Page 88 of The Cupcake Standard

He kissed my nose. “You look absolutely exhausted.”

What a compliment. “Gee, thanks.” My phone started ringing from the living room. “I need to get that.”

But he shook his head, continuing in the completely opposite direction. “No, it’s your birthday. Let somebody else hold down the fort for once.” Gently, he deposited me on the bed, telling me to stay put. I didn’t mind watching him stride back out of the door, his ass just never quit. When he returned, he leaned against the door frame while he talked on the phone, gaze never straying from me.

I soaked him in, letting my eyes take in every inch of him, allowing the rumble of his voice wash over me. So much for keeping my walls intact.

He hung up. “Okay, I’ve forwarded your calls to Rhonda. She’ll handle everything from here, which she was thrilled to do. What time is the party?”

A yawn escaped me, and I waited for it to end before I answered. “I want to be there just before six.”

We worked backward, figuring out how much time I needed to get ready, how much time it took to get there, and everything else to consider. He nodded. “All right, sounds like you’ve got a good three hours, so let’s get to it.”

I propped my head up on one hand. “To what?”

“The pampering. Clothes off.” He gave me a look that said he wasn’t kidding when I didn’t immediately start to strip. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning on more plundering just yet. I took massage therapy classes a few years ago, and it looks like you could really use one right about now. So undress, get comfy.”

A massage sounded heavenly, so I followed instructions, lying face down on the bed. Quiet footsteps on the plush carpet alerted me to his presence. I peeked up, then gaped at him shirtless in my favorite gray sweatpants.

“Ever had one before?”

A hot guy in sweatpants? Not yet, but it’s at the top of my list!

He eyed me with amusement when I just stared at him. “A massage.”

“Sorry. No, I haven’t.”

“Most people enjoy them, and I won’t go too deep.”

Pity. Ugh, he’d only been home for twenty minutes, and I was already making dirty jokes to myself.

First, he rubbed his hands together to warm them up. Then he gathered my hair out of the way and lowered the sheet so my back was exposed. When he touched me next, his hands glided over my shoulders and down, stopping just before my ass.

This is supposed to be relaxing? The tension curling low in my gut had me practically squirming with need. But then he dug his thumbs into my shoulders, and I groaned.

“Does that hurt?”

“No.” I started to relax. “Holy shit, that feels amazing.”

He worked his way along my shoulders, upper arms, shoulder blades, down my lower back. His strong hands cupped my sides as his thumbs worked their magic along my spine. It was sweet and comfortable, but at the same time, deliciously erotic. All too soon, he was done, covering my back with the sheet.

“Well, that was nice.”

His low chuckle made me pause. “Oh, Cupcake, I’m just getting started.” The sheet came up past my knees, and he lifted one foot into his hand.

I’d never been one for my feet being touched, but maybe they had never been touched correctly before. Because this? This is phenomenal. His deft hands made their way up my calves and hamstrings, first one leg then the other.

“Now, roll over.”

He held the sheet up so I didn’t tangle in it as I shifted. Directing me so my head was near the edge of the bed, he began working my neck and my shoulders once more. It felt completely different from this angle. Then he massaged my arms to my very fingers, which he kissed, making me smile.

As he leaned over me, he ran his strong hands up my hips, holding the pressure and releasing it slowly. My senses were awakened more with his every touch, even as my body relaxed. When he shifted, my head was very near his cock. If I turned my face just so…

“Avery.” His voice held all the warning I needed to stay still. He finished my hips, and circled around to my feet, nudging my legs apart a bit as he worked my shin, knee, then up to my thigh.

I didn’t think anything of it at first, his movements were so subtle. Gradually his fingers were no longer on top of my legs, but on my inner thighs, edging closer between them. I sucked in a breath. “Derek.” I tried to stop him, close my legs, shut him out.

“Please, Avery. This oil is special, good for all types of massage. I’ve got you.” Then his finger circled my clit.

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