It's All Relative(99)

That amazing walk home through the lightly falling snowflakes was what made her feel okay about walking out of the bathroom to share the remainder of the evening with the incredible man waiting in the other room. Jessie couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be.

Peeking her head around the wall that separated the bathroom from the rest of the suite, Jessie instantly spotted Kai. He was sitting on a few blankets spread out on the floor in front of the fire, like he intended to sleep there. Jessie smiled as she quietly stepped into the room. They hadn’t talked specifics about where they would each sleep, but Jessie had assumed, since she was crashing his room, that she would take the floor. Kai hadn’t even asked. He’d just given the bed to her. He was generous like that.

Kai didn’t react to her presence when she stepped into the room. He only continued to stare into the flames with a soft smile on his face, completely lost in whatever thoughts were occupying his head. With a knot of hope in her heart, Jessie wondered if any of his thoughts were about her.

She silently watched him as he silently watched the flames. The orange glow threw shadows upon his bronze skin, deepening and highlighting the creamy color, making him seem even more exotic and attractive. The firelight danced in his pale eyes, changing the blue-green into a fiery shade that hinted at the passion buried within him. His arms were loosely slung around his knees as he quietly sat there, thinking.

Jessie’s heart thumped a painful rhythm inside her chest. He was so perfect…and so unobtainable.

Wanting to share the fire’s warmth with him, since she suddenly felt chilled, Jessie walked over to his side. He snapped out of his daydreams when he felt her standing there. Looking up, his eyes locked onto the sleep-shorts she was wearing before drifting to her face. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Jessie gestured to the floor beside him.

Smiling, Kai nodded and moved over so she could sit on the blanket beside him. Jessie carefully sat down and hugged her knees to her chest. She ran her hands over her bare arms; the shirt she was wearing was worn and comfortable, but didn’t offer much in the way of protection. Glancing over at Kai studying her, she wondered if her outfit was inappropriate, given their circumstances: the shorts were a little short, the shirt was a little threadbare. When she’d packed her stuff, she’d planned on being in a room with her girlfriends. Comfort had been her only goal.

Twirling a long lock around her finger, Jessie wondered what Kai was thinking. Was he beating himself up about touching her earlier? He wouldn’t if Jessie confessed just how badly she’d wanted him to do it, but while that might ease his mind, it wouldn’t help their situation, so Jessie didn’t mention it.

She stared at the flames and eventually Kai twisted back to stare at them too. Silence permeated the room, but it was a comfortable one. It wrapped around her, warming her more than the heat the fireplace produced. Jessie couldn’t keep the smile off her lips.

“What are you thinking about?” Kai finally asked her.

Jessie looked over at him. He’d brought his arms down between his knees and was rubbing his forearm, like he was sore. He was probably sore all over, considering what he’d done today. Grabbing his arm, she took over for him. She was the professional, after all.

Jessie grinned as she watched his eyes flutter closed while she worked on his aching muscles. “Nothing really. I was just thinking that this is nice, being here with you.”

Kai opened his eyes and looked over at her. “You’re not bothered by…?”

He cringed and Jessie knew what he meant—the incident on the slopes. She felt her cheeks heating, but she shook her head. It had been a mild slip-up. One that she’d wanted him to do. The memory of her cousin touching her in that way should bother her, but as her fingers worked up his arm, she felt nothing bad about the encounter. She was only happy that he was back in her life.

Kai smiled at her response, and let out a pleased sigh when she switched to his other arm. “Yeah, this is nice,” he murmured, his face relaxed and content.

Jessie scooted closer to him, so she could move up his arms to his shoulders, where he was probably really feeling the strain of this afternoon. Groaning in relief, he leaned into her hands. Sitting up on her knees, she scooted behind him so she could reach his kinks better. Focusing on the tattooed shoulder blade, her trained fingers worked on taming the knots that had formed in his muscles. She smiled when he groaned again, and loved the fact that she had skills that could help him. She also loved hearing that noise escape his lips. When she felt he was more relaxed on that side, she moved to his other shoulder blade. Her body was firmly pressed against his back, much closer than she would be if Kai were just a client. Kai dropped his head forward as she loosened his other side.

Feeling like she’d done all she could with his aching upper body, she dropped down onto her hip beside him. She was closer than she’d intended to be, with her entire side pressed into his. Kai gave her a sleepy, lethargic smile as he gazed at her. “Thank you. I’m so sore.” A light chuckle escaped him and he nestled into her body.

Feeling his words heat her down to her very soul, Jessie contentedly rested her head on his shoulder. He let out a sigh that matched her mood as he rested his head on hers. One of his hands found hers and he began rubbing her palm with his thumbs. Jessie sighed; as a masseuse, she very rarely got treated to massages. It was absolute heaven. Cuddling into his side, she slinked her arm over his thigh so her hand was in a better position for a good rub.