The Rub Down

by Gina Sheldon

  “I want details.” That was all she needed to say as we walked over to the spa.

  I launched into a rundown of what happened after Luke and I left the bar. Even though I sounded like a lovesick teenager, Addison beamed her happiness for me.

  “Anything happen with Danny when he brought you home?” I asked after we finished talking about my time with Luke. I was curious as to whether their night was similar to Luke and mine. They were attracted to each other, and seemed to be hitting it off, and no damn pact stood in their way.

  “We grabbed a cab back to our place. I invited him up. He stayed for about an hour and then left. We had lots of laughs and great conversation.” She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. “I walked him out, expecting something, but he only gave me a small kiss on my forehead and a big hug. I have no idea what to make of it all.” Her smile was gone, replaced with confusion. I couldn’t blame her.

  “Huh. Well, isn’t that interesting? He isn’t like every other guy you’ve come across that only wants in your pants.” I knew Danny was a good guy, but now I really liked him for treating my best friend with respect. If he fucked her and left her, it would have put a huge kink—and not the good kind—in my budding relationship with Luke. “So, was your date last night with Danny?”

  “No, it was with some tool Mrs. Feldstein set me up with. He was hot, I’ll give her that, but he sat there in Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, demanding shot after shot from the waitress. I left before the entrees were served, and went to Finale by myself for a leisurely drink and dessert.”

  Story time ended when we arrived at The Rub Down. Jessica was at the reception desk, setting up an appointment on the phone. Still talking, she gave us a friendly wave as Addison and I headed for the yoga rooms.

  Through the whole class, my mind kept wandering to the man somewhere within the same walls as me. When I bent down into Downward Dog, I envisioned Luke behind me, fixing my pose so my ass lined up perfectly with his hard cock. With my legs and arms spread in Savasna, the image of Luke’s face buried between my legs made me squirm. The list went on. Instead of clearing my mind, the postures filled it with erotic images of Luke.

  As I pressed my forehead to the mat in Child pose to cool down, I wondered if Luke had any appointments available after class. Our schedules didn’t match up for a second session this week, and it had been a few days since my last massage. My body not only craved his touch, but my muscles were still tight, even after yoga. I overdid it during my morning run yesterday, thanks to my damn happy juice.

  We finished the class, thanked Nikki for another great workout, and headed downstairs to the reception desk. Addison trailed behind me, cursing my name for dragging her along. She preferred light workouts, and Nikki’s class was anything but.

  Jessica looked up as we approached. “Hey, ladies, how was class?”

  “It was amazing, as usual,” I said while Addison just grunted. Jessica and I laughed at her crumbling appearance. “Does Luke have an opening right now? I would love a massage.”

  “I bet you would,” Addie grumbled.

  “Shut up, Addison.” If looks could kill, my dearest and best friend would be done for. Jessica snorted, however. Loud.

  “He technically doesn’t take clients on Saturdays, but hold on. Let me see what he says.” Jessica picked up the phone, and turned her chair so the conversation would be more private.

  Yesterday, Luke and I discussed Jessica’s icy reception to our togetherness. Apparently, she was just being overprotective of her brother, and they worked it out. Luke told me she always liked me, but because of the spa, she felt like she had to say something.

  Even though I wanted to be nosey and hear what was being said, I stepped away from the desk to give her space. I turned around toward Addison. “If he can slide me in, do you want to take a cab home instead of walk? I’ll pay.”

  Uncontrollable laughter burst from Addison’s tiny form. “You have got to stop making this so easy for me to rag on you. Slide you in? Seriously, Alexa?”

  I busted into hysteria right along with her. Passersby looked at us with disgust, since The Rub Down was usually as quiet as a Catholic mass. Addison and I didn’t care. We couldn’t. We were in such a fit that nothing could have stopped us.

  Well, someone could. The hot owner I couldn’t get out of my head. When he appeared in the lobby, Addison and I snapped to attention like when the principal walked into a classroom. When I looked at his face, though, I only saw joy.

  We faced each other with eyes locked and smiles splitting our faces in half. I was unsure of what to do. I couldn’t rush into his arms and lock onto his luscious lips. I couldn’t even hug him while he was at work. A similar torture was written on his face. Surely, the same internal battle raged inside him. The room was still, Addison and Jessica watching us. Finally, someone cleared her throat, jolting us from our trance.

  “You going to give my girl a rub down, buddy boy?” Addison snickered behind me, barely containing her laughter. She just couldn’t resist one more innuendo.

  “Yeah, I am, Addison. Thanks for bringing the awkward,” Luke said, shaking his head at the two of us.

  “Awesome, then I’m out. I’ll see you at the house later?” She glanced back and forth between Luke and me.

  I looked to him as well. He gave no indication of what my answer should be.

  “Yeah, I’ll be home later. Thanks for coming with me.” I hugged her and watched her walk out.

  Turning to Luke, I said, “I need to shower real quick. I’m all sweaty from class. You good to go now, or do you need to finish whatever we interrupted?”

  “No, I’m ready for you. Just go to the Zen room when you’re finished. I’ll be waiting close by.”

  We walked to the elevators. Sadly, the passionate kiss from Thursday night in Luke’s building could not be repeated. But once we stepped in and the doors closed, he hooked our pinkies together and gave me a panty-melting smile that made his blue eyes shine. Seconds later when the elevator opened, Luke dropped my pinkie, and I instantly missed his touch.

  My first stop was the locker room to shower and dress in my favorite robe. I made quick work washing my body, but decided to skip the hair. About ten minutes later, I walked into the Zen room where Luke stood with a cup of water in his hand.

  His head snapped up as I approached him. A small smile appeared on his face while he handed me the cup. “Ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be. Thank you for taking me last minute,” I said as we walked toward his room.

  “Of course. I was just finishing up payroll when Jess called down.” Luke ushered me through the entrance. As soon as he shut the door, he was on me in a flash. Palms cupping the sides of my face, he lavished me with slow, gentle kisses. Starved for his touch, I tried to deepen the connection, but he backed away.

  “Lex, as much as I want to devour you right now—dear God, do I—I can’t. I need to prove to myself that I can be professional with you.” He peered at the floor like he was ashamed of his actions. “I’m clearly failing already.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” I reached for his hands, needing him to look at me. “I know we’re walking a thin line here. I shouldn’t have just asked to see you at work. But I was here, and I’m sore, and I used it as an excuse to see you.” I was the one who should be embarrassed. “I promise I’m not a cling-on.”

  “I’m not worried about that. I’m worried I won’t be able to keep this professional. I feel bad that you’re sore, and we couldn’t get together for another appointment.” Luke broke our spell by walking over to the music controls. “I can’t have this romantic, soft music playing right now.”

  All of a sudden, Dropkick Murphys came pouring out of the speakers.

  “Nice choice. I don’t feel attracted to you at all right now!” I started laughing. If he wanted to believe a change in music was going to help our cause, I would let him.

  “I suppose giving you a massage means you need to shed that robe. I’ll return i
n a minute.”

  As soon as the door closed, I took off my robe, climbed onto the heated bed, and tucked myself under the covers. Luke came in a few minutes later in the professional therapist mode I saw the first day.

  “What’s bothering you right now?”

  “My hips are killing me. I ran hard yesterday without really paying attention. My head was in the clouds, and I didn’t pace myself well.”

  The look on Luke’s face was priceless. My problem area would bring his fingers near parts I was dying to have him touch.

  “Woman, you’re testing my resolve,” Luke said as he picked up his oils.

  *****

  Luke

  I didn’t know why I thought I could do it. The girl I had feelings for laid virtually naked on my table. The kiss when we first walked into my treatment room was hot. Her desire for me drove all the blood in my body to one area. When I stepped out to let her get under the covers, I readjusted myself and thought of anything I could that wasn’t sexy—my grandma, Bruins’ stats, Danny’s dirty apartment. But all I wanted to do was storm into the room, peel off her robe, and take in her beauty from head to toe. I’d worship her with my tongue, and then my cock.

  To hear her hips were what bothered her just about broke me. I understood the pain. I knew how to make it feel better. I just didn’t know if massaging that close to her heat was such a great idea. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  With “The Green Fields of France” playing in the background, I started working Alexa’s muscles. My hands glided up and down her skin as though I was playing an instrument. The second my hands touched her flawless body, I felt calmer. All the hype in my head quieted down. As her therapist and boyfriend, I needed to make her feel good.

  “How’s the pressure?” I whispered in her ear.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you.” Alexa reassured me.

  Before I stood up, I brushed her hair with my mouth. Just as I moved to her hips, “Kiss Me, I’m #!@*faced” started to play. Alexa and I busted out laughing.

  “Seriously, Luke, the music is killing me. Can we just talk? I can’t listen to this.”

  “Yeah, hold on. I’ll turn it off.”

  I couldn’t blame her. The song was loud and obnoxious. It was hard to concentrate while listening to it. I felt like I should be in a bar in Southie, throwing darts and drinking a pint, not with a gorgeous naked woman in front of me.

  Once the music was off, we both felt at ease. Conversation flowed as smooth as my hands moved over her skin.

  Right before Jessica called the office, I was looking at my calendar, checking dates for another trip to Pennsylvania. That was when I realized the Boston Strong Gala was a week from today, the Saturday before the marathon. Since we donated a royal spa day for two to the silent auction, Jessica had made me buy tickets to the event. All the money raised went to the One Fund Boston, an amazing charity whose sole purpose was to help the victims of the bombing. I couldn’t go alone. I needed a date.

  “I have an event next Saturday, The Boston Strong Gala. Would you do me the honor of being my date?”

  “Oh. Ummmm, of course, I would love to,” Alexa mumbled into the pillow.

  “Great. I totally forgot all about it until about an hour ago. I think it’s black tie. Did I totally just pull a dick move and give you no time to find a dress?”

  “Are you kidding? You do know what I do for a living, right? I was out yesterday with two clients looking for dresses for the same event.”

  Thank fuck. If she reconsidered, I would be screwed. There was no way I was taking anyone else.

  “Now that that is out of the way, whatcha doing later? I would love to take you out on a proper first date.” For as much as we were in each other’s presence the last few weeks, I wanted to do this right. I wanted us to have a shot.

  “I’d love to. Where do you want to go?” Alexa asked.

  “How does the Seaport District sound?”

  It was a booming area in town with a variety of different restaurants to choose from.

  “Perfect. I love it down there.”

  “Me, too. I’ll pick you up at seven, and we can take a cab or black car service over there.” The thought of a proper date with Alexa, a night all to ourselves with no meddling family or best friends, excited me.

  The time to work on her hips arrived. When she rolled onto her back, I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t peek, because I did. This was the gorgeous woman I wanted stripped bare and in my bed. So when I could sneak even a glimpse of her breasts, I took it.

  I ran my hand down Alexa’s long right leg. On my way up, I moved the sheet with me, tucking it right up in the apex of her thighs. Black thong.

  I worked the area as best I could. All the while, I wanted to move my hand a few inches to brush my thumb over her clit. I imagined it throbbing, aching for my touch. Alexa’s eyes were shut tight. She was biting her lower lip, and I smelled her arousal. My cock, which had been hard since I first saw her in the lobby, was painfully stiff now.

  “Lex, hun, I don’t know if I can keep doing this.” My voice was low so, God forbid, no one walking by could hear me. “You’re so beautiful. All I want to do right now is kiss every inch of you, to taste you.”

  “Mmmmmm.”

  Her whimpers only made my hard-on worse, and my resolve crashed and burned around me. I took a few steps back, putting distance between us. As soon as I did, Alexa lifted her head to look at me.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come today. I’ll find another therapist.” She looked away from me. “The last thing I want to do is make this hard for you to stay true to your professionalism.” Her face flushed with embarrassment as she stared up at the ceiling.

  “No, no, no.” I rushed over to the table, lifted her chin with my finger, and looked into her ocean blue eyes. They were so full of doubt that it shook me to my core. “Lex, the only thing you should be sorry about is that you’re so breathtakingly beautiful that I can’t control myself around you. I’ve been fighting this since the first time I saw you in the Zen room. And now that I’ve felt your lips on mine, know what your skin tastes like, I want more. I want it now.” I fused our mouths, driving my point home.

  “Maybe I should just get dressed and go. I feel better, so there’s no need to continue. And I’ll see you tonight, right?” The doubt in her voice was evident.

  “Of course. I can’t wait to take you out. Have you all to myself.” I gave her another little peck and walked out to let her put on her robe.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alexa

  I threw my robe on and stepped out of the treatment room. Luke was leaning against the wall across from me staring down like all our answers were buried under the flooring. His head popped up when he heard the door open, and he gifted me the most adorably shy smile. Just like he did every other time he massaged me, he handed me a glass of water.

  “How are you feeling?" He stuck to normal protocol, and acted like we didn’t just experience the most sexually intense forty-five minutes that didn’t involve actual sex.

  “I feel good, thank you.” I wasn’t sure what to make of what just happened in there, but if he was going to smile and carry on like normal, then I was, too.

  “Great to see you again. Have a nice rest of your day.”

  We were closer to the Zen room with employees and clients walking the halls, so generic Luke was out in full force. I hated it. His voice seemed sterile and emotionless, as if I was just like everyone else. But I needed to get over it. It had to be this way, at least for another week. I could not get all clingy girl on him.

  “You, too.” Without a second glance, I headed to the locker room to fight with the fucking locker again.

  *****

  “Addie, are you home?” I screamed as soon as I walked into the house. I needed her help with an outfit for my date. We also needed to brainstorm my gown for the Gala. But first, the date.

  “Up here! What’s got your panties on fire?”

  I rounded the corner to
her room as she screamed back.

  “Luke will be here in a few hours for our first official date. I have no idea what to wear.” How was it I could dress everyone else but myself. I was forever thankful Addison knew how to dress me best, and she slept down the hall from me.

  “Calm your tits. Where are you going?”

  “Seaport Area. Not sure on the restaurant yet.”

  “Wear your Seven jeans, a white tee, and throw on your black leather moto jacket. Your Michael Kors platforms with the gold accent. BAM.” Addison reminded me of Barry from the movie City Slickers. “Scoop of vanilla, scoop of chocolate. Don’t waste my time.” She seriously knew the right outfit for every event.

  “All right, smarty pants, what about my hair? Up or down?”

  “Down with beachy, sexy waves. I’ll do it for you.” I seriously had the best friend in the world. “How was your massage? Get a happy ending?”

  “I wish! The sexual tension was enough to choke a horse. He worked on my hips, and I was crawling out of my skin. I wanted to shift over so bad, so he would work over my pussy.” I really wanted to explode. My body was wound so damn tight.

  “Yikes. That sounds torturous. Go shower and take care of business.” Addison winked before turning around to her computer, thus ending our conversation.

  I wanted to say, “Been there, done that,” but I kept it to myself.

  I slipped into the shower to wash off the oil Luke applied, and closed my eyes, remembering his touch. As much as I needed a release, I didn’t take care of my problem. I just dreamt that after dinner, Luke would want dessert in the form of my earth shattering orgasm.

  *****

  Addison was spot on with her ensemble choice for the evening. I looked and felt amazing, ready to take on the sexy as hell man. Butterflies took up residence in my stomach, as the clock got closer to seven. I had nothing to worry about, but the winged creatures didn’t get the memo. Luke texted he was headed over in a few, so Addison and I sat around the kitchen, trying to calm my nerves with a splash of Chardonnay. While we waited for the doorbell to ring, I filled Addison in about the gala.