Chapter 8 #3
Awkwardly, I began moving my hands around his, not sure what a hand massage entailed. I used my thumbs to apply pressure into his palm and felt him release a breath, tingling my lips.
“As you massage, I’d like you to share the amazing things your partner does with their hands. Appreciate those things that make them tense or rough.”
Reed let out a “Hmph,” and I gasped out a laugh, our heads disconnecting briefly.
Sebas chuckled. “I know it can feel silly, but if you trust in the process, I promise you that practicing this daily will strengthen the trust between you.”
We both sat up, poised to try again. A gleam of mischief sparkled in Reed’s eyes before they closed, and he bowed his head to mine.
“I will step away to ensure your privacy. Cienna, continue flowing your tenderness into Reed, and remember each finger works diligently to make the full hand.”
Reed’s shoulders bounced slightly, and I bit my tongue. “Reed, you go first. Share your adoration of Cienna’s hands.”
Sebas scooted himself away from us and sat cross-legged, appearing to meditate during his intermission of instruction.
Read spoke, his words trickling warmth across my cheeks. “Your hands do cool things like hold on for dear life while you’re five hundred feet in the air.”
I snorted, but he continued in a whisper, “Your hands felt really good behind my neck last night when we danced. And today, when I held them as we walked.”
Holding my breath, I switched to his other hand, focusing on rubbing the small muscles.
“I think it’s really cool that your hands can operate that fancy camera.
And your hands felt really good when I was—” I chuffed a little, embarrassed but also trying to lighten the intensity surrounding us. “Tucked in your nest.”
“That’s nothing.” He tilted his head up, his mouth so close I could taste the hint of lime still on his lips.
Sebas broke our trance. “Beautiful. Now, Reed, it’s your turn to take Cienna’s hands.”
He was offered massage oil, just as I was, and he rubbed his hands rapidly, then grabbed my hands. I inadvertently let out a moan as his strong hands rubbed over my sore muscles. They tickled and soothed, and I lost myself in the perfect pressure and feel of tempered quiet between us.
Finally, Sebas interrupted, speaking in a gentle tone. “Now lift your hands in front of your chests and connect to each other, palm to palm.”
We fumbled to do what he said, and I avoided eye contact while I focused on placing my hands against his. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see in his features, but I knew there wasn’t a single gaze from him that wouldn’t light me up.
Sebas moved near us, nearly joining our cocoon.
He held his hands over Reed’s and my right hands and moved them outward, then upward, before releasing us.
“I’d like you to move your hands out and up together like that as you take a deep breath.
At the top, hold and link your fingers, then ease down, jointly, as you exhale. ”
Reed rolled his lips between his teeth.
“On your mark, get set…”
We disconnected and laughed, my head falling to his shoulder. I held there for a moment, taking in his scent. Now musky and beachy and sweet.
“Okay, you joyful lovebirds, try again.” Sebas’s chuckle was hearty and patient.
Reed and I reconnected our hands, both trying hard not to burst from the intimacy and lunacy of this exercise. He lifted a brow as a sign to begin, and we pushed lightly against each other’s hands as we extended our arms over our heads.
At the top, Reed initiated the linking, and the pressure of his fingers between each of mine melted me from the top down. The wetness of the oil on my hands had turned into clamminess, and my mouth was parched.
“Magnificent. Two more times, but at the bottom of each exhale, tell your partner the best part of your day.”
A grin played on Reed’s lips, diverting my attention.
Then he unfastened his hands from mine and booped my nose.
My giggle was nearly a hiccup as my breathing and heart rate evened out.
But then his mouth replaced his finger, and he placed a sweet and slow kiss on the bridge of my nose.
My breathing quaked as he pulled away, connected our heads, and brought his hands to mine.
My inhale was shaky as he linked our fingers above our heads, and then I shuddered an exhale on the way down, where we paused.
Shit. I’m supposed to say something to him.
I stammered, trying to dredge up the topic. Oh! “The best part of today was parasailing. Thanks for helping me be brave.”
He nodded against my head, and I knew he was smiling, pride emanating from him, without even seeing him.
We lifted our hands to our chests for one last set of breaths.
My breathing evened out and synced with his as our hands traveled up to the top.
I linked fingers with him, and this time, I gave him a squeeze.
He snickered, and then we began the descent.
At the bottom, our hands still linked, Reed lifted his head and zeroed in on me.
His eyes were the brightest green I’d seen them all day, despite the cabana’s dimness.
He stared so long I thought maybe he’d forgotten the question, just as I had.
“What was the best part of your day?” I whispered into the space between us.
He smiled, lighting up even more. “You.”