Chapter 14: On the Edge
Nash swallowed hard, his throat dry.
He moved forward. Sat beside her, on his knees, at her left. His hands rubbed lotion together again. Slow. Careful. The sound of his palms slicking was too loud in the quiet room.
Zayela lay facedown on the mat. Topless. Head turned away from him. Hair draped down the far side of her face. Her shoulders looked relaxed, but her back was taut. She was holding something in.
"I keep my word," he said quietly.
And then his hands touched her bare skin.
Warm. Smooth. Soft in a way that made his pulse spike. Lotion mixed with sweat beneath his palms, slippery and hot. He started slow, tracing the top of her shoulders with flat fingers, easing pressure into the muscle. She didn’t react right away.
Then, his palms glided down the ridge of her spine. His thumbs rode the natural curve. Each movement dragged more heat from under her skin.
The sweat made it worse. Or better. He couldn’t decide. Her body was warm under his hands. Glistening. Her back rising and falling in small, shallow breaths.
He didn’t say anything.
But in his head?
He was breaking.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck—Zay.