The Real Thing by Cassie Mae Read Free Book Online

opposite of relaxing. This should not be weird. We’ve known each other too long for it to be weird. And I’m going to prove it right here and now.
    When my fingers hit Eric’s neck, he jumps a little bit, but he soon lets out a long groan and his head drops forward so much I have to yank him back to reach his neck.
    “I told you I was good,” I say as I press a thumb along his shoulder and up to the back of his ear.
    He chuckles, but it’s breathy and relaxed. I smile, knowing I’m making him feel good.
    “I like being back in Florida.” Eric half moans a few minutes into the neck and shoulder massage.
    “Is it the wet air? Or the massive snapping turtles?”
    “Oh it’s definitely the bedpans I get to empty every day.” He shakes his head with a slight laugh, moving it more to the right so my fingers can rub out a spot he wants worked on. “Nah. You know it’s because you’re here.”
    “Aww.” I run my hands to the front of his neck, over his bunched up shirt and give him a hug. “That was cute, buddy.”
    He laughs again, reaching up to squeeze my arm. “I’m losing brain power, so things are just pouring out with no control.”
    “No brain power is a good thing, yes?”
    He grabs my hands and moves them back to his shoulder blades. “Very good. Please continue to power me down.”
    “You’re such a dork.”
    “Proud of it.” His voice lowers, and pretty soon he’s just grunting and groaning whenever I try to make conversation. I laugh every time an extra loud noise rumbles up his throat and out his barely opened mouth.
    His skin feels tight, and I’m glad he’s not shying away from me anymore. The muscles along his neck loosen and twitch under my hands, and I can’t help but look at his back muscles. I wish I had the guts to lower my fingers and touch all over. But that would probably cross the invisible friendship line.
    “Em …,” he moans, and something pops a floating bubble in my stomach. My heart slams against my chest in a weird
bu-bump
-
bump
. “Gah … Em … what in the hell are you doing to me?”
    What the hell is
he
doing to
me
? He’s got to stop that moaning, groaning, talking-husky business right now because …
damn
. I can’t help but close my eyes and start thinking of him saying those things while we’re doing something much different than this. My hands move an inch lower on his back. It’s tighter here—so knotted and stressed I drive the heels of my hands all up and down his spine. He gets louder, and I go lower, and lower, and lower …
    “Uh … Em?”
    My eyes snap open, and I jerk back on the bed, stuffing my hands under my butt. I’m innocent, I swear. That was just a massage.
    Eric rolls his neck around before facing me, eyes wide, a forced smile on his face. “Thanks. I … uh … I think you got the kink out.”
    I’m not breathing, so all I can say is a very small, “Good.”
    He nods once, then with the speed of a 727, he’s off his butt and heading out the door, mumbling something about getting dressed, and he’ll be right back.
    Holy freaking shit. I shake my hands out before smacking them over my eyes. Just because he was letting me touch him does not give me permission to try to massage his ass. What came over me? He was just groaning … I mean, I moan when I get massaged.
    Damn it, we’re
friends
.
    I kept yelling that to myself in high school when he was dating Ali. I know that’s over, but I can’t just jump his bones the second he comes back to town. Who knows if he even wants that—wants
me
. He had plenty of opportunities when he lived here before, and he never took them.
    Ugh, I’m freaking out and I don’t know why. It’s normal to be attracted to someone. I’ve been attracted to him for
five years
. I take a deep breath and try to relax.
    Maybe I’ll stick to the book boys until I can figure all this crap out.

Chapter 6
    Eric Matua commented on Emilia Johnson’s status
    2 hours ago
    What is a book boyfriend? o.O
    3