Page 64 of Love the Way You Lion
Taurus growls low. “Bloody buggering hell, woman! That was a long sodding time ago, love, and we were having a fight.”
I roll my eyes. “Back to the problem at hand, please. I have to get leverage to put the right pressure on because I’m going to work from the base of your spine, loosen the muscles, and then hit the shoulder blade once you’ve relaxed enough for me to work. I’m going to sit over your legs. Don’t panic.”
She nods again, snickering at Taurus’ consternation. I adjust my gown, straddling her legs carefully. Once I’m situated, I pour the oil in my palms, rubbing them together. “This might be cold. I’m not sure.”
I lay my hands down, working the muscles at the base of her spine.
“It’s a little frosty,” she hisses.
Licking my lips, I nod, adjusting so I can warm it better with my palms. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Man, she is tense everywhere, and I hope to hell I’m going to be able to help her, otherwise we’ll be stuck here all night.
The Artist Is Entranced
RAFE
Propping my shoulder against the wall, I wait. I have to respect her request that we stay calm and back off so she can get Blade to relax. I know all of us looking at her when she’s hurt makes her feel weak and stupid. That’ll make her cantankerous.
A scent catches the air and I smile—jasmine. I love that bloody stuff.
My primary continues working on my wife, dipping her head as she knuckles out kinks and knots. “Ah. That’s getting better.” She works the muscles of her lower back, watching every reaction. Even without magick, I know she’s got a gift for this. “The oil was heated when I had it in the bathroom, but by the time he called me, it cooled.”
“Mmm. That feels good. The cold only gripped for a sec.”
I figure the less I say, the less I’ll get in trouble for. I’ll keep my mouth shut while she works.
Besides, it’s a pretty picture.
“Good. My hands are usually warm when I do this, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem for long. The healing part generates a bit of heat.”
The cat moves up my wife’s back to around the ribcage area and I glance over at the bird. He’s leaning against the opposite wall, grinning like a loon.
Guess he thinks it’s pretty, too.
Blade sighs, relaxing under the massage. “Nice hands.”
“You’ve been holding back lots of owies, it feels like,” she chides. Resting her hand just under the shoulder blade, I watch the cat lean over and use leverage to loosen the muscle up. She’s done that to me before when I sat too long in the chair working and my shoulder’s trashed.
Looks different right now—not that I’m complaining. Not a bit.
I catch the bird looking at me, and without warning, he speaks into my mind.~I don’t know who’s enjoying it more, mate. The golden goddess or me. ~
Chuckling, I wonder for a moment why no one thought it was important to tell me he could pan-orate, but I nod. I drop into the fat armchair, trying to look casual. I wonder if I can do it back. Cat’s mated to him and me, so maybe?~No bloody kidding. Sometimes, I amaze even myself with my brilliance. ~
I have no idea if he heard that, as he doesn’t respond. Damn.
“I’m used to holding back that stuff. Easier for me to handle on my own, without expecting others to do it for me. Ouches only hurt if you think about them.”
I observe the cat, trying to see what she’s doing now. Ah. She’s chiding her.
“Remind me to send some special oil over here. I could give it a little kick so you wouldn’t need me around to make it work for you.” Her hand moves to work on a bicep as she kneels, the other hand working the right shoulder blade. That flame red hair is sweeping all over the golden and porcelain skin around them, and the visual effect is stunning.
Not to mention other things.
I’m so wrapped up that I break the low tones by blurting, “No need for that.”
My eyes dart from one to the other, but they don’t pay attention to me. That’s good—I’d look like an idiot right now.
