Candace Havens - Mission - Seduction

“Okay.” His voice sounded strained.

She cleared her throat, stifling the urge to smile. Yes, she definitely had an effect on him.

Last night, she’d promised herself she would be a good friend to the marine and get him back into tip-top shape.

But knowing he wanted her as much as she did him—at least she hoped—changed the game entirely.

* * *

AN HOUR LATER, Rafe showed up at the spa wearing a crisp white T-shirt and royal-blue board shorts.

The man could have been a model the way he wore clothes.

Kelly ushered him into one of the Zen rooms, as they called them. She lit a candle and switched on some soothing music.

“Strip down, okay? That way the therapist can work on your hip.”

“Got it,” he said.

“We always ask if you would like a silent massage. Some people like to have only music without any talking so they can relax. Other people need the chatter because they may not be comfortable with someone touching them so—intimately. The choice is yours.”

He nodded. “I like the idea of the quiet one,” he said, his face a mask.

Oh, yes, this would work out perfectly.

“Excellent, so the masseur will be in shortly. When you are undressed and on the table facedown, you can push the button to the right.” She pointed to a small panel next to the massage table.

Then she left.

While he stripped, she changed into a white T-shirt, which she knotted under her breasts, and a pair of short gray workout shorts.

Once the light flipped on above the door, she entered.

Rafe was facedown on the table, a sheet covering his lower half.

Coating her hands in oil and eucalyptus, Kelly smoothed one hand down his back. Two small scars peppered his shoulder and there were three more on the right hip.

Poor Rafe. Most people had no idea how much these guys suffered for their country. Heart swelling with pride, it was all she could do not to lean down and kiss each scar. She moved on to his shoulders, his body relaxed and his breathing slowed. Her fingers dug into the tendons between his neck and right shoulder and she heard him groan slightly as the tension gave way.

When she reached his scalp, he let out a deep breath.

Kelly grinned. That she could bring him such relief was a balm for her soul. Massaging his temples, she felt him jerk suddenly.

“Kelly,” his deep voice rasped.

How had he known it was her?

“Is something wrong?” she asked lightly. “Is the pressure too much?”

“No, I was—uh—just surprised that you were the one doing the massage. I thought you said someone named Mason was doing it.”

“His current client requested an extra thirty minutes. Would you rather have a male? I’m sorry. I would’ve asked if I thought it would be a problem.”

Liar.

“No. That’s fine.” Rafe coughed. “Could I have some water?”

“Sure,” she said as she wiped her hands on a towel. She handed him a bottle of water she’d brought in just in case he needed it.

He lifted his head so that he could drink, and his gaze met her face.

“Hi,” he said. That one word was filled with so much desire that she felt it in her bones.

“Hi,” she said back. “In case you’re wondering about the massage, I am licensed. All the surfers on my pro team are trained so that we can help each other during competitions if we get beat up a little. Competition sites don’t always have chiropractors or massage therapists available.”

He took a long drink and then handed the bottle of water back to her.

“I believe you,” he said before putting his face back into the horseshoe-shaped hole at the top of the table. “If you don’t mind, maybe we could just focus on my back and legs for now.”

“Rafe, if you’re worried about tents rising in the middle of the massage, don’t.” She couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud. “Massage is a sensual experience. If it makes you feel any better, I can put extra towels over your pelvis, but I need to get deep down into those upper thigh and hip muscles if we want to do something about the source of your pain.”

He didn’t say anything.

“And for the record,” she stated, in her best professional sounding voice, “that happens a lot with me. In fact, it’s more unusual if it doesn’t.”

“You mean, almost every guy you massage gets, uh, aroused for you?” He didn’t sound happy about that news.

“Not for me, silly. It’s the body’s natural response given the circumstances.” She was being clinical, but when it came to Rafe, she was anything but. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on his body.

“I don’t like the idea of you working on guys like that. I mean, it doesn’t seem safe. Some might try to take advantage of the situation and...”

Kelly gave an unladylike snort. “I don’t do happy endings, Rafe. I’m a professional, but not that kind.”

He sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you were. It’s just that— Oh hell, I give up.”

“Let’s get you back into that relaxed state,” she said as her hands slid down his back again. She liked that he was slightly possessive and didn’t want her touching other men. Usually, she didn’t go for that type of guy, but with Rafe it was damn sexy.

* * *

Relaxed? Not likely. Rafe squeezed his eyes shut.

Why did he feel so protective toward this woman? The idea that Kelly touched other men in this way—it turned his gut.

What is wrong with you?

And how many times had he asked himself that question since he’d arrived at Last Resort? He didn’t want to admit it, but he knew exactly what was wrong with him. He had it bad for Mimi’s sister—in the worst possible way. In fact, he had it in a way that he’d never had before. This innate interest in her and need to take care of her was something completely new to him.

Sweet and so gorgeous, Kelly took his breath away. He had never believed in the ideal woman. The sexy woman, the fun woman, the marrying woman, even the nurturing woman, but Kelly filled all those categories and more. When he’d opened his eyes and saw her bright pink toenail polish, he’d nearly jumped off the massage table.

Strong, smooth hands pummeled and pushed his body. His cock was so hard that it hurt. Slim fingers worked the muscles in his upper right thigh and hip.

“Wow, you have a lot of tension here,” she said as she used her elbow to press effectively into his flesh.

No joke. If she could see his pelvis, she’d run for the hills. Tent nothing—he had a battleship underneath, ready to go to war with those precious hands of hers.

“Time to turn over.” She held up the sheet to give him some privacy. He couldn’t do it.

Ripping the sheet from her hands, he tightened it around himself as he rolled awkwardly off the table. Scooping up his shorts with one hand, he ran for the door. It was a full-on strategic retreat. He was not here to seduce Mimi’s sister. And yet, if he let her put her hands on him one more time, then that was exactly what would happen.

“Rafe?”

He couldn’t look back.

“Uh, I think I left the coffeemaker on in my room,” he said as he threw open the door.

Her soft, hesitant laugh caught him as he double-timed it out of the building.

She knew as well as he did that there were no coffeemakers in the rooms.

Standing under the cold spray of the shower in his room, Rafe tried to calm himself down, but it was impossible. He made the water warmer and grasped his cock.

Memories of Kelly flashed through his brain. Kelly on her surfboard, so free and happy. Kelly in her sexy pink yoga clothes. Kelly with that flat, tanned stomach under her knotted T-shirt. The woman was driving him mad with wanting her, and she was absolutely clueless.