Page 69 of You Only Live Once
He did have a point, so I headed over to a low-backed chair and sank into the soft cushions as Jack stood behind me and once again began the relaxing, soothing motion that was somehow a mixture of both pleasure and pain that felt amazing.
‘It feels like it’s releasing a bit. Does that feel any easier to you?’
‘If I say yes, does that mean you’ll stop?’
‘Not necessarily.’
‘If I say no, does that mean you’ll stop?’
‘Same answer. Do you want me to stop?’
‘No. I don’t know about garden design, but you could certainly forge a new career in the field of massage.’ I opened my eyes, which had drifted closed, and tipped my head back up to directly meet Jack’s. ‘I don’t know if that came out weird. It wasn’t meant to be weird. Did it sound weird?’
‘No,’ he said, laughing, gently putting his hands each side of my head and tipping it forward again so that he could reach my shoulders. ‘I know what you mean, though, so thank you.’
‘Dare I ask how you got so good at this?’
‘You might be shocked if I told you.’
‘Now I absolutely have to know!’
‘I don’t really want to tell you.’
‘With a lead in like that, you can’t not now. Come on, it’ll take my mind off things.’
‘Ha, emotional blackmail. OK, but do know I’m a much better person now.’
‘This sounds intriguing.’
‘I learned how to do it to impress girls. You know they say their neck, or back or shoulders ache, and I would go, oh, I can help with that, come here. I’d do a bit of massage and ask how that felt and… you know, one thing quite often led to another. But like I said, it’s not something I’m proud of, and actually it’s come in useful. Although using the skills on six foot, 200-pound rugby players wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I honed my skills, but if you can help a mate out, then you do, don’t you?’
I was considering his answer.
‘You’re worryingly quiet. I can practically hear you judging me from here.’
‘Then you need to get your hearing tested because I’m not judging you at all. I’m just thinking that those were exactly the same words you used on me.’
‘Yes, but considering I’ve now matured as a person, I actually care what your answer is and promise I’m not doing this for any other reward than to see you more comfortable.’
‘No, I know. I’m just teasing you. I didn’t realise you’d actually learned special skills to enhance your lothario ways.’
Suddenly Jack’s voice, deep and soft, was close to my ear. ‘You wouldn’t believe some of the skills I have.’
I couldn’t help laughing. ‘And there he is. I knew it was too good to be true that you’d completely matured.’
‘Just stating the facts,’ he said, straightening up and returning to my shoulders, his strong thumbs pressing gently into my neck and releasing the tension building there. Tension that hadn’t been helped by his warm breath brushing against my ear and the unwarranted and unexpected rush of images that suddenly flowed into my head. Jack Coulsdon-Hart might have matured but I had a feeling some of the old Jack remained. And maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
A couple of minutes later, the doorbell rang. I felt the sudden loss of the warmth of Jack’s hands and let out a sigh involuntarily.
‘Try to enjoy it,’ Jack said as I stood and gave the robe I’d been instructed to wear after my bath this morning a quick straighten.
‘I will. I’m so thankful to Poppy for this.’ The doorbell rang again. ‘It will be OK, won’t it?’ I suddenly looked up at Jack as a barrage of worried thoughts began bowling through my mind. ‘He won’t want to cut my hair short or something, will he?’
‘If he does, and you don’t want that, then you say so. It’s your hair. Don’t let him just do what he wants, and Poppy is here for backup.’
Jack laid a hand gently on my upper arm, gave it a quick squeeze and then headed off to the door. I pulled myself together and followed him a couple of moments later.
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