If It Fornicates (Market Garden, #4)(20)

“As good an excuse to get your hands on my arse as I’ve ever heard,” Nick teased and headed to the bedroom. He stripped completely, largely for Spencer’s benefit, and lay flat on his belly, then supported himself on his elbows. That made a vertebra in his upper back pop, and he groaned.

Spencer came in from the bathroom, two large towels in one hand, and a bottle of massage oil in the other. He paused briefly, eyes trailing over Nick, and Nick smiled, flattered that the view could stop Spencer dead in his tracks.

“Okay.” Spencer shook himself and toed off his shoes before he climbed on the bed, too. “Lift up, please.” He slid one of the towels underneath Nick, and placed the other to the side, then opened the bottle and poured some oil into his palm. It smelled of herbs and almonds, an unusual combination, but oddly soothing. “It might hurt a bit,” Spencer said, “but if it hurts bad, let me know.”

“You bet.” Nick placed his forehead on his folded arms. “I don’t like pain.”

Spencer’s hands touched him in the middle of his back, the oil skin-warm. He shifted on the bed, and Nick realised Spencer was straddling him. He didn’t like the feeling of being trapped or immobilized, or really any kind of restraints, but Spencer wasn’t putting any weight on him, so Nick closed his eyes, slowly released his breath, and made himself relax. He trusted Spencer. If this got uncomfortable or he started to freak out because he thought he was being held down, Spencer would let him up without a second’s hesitation. Nick would be fine.

Spencer’s hands slid from Nick’s shoulder down towards his arse. Nick tensed, but Spencer stopped before he actually reached the glutes, pressing both palms in left and right of the spine. Sliding them up, his fingers splayed along Nick’s sides, moving and squeezing and pressing upwards. The touch was soothing and tender, yet Nick felt the strength in Spencer’s hands and arms, and he groaned with pleasure when slowly, some of Spencer’s warmth transferred to him. It was just blood flow, but within a few minutes, he felt hot and flushed, and at the same time, calm and boneless.

Once Nick’s body had relaxed a bit, Spencer moved up, sitting over Nick’s hips while he slid his hands higher.

“I’ll look into your shoulders now.”

“Okay.”

Both hands moved left, framing Nick’s shoulder, and then Spencer pulled it back a little with one hand while he dug in with the other. Something inside rubbed together like dry bones.

“There’s your knot. Well, knots.”

“Don’t ask me to make cogent conversation.”

Spencer chuckled. “Relax and think of England?”

Nick laughed softly. “Whatever.”

“Just keep breathing.”

Through gritted teeth, Nick said, “You giving orders now?”

“No.” Spencer pressed a little harder, sending an eye-watering bolt of red pain through Nick’s shoulder. “Just offering suggestions so you stay conscious.”

“Not sure I want to at this point.” Eyes shut tight, Nick pushed out a breath through his parted lips. “Fuck . . .”

“Quit fighting it.”

Nick started to protest, the Dom rearing his head and wondering just who the f*ck Spencer thought he was, ordering Nick around, but Spencer’s comment drew his attention to where hands met shoulder, and he realised he was fighting him. Pulling back when Spencer pushed, stiffening muscles Spencer was trying to release.

Exhaling slowly, he willed himself to relax. The red faded. The tension started to ease. Spencer kept the pressure on the tender muscles, alternately kneading with his knuckles (which hurt) and the heel of his hand (which hurt less) until finally, the stiffness melted.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Nick slurred as his entire shoulder started to relax.

“Didn’t, to be honest.” Spencer was using his palms now, making firm circles over the area that he’d just worked on. “Guess I have a knack for it.”

“You should’ve gone into this line of work instead of the one you’re in.” Nick rolled his shoulder under Spencer’s hands. “You’re damned good at it.”

Spencer didn’t respond. He lifted one hand away and picked up the massage oil. Room temperature liquid pooled on Nick’s back beside Spencer’s other hand, like he’d poured it over the back of that hand and the excess was spilling onto Nick’s skin.

Spencer put the bottle aside, and then continued working on Nick. He inched towards Nick’s other shoulder, making smooth, slick circles and melting the tight muscles beneath them. By the time he had Nick’s right shoulder in his hands, it was almost as relaxed as the other one.

“Is conversation still out?” Spencer slowly applied more pressure to Nick’s muscles.

“It will be if you hit another knot like that other one, but we’re good for now.” Nick’s eyelids were heavy. “Assuming I don’t fall asleep.”

“If you’re that relaxed, be my guest.”

The room was silent except the soft hiss of slick hands over skin.

Nick brought up one arm and folded it under his head to prop himself up, and then turned so he could see Spencer in his peripheral vision. “Something on your mind?”

“I . . .” Spencer’s hands faltered before resuming their gentle circles. “Just thinking about a few things, but nothing . . . nothing earth-shattering.”