Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
A soft humidity greeted them, wrapping Serena in a gentle warmth that made the air feel almost velvety against her skin. Overhead, glass panels revealed slivers of the night sky. The gentle trickle of a miniature waterfall provided a soothing soundtrack, its cascading water splashing into a pool ringed with smooth stones.
Towering ferns and tropical palms stretched upward, their leaves rustling softly whenever a stray breeze found its way inside. Vibrant orchids clung to patches of mossy bark, their vivid petals catching Serena’s eye at every turn.
The pathway meandered through the lush interior. Each turn revealed more exotic botanicals and impossibly colored flowers in full bloom. A waterfall resonated like rain in the distance. It felt like paradise.
“Oh, wow,” Serena breathed. Warm, fragrant air enveloped them. “I had no idea something like this was hiding inside a mountain lodge.”
Theo grinned. “It’s one of my favorite spots. Peaceful, don’t you think?”
A sudden flurry of squawks made Serena jump. High in the branches of a potted tree perched several parrots, their brightly colored feathers standing out against the deep greens. The nearest one bobbed its head and spoke in a clear voice. “Looking lovely! Looking lovely!”
Another piped up, flapping its wings. “Such a pretty pair!”
Serena’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed. “They’re quite talkative.”
Theo chuckled, tilting his head to address the birds. “They’re famously flirty, too. Don’t be surprised if they start giving us love advice.”
On cue, one parrot gave a playful whistle. “Sweet hearts! Sweet hearts!” it squawked, as if blessing them as a couple.
“It’s adorable,” Serena said, taking a few steps closer so she could see the parrots hopping from branch to branch.
“They are the descendants of a pair that belonged to Juliette and Levi Blackthorn when they first got together.”
Serena smiled, feeling her heart flutter. The sweet perfume of orchids drifted around them, and something about the moment—maybe the wine, maybe the gentle hush of the waterfall—nudged her to be bold. She turned to him, and before she knew it, her hands were sliding up the lapels of his jacket.
A spark of realization flashed across Theo’s face, and he bent his head, capturing her mouth in a sudden, heated kiss. For a moment, all she could sense was the warmth of his lips, the rush of his breath. The pounding of her own heartbeat drowned out the parrots’ chatter, and the greenhouse air turned even headier. She tasted the faint hint of wine on his tongue, felt his hand press gently at the small of her back, urging her closer.
When they finally broke apart, Serena’s pulse thundered in her ears. She looked up into his eyes, breathless and a little lightheaded. “I… I guess we should get to our appointment,” she managed, though her voice held more than a note of reluctance.
He let out a soft laugh, resting his forehead against hers. “Yeah. But that was worth a little delay.”
She threaded her fingers through his, and they walked together toward the exit. Even as they left the moment behind, Serena couldn’t shake the lingering sweetness of that kiss—or the promise that it hinted at. They walked out of the atrium hand in hand toward an elevator tucked discreetly beside the lodge’s main staircase.
They stepped inside after the elevator doors slid open. Theo pressed a button, giving her a reassuring wink. When they reached the basement, they stepped into a softly lit corridor. Warm sconces lined the walls, and plush carpet muted their footsteps. They were met by two spa attendants, dressed in earth-toned uniforms.
“Good evening,” said one the woman. “Welcome to our Candlelight Massage service. We’ve been expecting you.”
She beckoned them to follow. “I’ll show you to your changing rooms,” she said, leading them around a corner to a softly lit alcove.
They stopped at a pair of doors marked with discreet signs. “Ladies,” the attendant said with a gentle nod to Serena, “and Gentlemen,” she added for Theo. “Inside, you’ll find robes and slippers waiting on the bench. Feel free to leave your belongings in the lockers provided.”
Serena slipped inside the small but elegant dressing room, inhaling the faint aroma of lavender. A cushioned bench stood against one wall, and on it lay a folded plush robe embroidered with the lodge’s name, along with soft terry slippers. The locker door stood ajar, inviting her to store her clothes and handbag. She traced her fingertips along the robe’s fluffy sleeve, absorbing the moment—this was more luxurious than anything she’d experienced in a while.
Across the wall, a large mirror reflected her wide-eyed look of anticipation. She exhaled, letting go of her lingering nerves, then quickly changed out of her clothes. As she slipped into the robe, the fabric was warm and comforting against her skin, making her shoulders relax.
Outside, the soft murmur of trickling water and muted chime music underscored the spa’s calm. Once dressed in the robe and slippers, she stepped back into the corridor. She found Theo outside the men’s changing area.
The spa attendant reappeared, guiding them toward frosted-glass doors further down the corridor. “Your Candlelight Massage awaits.”
The attendant led them into a spacious chamber. Flickering candles lined a low shelf, their warm glow dancing over walls painted in serene shades of blue and gray. Moonlight streamed through enormous windows that overlooked the rippling waters of Fate Lake.
Set at the center of the room were two massage tables, draped in plush white linens. Near each table stood a neatly arranged collection of hot stones, black and smooth. A mix of sandalwood and jasmine scented the air, and Serena felt her shoulders loosen just from the soothing fragrance alone.
“Whenever you’re ready,” whispered a soft-spoken masseuse. Another masseuse by the second table mirrored the invitation with a kind smile. Serena and Theo exchanged a glance, and they moved toward their respective tables parted by a privacy screen. The attendants left momentarily for them to get situated on their tables.
Serena slipped off her robe and settled onto the massage table, lying face down beneath a warm sheet. She could faintly hear Theo doing the same beside her. Every brush of cool air against her skin heightened her senses, while the hush of the spa magnified her awareness of his presence.
Moments later, as the masseuse poured oil onto her skin, Serena caught the faint aroma of almond and castor oil. The first smooth stone pressed against the muscles of her back, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. The stone’s warmth seemed to melt away tension she hadn’t even realized she was carrying. She let her eyes drift shut, fully conscious of Theo’s table only a few steps away. The knowledge that he was right there in this shared moment made her heart flutter.
She could sense the flow of the masseuse’s practiced hands gliding stones over her shoulders, down her arms, and across her lower back in a slow, rhythmic pattern. With each shift of heated stone, Serena felt her inner cougar relax in response. Across the gently lit space, she heard the soft hiss of Theo inhaling, presumably feeling a similar release of tension under his masseuse’s careful work.
At one point, the masseuses invited them to turn over so they could place stones along their fronts and shoulders. Serena caught Theo’s gaze across the dimly lit room, the moonlight catching the glint in his eyes. In that unspoken exchange, she felt the weight of her past doubts slip away, replaced by a slow certainty that what lay between them could be safe, comforting, and profound.
Under the enticing aroma of sandalwood and jasmine, and the glow of moonlight washing through the glass, Serena allowed her mind to float. She felt the press of the stones across her collarbones, the gentle heat seeping through her skin. Her cougar purred contentedly in her chest.
When the masseuses finally removed the last stones and stepped back, letting the warmth linger on her skin, Serena opened her eyes. The candlelit room felt charged with a new closeness. She turned her head, meeting Theo’s gaze. He wore a blissful expression, and for a moment, they simply looked at one another—breathless and entirely at ease.
She couldn’t recall the last time she’d let herself relax this completely. The sense of kinship with Theo intensified, as though all the barriers between them had melted away with her stress. For the first time, Serena felt she could truly connect to Theo. With her mate.