Protected by the Lawman Page 11

  “Ask me anything.” Anything to keep this conversation going. She enjoyed talking to him and liked that he seemed genuinely interested in her.

  “How do you read?”

  “One of the first things I did for myself after the accident was learn to read braille. It wasn’t easy, but a necessity.”

  “How do you cook for yourself?”

  “Cooking for one isn’t very exciting so I find it much easier to make microwave meals or prepackaged foods. I rely on my listening skills for many things. When a pot is boiling I can hear the bubbles. The sounds of the coffee maker finishing are obvious. Baking can be tricky, but I can smell food and I use the timer. Kora helps with things I can’t do alone, like gathering my mail and reading it. I pay my bills online and since my computer talks to me it’s not difficult. She would like to do much more for me, but I’ve resisted her efforts. My mom and dad were easier to convince to allow me to be independent. They realized finding my own path was important. I order my groceries online. I organize everything, with Kora’s help, according to what I’ve bought first and when it expires. I drank spoiled milk once and I learned my lesson to label everything with a special labeler and do the sniff test to be safe.”

  He shifted and his hard thigh brushed hers again. “How is it possible a man hasn’t come along and swooped you up. You’re incredibly beautiful, smart, amazing.”

  She laughed. “I haven’t been out looking for a man. I’m difficult. My disability can be difficult.”

  “You’re not difficult. You’re exciting. A challenge.”

  “And you’re just being nice.”

  “I’m being truthful.”

  Laughter from inside the reception hall drifted out which seemed to interrupt their private setting.

  “Are you wanting to get married one day? Have children?”

  His question stunned her. She did tell him to ask anything though. “Maybe one day, but I’d have to meet a man first, one that I can find myself living with for the rest of my life and he can see living with me for the rest of his—seeing himself put down the toilet lid and picking up his shoes off the floor.”

  “That shouldn’t be too hard. You just have to find a man who is worthy of you.” He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, sending signals to her inner thighs.

  She leaned closer to him and breathed in his scent. How could one man smell so good? If she had her way she’d crawl into his lap and bury her face in his neck, absorb his warmth. “Kora tells me there are plenty of men out there, but I put my guard up.”

  “That’s expected. Once a person has been hurt it’s hard to open up again.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, she eased against him, wanting to be as close as she could. She’d never been so comfortable with someone so quickly. “I often wonder if I am sabotaging myself. You know, because bringing someone into my life would uproot the system I have in place. He would have to be willing to change his habits to meet my needs. If a relationship isn’t hard enough to begin with, then throwing in the expectation of not leaving his shoes or clothes laying around can be an added pain. Everything has to be in its place for me to find it, or so I don’t fall over it.”

  “Doesn’t sound too hard to me. It’s a routine, just as you had to learn a new one, he’d have to also. A man in love is willing to do just about anything.”

  “In Jamie’s defense, he tried, he really did, but I felt his irritation. Once he forgot to leave my phone in its cradle and I searched everywhere without success. When he came home I argued with him and he said he’d make sure to never do it again. Another time I fell over a box and hit my head on the wall. He apologized, and I assured him I was okay. I’m not defending him, but there just wasn’t enough love to see us through. As far as children, once upon a time I saw myself with a child, I still do at times. Right after the accident I wouldn’t have even contemplated kids, but nothing is impossible. I guess I have grown some.”

  He let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, placing his other hand at her waist. The touch felt intimate. “You can do anything you want to do, sweetheart. For the life of me, if I was your man, I would do my best to make life easier for you, not harder.”

  “Do you have scars?” The question just sort of floated out on its own.

  “Scars?” He chuckled. “Yeah. A few”

  “Where?” She wanted to know everything about him.

  “I’ll show you.” He lifted her hand and placed it on his left cheek. “I have a thin one here from falling off my bike at ten.” His skin was warm and she could feel his jaw tighten. Then he moved her hand to his thigh. “Another one taking a dive out of a tree a few years later.” Again, he picked her hand up and pressed it on his chest, covering it with his own. She could feel the heavy beating of his heart. “Probably the biggest one is here, in my heart. I loved and lost. Although I’ve healed, the scars will remain, yet lately they don’t seem so deep and wide.”

  Her toes curled. Her body tingled. “I’m sorry that Katy hurt you.”

  He sighed. “How about you? Scars? Tattoos?”

  “A minor one on my finger from opening a can. A small one on my head from the accident.”

  And then he did something that teased her senses. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the finger with the small scar. “Tattoos?” he mumbled.

  “No. Do you have any?”

  “One. On my back. I got it while I was in the Navy.”

  “What is it?”

  “A large cross with the American flag wrapped around it.”

  “I’ve always played with the idea of getting one, but I always told myself I might get tired of looking at the same tattoo every day. I guess that’s not a problem now.” She sighed. “But I’m sure your tattoo looks amazing.”

  He laughed. His hand was now on the crease of her hip, his thumb sliding across her waist. The material of her dress was no match against the heat of his touch. “I’ve had a few compliments. I can understand what you mean, but when you get it on your back you don’t have to see it.” His breath brushed her cheek.

  “Did it hurt?” Her voice shook.

  “Yes. I won’t lie.” He picked up a tendril of her hair and brought it to his nose and inhaled. “Can I ask you this without coming off as a dick?”

  She felt him pull away slightly. “Well, I’ll try not to judge you, but go ahead.”

  “I remember you saying you had a business degree, but you ended up as a massage therapist.”

  “I like working with my hands.”

  “I bet you’re really good at it too.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. “I’m not bad. I’ll have to show you.”

  He shifted and cleared his throat. “Did your talk with Jamie go okay?”

  “It went fine. He just wanted to touch base.”

  “I met his mother. She’s a peach.”

  “Ah, yes. She loves me.” The sarcasm in her voice was palpable.

  “I couldn’t tell.” He laughed. “I have a feeling the only person she likes is her plastic surgeon.”

  “Not just one, but two.”

  “Figures.”

  “I think we’ve spent enough time here. We’ve come. We’ve conquered. Let’s go.”

  ~~~**~~~

  The snow was coming down hard by the time they made it back to the cabin. They made a mad dash for the porch, but by the time they stepped through the door they both were wet. He swiped his shoes on the mat, then toed them off, making sure they were out of the way. “I guess we should get these clothes off,” Phoenix said.

  “I agree.” She smiled, walking closer to him. Water droplets covered her skin like dew on a flower’s petals. Her hair was wild about her rosy cheeks and her bottom lip trembled. “I can help with that. Do you mind?”

  He sucked in a deep breath. “No, I don’t.” The words came out on a hissed breath.

  Her fingers were on the top button of his shirt and she undid one, then two, and more until the front parted. H
e shifted as she crawled fingers up his stomach, his chest and glided the shirt off his shoulders. “Your skin is damp, and yet you’re still warm. You’re like a furnace. How is that possible?”

  “I’m a little feverish.”

  She paused. “Are you sick?”

  He laughed. “I meant, I’m hot. You’re making me heated, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, okay.” Ria worked her bottom lip. “I want you to get naked.”

  “Huh?”

  “I made a promise to show you how good my hands are.”

  “Uh…”

  “Relax. A massage, remember? While I’m changing out of this dress, you undress and meet me in my bedroom in ten. Okay?” One thin brow lifted.

  This was an offer any sane man would never turn down. “I’ll be there. Do you want me completely naked?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry. I won’t see anything.” She chuckled. “Is my cane still by the door?”

  “Yes.” He handed it over and watched as she deftly made her way through the living room and down the hallway. He was amazed how quickly she’d learned her surroundings. And how quickly she’d reached in and broken down his reservations. He should have told her he’d skip the massage because Lord knew having her hands on him would be torture, yet another part of him, a bigger part, couldn’t pass up the chance.

  So, just as she’d requested, he knocked on her bedroom door ten minutes later.

  “Come in,” she called from inside.

  He opened the door and peeked in. She was standing by the end of the bed and had changed into a pair of pajamas with big red hearts. Her hair was pulled back and her face was washed. She looked young and vibrant, so damn pretty.

  “I’ve set up my oils.” She pointed to the variety of bottles on the nightstand.

  “Do you always tote your oils around wherever you go?”

  “I know it seems weird, but yes, I do. Oils have both personal and psychological benefits. Lavender to diminish fear and anxiety. Neroli oil for blood pressure and stress. Cypress to improve circulation. To obtain the maximum benefits of a massage it’s important to choose a suitable oil. I have a sweet almond oil that I think you’ll like. I wish I had my table because it’s the perfect size for me to give a deep tissue massage. This will have to do.” She pointed to the bed. “Come and lie down on the towel and get comfortable. I’ll start the music.”

  “Music? I didn’t know there were so many things that go into a massage.”

  “Ah, yes. For many clients, music personalizes the session and increases satisfaction. Brahms is perfect.”

  Although he was a confident man and she couldn’t see him, as he strolled across the room, as bare as the day he was born, he felt a little self-conscious. Sure, he had women tell him how sexy he was, how toned he was, but this was different. This woman, who he found attractive, found desirable, would be touching him soon. He’d have to dig deep for control he wasn’t sure he had. What if he got a hard on? Would she know? Oh hell…he could be about to make a damn fool of himself.

  Lying down and stretching out on the bed, he watched her reach for one of the bottles, squirt a few drops into her palm and rub her hands together. He found the action very sensual, but that was only the beginning…

  CHAPTER 12

  RIA WAS FASCINATED with the breadth of Phoenix’s shoulders—the strong platform and hard ridges of his back. She smoothed her oil-slicked palms over his skin, applying the proper amount of pressure with her fingers to receive an instant sigh of pleasure from him.

  “You weren’t kidding. You have amazing hands, but then again, I didn’t doubt it for a second.”

  She smiled. “Your muscles are a little tight. Are you tense?”

  “Some. I’d guess some tension comes with my job,” he admitted, but didn’t divulge that he had lots of stirring below the waist that was making the position he was lying in bothersome.

  “You should indulge yourself in a massage more often. Studies have proven that a weekly massage can make people more productive.”

  “I could go for this.”

  Wanting the best position to use her strength, she slid over top of him, placing her knees on either side of his hips, his firm bottom underneath the apex of her thighs. Although she’d given lots of massages, she’d never quite had the same responses in her body as she did now. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her nipples tightened unexpectedly. Her core trembled and her breathing became ragged. She suddenly needed a drink of water. Reaching for the unopened bottle, she uncapped it and drank thirstily.

  Pouring more oil into her palms, she warmed it, then placed her hands on his slender waist, gliding her fingers upward and then down. Caressing the muscles, she followed the thick curve of his bottom. He jerked and she laughed. “Relax,” she urged, loving the fact that she could make him squirm. “You have a nice tush, but I bet you’ve been told that a time or two.”

  “Thank you.” His voice was husky.

  She wanted to stay longer on his derriere, but she didn’t want to come off as creepy, so she slid her hands lower and focused on the wiry muscles of his thighs and thick calves, enjoying how the crisp hairs tickled her palms. She felt his body relax under her hands as the soft, gentle music played in the background. The scent of his skin and the oil mingled, teasing her senses. She bit her bottom lip to keep from making any sounds of pleasure as she worked.

  He moaned in delight. “This. Is. Amazing. I’m all mush.”

  “Aww, exactly where I want you.”

  “Are your hands getting tired? I’m starting to feel a little guilty.”

  “I’m fine. I’m used to this.” But not entirely. She’d never been so sexually charged with a client.

  Sliding off him, she said, “Turn over.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. We can’t have one side of you relaxed and the other hard.” His hiss of breath told her exactly what she’d said. Her cheeks warmed, but she didn’t regret a word.

  The mattress springs resisted under his weight as he rolled over and when he was in place and she had more oil on her palms, she ran her hands over his shoulders, concentrating on the hollow between his collarbones, then digging her fingers in to his chest muscles to ease the tightness. Slowly she ran her hands down his pectoral muscles, feeling his flat nipples peak under her explorative fingers.

  “Do you like this?” she asked.

  “Sweetheart, I think you know the answer to that. One question, is it normal for men to get…well, excited when being massaged?”

  She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. “I’ve heard that can happen.”

  “That’s a dazzling smile you have there,” he teased. “Is it normal for all massage therapists to wear a smile that bright?”

  “No. There’s just something about you, Sheriff Cade.” She could barely fill her lungs with much needed air. “I might be divulging too much. I’m immensely enjoying myself.”

  “Go on, darlin’. See me with your hands. I love watching you explore me.”

  “Then I want to start at the top. I know I started this the other day, but I could have done much more.” She brought her hands up to his hair and slid them through the thick mass, feeling the strands turn wavy under her touch. She brought her fingers down his forehead to his eyebrows and rubbed her thumbs along them. Most men had busy brows, but his were perfectly shaped like his body. Gently and carefully, she touched his lids that were closed. His lashes reminded her of a butterfly’s wings. As she had found out the other day, his nose had a bump at the bridge.

  “My broken nose,” he mumbled.

  “There’s just a slight bump.” She continued running her fingers down his cheeks and the thin layer of beard rasped against her sensitive skin. “Did you shave today?”

  “Yes, but I can shave in the morning and by noon I have whiskers. Sometimes I’ll let it grow into a beard. It’s just easier.”

  “I bet you look badass without one, but with one I imagine you look like a savage warrior.”


  “Okay, you might be trying to give me a big head.”

  His lips were curled into a smile and she explored how the upper lip was thinner than the bottom. Using the tip of one finger, she slowly followed the plump curve to each corner. Her next spot on the human map was his neck. Long and lean, she felt his Adam’s apple move. Gliding her hands lower, she was back on his chest and she made several broad swipes across the large span before finding her way to his flat stomach. Many men his age started to get soft around the middle, but not Phoenix. He had a six pack and she enjoyed dipping her fingers along each smooth ridge, writing him to heart. Her fingers trembled because just a few inches lower and she’d find out a lot about this man, probably more than she should this soon. Her fingers ached to explore all of him, wondering if he had an erection as he’d insinuated that he did.

  Running her hands down his thighs, she massaged the muscles.

  “I have an idea. I don’t have your talents, but I want to massage you.”

  Her heart leapt almost out of her chest. “You want to give me a massage?” Her shaky voice sounded like she’d run a marathon.

  “Yeah. You can trust me.”

  His soft voice swirled cotton candy in the pit of her stomach. How could she deny him? After all, having his large, warm hands on her body would be the highlight of her day…month. Year. Ever. And yet… “I-I don’t know…”

  “If you don’t feel comfortable—”

  “No, actually I do.”

  He jumped up from the bed and she heard him wobble. “This is like getting a work out. My muscles are like jelly.”

  She smiled. “I’ve heard that before. Turn your head.”

  “For what?”

  “So that I can undress for my massage, silly.”

  “Okay. You’re clear.”

  Ria hurriedly removed her top and bottoms, but left her bra and panties on. Laying down on the bed, the sheet and towel were still warm from his body. How does someone stay so warm all the time? “Okay,” she murmured.