...Jaime began rubbing Levi’s scalp and his temples. “I don’t want to give you any false ideas. These things can’t be fixed in one appointment, but we should be able to get a better idea of the exact problem spots today. The good news is, this type of problem does usually respond well to massage therapy.”

“Why are you rubbing my head if the problem’s in my ass and thigh?” Levi asked, although the truth was, it felt fabulous.

“Everything’s connected. We’ll concentrate on the problem spots, but it doesn’t hurt to give the rest of the body some attention.”

Levi didn’t argue. The massage on his head felt too good. He relaxed as Jaime rubbed his neck. Then he moved to his arms and even massaged his hands. “Wow,” Levi said. “That’s awesome.”

Jaime smiled, but didn’t look up. “Some people don’t like it.”

Afterward, he moved to Levi’s psoas—not that Levi would have known it was his psoas if Jaime hadn’t told him. It stretched down his left side and over his hip. It was then Levi learned this wasn’t going to be a relaxing massage. Jaime made him do “movements.” First, he used the heel of his hand to apply pressure to the muscle on the inside edge of Levi’s hipbone. His arm was stretched across Levi’s body, his wrist practically brushing Levi’s package as he pushed on the tender spot. Then he had Levi contract his abdominal muscles, tilting his pelvis up. It was the same movement he might have used during sex to thrust up into somebody. Jaime had him hold there while he used his other hand to stroke up the length of the muscle, along Levi’s belly.

The entire thing would have been unbelievably arousing if it hadn’t hurt so damn much, and Levi was extremely relieved when it was over.

When Jaime was finished with the psoas, he moved to Levi’s leg. He uncovered his left foot, then his lower leg. He hooked his hand behind Levi’s knee and lifted it, pulling the sheet at the same time so Levi’s leg was revealed. He wrapped the sheet up and over Levi’s hip, tucking the end underneath his side. It was a strange magic trick that left his entire leg exposed, but caused the sheet to be tucked tight around his upper thigh and hip so nothing inappropriate was exposed in any way.

Jaime’s hands were incredibly soft. He didn’t rub hard at first. He seemed to be exploring the muscle high on Levi’s thigh with his fingers, watching Levi’s reaction.

“Does it hurt here?”

“Not as much.”

“And here?”

“Yes, more there.”

“And is it focalized or does it radiate out to other places?”

“It’s only there.”

“That’s good.” His hand slid toward the inside of Levi’s thigh, and Levi tensed. “Just relax, Mr. Binder.” At least he pronounced it right.

“Please don’t call me that.”

“You prefer Levi?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, Levi. Try to relax.”

But Levi was finding it very difficult to relax. Jaime’s soft hand was moving slowly up the inside of his thigh, stopping every inch or two to press into the muscle before moving on, and Levi’s body was reacting in a way he feared was wholly inappropriate, given the circumstances.

“Relax,” Jaime said again.

“I can’t!” Levi snapped.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jaime said. His tone was clinical. Professional. Detached. “It’s a common physical reaction. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“It’s a natural response to physical stimulation—”

“No shit!” The stupid thing was, now they were talking about it, it was only getting worse. He was pretty much flying full mast now, and the thin sheet covering him certainly wasn’t hiding it. “Are you almost done?”

Suddenly Jaime pushed harder on his tender thigh. It hurt so much Levi almost jumped off the table. “Ow! What the hell? Did you do that on purpose?”

“Took your mind off your other problem, didn’t it?” Jaime said, without cracking a smile.

“You’re a little bit sadistic, aren’t you?”