Bel
As I close my eyes and let the scalding water soak my feet, I hear a mock surprised voice, “Oh. My goodness. What a coincidence. Fancy meeting you here.”
I crack an eye, peering at Fritz, looking adorable and silly in a robe that matches mine. He plants himself on the chair next to me, assuming the position for a pedicure and greeting the salon staff like old friends.
“What are you doing here?” I laugh in disbelief.
“Teaching Cas about the modern world was such a drag, I needed a break. I was due for a little pampering anyway and I thought I’d just join you so we can get to know each other outside of Caspian’s constant growling and wandering hands,” he raises his brows in mock suggestion, and I laugh again.
Getting comfy, he reaches over and grabs my hand closest to him, admiring the manicure I just got. He gives Michele a thumbs-up before releasing me.
“Michele, darling, will you pretty please grab me and my girl here a bottle of champagne?” She stands to do so, and he turns back to me, “So, Sweetness, Caspian tells me you have averyinteresting job. What’s that like?”
I fight against the heat rising in my cheeks, “It has its moments. Most of the time it’s just reading. The spicy stuff is only usually like 15% of the book.”
“I see. How does one stumble into that kind of job?” He seems genuinely interested in my work, unlike most people who ask about it just to get their rocks off or pass judgment, so I indulge him.
“It kind of found me, I guess.” I shrug, “I have always loved reading, ever since I was a kid. I can read really fast, too, so that helps. My best friend, Isla, actually gave me the idea.” As I talk, Michele returns with an opened bottle and two glasses full of the pink bubbly liquid, and I mouthThank youto her. She smiles and nods before starting my pedicure.
Fritz nods intently as I keep talking, “She said my voice is really soothing and interesting and I should try animation voiceovers. But that industry is really hard to get into unless you have connections, and I like being my own boss. I make my own deadlines and expectations. I choose my clients. It’s a dream, honestly.”
He hums before commenting, “I’ve found that people who work for themselves often work the most,” and I have to agree.
“Oh, 100% I overwork. But I’ve got bills to pay, ya know?”
“Mmhmm. And when you’re not working? Do you have fun? You’re not having sex, so you must be doing something.” I nearly choke on my drink, causing a self-satisfied smirk to light up his gorgeous face.
“I read for fun, too. I go out with Isla, I visit my parents, see movies, and travel a bit. All the usual stuff,” I tell him as I try to sneakily admire him.
He really is so unbelievably hot. Smaller than Cas and softer, somehow, but equally terrifying and thrilling. His always calm and laughing demeanor tells me he’s never worried about someone more dangerous being around the corner. His eyes are so dark they’re like black pools, always swirling with wicked playfulness when he looks at me.
His body is equally enticing. Before recently, I thought all men were essentially built the same. They’ve all looked basically the same to me, anyway. But these two men are undeniably different. While Caspian’s muscular frame is large and nearly overwhelming, Fritz seems more lithe, almost serpentine, while still being utterly fucking ripped.
He peers at me, “Little Songbird, if you keep looking at me like that, this spa day is going to end with a very unhappy Caspian and a very,veryhappy me.” His sultry voice promises endless pleasure that I’m almost willing to take him up on.
Instead, I simply mumble a quiet, “Sorry.”
“No, no, no. No sorry’s here. You are admiring, as am I,” he says with a slow, thorough perusal of my frame. “There’s no shame to be had here. I only tease because I adore the soft pink that spreads across your cheeks.”
I say nothing, too embarrassed that I got caught checking him out so blatantly.
“Bel,” he draws my attention back. “Honestly, you’ve done nothing wrong. I sought you out. Obviously, I’mveryattracted to you, much to our mutual friend’s chagrin. If the feeling is mutual… all the better for me,” he beams.
We don’t talk much for the remainder of our pedicures. He just occasionally looks at me with a small smile, allowing me to relax and sink into the massage chair beneath me. After a while, he reaches over and grabs my hand again, entwining our fingers together. He starts drawing slow circles with his thumb on my hand.
Every stroke of his thumb sends pulses between my legs, and I wonder again how I could possibly be this horny after my… adventure with Caspian. His grip slowly tightens, his thumb becoming slightly more aggressive, like the small point of contact affects him the same way it does me.
“Have you had a chance to soak in the pool yet?” he asks me suddenly, pulling me from the errant thoughts of that thumb rubbing circles elsewhere.
“Uhhh, no. And I hadn’t planned on it, seeing how I just got my nails done,” I wiggle said fingers.
“It’s gel polish, perfectly safe for the water,” Michele reminds me.Oh.
“Come, we’ll go now,” he practically yanks me out of the chair now that my toes have finishedcuring.
“Thank you, Michele, Connor. You two are a fucking dream,” he calls behind us on our way out. He leads me down a corridor before opening up a door that leads to a small room with dim lighting and a hot tub large enough for six or seven people.
“Strip, Sweets.” He says as he takes his robe off and practically leaps into the water. I expect him to linger and watch me as I disrobe, but he doesn’t, just closes his eyes and sinks into the water until it reaches his neck.
