Electric sensation prickles along my hand and up my arm. My body seems intent on responding to his at every opportunity. I’ve never had this kind of reaction to anyone else in my life, not even Adrian, I realise. It’s almost as if Kit and I are connected by some kind of magnetic charge.
What a weird thought.
I’m pulled out of my musings when the shop-boat glides away from us and we continue on our way, our hosts picking up their patter of chatter as we make our final part of the journey back to Arashiyama.
Kit points out our hotel, sitting proudly on the top of the bank, looking beautiful and regal but absolutely part of the landscape as we sail past it. I feel a rush of pride to be staying there.
This is one holiday I’ll never forget.
A few minutes later, we come out into the wide mouth of the river at Arashiyama, where the boat docks against a jetty and we all clamber out and stretch our limbs after being so sedentary for the last hour and a half.
‘Well, that was awesome. Thanks for bringing me along,’ Kit says, drawing me against his body and wrapping his arms around my back in a bear-like hug.
I breathe him in, my senses spinning with a weird sort of confusion that comes out of nowhere. His smell is so familiar, yet so exotic and I can’t quite get a handle on how it’s making me feel.
I think it’s a weird mixture of nostalgia and anticipation.
‘You’re welcome,’ I mutter against his chest, squeezing my eyes shut and for just one moment allowing myself to enjoy being enveloped by him and everything I’m experiencing right now.
I breathe it in, then breathe it out.
Then I disentangle myself from his arms and take a step back away from him.
My stomach feels like it’s full of insects.
‘Hey. Want to grab some lunch?’ he asks, not seeming to notice my agitation.
I pause, still struggling to get on top of all the emotions I’m feeling right now. ‘Err, actually I thought I’d go back to the hotel for a bit and rest,’ I say, not able to look at him and instead pretending to gaze out across the water to where more boats are appearing and heading towards the dock.
‘Oh. Okay. Sure. No problem,’ he says, but I could swear there’s squashed disappointment in his tone.
I stretch my arms above my head, pushing away the feeling of guilt. I really need a bit of time on my own to recover and regroup. ‘My back’s still a bit sore from sitting for so long on the plane and just now on the boat,’ I tell him, to assure him my disappearing act isn’t because I don’t want to hang out with him. ‘I was hoping to get a massage this afternoon but reception tells me all the treatments are fully booked so I thought I’d do some yoga instead to try and loosen myself up.’
He frowns. ‘Fully booked?’
‘Yeah.’
I watch as he slides his phone out of his back pocket, and before I can say anything else he makes a call to the hotel and tells them he wants a massage appointment made available for me in an hour’s time.
‘Oh my God, you didn’t need to do that,’ I say, half scandalised, half impressed when he cuts the call.
‘If I can’t use my influence for getting your back fixed what’s it good for?’ he says with a wry grin.
‘I hope I haven’t taken someone else’s slot,’ I ask fretfully.
‘You haven’t. I have my own personal therapist assigned to my apartment, who’s available whenever I want them.’
I swallow. ‘Wow. That’s cool.’
‘It is,’ he says with a grin. ‘And they’re all yours this week. Feel free to use them whenever you want.’
‘That’s really kind of you,’ I say, blown away by his generosity.
I don’t want him to think I’m just using him for his perks though, so I say, ‘You know, I’ve been thinking about trying out one of the sashimi restaurants in Pontocho Alley this evening. Fancy coming with me?’
He gives one of his shrugs. ‘Sure. I’ve never had sashimi. That’s raw fish, right?’ he says, sounding a little unsure about my choice of meal.
I grin at him. ‘So I hear. I just wanted to try it once so I can say I’ve eaten it.’
