He let out a low, deep breath.Sweat had collected on his brow.“I barely felt the other ones.”
She grinned.“It’s neat how that works.There’s a couple more points I’d like to do, then I’ll let you rest for a bit before we work on your back.”
She continued down his legs and stuck a needle on the inside of each calf.Once that was done, she drew the curtains.Shadows washed over him.He closed his eyes, and soft music began to play.The strum of violins and clap of cymbals lulled him to sleep.
***
Jaxon’s snores brokethrough the peaceful instrumental music McKenna was playing on her phone.She was at least able to access the songs she’d stored on the device.It’d drain a bit of her battery, but that didn’t matter when the phone lines were down and she couldn’t reach anyone anyway.
And Jaxon needed the rest.Her fingers twitched.She wanted to approach the bed and turn the needles—just to make sure they’d grabbed—but she remained in the armchair watching the rise and fall of his stacked chest.
A lock of dirty-blond hair fell over his forehead, and she briefly wondered what he’d looked like as a little boy.He’d likely had cherubic golden curls.His hair was now straight, but the wayward lock on his forehead held the crimp of a wave.He’d probably been a menace as a child.She fought back a grin imagining a headstrong kid that wouldn’t take no for an answer.
His fingers twitched at his sides and she froze.He’d been sleeping only twenty minutes, but there was the first sign of his waking.A shuddering breath came next, and his head turned from one side to the other.Damn it, she wouldn’t get to leisurely admire him now.
She stood, went to the window, and opened the curtains.Then she approached the table as his eyelids cracked open.“How are you feeling?”
He rubbed his eyes and the needles at his forearms jumped with the movement.“I fell asleep.”
She brought one arm back down to his side, and he lowered the other himself.“I know.That’s good.”She plucked the needles in his arms out first then moved to his chest, abdomen, and legs.Finally, she returned for the one between his eyes.
Blood leaked out of his forehead, and she reached for a cotton pad.He frowned and touched the spot.
“It bled a little.Also a good sign—things are moving.”She mopped up the streak he’d left, applied pressure for a moment, and removed the pad.“There.”She shifted her attention to his chest.“These ones were quite reactive,” she said, dragging her finger over the pinpoints with redness around them.“The needles were very warm when I pulled them out.”
“Wouldn’t it be warm from my body heat anyway?”
A ball of excitement spun in her chest.It was hard explaining how traditional Chinese medicine worked, but it always thrilled her to share what she knew.“It’s fascinating.Sometimes the needles are cold, sometimes they’re hot.Sometimes people say the skin is crazy itchy, or that they feel a vibration running beneath the skin.Sometimes their arms or legs fall asleep, or their feet turn cold.All normal reactions.In the beginning, it was hard for me to set aside my preconceived notions—especially knowing what I do as a nurse—and learn the science and ancient history surrounding acupuncture.”
His eyes warmed, and he propped himself onto his elbows.“You’re really passionate about this.”
“I’m passionate about helping people without harming the body in the process.”
He sat up and pulled his shoulders back.“I feel pretty good.Energized.Which is surprising.This flu has kicked my ass.”
She held out a stern finger.“We still need to work on that.This doesn’t mean you’re better or can go wrestling mountain lions.”
He laughed and caught her finger in his palm, drawing her a few inches closer.Heat surrounded her hand.Her lips popped open in surprise and she stared into his eyes, which never left her face—they seared her to the spot, but not in a lust-filled way.Beneath the intensity attraction blazed, but that’s not what had her riveted, unable to tear away her hand or even blink.
It was the power he held.His life force rocked with hers.In one stare he stripped her of all the armor she wore, leaving her naked and exposed.Instead of feeling vulnerable, she felt a surge of satisfaction.Pleasure sizzled inside her veins.
His head tilted to the side.“Thanks.I enjoyed that, and learning more about what makes you tick.”
Fear zapped her heart.It wasn’t Jaxon she feared—nothing about his energy screamed anger or hatred.Oh no.Everything about his magnetic field called to her, begged her to fall into his arms, to abandon all her rules and kiss his soft lips.
Her body screamed at her to say something curt, to move on with their session, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his face.A deep need inside her ached to hang on to this moment just a little bit longer.Because when she did break away, there’d be no coming back.
She was too smart to get involved with Jaxon Murtaugh.
Jaxon brought his other hand to the back of her neck.His warm palm cradled her.He let go of her finger and, using his pinky, swiped a frayed strand of damp hair behind her ear.His thumb moved to her bottom lip.The hot pad traced her mouth.
“So pretty,” he breathed.His low, gravelly tone melted her insides.She caught his forearm with the intention of pulling away...but instead she gripped hard, wanting more.
He pulled her closer, settling her body between his knees.Her other hand rested on his thigh, and she searched his face as the heat from his body pulsed into hers.
She pushed her tongue through her lips, wetting the dry skin.Jaxon’s attention dropped from her eyes to her mouth, and a deep stain colored his skin.He dipped his mouth to hers.Their flesh met, and the silkiness of his mouth coaxed hers open.Her tongue touched his in a tentative dance.Neurons fired in her brain.Desire strummed along her skin.Her breath burned her lungs, and she gulped down a drink of air while marveling at his ministrations.
She shouldn’t be doing this.Shouldn’t get involved.She had to break it off, push him away.Do something.
