Private Dancer

Excerpt

His voice was smooth as honey, but Tasha pretended not to notice. In her own little dressing area, she sat down to take a calming breath before changing her clothes. He had the power to disarm her walls and defenses and have her naked under him moaning in pleasure. Tasha was never one to hide from her feelings, but after a few bad relationships that almost left her destroyed, she learned it was best to hide her heart in a tower and never let anyone breach the barriers she had built. Major Ian Scott could do that without even trying. She knew it within minutes of meeting him.

“No teasing, no sweet smiles, nothing,” she warned her reflection in the mirror. “It’s about treating him, nothing more.”

With that she firmed her shoulders in determination and walked out to where he waited. The warning went out of her head when she saw him lying there. The muscles of his shoulders bunched up as he lay on his forearms. His gaze followed her. Tasha stood in front of him with what-ifs running though her mind. It was too late to put him off on one of her other therapists. She already gave her word to be the one to take care of him. The thought of running her hands along the lines of his body gave her a tingle at the pit of her tummy and warmth between her thighs. He stared at her silently, brown eyes questioning, but yet she could see the same fire she felt in the depths of those eyes.

“Okay, so the hot stones might feel a little hot for the first time,” Tasha warned. “If they are too hot on the initial touch, let me know and I’ll take them off immediately. As I rub them along your…your body, it might feel a little like electricity. Let me know if it is uncomfortable in any way.”

“You got it,” Ian agreed.

Tasha started massaging by rubbing warm oil all over his muscled form with firm but smooth strokes. Ian made a sound in his throat, a low purr that spoke volumes to say he liked her touch. Tasha bit her lip. She had done this many times, yet never had it been such a sensual act.

“I’m putting on the first stones now,” Tasha explained and was amazed at the huskiness in her tone.

The massage continued with Tasha alternating warm stones on the slick oiliness of his skin. She rubbed them along the lines and contours of his body, and slowly but surely he became pliant and relaxed to the point that he fell asleep. Tasha grinned when she heard the first small snore and kept on with his massage, never deviating pressure or missing any points because he was asleep. Many soldiers came back from the field not being able to sleep or plagued with nightmares. Massages and therapy like this were considered a good way to make them relax, and she was even sent referrals to her center from psychiatrists so they could be treated for mental injuries, not just physical.

By the time she was done, Tasha breathed out a sigh of relief. He was a big man, and the massage took extra time, but she had to admit she did not even care. His scars on the back of his thighs were red and lightly puckered but healing well. She could not imagine the pain he had gone through.

“Ian.” She shook his shoulder gently. “I’m done.”

Ian turned on his side slowly and looked at her. “You’re all done,” she repeated and smiled. His response was to reach up and slip his hand around the back of her neck. His fingers were cool against her skin before he slipped them into her hair and made her scalp tingle. He pulled her down to him, and Tasha did not resist. His lips met hers, and a soft moan escaped her. Ian took that opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth, and she was lost. With her hand braced against the table, their lips parried and played. She was so close she could feel his hardness through the blankets that covered him. If she pushed them back a little, she could have taken his hard length in her hands.

That thought brought reality crashing back into her consciousness. Tasha pushed away from him and took a few steps back while trying to catch her breath.

“I am so sorry!” she gasped. “That was completely unprofessional of me, and I apologize.”

“As far as I could tell, I’m the one who started it,” Ian said calmly. He swung his legs over the side of the table and stood up. The blankets barely concealed his obvious arousal. “If you come back here, maybe I can finish it as well.”

Tasha stared at him, shocked and wanting to say yes all at once. “No…um, no, I don’t think so, Ian. I’m here to treat you, and nothing more. I totally understand if you are uncomfortable with me, and I’m going to assign you a new therapist in the morning.” Tasha wiped her hands on the towel tucked into her waist. “I’ll leave you to get dressed, and I’ll take you home.”

“No,” Ian said.

“Excuse me?” Tasha put her hands on her hips.

“No, I don’t want another therapist. I want you.” Ian’s voice held stubbornness “Corbin said you were the best, so you can’t pass me over to someone else. I want you.”