Taking a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich, she shook her head and pondered the change in Joel, from his earlier brooding attitude while chopping wood, back to the fun, flirtatious guy she'd originally met. He might have willingly surrendered to her lip service out in the middle of the storm, but she'd truly expected him to revert right back to being serious and all business once they returned to the cabin. She'd even anticipated the possibility of him expressing regrets for giving in to his desires, or launching into one of those "we shouldn't have" kind of speeches, and she was grateful that he hadn't done any of those things-because if he had, she would have had to just deck him.
She supposed it was the fact that they were a world away from civilization and the threat they'd left behind, she mused as they continued to eat their dinner in compardonable silence. Or maybe the carefree, laid-back atmosphere out there lent itself to a more relaxed attitude and mind-set. Whatever the reason, she was going to enjoy Joel's fun, cheerful mood while it lasted.
Finished with their meal, Joel leaned back in his chair and let out a contented sigh. "That was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself."
She rolled her eyes and decided to humor him. "Yeah, you're a regular Chef Boyardee."
He gave a low, lazy chuckle. "Yeah, that's about as good as it gets when you're a bachelor."
They stood up, and when he started stacking their plates and bowls to help clear the table, she brushed his hands away. "You go take your shower," she said, and carried the dirty dishes to the sink. "Since you made dinner, the least I can do is clean up the kitchen."
"You won't get an argument out of me." He put his hands up and took a step back. "Cleaning up the mess is the worst part."
He headed out of the kitchen, and she filled the sink with hot, soapy water so she could hand wash the dishes, along with the pot and frying pan Joel had used. She wiped down the table and counters, and put away the leftover butter and cheese into the refrigerator, then went into the living room.
Joel must have thrown a few more logs on the grate, because the fire was burning bigger and brighter than it had been when she'd come out of the bathroom earlier. She was grateful for the warmth, considering how windy, cold, and wet it was outside.
While Joel took his shower, Lora searched the bedroom closets for extra blankets and brought them, and pillows, out to the living room. She spread out a soft, cushy comforter in front of the fireplace, and added the pillows and covers. Then she went to her duffel bag and retrieved a last-minute item she'd decided to bring along right before they'd left her apartment.
When Joel came out of the shower and saw the makeshift bed she'd created on the floor, he glanced at her curiously. "What's all this?"
He was wearing a pair of black sweatpants, and nothing else. His magnificent chest was bare, the golden glow from the fire giving his skin a smooth, tawny hue, and she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. "I have a surprise for you."
"Really?" He came around the couch to where she was sitting on the comforter, his interest definitely piqued. "What is it?"
"Well, I packed some of my massage oil… you know, just in case." Suddenly uncertain of how he'd react to the offer, and wanting to make sure he knew it came with no sexual strings attached, she added in a light, teasing tone, "I thought I'd give you a nice, relaxing massage, free of charge, of course, I wouldn't want to lose my touch as a masseuse while I'm not working." She reached for the bottle that she'd put on the coffee table, which contained a rich, orange-scented body oil.
"I doubt that would ever happen." He came down to his knees in front of her and plucked the bottle from her hand. "How about I give you a massage?"
The offer surprised her. "It's okay, I don't mind being the giver."
"Neither do I." His coaxing grin was difficult to resist. "Besides, when was the last time someone did something for you?"
She thought about that for a moment, and came up blank. "Honestly, I can't remember."
"That's because you're too busy taking care of everyone around you, or worrying about them," he said so softly, so knowingly, she felt her throat tighten with emotion.
"I always have," she said with a nonchalant shrug. "That's just the way it's always been for me." Not necessarily by choice, but circumstances had dictated that she be responsible for so many things at such an early age, and those traits had spilled over into other areas of her life. Now it was just a part of who she was, and something that came naturally and without thought.
"But what about you, Lora?" He tipped his head, his gaze gentle, yet direct. "Who takes care of you?"
"Me." The reply was automatic, and truthful. "Don't worry, I've gotten used to it being that way."
He reached out and caressed his thumb along her jaw, and she turned her head ever so slightly into his warm, soothing touch. "Let me take care of you tonight," he said huskily. "Just relax and let me make you feel good, okay?"
The offer, coming from him, was inviting. So was the thought of having his large, strong hands massaging her tired and overworked body. For her, denying herself that kind of pleasure when she knew her time with Joel was so limited just wasn't an option. "Okay."
Since she hadn't put on a bra after her shower, she turned and pulled off her top, then started to lay down on the covers so he could work on her back, but he gently grabbed her arm before she could stretch out on her stomach.
"Not yet," he said with a shake of his head, even as the beginning of a wicked smile curved his sensual lips. "You need to ditch your sweatpants and panties, too, since this is going to be a full body massage."
Heat shot straight to her belly, the anticipation of what he intended to do blending into an exquisite shiver. He was the one setting the tone for the evening, and she decided to follow his lead… and willingly go wherever he decided to take her.
She stripped off the rest of her clothes as he'd requested. The fire cascading over her naked body was nice and warm, but his gaze as it raked down the length of her was even hotter. Her breasts swelled beneath his stare, her nipples tightened to the point of near pain, and a liquid kind of heat settled between her thighs.
"Now you can lay down," he said, his voice sounding like pure gravel.
She settled facedown on the comforter and bent her arms comfortably above her head. She heard him shifting and moving beside her, then he straddled her hips with his legs and rested his very bare butt on hers, startling her with that surprise. As he leaned over her and poured some of the oil down the line of her back, she could feel the heavy heat of his sex against the crease of her buttocks, and her desire for him increased.
She closed her eyes, inhaled a deep breath, and let it out real slow, trying her best to ignore the erotic thoughts drifting through her mind. Another long, slow breath as she forced herself to relax and enjoy this rare experience, which wasn't an easy feat when she was at the mercy of the naked, aroused man gently pinning her down to the soft covers.
But then those incredible hands of his, slick with the fragrant oil, began massaging her tense shoulders, and the only thing she could think of was how good it felt having someone pamper her for a change. He kneaded the knots in her neck, which she hadn't even realized were there before now, and rubbed the flat of his palm along the tendons bisecting her spine, applying just the right amount of pressure to make her groan with the sheer pleasure of it. He used his thumbs to dig into taut muscles, and soothed those sore spots with the firm stroke of his fingers.
He worked the entire expanse of her back, from the nape of her neck all the way down to where he was sitting astride her hips, then back up. Over and over and over again, until her body went slack and she felt absolutely, positively boneless.
He moved off of her, and seconds later he started in on her legs, his oiled hands giving the same luxurious treatment to her calves and thighs. Rubbing, kneading, stroking tendons and muscles. His palms glided higher with each sensual caress, until his fingers brushed along the crease that lead to softer, hotter flesh.