Page 16 of Sinner's Binding
“I want you to do stretching first. Then I’ll manipulate. Stand up with your feet not more than six inches apart. Bend forward as far as you can. Tell me if it becomes painful. Some stretching discomfort is expected. I mean pain,” I directed.
Reign came to stand before me. He put his backside toward me, then bent forward. He showed good flexibility. His fingertips ended up no more than six inches from the floor.
“Alright, hold it there. I’m going to press along your lower back,” I informed him before I eased closer. My hands touched his back. I swore his skin almost burned me through the fabric. I pressed along the biggest problem area. I listened for sounds of discomfort and/or tightening in his body.
Then, I pressed my thumbs along his spine, traveling up from his hips toward his waist. There was tightness, but thatwasn’t unusual. I noted the few times he tensed, but there was no outcry of pain.
His back was long and so muscular. Clearly, he worked out. I wondered if he’d been doing workouts since the injury. Reluctantly, I stopped touching him.
“You can straighten up. Please lie down on the table with your back facing up.”
Reign stood and made his way to my table without issue. I watched his gait. He was steady, with no hitch in his step. He’d been favoring his right leg a tad when he started. His pain had been affecting that hip and down into the thigh. He smoothly lay down and swung his legs up.
Watching him served two purposes. One, to assess his condition to determine how his treatment plan was working. The other purpose wasn’t professional. It allowed me to enjoy his physical prowess and power. I didn’t know what caused it. I’d worked on plenty of physically fit men in school and since becoming a full-fledged chiropractor. None of them had registered as being more than a strong patient, which usually meant they recovered faster.
However, in Reign Caldwell’s case, it had been more from the moment I met him. My hope that this fascination would fade was forgotten. Instead of fading as we spent time together, it grew worse.
Since Saturday night’s unexpected meeting, I’ve thought so much about him. I had to admit to myself something I didn’t want to. I’d been upset, dare I say even a little jealous, to see him with a woman. The comfort level between them and the way her hand constantly rested on his arm told the story. The two of them were involved, and it seemed more than casual. The vibe was one of closeness and comfort. Casual sex partners never gave that vibe in my experience.
The realization left me in a quandary. How could I hide my inappropriate response to Reign until I could discharge him from my care? I refused to do the cowardly thing and suggested he finish up with someone else. I could do this. It would be different if the attraction were mutual. Plus, I owed Sam my full attention to determine whether we had more than a good friendship with a smattering of allure.
“Do you want me to do something else?” Reign’s deep voice asked, shaking me from my zoning out.
“No, you’re fine as-is. Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a second. I’ll do the same acupressure and massage to loosen you more, and then I’ll manipulate. Try to breathe and relax your body,” I parroted what I’d been saying every session.
Again, the almost scalding heat was transmitted through his shirt to my palms. I traced the contours of his back. I pressed and massaged the tight areas. He let out groans that were pain-filled, yet had that tone of pleasure mixed in. Sexual thoughts tried to invade my mind, but I shoved them away. Finally, I had to stop.
“I think we’re ready to work on your alignment. I’ll start at your shoulders and work my way down. You know the drill. If anything is greatly painful or a new sensation, tell me right away.”
“I will. Go for it,” he mumbled.
I began rotating his neck and shoulders. When I had them where I wanted them, I realigned the joints and ligaments. Sometimes there was an audible snapping. Other times, it was Reign’s moans that guided me. I tried to shut the latter out. I found the sounds he made sexual, making my body flare to life.
I steadily worked down the length of his back until I got to his hips. I rocked them, but they were too tight. My attempts to shift the alignment failed. Knowing what I had to do, butdreading it, I toed the short step stool out from underneath the table.
“Reign, I’ve got to get up higher and see if this works,” I informed him.
He turned his head to glance over his shoulder. Standing on the stool, I put more of my strength into it. Nothing. Damn. After a second failed attempt, I knew what I had to do next. It would be awkward for both of us.
“I need to get more force,” I said, and then I was on my knees next to his hips.
The better thing would be to straddle his thighs to do it, but no way was I attempting that. I was sweating enough as it was. I noted the flare of his eyes, then he spoke.
“Do whatever you deem necessary. I trust you.” Reign uttered.
I had to push and twist twice before the stubborn joints slid into place. The deep, prolonged ahh sound he made told me how good it felt. I pressed on the opposite side, and it clicked, too. Another deeply gratified sound rolled out of him.
His trust made me feel good. If only he knew his chiropractor had indecent sexual dreams about his body daily. He’d run from the room, no doubt hollering for a new chiropractor. Quickly, I got down and pushed in the step stool as I spoke.
“Stay there. I want to apply the warm compresses for fifteen minutes, then I’ll let you up.”
He had to expect this. It was how I preferred to end treatments if medically appropriate. Reign made an affirmative-sounding mumble. I gathered the warmed compresses from the heating unit and laid them where they would do the most good. I went to sit at the small desk where my tablet was waiting. I had his chart pulled up. I began entering my notes. If I were lucky, I’dhave his visit nearly completely documented by the time he left. It was an excuse to remain quiet. Or so I thought.
“How did you and Sam like your dessert Saturday night? I saw you got the lava cake.”
Reign’s unexpected question momentarily shocked me. I scrambled to form an answer, causing a few seconds of delay.
“Oh, it was wonderful. Thank you for the recommendation. We enjoyed it immensely. Although I almost had to hurt him for trying to take more than his share,” I replied, chuckling at the memory of our spoon battle.
