I stop abruptly, take in a deep breath, and say, “I don’t know why I stayed with him for so long. For over a year. I dealt with the harassment, the manipulation; he kept secrets from me until it all came to a head one night.” Looking away, embarrassed that I had stayed far too long.
Dane sighs and brings my face to look at him. “You’re doing the right thing. He is a danger to you and who knows who else.”
I know he is right, but it’s hard to share one of my biggest failures so openly. He believes me, and that’s all I need to continue. “It was an all-out fight that ended with me running out of the house, no shoes, no phone, and going to my neighbor's house.”
Chills run through me at the thought of him watching my every move. I can’t get his face out of my mind. How angry he was. With nothing but the clothes on my back, I ran—fast.
“I was thankful the neighbor was home, and they let me in. I called the police, told them what happened, and then I got a restraining order. I was always looking over my shoulders, butday after day, he wasn’t there. Maybe a false sense of security. It became easier as the months went on, and he didn’t show up.”
He brushes his hand through my hair. Instinctively, my eyes close, and the feeling of his touch consumes me. Leaning in, he crashes his lips against mine, electricity bouncing between us. I hold on to him tightly, and he cups the back of my head. When he slides his tongue over my lips, the warmth spreads throughout my body. He feels safe.
When my doorbell rings, I jump; it scares the shit out of me. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
Holding my ass, he brings me close to him. I can feel his erection. With my hand over his heart, his heart is beating with mine.
He kisses me on the cheek and says, “I am. I’ll get it.”
I stare at him, puzzled by his response, but follow him to the front door. All I can do is stand there and watch him open my front door. Not a bad view—his long strides and those pants that hug his ass and thighs. As my eyes make their way up his body, I see the muscles in his arms flex as he walks.
He opens the door, and my jaw drops to the floor. The massage therapists from the spa are carrying their tables into the house.
Is he surprising me with a couple's massage? I didn’t think we were there, but what a thoughtful thing to do.
I walk over to him and playfully slap his arm. “Dane…what’s all this?”
Turning to look at me, he says, “I’ve watched you work your ass off these last few weeks. You pamper other people, and now it’s time for you to be pampered. I’m just here as a bonus companion.” He winks at me and puts his forehead to mine. We both close our eyes.
Jake never treated me like this. Actually, I can’t think of any man who has treated me as well as Dane has and in such a short period of time.
I show them the large family room where they can set up the two massage tables. While they do that, I grab a couple of waters and hand one to Dane. “Drink up, need to stay hydrated…for what's to come later.” He winks at me again.
I giggle. I think about grabbing my robe, but he’s already seen the goods, and I feel comfortable with him. So I opt to undress, and he does too, eyeing each other as articles of clothing fall to the floor. He could just show off his arms to me, and I’d be soaked. Yes, I’m an arm girl. We both get under the sheets and are ready for our massages. I haven’t had one in months.
They play relaxing music and dim the lights. The smell of lavender oil envelops me. This massage is exactly what I need. The more she rubs out the knots, the further my body sinks into the table.
I can’t believe he arranged for a ninety-minute massage. I am so thankful, but I don't want to move when it’s over because my body is limp. I finally sit up and throw my legs off the table. The lavender scent fades as I take a deep breath. I slide off the table and walk over, grab my water, and chug it down.
Dane is slowly getting off the massage table. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“I did! I’m like Gumby.” I move my hands in the air.
A laugh escapes him. “That’s one way to put it. I’m feeling pretty chill, too. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving. But…I don’t want to leave the house, not after that.” I point to the ladies packing up the massage tables.
“We don’t have to,” he says, and on cue, the doorbell rings again.
“Seriously, I have never had so many people ring my doorbell,” I say, eyeing him suspiciously. It has to be him.
“Well, it’s your lucky day then.” He pulls his pants up and buttons them.
As he walks to the door, wearing only his pants, his bare feet pad softly along the hardwood floors. The no-shirt look gives me a marvelous view of his back, and I could get used to him walking around my house without a shirt on all the time.
Until he glances over his shoulder and says, “Do you need a towel for all that drool?”
I mutter, “Jerk.”
“I heard that.”
