Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

W hile Andrea had prepared for the massage with extra care, knowing Dean was her client, her nerves continued to build as she waited for him to change. Before he'd arrived, she'd dimmed the lights to a soothing level and selected a calming playlist, something she did for every client.

The scent of lavender and eucalyptus filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere. She hoped it would help him relax, especially after the difficult night he'd had at the hospital.

Everyone at the camp who knew him and Sophia worried for them both.

When he had finally arrived, he'd looked exhausted. His eyes were heavy with sleeplessness and worry. Then she'd seen the bruise on his jaw and her worry had doubled.

When she finally stepped into the therapy room to find him sitting on the table with a towel wrapped around his hips, her body started to vibrate with excitement.

"Thanks for doing this," he said, glancing towards her.

"You look like you could use some serious relaxation," she replied, her voice soft.

He chuckled weakly. "You have no idea." He rolled his shoulders.

She motioned for him to get settled as she dimmed the lights a little more.

As he settled onto the massage table, she draped the towel over his lower back then warmed the lotions and oils on her hands before touching him.

She started with long gentle strokes, allowing him to adjust to her touch. His muscles were tense, practically vibrating with stress.

"How's Sophia?" she asked, keeping her tone gentle.

"Better," he sighed. "She's stable, but it was a rough night. I barely got any sleep sitting in that hospital chair."

She nodded, her hands working methodically. "I can tell. Let's see if we can work out some of this tension."

She began to apply more pressure, her fingers digging into the knots that had formed in his shoulders and neck. Dean winced slightly but then let out a sigh as the pressure started to ease his discomfort.

"That feels amazing," he murmured.

"Good," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

As she worked out the kinks in his shoulders, neck, and back, she couldn't help but admire his physique. Dean's body was lean and muscular, each muscle defined and strong. She appreciated the way his skin felt under her hands, warm and slightly rough from years of physical work. But it was more than just his body that she admired—it was his dedication to his sister, his strength in the face of adversity, and his unwavering kindness.

He was one of the biggest peacekeepers on campus. He seemed to always be the one to break up fights and convince everyone not to throw punches.

Her eyes moved to the bruise on his jaw. There was no doubt in her mind he'd done everything possible to stop Luke from throwing a punch. The man deserved to sit in a cell for it.

She moved down his back, using her palms to apply firm pressure along his spine. Dean's breathing slowed, and she could feel him starting to fully relax. She focused on the knots in his lower back, using her thumbs to knead out the tension.

"Tell me if it's too much," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Itz perrffect," he replied, his voice muffled and heavy with relaxation.

As she continued, her thoughts wandered. It scared her that she felt a deeper connection to him than anyone else she'd wanted to be with. The desire to be there for him in ways beyond just a friend or coworker was so strong it hurt when she thought about it.

Would being with him be a mistake? Would it ruin the friendship they had? Her mind swirled until she felt her own body tensing.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on helping him find some peace in the moment.

She worked her way down his legs, using long, sweeping motions to release the tension in his calves and thighs. Dean's body was responding, each muscle gradually loosening under her skilled hands. She could feel the stress melting away, replaced by a calm that she hoped would give him some respite.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked, her hands moving back up to his shoulders.

"Like I might actually get some sleep tonight," Dean said with a soft chuckle. "You're a miracle worker."

She smiled, her heart instantly warming at his words. "I'm glad I could help."

When she finished the massage, she could tell he was sleeping. She draped a blanket softly over him, letting him rest for a moment while she cleaned up.

Then, before she left the room, she watched him breathe deeply, his body finally fully at ease. She felt a surge of emotions for him, a protective instinct that went beyond friendship. Love? She shook her head. She didn't love. Hadn't loved. Couldn't love.

She was just reaching for the door when Dean surprised her and sat up. He looked much more relaxed and smiled at her after blinking a few times.

"Thanks. I really needed that," he mumbled.

"Any time," she said sincerely. "You know where to find me."

He smiled, and there was something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. "I do."

He stood up and, before she could respond, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. His touch was as light as hers had been during the massage. At any point she could have moved away. Only, she didn't want to.

Instead, while her fingers spread out on his chest, she nudged him back towards the table as she reached for the towel that rode low on his hips.

His fingers circled her wrists, stopping her from pulling the towel away.

"Andrea." His voice was a low growl, no doubt meant to be a warning.

"Dean." She smiled up at him.

"I thought you said we should wait. That this mattered."

"It does matter and yes, we should wait." She smiled. "Still, we agreed there was plenty we could do for fun without actually having sex."

He sighed. "If you touch me now, I may not be able to…"

"What? Control yourself?" She smiled. "Everything I know about you assures me that you won't force yourself on me."

"No." He jerked back as if he'd been slapped or punched. "I'd never…"

She reached for the towel and, before he could complain, she yanked it off his hips.

"Shit," he said, trying to cover himself.

"I thought so." She smiled as she easily blocked him from hiding from her. "You're built everywhere."

He groaned and shut his eyes. "I feel like one of those creepers you mentioned who—how did you put it the other day?—tents the sheets."

She chuckled. "You're not a creeper." She pushed her body up against his. "I'm the one making the moves on you," she said before brushing her lips across his. "Besides, I never used the word creep. For most men, this"—she reached down and circled his erection—"is a natural state when something feels good."

"God." He closed his eyes and leaned back against the table.

She used her fingertips to nudge him to sit back down on the edge of the table. Then she knelt and settled between his thighs. When she took him into her mouth, his entire body jerked.

"Easy," she warned. "Don't make me have to give you another massage so you can relax again."

He chuckled and she smiled as she went back to enjoying the taste and feel of him in her mouth.

She'd enjoyed all sorts of sexual encounters over the years. She hadn't limited those experiences to men and, even though she'd never been in a relationship with a woman, she hadn't ruled out the possibility.

Still, the feel of a man's dick was easily one of her favorite things. Dean's body was something she could spend a lifetime enjoying.

Her short nails dug into his skin as she worked her mouth all over him, traveling everywhere she could until the taste of him consumed her mind. Dean's fingers dug into her hair, gently holding her to him.

Moments later, Dean jerked back, lifted her up to the table, and reversed their positions. Her shorts were balled at her feet as his fingers ran over her body.

All gentleness was gone as he explored her like she'd done him. Leaning back, she yanked off her shirt and tossed it to the ground.

She had never been one for shyness. Not when it came to her body and pleasure.

When she went to remove her bra, he stopped her and reached up and unclasped it himself. His hands gripped her breasts as he trailed his mouth all over her.

"You taste like honey," he said against her belly. "Smell like sin," he growled. Then he shifted her up until she sat on the edge of the table with her legs spread wide. When his tongue darted inside her, she cried out as her body convulsed with one of the most powerful orgasms she'd ever experienced. Her entire body tingled and exploded for him.

What would it be like to be fully with him?

How would she survive it?

She felt Dean shift and when she opened her eyes, he was hovering over her, looking deep into her eyes.

"You okay?" he asked with a grin.

She nodded slightly. "You?"

He chuckled. "I have never seen anything like the fireworks that just took place." He pulled her close, his eyes running over her face.

She smiled. "That was nothing compared to the full show."

He chuckled, the deep sound vibrating their bodies.

"Soon," he said, and she didn't know if it was a promise or a threat.

Just then, they both heard someone knocking on the outer door.

"Shit." She glanced at her watch. "That's probably Kara." She fumbled for her clothes.

Dean stood back and waited until she was dressed again as he wrapped the towel around his hips once more.

"Thanks, for helping me relax," he said once she was fully clothed.

She stopped with her hand on the door. "Any time. Take your time getting dressed. The other rooms are ready." Before walking out, she rushed over and kissed him once more. She smiled. "I hope your sister gets better."

He nodded and she rushed out and greeted Kara and her waiting clients.

She didn't see him leave and, for the rest of her workday, her mind kept replaying what they'd done. How he'd made her feel so much. So alive. Far more than ever before.

She couldn't help smiling the rest of the day, even when something went wrong, such as the downpour of rain that happened just as she was walking to her car.

By the time she got behind the wheel, she was soaking wet and laughing.

Even the voice message her mother had left earlier when she'd been in with a client didn't dim her spirits.

Only when she was making herself a sandwich for dinner and her mother called once more, did her lightheartedness dim.

"Hey, Mom," she said, setting the food down on her kitchen table. The rain was still coming down outside, which meant that she'd be eating dinner inside.

"What's this I hear about you not wanting to help your sister out with her charity event?" her mother said in the tone she always got just before she chewed her out for the next hour.

In the end, she promised her mother she'd see if there was any possibility the camp could squeeze in her sister's charity event.

Her mother always took her sister's side of things. Especially now that Amy and her husband paid for her rent in an upscale high-rise apartment building that overlooked the Gulf.

The next morning, she arrived at the camp half an hour earlier than normal. Seeing Julie behind the desk at the computer, she walked over.

"Morning, Julie." Andrea leaned on the counter. Julie and Damion had welcomed their daughter, Malia Angelia, the year before when they'd taken a yearlong sail on their boat to visit Julie's family in Hawaii.

Now they were back at work and building their dream home not far from the campgrounds.

Julie looked up, smiling warmly. "Morning, Andrea! What brings you in so early?"

Andrea hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I need a favor. And I know it's a big one."

Julie's eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What's up?"

"Well." Andrea began shifting her weight. "My sister is trying to organize this charity event, and she's adamant about having it in the main dining hall at the camp. The problem is, the main hall is booked solid, I checked the schedule. Anyway, she's not taking no for an answer. What can be done, if anything, to help out?"

Julie frowned slightly, thinking. "We've been fully booked for months. But let me see what I can do." She started clicking through her calendar on the computer.

"I know it's a lot to ask," Andrea said, her voice a bit strained. "And I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. My mother's really pressuring me on this."

Julie looked up, meeting Andrea's eyes with a sympathetic gaze. "Family can be tough. We've all been there. Let's see…We might be able to move some things around, but it's going to be tight. What's the date she's looking at?"

Andrea quickly relayed the details, watching as Julie's fingers flew over the keyboard. She admired how efficient and competent Julie was, always managing to find solutions.

After a few minutes, Julie sighed and looked up. "Okay, I think we can make it work, but it's going to require a lot of juggling. I'll need to talk to a few people and see if we can get some guests to agree to slight changes in their schedules. We can do the main hall, and if the weather holds that weekend, she can have the entire outside patio area as well, which will allow for more guests."

"Thank you. Seriously, I owe you big time for this," Andrea said, relief washing over her while at the same time a knot formed in her stomach. If she pulled this off, that meant she'd have to deal with her sister and everyone in her circle for the evening.

Julie waved her off. "Don't worry about it. We're a team here, and we help each other out. Plus, it's for a good cause, right?"

Andrea nodded, feeling a bit sick. "Absolutely. And again, thank you. I know my sister can be…demanding."

Julie chuckled. "I've heard stories from Damion. But hey, if you need any help dealing with her, you know where to find me."

Andrea smiled. "I appreciate that. And congrats on the new house, by the way. It must be nice to be back and settling in."

"It is," Julie replied, her eyes lighting up. "Malia's loving it too. We're just taking things one day at a time."

Andrea nodded. "Sounds perfect. Well, I'll leave you to it. Thanks again, Julie."

"No problem. I'll let you know as soon as I have an update."

As Andrea walked away, she realized just how wonderful it was to have such supportive colleagues. She hoped that this favor would smooth things over with her family, at least for a little while. She couldn't shake the feeling of being caught between her sister's demands and her own life, but knowing she had friends like Julie made it a bit easier to manage.