Claimed by a Stranger (Craved Series #2) by Hazel Kelly Page B

and matching
slippers.
     
    “Hello again,”
I said, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. “How are you today?”
     
    “Good,” she
said, her lips pink and shiny.
     
    I searched her
eyes for clues. I wanted to know how she slept, if she lied awake thinking of
me, if she wanted to skip the massage and let me wear her out myself, but I also
wanted to play it cool.
     
    After all, last
night didn’t mean to her what it meant to me. It couldn’t have. It was too
ridiculous to even consider. I’m sure she had her pick of men back home.
     
    “You?” she
asked.
     
    “I’m great,” I
said. “I went on a wonderful date last night with the most gorgeous woman.”
     
    She took a
seat on the bench. “Is that so?”
     
    “Yeah,” I
said, sitting beside her.
     
    She batted her
eyelashes. “Gorgeous, huh?
     
    “You wouldn’t
even believe someone like her existed unless you saw her yourself.”
     
    She rolled her
eyes.
     
    “I know I
didn’t.”
     
    “Funny you
mention that,” she said. “I went on a date myself last night.”
     
    “How was it?”
     
    “Pretty good.”
     
    I raised my
eyebrows. “Pretty good?! That’s all? Pretty good?”
     
    She shrugged
and smiled at me.
     
    “I have half a
mind to rip your robe open right now and see if I can’t change your mind.”
     
    She pursed her
lips. “I’m sure there’s nothing under my robe you haven’t seen before.”
     
    “That’s
exactly why I want to tear it off you so bad.”
     
    She blushed
and glanced down at her lap. “I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve never
had a Thai massage before.”
     
    “Well you’re
in for a treat,” I said. “They’re famous for good reason.”
     
    A few minutes
later, a short Thai woman in a silk purple uniform entered the room and offered
a ceremonious smile. She held the curtain opened and gestured for us to enter. After
ducking past it, we walked down a long hallway to an open door and stepped
inside.
     
    The room was
shaped like a large wooden gazebo and smelled of Jasmine, and the skylights were
covered by leafy green trees so it wasn’t too bright.
     
    In the center
of the room, another masseuse was waiting. She bowed when we entered and handed
each of us a thin tunic to put on before pointing to opposite corners of the
room, each featuring an ornate room divider for us to change behind.
     
    I hated the
idea of Audrey being naked in the room with me and not being able to see her,
but I did my best to be a gentleman, reminding myself that I had all day to
make a move and that it would be easier once the masseuse did the hard work for
me.
     
    Once I’d
changed, I came around the room divider and saw both masseuses kneeling on the
ground next to thin mats that were lying parallel on the floor. Audrey stepped
out a moment later and the women gestured for us to lie down.
     
    As soon as I
sat down, I spoke to Audrey’s masseuse briefly in Thai. The woman looked down
at Audrey’s bandaged foot before nodding back at me, and I was relieved that my
words had come out right.
     
    “I thought you
said you could only read menus?” Audrey asked.
     
    “I looked it
up this morning. Thought it might come in handy.”
     
    “Thanks,” she
said. “It was nice of you to go to the trouble.”
     
    “It’s nothing.
Besides, I can’t have her messing up my fine work now, can I?” I smiled and lay
down on my back. “And don’t be a hero,” I said. “Let her know if she’s being
too firm.”
     
    “Okay.” Audrey
lay down and rested her head on the small folded towel behind her. 
     
    For an hour
and a half the woman kneaded my body until it felt like a soft pudding, working
down from my head to my toes, guiding me into all kinds of different sitting
and lying positions.
     
    As always, despite
the fact that the masseuse had hands the size of a small child’s, the strength
in her fingers and palms blew me away. I couldn’t help but be impressed with
her skill as I enjoyed