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CHAPTER SEVEN
Tuesday, June 8
We takea tour of the nearby winery after breakfast, and I’m overwhelmed with Connor’s vast knowledge of wine. He does own more than one bar, I suppose. I probably shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. He asks great questions about the wood they use for the barrels, the aging process and the type of grapes they grow, whether they import pressed juice, and on and on and on. I just know that every wine we sample is delicious. And that tasting wine is like drinking drams of whiskey. A little goes a long way. #wineoclock
I learn more from following him around and listening to him to ask questions than from our guide. We dine on a delicious lunch outside near the vineyard and head back to our hotel.
It’s a gorgeous estate converted into a boutique hotel, but it has the customer service and ambiance of an upscale bed and breakfast.
“Aren't we heading out?” I ask.
“Nope. We’re here one more night. I have a surprise for us this afternoon.”
He evades the questions I ask to get even a clue as to what that surprise might be. Around three o’clock, we check in at the spa. Connor has organized a manicure and pedicure for us followed by a couples’ massage. The pampering is a first for me, and I’m undone by the way my mind and body begins to relax after simply having my fingernails and toenails painted. Connor seems pretty comfortable having his nails done, and I’m shocked at the juxtaposition of seeing this huge, tattooed man sitting in the spa chair having his nails buffed to a gleaming shine.
We move into the couples’ massage room and I see two tables set up in the middle of the room.
“Go ahead and remove your clothing and get on the tables face down,” a nice-looking woman with bright pink hair instructs us. “Your masseurs will be with you in a few moments. Relax while you wait.”
Connor starts removing his clothing and placing it on a chair. His boots and socks are first. Then his T-shirt and finally his shorts. I stand and watch in utter amazement as inch by delicious inch of his gorgeous body is revealed to me in full. He’s totally unashamed of it, and he shouldn’t be. It’s glorious. It’s like the rock itself birthed this man’s physique. It’s so toned and strong. The ripples of his tanned abdomen look like soft waves of caramel. I willingly admit that my Inner Sex Goddess wants to lick them up and down to be sure he’s actually a man and not a confection.
“Lainey?” he looks at me. I know I’m staring. Who am I kidding? I’m full-on gawking.
“You’re naked.” I barely utter.
“The massage is better when they can touch your skin, babe.” He glides over to me and slowly lifts the hem of my T-shirt up over my head. He kisses me on the lips, letting his mouth trail down my jaw to my neck and collarbone. His hands unclasp my bra and I remain motionless — held prisoner by his kiss along my arm and chest. I can’t move. Teasingly, his broad fingers rake gently over my back until he catches the waistband of my cotton skirt. He unties the drawstring and lets it skim over my body to the floor in a puddle. I toe out of my sandals and feel his fingers hook into my panties and then slide them down to my ankles.
“Step out, Lainey.” His voice is velvet over stone. For a heartbeat, I close my eyes and shiver.
He’s always commanding me. One of these days I’m going to make him beg me. But, as my Inner Sex Goddess reminds me, that day is not today. I do as he instructs and am standing naked before him. My hands instinctively move to cover my body. Connor, thankfully, fixes his eyes on mine and doesn’t allow them to wander over me.
“Get on your table and I’ll cover you with the sheet.”
Wasting no time, I practically dive onto the table and yank the sheet over my bare behind.
I feel his kiss on my shoulder. “Relax, Lainey Bird. We’re going to be together for the next five weeks. You don’t think we’ll see each other in all states of undress? It’s fine. You’re beautiful. You have no reason to be embarrassed.”
I let out a long breath. That is exactly what I was worried about.
“Besides, I undressed you the night we met. Remember? I’ve seen it all before.”
And there's that. My body flushes with the heat of shame. I twist my head and watch him lie down on his own table and cover with the sheet. I’m going to ignore my embarrassment and just try to enjoy this. I play this statement on repeat in my head for the next five minutes while we wait for the masseurs.
“This is a really nice surprise,” I confess.
He props his cheek on a forearm and looks intently at me.
“You haven’t had a vacation in years. It’s been a while for me, too, I admit. I think we could both do better to start this whole adventure off with a little relaxation. You know, put us in the right frame of mind.”
I let out a sigh and try my best to relax.
“Don’t be nervous, Lainey Bird. I’m right here to watch out for you. That’s why I booked it this way.”
My shoulders finally begin to unknot at the idea that a total stranger is about to have his hands all over my body. Another man, who is practically a stranger too, just had his eyes all over my body. I roll my eyes at myself and try to push these anxious thoughts from my mind. I flinch at the quick knock at the door.
For the next hour, we are rubbed and kneaded into a Zen-like state of relaxation that can’t be described in words. Hot stones are laid on my skin. Oils and perfumes fill the air with lavender and almond and other spicy scents I can’t readily identify. It’s so overwhelming, I don’t even want to fill the silence with words. I doubt I could. If I open my mouth, the only sounds that would come out would be moans of delicious delight. I could definitely get used to this. When I get a job, I’m going to budget for a little spa treatment once in a while.
Connor doesn’t speak, and neither do the two masseurs. I can hear the sounds of a tiny fountain in the distance and soft sitar music. I close my eyes, letting the notes and the scents and the touch lift me away to discover the loud amid the quiet.
