.
“Maggie,” I say her name like a curse and look away again.
“I’m sorry.” I can tell from her light tone that she’s anything but sorry. “I can’t talk to you while I’m Under.”
That’s right, she had said she needed something. I can do that. I can do whatever she needs.
“What do you need?” Does my voice always sound that high?
“I fell earlier. In the office. When I collapsed. I hit my shoulder on the desk.”
That was just what I needed to hear. It was a ragey version of a cold shower.
“Are you okay? Need an ice pack?” I step into action.
She shakes her head and looks truly pitiful as she winces. I take a step toward her.
“I don’t suppose you can rub my shoulders?”
“I really, really don’t think that’s a good idea.” I grip the back of my neck.
“I understand. I’ll do it myself.” She lifts her right arm to her left shoulder to rub. The action causes her back to arch and pushes her breasts toward the ceiling.
What have I done to deserve this?
She winces and I’m on my knees behind her before I realize it. I press my thumb in circles into the soft skin between her shoulder blades. The tips of my fingers rest just above her collarbones.
“Ohh, that’s amazing,” she moans.
I start listing the Academy Awards winners for Best Actor starting with the most current year and going backward in my head. I’m on Daniel Day-Lewis, forMy Left Footand notThere will be Blood, when she moans again.
“A little lower.”
My thumb circles down the tense muscles lining her spine.
“Ah, yeah, there. Did you just say Dustin Hoffman?”
I cough and take my hands out of the tub, wiping them on my jeans. “If that’s better, then I’ll get going.”
“Can you go a little lower?”
I’d been at her lower back. Any lower would be her…
“Maggie,” I gasp out her name. It feels like all I do is gasp her name lately, or curse. “You’re killing me.”
She peeks over one shoulder, surprisingly agile for being hurt.
“I’m killing you?”
“Yes. And if I rub your… you any lower, I’ll die.”
“Wow.” She purses her lips and furrows her brow. “If just rubbing my ass kills you, then I worry for your health with all the things I want you to touch.”
