“Let me stop you there,” Jessica said with a strained smile. “Anything that starts with ‘this is probably inappropriate’ probably is.” She winked and continued, “Thanks so much for coming in today, Mr. Miller. Find Your Muse Spa is grateful for your patronage.” This was not the first time she’d said something similar.

Sam smiled and thanked her for her services.

The day turned out to be the type that fell into the category of “if it could go wrong, it did.” She was so ready to leave and return to the sanctuary of her measly apartment, which was as dull as a rock compared to the shiny gem that was Muse.

At around eight, just as she was heading to the locker room to take off, her manager, Sean, let her know about a last-minute late booking.

“Hey, Jessica. We have another one for you. A VIP client, personal friend of the owner. In-room, platinum tier, nine o’clock.”

“Oh, I was just about to leave… platinum? That would be a three-hour job. I didn’t think I was eligible for those just yet.” Jessica was torn between what a great opportunity this would be, both for experience and money, but damn were her sweatpants calling out to her.

“Correct, newbie, but everyone else is either booked up or otherwise unavailable. You’re the only one we have, and as this is a personal request from Mr. Novik, it’s not optional. Plus, you’ve had amazing feedback from the client surveys and some of the highest tips for the spa. You’ll do a fantastic job.” Sean gave her a slightly stiff reassuring pat on the shoulder and continued on his way.

Jessica sat on the bench and sighed. Well, at least this day has some potential to end on a high note now, she thought as she tallied up the money plus a possible, and hopefully probable, tip from a high roller. Maybe he’d even appreciate her talent so much that she became his regular massage therapist. Adding a returning platinum customer would help her tremendously. Please don’t let him be a prick, she wished.

For the rest of the hour, Jessica did some prep work for the spa morning staff, restocking rooms, rolling towels, refilling lotions and oils, and filling eye mask sachets with fresh lavender. When it was time, she grabbed her cart that included a portable table and everything she’d need for an in-room client, including a few extra items in case they wanted to add on any services while she was in the room, and headed to the staff elevators.

CHAPTER 2

“Ahhh, yes,” Roman said as he leaned against the tile of the steamy shower enclosure. The tile was just a little bit cool, providing a sharp contrast to the hot water which felt heavenly on his back. He could probably have stayed in that warm cocoon for hours but knew his massage therapist would be there any minute.

He shut off the water, ran his fingers through his blond hair to remove excess water, opened the glass door, and wrapped a plush, white towel around his hips. Roman heard the door to his suite open and a woman’s voice.

“Mr. Smith, I’m from Find Your Muse Spa and here to provide your service,” she called out as she came into the suite’s entryway. Roman went to the touch screen embedded in the bathroom mirror and used the intercom feature.

“Hello. Please set up; I’ll just be a minute.”

Roman put on a luxurious robe, barely noticing the quality, and grabbed a small towel to continue drying his hair as he left the bathroom. He absently noticed a woman with a poofy but neat red bun atop her head with her back to him setting up by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Roman’s hair towel partially obscured his vision as he continued forward, and he again noticed the incredible soreness he was having difficulty shaking, which was also causing him increasing concern. What the hell is up with my shoulder blade? he wondered. Hopefully this massage will—

Roman ran into the outstretched hand of the masseuse.

“Oh, my apologies, sir,” the woman said and quickly pulled her hand away.

Roman couldn’t move; he was pinned to the spot on the carpet, towel paused in fluffing motion, staring at the most captivatingly beautiful woman he had ever seen. The longer they stood there locked in awkward eye contact, the more every feature of her face almost became alive with crisp details.

Her eyes were green, but was it possible for every shade of green in existence to be present in one pair of eyes? Why did it feel like she just stripped him of his skin and could see his essence? Roman was unnerved, and at the same time, elated by the dusting of almost invisible freckles across her nose, taking the time to look at every single one, noticing the shade of pink that was blooming on her fair skin under his intense scrutiny.

Roman could not even be bothered with acknowledging his odd behavior. He needed a freaking minute. The masseuse was unlike any female he’d ever been attracted to; this was different, and he wasn’t sure he was still breathing. Roman felt like he was standing in front of someone he never thought would be possible; she was like everything he never knew he wanted; the sight of her, the smell, the energy around her… all perfect.

He finally collected himself and provided an introduction. “I’m Roman.” Smooth, anything else you’d like to add, he chastised himself. “Uh, you can call me Roman. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” He really hoped this didn’t sound creepy; he was having a moment, and his usual aura of charm and charisma seemed to have abandoned him when he actually wanted it for a change.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Smith—er—Roman. My name is Jessica. I’ll be your massage therapist this evening. Do you have any injuries or medical history I should be aware of before we begin?” She said this so professionally that Roman was wondering if he was somehow hallucinating the growing energy between them.

“Umm, no, you’re perfect, I mean I’m perfect. I mean, I don’t have any medical history,” Roman stammered out, feeling increasingly ridiculous and unhinged. “Oh, wait, I am experiencing some odd pain in my right shoulder blade area. I’m really hoping you’ll be able to loosen some of my building pressure. Um, tension, that is; in the shoulder area, obviously.” You are on a roll, Roman thought as he briefly closed his eyes and moved toward the table to try to salvage any sense of dignity still available to him.

“I can definitely do that, sir.”

“Roman. Please call me Roman.” Great job not sounding like you’re begging; although, I would beg this woman to do all sorts of things… Roman quickly shut this train of thought down as he felt his body reacting in a way that would ensure this moment reached maximum awkward status.

“Roman, yes, I’d be happy to help with that. I’ll just pop around the corner here and give you a minute to get situated on the table. Please undress to your level of comfortability and begin on the table in the facedown position.”

Although Roman didn’t want to be out of arm’s length from Jessica, he was thankful for a couple of minutes to collect himself. Between his persistent wounds and now his reaction to this Jessica woman, he was really wondering what the hell was happening to him. Was he just getting older? Three hundred wasn’t really a spring chicken in vampire years, but it was far from the complexities of old age by a few hundred years. It was just this last mission; I’m just a bit rattled is all, he reasoned as he removed his robe and slid fully nude under the linen sheet and microplush blanket. He took a deep breath and settled his face into the cradle.

He could still smell and hear Jessica as she waited around the corner and instantly noticed the moment she began to approach him.

“Are you all set? Is the headrest in a comfortable position for you?” she asked as she walked around the table. She pulled out a small rectangular pillow and placed it underneath his feet, slightly elevating his legs. “How does the pillow feel?”

“Everything is perfect, thank you,” he replied.

The instant that Jessica laid her hands on his body, every nerve ending felt like it had previously been asleep waiting for this exact moment to come alive. Roman became so incredibly relaxed while simultaneously feeling invigorated which only helped his confusion grow.

“How’s the pressure?” Jessica asked as she continued to work what seemed like magic to Roman.

“It’s amazing,” he replied and cringed a little to himself realizing he was almost using his sexy voice. Roman’s existence had all of a sudden become so confusing and surreal. He wanted to say more to her, anything, just to hear her voice and be the recipient of even more of her attention, but he really didn’t trust himself at the moment not to, at the very least, put his entire foot in his mouth.

His concerning aches and pains melted away under her deft fingers, and he felt transcendent with how relaxed his muscles were feeling. Roman was concentrating so hard on not making any weird noises or, for the love of god, not getting an erection, that he didn’t realize the shoulder wound had split open just a little bit with blood beading along the seam.

The moment Jessica touched his blood, his world fractured into thousands of shards. His vision became a sea of refracted light as he experienced a sudden realization of who… and what… Jessica was—not only as a human but also what she was to him. Roman realized he wasn’t breathing and gasped as he also discovered he was completely healed.

You have got to be fucking kidding me, he thought. This cannot be happening. Not now; not with a human. I am totally fucked.

Jessica had lost herself to the connection she was feeling with Roman. Whenever she worked on clients, she had a vague sense that guided her to provide the most relief and relaxation possible that was basically on autopilot. With Roman, however, the connection she felt when she touched him was beyond anything she had experienced. Her focus was so deep, she didn’t notice that he had started bleeding from a wound in the area she was working on and accidentally touched it.

When she did, she sucked in a breath and momentarily felt like the earth had swallowed her up. Jessica felt weightless, like she was floating in a deep pool of thick liquid. As reality caught back up to her, she realized she was standing motionless, staring at her client’s blood on her finger tips.

What the fuck? Oh my god, oh my god, she thought as she saw her livelihood flash before her eyes. As all her senses started returning to her, it felt like she had a heightened sense of awareness, like everything was too loud, too bright. Am I having a stroke? she wondered as she searched for the wound to stop the bleeding.

But she could no longer see the wound. Roman’s skin appeared beautifully intact, smooth, and corded with muscles flexing in his back. She licked her lips and tried to think of something to say.

Roman’s breath steadied and now it just seemed weird that neither of them had yet to speak. Jessica felt the moment dragging into eternity with no idea how to eclipse it. Maybe we just stay like this for the rest of our lives, she thought.

“Ahem, um—” Roman started.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” Jessica said as she walked quickly over to the sink in the kitchen space of the suite and started washing her hands. “Oh my god, this is it. I can’t believe I fucked this up, now what am I going to do? Jesus, Jessica. What is one of the first things you learn in training? Look for injuries, wounds, blood for Christ’s sake. And what? You just drag your stupid fingers through it? Huh? Those were the instructions, right?” Jessica was rambling and chastising herself; thankfully, Roman wouldn’t be able to hear her from where the table was set up by the windows.

She noticed him moving out of the corner of her eye as she dried her hands. Roman slowly sat up, facing away from her toward the window for a moment. He then wrapped the sheet around himself, stood up, and faced her. They stared at each other for a few moments. Jessica felt like his piercing blue eyes could see through to her soul.

“I think you should leave. Thank you for your services. I’ll send your table and materials down to the spa,” Roman said flatly and evenly.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t see the open wound. I’m not sure when it happened; this has never happened to me before. I… I’m not sure… I don’t know… I just…”

“Thank you, again. Goodbye, Jessica.”