after him, she still didn’t appreciate his over-protective nature.
“Old habits are hard to break.”
Habits? Didn’t he mean brotherly obligation.
“Early night?” Aleks was coaxing for information. Did her brother put him up to this? “I have to prepare for the weekend.”
“So he didn’t get any?”
“That’s none of your business.” For as much as Carrie would love to give the play-by-play, as many times as she had heard Aleks recount his female affairs, she couldn’t.
Brushing past him, she entered her room. He followed behind her and grabbed her elbow, twirling her around. A six foot two frame of all man bracketed her against the wall. He positioned one hand above her head and the other against his side, fist clenched.
“Aleks?”
“You shouldn’t go out with a guy like that.”
He was close. The closest he’d ever been without her having to say uncle. The only time Aleks had ever climbed on top of her was when they’d wrestled, and they hadn’t done that since they were teenagers. Carrie could feel his minty breath caressing her jaw line. “Oh yeah. Why not?”
“Because that guy isn’t good for you.”
“Really? And what type of guy is good for me?” Carrie looked into his dark green eyes. The same eyes she had been fantasizing about since she was ten years old while she waited for the moment when Aleks would finally say I’m the one you should be with. That’s all Carrie ever wanted to hear. From him. From Aleks.
She could feel her nipples harden under her tiny t-shirt. So much for her plan. He had her tied up in knots.
“He tried to impress you, didn’t he?”
“What?”
“Your date. He pulled out all the stops trying to impress you, thinking that would get you into his bed. Where did he take you?”
“To the harbor, a dinner boat cruise.” His presence stole the very breath she needed to keep herself standing.
His laugh was mischievous. Sexy. Arrogant. Typical. “He doesn’t even know you. I hope you didn’t sleep with him.” Aleks had never spoken to her that way. Giving her advice on who she should sleep with.
“What do you care?”
“Oh, Care Bear.” He had called her that since they were kids. She loved the way it sounded rolling off his tongue. “A guy doesn’t need fancy boats and dinners to impress you. A causal night out with beer and sloppy food, maybe a sporting event, that’s what makes you tick.”
“Well, Obi-Wan...is that what you would do?”
“Hell, yes! If I had the opportunity to take you out I would definitely not blow it with a boat cruise. Cheesy.” He elongated the word to get his point across.
“I guess I’ve been dating the wrong guys.”
“I think you have. You should do something about that, Care Bear.” He ran his finger along the round collar of her shirt. Her quick intake of breath caused him to lift his eyes. They grew dark. Something was different. They were almost lustful. But just as quick as the intensity appeared it disappeared. With a smirk, he backed away and whispered, “Good night.”
Mind racing, heart thumping, Carrie slumped further down the wall. Where did that come from? Aleks had never been so blatant. Was it blatant? Maybe he was just concerned she would end up with a loser. Maybe it was a prompt to get her to date more, to get her to move on.
Carrie had the perfect opportunity to proposition him, but his actions had scrambled her brains. How was she ever going to follow through?
She lay on her bed, enjoying the tingle in her body that he left in his wake. Good thing Carrie had retrieved her box of sex toys from the basement before Aleks moved in. She was going to need them tonight.
Chapter 3
Aleks laid on the massage table, his back molded onto the soft leather that was covered with a white sheet. His eyes were closed, but he could hear Amie breathing in and out as she stood at the head of the table. Aleks cheated and opened one eye to see her pointer finger moving confidently, drawing in the air. Amie had explained to him during their second session that she was drawing the ancient Reiki symbols. She must have completed the third round of drawings because she placed her hands at the side of his head, wrists together, fingers barely touching his temple.
The flow of energy that passed through his body never ceased to amaze him. It was like a summer breeze that seeped from her hands.
Their sessions were shorter now. The first time he’d laid on this table, an hour and a half later, Amie still hadn’t finished.
She moved her hands from his head to his neck, her fingers forming a tent around his throat. She continued her treatment down to the rib cage, back and forth strokes across the abdomen, then smooth v-shaped strokes around the groin. Aleks wasn’t supposed to be watching, but he found it fascinating how different he felt. Centered. Focused. Not to mention the complete 180 he tried to ignore in regards to his feelings for Carrie. But most importantly, it seemed as if the blinders he had been wearing were ripped away and he was seeing his future clearly for the very first time. How was Amie able to make these changes with a simple touch? Correction, without a touch. Her hands never touched his body, they hovered.
When she was done, he sat up.
“Are you excited that this is the last time I’ll be using you as a guinea pig?” Amie went to the small sink in the corner and washed her hands. Today, their session was at the Lotus Flower, the yoga studio that employed both Amie and Martina.
Aleks felt his face curl up in confusion. “Yes and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well...” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m glad we’re done because you’re really freaky with this whole spirit-health-chakra stuff.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment even though you called me a freak.” She giggled.
No matter what Aleks said, even if it was negative, Amie never took offense. “And no?” “No, because...because I do feel different.”
Amie roughly dried her hands on a white towel. “What kind of different?” “Happier. Relaxed. Focused.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” She cocked her head to the side and placed a hand on one hip.
“Admit that this freaky stuff might work?”
“Clearly, it does work.” She leaned her hip against the counter.
“What exactly does this do again?”
“Reiki is energy therapy. It balances you emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Basically, I’m helping you find your right path.”
