Page 73 of My Unbearable Mate

“Lie down,” she finally said. “And promise you’ll keep an open mind.”

“Should I keep my clothes on?”

“Don’t have a one-track mind, you naughty bear.” She pushed my shoulders and I leaned back. “I’ll take care of that cock later.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. Now lie down and close your eyes. Try not to think of anything. Just concentrate on your breathing,” she said in a low voice. I imagined it was the same one that she would use with her clients at the spa. “Let all your muscles relax. You’re safe, Bellamy. If any of this gets to be too much, we can stop.”

I nodded. My body already felt heavy. Relaxed. It was nice not to have to be on guard for once. “You’re never too much for me.”

“That’s not something I hear often.” She laughed.

“This feels new for you. Zen.”

“You get to see a new side of Clover. Okay, take a deep breath in, hold it for three seconds, and then let it out in a sigh.” She waited for me to do as I was told. “Good. Do that two more times. Then I’m gonna run my hands over your body. I’m not gonna touch you. I’m just going to stop at the places that might draw the most energy.”

I peeled open an eyelid. “You can touch me all you want, and I have a few ideas of where that energy might be.”

“You dirty bear. Are you gonna take this seriously?” She let out an exasperated sigh that told me she was taking it very seriously. “If you have magic, think of how powerful you’ll be when you know what it is. I’m not sure how to make that grr side of you take this seriously, but maybe it will get you a promotion at work, or help you fight better, or help you please your mate.”

I grinned, but I didn’t open my eyes. “All those things appeal to my grr side.”

“Let me do this.” She paused, and I really wanted to open my eyes and see what she was doing. I felt the heat of her body close to my face. “I’m gonna start at your head and move down your body, stopping at each chakra.”

“Are you sure you haven’t done this before? You seem like you know what you’re doing.”

“I learned how to do reiki as service for my spa clients, but I’ve never performed it on a magical beast,” she said. “Tell me if you feel anything.”

I fully expected to have to make something up not to disappoint her. “Is it supposed to tingle?”

“It can.” Her voice went up an octave, like she was surprised it worked too. “Where do you feel it?”

“Along my scalp. And there’s heat too. Like you’re drawing it out of me.”

“Good. That means we have a connection,” she said.

I wished I could watch her, but she’d asked me to keep my eyes closed. And I wasn’t sure if I could open them. My body felt heavy, but light at the same time, almost a dream-like state.

“I’m moving over your third eye, in the middle of your forehead,” she said softly. The tingling sensation followed her, like one of those old-fashioned toys with the magnetic hair.

I let myself relax and enjoy it. I could feel her energy too. She was in her element, making someone feel better. Clover got frustrated when people didn’t understand her, and words often made things worse. But what she could do with her hands was pure alchemy.

She didn’t have to tell me she’d moved to my throat. A low rumble erupted inside me as soon as she brought her energy to the spot.

“Well, that’s interesting,” she said with a chuckle.

The sound intensified to a full growl. I dug my fingers into the carpet as my body temperature rose.

“Sweet moon, are you about to shift?” she asked.

“Maybe.”

“Let’s move down to your heart,” she said quickly, moving her hands and taking the energy with her. “I can see your body relax. That was intense, but good to know if we ever need it.”

“Wonder if we can use that to help you shift.” Shit, I probably shouldn’t have said that.

“We could try,” she said. “Not sure she’s ever gonna grace us with her presence again.”

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