Posted by Rebecca on 4/3/2014, 12:11 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
I went with photo #4, in the hot tub.....eventually
In Boiling Water
Nora found herself stretched out, face down on the soft massage table with a white sheet wrapped around her torso. Ever since Serenity Springs had reopened, she had been meaning to come out and enjoy a spa day, and today was that day.
Of course between too many court appearances scheduled, a missing textbook of Matthew’s, and a broken heel on her favorite pair of shoes, it hadn’t been the best day.
She smiled to herself, it had to get better, right? At least she hadn’t had a run in with Bo.
Not that she was avoiding him of course, but it seemed like every time they saw each other they would come to verbal blows. They were parenting Matthew together well and hoped to tell him soon that Bo was his father. No worries there, Bo was an excellent father. In the office, they were pretty much always on the same side. No, she decided, she couldn’t quite put her finger on what their issue was but it was palpable, so much so that others had started to mention it.
Deep breath, Nora, she told herself. Enjoy the relaxation!
Just then, she heard the door open and then close. “Ms. Hanen? I’m Amy, and I’ll be handling your massage today. I’ll just get my oils and be right back.”
“Sounds good, thanks,” she murmured.
A few minutes later she felt the sheet being pulled off her back and the cool air of the room wash down her spine just to above where the terrycloth wrap circled her hips. As the hands purposefully began to knead her back muscles she let out an involuntary moan.
“That feels wonderful.”
Amy didn’t respond but the hands continued to move and in places, focused on some really tight spots before brushing through some lighter caresses.
Yes, Nora thought to herself, this was what I needed.
Within a few minutes, she was so relaxed she felt her eyes close. She wasn’t sure if she’d actually fallen asleep but when the towel at her hips was nudged lower, she was instantly alert.
“Amy?”
“Um, no, Amy was called away on some important spa business. My name is Jacques and I will take over for the rest of the massage.”
“Bo!”
“No, really, my name is Jacques and I come from a small village in France where I learned my craft.”
“You’ve never even been to France.”
“Mais non! I know all about the french fries, the french toast, and the french kiss.”
Before Nora could turn around to face him, he kneaded a path down her spine that he recalled she used to enjoy.
“What are you even doing here?”
“Well, as I said, my name is Jacques. I was visiting your picturesque town and learned of the rebirth of the spa, Serenity Springs. So, I invested a little to help it get, how do you say, off the ground. Your English language, it is so quaint, is it not?”
“Bo?!” the exasperation could be heard, but he could tell she was enjoying his ministrations.
“Come on, Red! You used to like it when I was a little creative.”
“Just tell me what you’re doing here.”
Bo refocused his efforts on the massage, pleased with himself when his actions elicited a moan or a gasp. In between the deeper tissue rubs, he let his hand brush down against the side of her ribcage and when he worked lower down on her back, he allowed his strong fingers to push the towel down a little further at each stroke.
“I had an epiphany.”
“Hmm,” Nora responded sarcastically, “don’t keep me hanging, I can hardly wait.”
“We’ve been going at it a lot recently, especially during the day when we’re at work.”
“I know.”
“And it occurred to me that what we’re actually doing is not arguing, but flirting.”
“Flirting?”
“Yeah, you know, foreplay, sexual banter.”
“I know what flirting is, Bo. Why do you think that’s what we’re doing?”
“When Matthew is around, we’re perfectly normal. But, when it’s just us, it’s no holds barred. And it’s been pointed out to me that perhaps I goad you to get a certain reaction out of you because I find it attractive.”
“Do we have a department shrink I don’t know about? Don’t stop the massage there buddy, I paid for a full hour.”
Bo laughed, “No, there’s no shrink, but I trust the source well enough.”
“Was it John?”
“No”
“Marci?”
“No. It was Clint. Apparently Natalie has been telling her Dad about how we’ve been duking it out at work and he gave me a call with his little hypothesis.”
“Ah, so this is an experiment then?”
“This? No, this is a massage. With a little light petting.”
“More massage and less petting, Jacques.”
“You don’t mean that!”
Nora laughed. The whole world knew she’d never fallen out of love with Bo. It was only the bizarre situations with Georgie, Sam and Lindsey among others that had been a stumbling block that had ended their marriage.
“I do mean that, especially if that door is unlocked.”
“It’s not, I locked it when I came in.”
“Hmmm, then massage and some petting, I guess.”
“I guess? Are you not sure if you want me to touch you?” he leaned down and whispered near her ear, tugging on the towel a bit harder than before.
“More rub, less talk, Frenchie.”
***************
Nora circled her arms around Bo’s neck after they had climbed into the hot tub, both fully relaxed after their earlier session. “So, these massage skills of yours…are they available on an as needed basis?”
“Perhaps,” he leaned forward and nipped at her lips as she continued talking.
“Well, if I were to require your services again would that mean that I was your only customer?”
Bo pulled back, more sharply than she expected. “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”
Nora smiled flirtatiously, and a little more seriously. “I’m not a good sharer, so I would need to know if you’re, you know….”
“Red, I just want you.”
They both met each other’s gaze and connected, both accepting the declaration that had been made.
After a few moments, Nora teased, “And what about Jacques?”
“What about him?”
“Does he get to come out and play from time to time?”
“But of course, ma chere, but only for you.”
“Your accent might need a little more work.”
“You are correct absolument, so I will continue with regular and frequent experimentation with the French fries, the French toast, and the French kiss.”