Page 28 of Heartsmashed
“It’s easier to manipulate on bare skin, but whatever you’re comfortable with,” I said.
I expected more hesitation on his part, but Sawyer immediately dragged his shirt up and over his head, careless and unthinking, like it didn’t matter.
And it didn’t. I could look at this like a job. Find the tension, work it out, keep it professional.
He tossed the shirt aside and climbed onto the mattress, and I tried and failed not to notice him.
The warm, sun-kissed tone of his skin even though summer was long gone, the broad lines of his back that projected a strength he kept covered up—which was a damn shame.
Sawyer was gorgeous, and he didn’t even seem to know it.
I was so caught up in the way his muscles shifted as he moved to his stomach that it took me longer than it should’ve to realize he was ready and waiting for me.
His skin was warm beneath my hands as I ran them over the entirety of his neck and shoulders, getting a good feel for the places he needed extra attention.
“Feels good,” he said, closing his eyes. “You’re really good at that.”
“I’ve had practice.” I moved my fingers along the line of his shoulder, pressing and working the tension out slowly. “Just relax.”
“I amveryrelaxed.”
I worked deeper into the muscle, pressing my thumb into the knot, and Sawyer let out a breath that sounded more like a groan.
“Oh yeah. Don’t stop,” he murmured, and no, I wasnottaking that in any other way than how he meant it.
“Wasn’t planning to.” I adjusted my stance beside the bed, my knee on the mattress to get a better angle. My hands moved slower, more deliberately as I worked the tension out of his body, feeling the way he melted beneath my touch. I’d done thisa million times. It should’ve been routine and mechanical, just another body, another injury.
But nothing about this felt routine—how every small reaction he made had my cock taking notice. The way his breathing changed, the way his fingers flexed in the sheets, and, God, the sound he made when I hit the exact right spot.
“You weren’t kidding about being good at this,” he said, his eyes still shut. “Beckett and his magical hands.”
You should see what else I can do with them,I thought as I slid my hands a little lower, following the line of tension. Sawyer gasped, his back tightening instinctively before easing again.
“Oh yeah, that’s the one,” he said. “I’m definitely keeping you around.”
“Not going anywhere.”
“Good.” He went temporarily quiet as I continued to work him over, then said, “This really is bullshit, though.”
“What? Injuries from the Worm?”
“That’s on my list too. I was talking more about the fact that not only are you my perfect, offensively hot fake boyfriend, not only can you apparently win over my entire family in one night, but you can also dothis?” He let out a disbelieving laugh. “It’s a lot.”
“Offensivelyhot, huh?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” he said, a smile in his voice. “But yes. It’s rude, honestly. There must be a flaw somewhere.”
“Not one I’m broadcasting.”
“Well, there’s where I went wrong. That’s all I do.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being honest.” My fingers moved up the curve of his neck, and he shivered. “You wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s refreshing.”
“You don’t have to say that because I’m paying you.” His tone was teasing, but there was something self-conscious behind it.
“I wouldn’t say anything I don’t mean, Sawyer. Not even for money.”
He went silent, but I felt the way the air changed between us as I continued to work out the knots in his body. It was charged. Heated. I was all too aware of him, and the way his pulse kicked up told me he was feeling it too.
