Free Bed of Lies by Paula Roe Page A

slice of memory twinged, but he thrust it back. “A demanding career and relationships don’t mix.”
    “That’s a bit of a broad statement. Maybe you just haven’t met the right woman.”
    “Trust me, I know.” He grunted, swallowing a groan as she shifted her hands. “And I meet plenty of women.”
    “I see.”
    She continued in silence, and pride demanded he keep it that way, but when she caught a particularly tight spot, a hiss escaped his clenched teeth. And through the somewhat painful movements, he could feel himself getting aroused.
    It was the thought of her standing over him, touching him with her firm, skilled hands that stirred his blood.
    Then she reached his shoulders and silence flew out the window with a ragged gasp.
    “You’re pretty tight up here,” she said, concern threading her voice.
    Luke muttered something and tried to shake off the pleasant fantasy of Beth naked and massaging him all over. She shifted to stand at the head of the table, her body bent forward over his shoulders while her palms stretched and rubbed down his left arm. Her toes came into view—long, elegant digits with nails painted a soft coral, strapped into well-worn sandals. He also noticed that her second toes were longer than her big ones and the one on the left bore a silver ring with a green stone in the center.
    Sucking on those toes would be…
    He squeezed his eyes shut as she dug around for such long, agonizing seconds that he wondered if his circulation would cut out. Finally, she took pity on him, easing off until he relaxed with barely disguised relief.
    “You should do this more often. It’ll hurt less.” She gently squeezed his trapezius and was rewarded with a sharp hiss. “See what I mean?”
    He grunted.
    Beth patted his shoulder. “Don’t try to talk. I know it’s a big effort holding all that groaning in.”
    “I’m trying to maintain a dignified silence.”
    She chuckled, bending close to his ear. “You don’t have to. Let it all out.”
    Her whispery breath sent a shock of heat to his groin. Now all he could think of were their sweaty bodies, Beth groaning beneath him. And above him. All he could feel was the soft brush of her cotton shirt against his hair. And her hands touching every part of him. He itched to reach out and grab a handful of her luscious, rounded butt.
    She was driving him crazy, as if punishing him for something.
    He felt punished. It was retribution for letting the past weeks build up, for not seeking professional help sooner, just like Beth said.
    She walked around the table, returning to his lower back, fingers trailing across his skin. Lust tensed him up. She must have felt it because she said, “No, no. Don’t do that.”
    “What?”
    “Tighten your lower back. Here.” Her hands began to knead the troubled spot. Luke groaned. It was a different kind of pain this time. His tight groin pressed unbearably against the unyielding table while his mind ran riot. And he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
    “You finished yet?” He finally got out.
    “Hang on, I’ve still got to—”
    “Thanks. That’s okay.” He pulled himself up, grabbed his shirt and yanked it over his head.
    After a moment’s fumbling with the lower buttons, he took a breath, then another, before he got his body under control. And now with his untucked shirt hiding any lingering evidence, he turned back to face her.
    She looked astonished and confused while he ached uncomfortably. Dammit.
    “I should go and get a shower.” Yet he made no attempt to leave.
    “Okay.” Beth wiped her hands on a towel and tried not to let her disappointment show. He was uptight again and that pretty much kicked all her good work out the window.
    She glanced at him, intending only to linger a moment but instead ended up staring. A faint sheen of sweat hugged the shirt to his chest, a chest sprinkled with dark hair that tapered down until the buttons hindered her view.
    The breath she swallowed dried her