Page 91 of Without You

My eyes widen when I finally clue in. Chalk it up to getting into the zone or professionalism, but the thought that I could give anyone an erection during a massage hadn’t clicked until this very moment. Sure, it was talked about during our classes. It’s not incredibly common but happens to everyone. Guess this means I’m part of the club. Yay.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

I look down at his crotch because I’m human and can’t help myself and I see him shift on the table. My eyes dart up to his when his very noticeable erection bulges beneath the heavy sheet.

“Look. I apologize for making you uncomfortable and I promise I heard you when you told me that you’re seeing someone. But… I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t at least try. Is it serious?” he asks, hopefully looking for an answer I can’t give him.

“Yeah. It is.”

“Damn.”

I let the silence between us settle for five seconds before I can’t take it anymore. “Elijah. What are you doing here? For real? Did you really come here for a massage hoping to ask me out again?”

“No. This little instance here just kind of happened so figured I’d throw a Hail Mary and try one more time.”

“Hail Mary?”

“Football term. A last ditch effort.”

“Oh. If that wasn’t planned, what was? I might know you very well, thanks to your incredible conversation skills, but I know enough to know that you’re here for a reason. You seem like the type of guy who plans stuff out.”

He nods. “Remember how I told you I get regular massages?”

“I assume this doesn’t happen regularly?”

His eyes crinkle at the sides and he grins. “Never. You know, I had planned on having this conversation with clothes on but I know you need an explanation as to why I’m here so I’ll just come out with it. I want you to work for me.”

“Come again?”

“As a regular masseuse. Go on tour with me, work on the band and me to keep us feeling our best. I don’t think people realize that massages are about more than just something that feels good.”

“Well, I realize that.”

“Right.”

“I’m still lost. Tour and band? Is that what you do?”

His eyes crinkle again and he shakes his head, chuckling. “You really have no clue, do you?”

“Clue about what? Elijah, I’m getting really tired of these games.”

“First of all, you can call me Chase.”

---