then. Black stranger who fly fishes. “Might you be renting Shep’s place?” Way too eager, Miz. Slow down, girl.
“That’d be me,” he said. “Thomas Hunter. Glad to meet you.”
“It’s your lucky day,” she told him. “I have an opening. I can do you now.” Then she replayed her words in her head. Do you now. Well, damn. Why didn’t I just tell him I’m hornier than hell?
Looking at the hunk, Miz considered a little anonymous boinking but set that idea aside. It might be just what the doctor ordered but for all she knew he was an undercover cop checking to see if the parlor was legit. She fantasized for a moment longer then reined in her perv side.
He pulled out his wallet and waited expectantly. No push. Very polite expression. His demeanor held no hint of aggression. His eyes were whiskey brown, his brows and hair darker, his skin rich chocolate. But there was something about his overall stance that warned he was no pussycat.
“Fifty dollars an hour,” she told him. She looked at the clock, afraid saliva might drip on her chin at any moment. “We’ve got time for forty-five minutes. I’ll discount it.”
“I’m sure you’re worth full price,” he countered adeptly. He handed her a fifty, his voice melting over her like warm caramel.
Whoa, Nellie. He was as smooth as a shot of Cîroc Ultra-Premium. Her fingers pulsed, her palms itched and her libido hummed.
“You might be more comfortable in sweats. Those jeans are going to be way too tight.” She felt like a fool as soon as she blurted that. He was polished, professional—probably a lawyer or a banker or something where he stayed clean all the time. She studied him. Whatever he was, she’d just informed him she’d been looking at his ass.
“Sweats will be fine.”
He wasn’t much of a talker. She pointed at the changing room, following behind him and admiring his butt, strong thighs, long legs and sleek stride. He moved like a panther. Rawrrrr. She thrust a pair of extra-long sweats at him.
“They’re clean.” She mumbled the assurance before she could stop herself. As opposed to dirty. Good Lord, he’d addled her wits.
“Of course they are.” He flashed a grin at her and her toes curled. She watched until he shut the door. Fanning her hot cheeks, she turned and saw her partner staring at her with an open mouth. Jenny had witnessed the whole thing.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Double that.” Miz leered and raised her eyebrows.
“I’ll give Milo your regards,” Jenny said sedately, loud enough for him to hear. “I’m not leaving soon. I’ll wait until you finish up and we’ll leave together.” Before she left the room she pointed at her cubicle and mouthed, I’ll listen.
Miz grimaced and gave her a thumbs-up. For all they knew he might be a monster looking for prey. He doesn’t look like a monster. She snorted. As if they wore brands on their foreheads that said, “born killer”.
Jenny’s old dear arrived and at the same time, Miz’s client emerged wearing sweatpants and nothing else. Duty called. She motioned at her cubicle opening and followed him in, grinning as she walked behind to enjoy the scenery.
Chapter Four
Thomas melted under the woman’s massage. He’d more or less expected a sex shop when he saw the tacky sign. In point of fact, that wasn’t what she was about at all. No, she knew her stuff. He’d had some damn good massages. But her hands… The night before, she’d healed him. But now, every fiber of both cat and man reformed in a pattern that included her essence. He hadn’t been able to stop his beast when he’d bitten her. Now Thomas wanted to bite too.
He drifted in nirvana while she laid her sweet magic on him. It was more than muscle and joint manipulation. There was something about her hands that soaked heat into him, spreading a layer of warmth, removing pain and tension at the same time.
“Magic hands,” he grunted and felt her jerk of surprise as she worked the