by Jayne Rylon
“I know.”
“Almost there.” He crooned to her in soft, steady murmurs, never letting her forget he sat by her side. “I see lights now. And there’s the crew. They’re waiting for you.”
“For us.”
“True, for us.” After a quick squeeze, his hand abandoned her leg long enough to unfasten her seatbelt. “Go with Dave. I’m right behind you.”
Before she could respond, the truck door opened. Huge hands engulfed her waist. She floated into their grasp. “You look really nice tonight, Morgan.”
Thank goodness she hadn’t worn a dress with a short skirt or she’d be flashing her butt to the entire forest. Not that the eight people she couldn’t see but knew were there hadn’t gotten an eyeful of every inch of her already. Soon they’d be doing a whole lot more than looking too.
Dave’s boots thudded on what sounded like wooden treads as they ascended together. The new buildings had adorable porches complete with swings. That must be where they were. She hadn’t observed the progress personally, though Joe had told her the crew had decided to take a couple weeks off before starting their next project to help Kay out.
Someone cursed softly. A subtle creak made her sure they’d opened a door for her and Dave. “So sexy, Morgan.”
“Thank you, James.”
“I’m going to set you down.” Dave murmured to her as he lowered her feet to the floor. He braced her shoulders. Scuffles and whispers surrounded her as her friends all assembled as they saw fit. “Joe’s got you now.”
The big man’s hand swapped out for her husband’s familiar grasp. Dotted kisses at her temple had her sighing while he worked the knot on her blindfold loose. A steady white noise piqued her curiosity. What could that be? “Tonight is special. For all of us. We wanted you to know how much. Live in the moment, Mo. Take what we’re giving.”
He whipped the silk from her, letting it slither to the floor unnoticed.
Blinking against the sudden light, she tried to focus. When she did, a sheen of tears immediately turned the flickering candles into glittering sparkles, dazzling her. She reached out. Joe held one hand while Dave collected the other.
“You did all this for me?” The whisper cut through the hush of her eight best friends, who awaited her reaction. Behind the naked, oiled men who stood shoulder to shoulder and their wives—adorned in gossamer togas that hid the bare essentials, proclaiming their intent to sit the festivities out—sheer panels of iridescent fabric draped from exposed wooden rafters.
Zillions of tiny clear lights, like the ones hugging their tree at Christmas, hung behind the soft falls. She felt as though she’d taken up residence in an enchanted snow globe, or maybe a cloud way, way out in some ethereal paradise on the edge of the universe. Romance blossomed in every nook and cranny of the space. Pale silk flowers, warm vanilla candles on wrought-iron stands and the largest canopied bed she’d ever seen were just a few of the details bombarding her senses.
“We did it for both you and Joe.” Kate smiled from her post with a fluffy white towel draped over her forearm. What the heck?
The guys stepped aside, chiseled bodies parting like a fleshy curtain at a beefcake ballet. Behind them, a waterfall trickled from what could have been a loft. A rivulet bounced next to vines that looked as real as the ones Kayla had cultivated in the gardens outside. Maybe they were.
Splashes drew her eye from expertly crafted faux stone to faux stone until droplets rained into an elaborate whirlpool fashioned from river rock on the outside and something natural yet smooth-looking in the basin. A gradual slope led up to the dais supporting the magical indoor pond. Lush greenery surrounded the pool. She suspected the window on the other side would grant glorious views of the lake if it were daytime.
A fireplace made from the same cut stone chased away any chill emanating from the glass.
“Whoa.” Nothing more elaborate formed in her mind.
Awestruck, she allowed Joe to manipulate her, stripping her sweater over her head and freeing her from her lacey bra before she’d recovered. Next he slid her skirt from her hips, then lifted her from the puddle of gorgeous fabric. He swiped her shoes from her feet and patted her bare butt. No need to remove underwear. She hadn’t bothered with panties.
“Nice touch, Mo.”
She grinned over her shoulder at her husband. “Glad you approve.”
“Now run along and play.” A gentle shove inspired her to put one foot in front of the other, heading in the direction of the crew.
Healing Touch
Jayne Rylon
Love can be a lifeline.
Play Doctor, Book 2
As thrilled as Luke Malone is for his best friends, Kurt and Becca, enough is enough. The couple welcomed him into their lives, and their bed. But lately, he’s feeling less like a participant in their happiness…and more like an intruder.
Yet when a beautiful woman comes to his sexual psychology practice, Luke is forced to turn her away. It’s not that he doesn’t want to help her, it’s that he wants her. Too much to stay impartial.
Brielle Norris would rather have a root canal than see a shrink. But she’s had enough of letting the scars from an abusive relationship rule her life. Knees knocking, she steps into the psychologist’s office—and runs right into a tall, handsome man whose gilded perfection makes her own quirky faults even more painfully obvious.
She never expected he’d hand her off to one of his colleagues—then take a personal support role in the unconventional treatment she needs to heal.
In tandem with Kurt and Becca, Luke strives to teach Brielle that not all relationships end in disaster. At least this one won’t—if he can keep her safe when her past rears its ugly head.
Warning: Contains scenes of outside-the-box therapy involving a ménage a quatre. Closed course, professional drivers; do not attempt without…ahem…expert supervision.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Healing Touch
Copyright © 2012 by Jayne Rylon
ISBN: 978-1-60928-861-7
Edited by Christa Desir
Cover by Kanaxa
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: December 2012
www.samhainpublishing.com
