“You’re practically famous,” I grinned, leaning in to have a sip of my own.
“Hardly,” he chuckled, turning his attention to me. “I’m just the insurance guy.”
“Well,just the insurance guy, you’re different when you’re under the influence,” I confessed to Corbin, watching the way his eyes flickered, the light every so often highlighting a small hint of green around his pupils. Even sitting in the confines of the cocktail lounge, it was as if we were the only two people here. Other than the occasional waitress, no one bothered us and we didn’t care for them either.
“Isn’t everybody?”
“I suppose. But you’re less… gnarly.” I smoothed his brow, his eyes slowly closing in a depiction of his trust. I hopped off my stool and moved into his space, emboldened with a liquor induced confidence. Hints of the lavender oils from our massage this morning still lingered on our bodies despite showering and they smelt even better emanating from him. I hadn’t relaxed as much as I wanted when I saw it was a couple’s retreat and he was practically naked under a small towel less than a metre away. But worse than that, was the beautiful woman’s hands spreading those oils across every inch of him while I did my best not to pout through the face cradle of the table. I’d tried my best to remain calm, feeling embarrassed when my own masseuse commented on how tense I was, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help the envy coursing through my veins.
“You okay?” He asked, his voice cutting through my renewedjealousy.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” I was not going to be sharing that piece of information.
“Your nails are digging into me like you’re mad,” he said.
“Sorry,” I breathed, rolling my shoulders and recommencing with a lighter touch. “Is this okay?”
He nodded, his blue tongue darting out to moisten his lips and I took it as my cue to transition to his head, smoothing circles through his hair.
“I read an article about how the physical touch of someone you trust can lower your overall cortisol levels.”
His eyes fluttered closed, his hands dropping to his thighs as he visibly relaxed.
“I haven’t tested this theory, but I would be willing to bet it’s accurate. It strengthens your bond, helps your body fight illness and boosts blood flow.” He didn’t speak but I could see the movement of his eyes behind his closed lids, his breathing even. The cocktails were well and truly floating through my system, the emotions of the day making my body more receptive to the lulling elements of the liquor. I dared to rake my nails down the sides of his face and neck, pressing more firmly on his shoulders and a set of traps which were wasted if he didn’t let anyone touch them.
I felt the rumble from within him and it sent a subsequent shiver down my own spine. “Maybe that’s why I love touching so much. Because the increased oxytocin releases those hormones we all love so much.” I paused, reaching for my drink and taking a sip before glancing back to find him watching me, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his face.
“Your mouth is blue,” he noted, while I watched the movement of his lips as he spoke, the dark stubble which he hadn’t shaved since we leftHigh Tea & Co. and what I suspected was the same colour to mine, lining that pillow like mouth.
I smiled. “So is yours, Corbin Chambers.” His lips quivered into a grin.
“I never feel as peaceful as I do when I’m with you,” he admitted and my hands stilled for the slightest moment at the insight into the ever-quiet mind of my friend. My friend, who I wanted to kiss.
Did he feel the bubbling tension simmering between us too?
The restless dance beneath his shuttered lids, told me he was aware of the brush of my skin, but did it make him ache, or was I just three-drink Shelby?
The trail of my eyes examining the beauty of this simplistic, very loveable man, translated in goosebumps erupting across my skin. I was always so responsive to his presence and I knew if I didn’t swallow my nerves and act, I would regret letting this moment pass. Because I wanted to just be and with Mum’s,What Happens in Lagoon Stays in Lagoonon repeat in my head, I stepped a little closer and brought my hands down to the top of his chest, daring to feel the racing of his heart.
In response, he moved his hands from the top of his own thighs and grabbed the back of mine, sparking my entire body to life. His eyes opened meeting my own – every line on his face drawn tight with restraint. His grip was firm and unmoving, his face begging an unasked question.
Being on the road together with no interruptions had given me time to study him. Learn the nuances I wasn’t privy to when we lived on opposite sides of the world and I knew now he was fighting an internal struggle. The clenching of his jaw, the slight part to his lips like he wanted to say something, do something, but couldn’t. He was teetering on the edge of what he wanted and what he thought was the right thing to do.
But I’d already decided and unless he stopped me, I was laying all my cards on the table.
“Can I kiss yourIridescent Indigopainted mouth?” My voice was soft, my words undeniably heated.
A smile twisted on his blue tinged lips and the epiphany flashed in my head like a neon sign.
I was his.
Not just to kiss me while we danced or for aten for ten– well I wanted that too – but I wantedallof him and he had my heart like no other. I’d long ago buried the parts of me that wanted that connection with someone else, maintaining that if I wasn’t in desperate need of some physicality, I would be fine. But spending the last month on the road with him made me realise how empty I was. How my life was lacking in the most important ways and I wasn’t going to find that ignoring the gaping hole of loneliness. He’d supported me every single day and I wouldn’t ever want anyone else.
“It would be weird if you didn’t,” he said more to my mouth than anything else. Yet I didn’t move, suddenly nervous.
I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to lean in and wrap myself around him but I was suddenly shy. Cautious.
Sensing my hesitation, he placed pressure on the back of my thighs, pulling me forward into the gap between his spread legs and tilted his head up to me.
