‘That sounds so intense.’
Matthew sighed, finding comfort in the weight of Sarah’s hands. ‘I knew it was unhealthy at the time, but it was too difficult to slow the wheel while it was in motion.’
‘Do you want me to do your front?’ Sarah asked. Matthew’s throat tightened and he swallowed, a little too loudly. ‘Just the top of your shoulders and chest,’ she added.
Steeling himself, he agreed, hoping his previous enjoyment wouldn’t attract too much attention. He rolled over and she joined him on the bed again, crossed her legs and cradled his head and neck in her lap. ‘Close your eyes, else all you will enjoy is a view up my nose.’
He smiled and obeyed. ‘I’m at your mercy.’
Spread before her was Matthew. Half-naked Matthew. To say he was attractive was an understatement, and truth be told, she was enjoying every second of this intimate, tender time with him.
His chest was as defined, if not even more so, as his back and shoulders. Across his middle was the tiniest sprinkling of dark chestnut hair, which trickled down his abdomen and disappeared under the waistband of his shorts.
His shorts.
Sarah didn’t know where to look. Her angle gave her a clear view down the front of them, as they were still pulled halfway down his bottom. She didn’t know if he was aware that his groin was partially on show –perhaps he doesn’t care?– but she allowed herself one indulgent glance before returning her attention to his chest.
After a while, Matthew’s shoulders had well and truly loosened, and she was simply enjoying running her hands and fingertips over him. It was easy to lose herself in the repetition. Calming and meditative, she continued to caress his skin, and he didn’t fight the attention.
‘How’s this?’ she asked.
As if partially waking, he released a deep sigh. ‘So relaxing. You’ve got me zoned out.’ He reached up and stroked her arm in appreciation. ‘You really do have magic hands.’
‘Just enjoy it.’ The sensation of the ripples and shape of his chest were intoxicating, and Sarah traced each carefully.
They fell quiet and their silence filled the room. Matthew was soon asleep, lulled by the comfort of Sarah’s nurturing hands.
Looking down at him, so peaceful in her lap, she studied his face. His stubble was endearing, and she thought she liked him with it even more than when he was clean-shaven. His nose and cheeks had taken on extra colour and his hair had been tousled from lying on the bed. Running her hands up his neck, they eventually settled in his hair. Gently, she continued to tease and play, enjoying the sensation of his locks brushing through her fingers.
Not wanting to disturb him, Sarah simply leaned back and eased herself down onto the bed. Thankful for all her yoga years, the position, despite appearances, was comfortable and soon enough, she too found rest, with Matthew’s head in her lap.
Matthew woke to find them in a tangle of limbs. He freed himself as gently as he could and made his way to the other side of the bed, pulling back the covers and righting the pillows. As carefully as the mattress would allow, he scooped Sarah into his arms and set her down for a proper night’s rest. She stirred for a moment until she found familiarity in her pillow, then she rolled over and faced the middle of the bed.
Matthew straightened the rumpled covers, set the tub of wax and strip of ibuprofen carefully on Sarah’s nightstand and turned off the lights. He eyed his pyjama top sitting on the end of the bed, but opted to leave it off.
Sliding into bed next to Sarah, he watched her sleep peacefully. Her left hand rested by her cheek on the pillow and he studied it in the low light. Her nails were uneven, and she had several split cuticles. The skin on the back of her hand was also grazed. He scolded himself; this wasn’t what she had signed on for.
Remembering how it felt to have her hands on his bare skin, he closed his eyes and the tingles returned. He felt a physical yearning for her and fought the frustration that seemed to simmer at the thought of her hands and fingers exploring his body. Though none of it made sense, he longed to hold her against him.
Turning to face the cherubs on the ceiling, he was suddenly met with a hand across his chest. Stirring, Sarah had reached for him. He looked on as her left hand found a warm nook by his neck. There, on her fourth finger, was her wedding band. He had a niggling feeling that the evening’s events – the joint pleasure, the enjoyment of her touch, the intimacy – had been a bad idea.
Don’t complicate things, Matthew,he told himself.
Eventually, he gave in to sleep.
diciassette
Curled up in child’s pose, Sarah couldn’t escape Matthew’s scent. The fresh morning breeze did its best to distract her from it, but it remained steadfast, like it had somehow infused her clothes and skin.
Despite the prickles that washed over Sarah’s scalp, she tried to focus. Her hands were unsettled and refused to commit to her sides on the mat. She exhaled a short, sharp breath and lifted her head, revealing the view of the mid-spring-kissed valley below.
Sarah had woken unsettled, as if her legs wanted to take off in one direction, leaving her body behind in disbelief, and a knot of tension had formed in the pit of her stomach, the origin of which she couldn’t place. Raising her arms up and over her head, she elongated her spine and dropped her head on her left shoulder, allowing her neck to stretch and lengthen. After a moment, she repeated the action to the right.
She hadn’t heard Matthew approach from behind. It was, however, the scrunch of gravel underfoot that caused her to turn. Matthew stood there, two steaming mugs in hand, and still very much topless. Sarah sighed, and the knot in her stomach tightened.
‘Thought I might leave you this,’ he said, handing her the mug of tea, made just to her liking.
She gladly accepted it, but the smile she wore was manufactured. ‘Thank you.’
