Day Five

She was avoiding me.

Despite only knowing her for a few days, I could easily pinpoint her moods and this one was brimming with annoyance. The ‘get the hell away from me before I castrate you’ mood.

I’d made it back to our suite in the wee hours of the morning and instead of barging into the bedroom and waking Angel, I crashed on the sofa for a few uncomfortable hours of sleep.

The bedroom door was still closed when I woke, and I had contemplated knocking on it before grabbing my ski gear and hitting the slopes, figuring if she wanted to sleep in, then I was going to let her.

Besides, I hadn’t hit the slopes the entire time I was here.

And maybe after I was done her mood would’ve lifted and we could talk since I’d clearly put my foot in it.

After a few runs, I returned to the suite to find the door still closed, my ire starting to peak. Something was up, and I wasn’t so sure I wanted to know what it was.

Was she still embarrassed by last night? That our night had been ruined. Sure, I’d been mildly pissed to know she was treating this as a fling, inconsequential, when I believed it could be something much more and for a few hours, I’d attempted to put her out of my mind. Foolishly flirting to bring my spirits back up.

It hadn’t worked out. One hour in the presence of another woman, the same blonde from a few nights before, and I quickly realised that I couldn’t just forget Angel and how she made me feel. When the blonde had kissed me in the bar, drunken off her ass, the heat was missing, and I kindly pushed her away yet still helped her get to her room before she collapsed into a stupor.

What the hell had Angel done to me? She had me thinking of a long-term relationship, a long-distance one at that. She had me turned off other women, and now I was worried she was mad at me.

Damn, I was already whipped, and we were just getting started. Or it had already ended. I wasn’t sure which. Regardless, she and I needed to talk.

As if on cue, the bedroom opened. She faltered for a second when she noticed me sitting there but soon recovered, marching onwards, dressed in her customary tight-fitting black leggings, a t-shirt to match, and a magazine tucked under her arm.

“Hey, there you are,” I said, attempting a smile, as she headed towards the door.

“I’m going to get a massage,” she responded coldly, pulling open the door. “I’ll be back later.”

“Wait,” I frowned, following her out into the hall. “Can we just take a second and talk about last night?”

Her shoulders stiffened but she didn’t stop, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. “I really can’t Nick. I’m going to be late. I have an appointment.”

That was not fucking good enough for me to let it drop. “Come on, Angel, stop a second, will you?”

She didn’t so I pursued her, down the stairs and through the lobby, feeling my blood pressure start to boil as she refused to slow down. It wasn’t until we had entered the spa, pushing through the green-tinged glass doors, that she finally did stop, only because she came to the counter.

“Hi, Angel Rose for a massage.”

The woman at the counter eyed me as well. “A couple’s massage?”

“No.”

“Yes,” I blurted.

Angel turned at my answer and I gave her a grin. “If you refuse to talk to me, I refuse to leave you alone.”

"I'm trying to relax, Nick," she hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Can't we do this later?"

I shook my head and she blew out a breath, turning back to the woman. “Just ignore him. It’s just one.”

“Plus another,” I answered, stepping up to the counter.

The woman’s eyes went from my face to Angel’s, finally typing something in her computer. “I have a couple’s room open right now. Looks like the both of you need to unwind. Follow me.”

“Oh my god,” Angel muttered, stalking past me. “Are you seriously going to do this?”

“I am,” I said as we walked through another frosted door, the sound of tinkling water all around us. “Until you talk to me.”

She huffed but didn’t object again as we were shown to a small room, the wall clad with expensive glossy wood, the lights turned down low. Two tables sat side-by-side, ready.

"Please disrobe and lie face down. There are complimentary robes or towels to put on if you wish. But get yourself ready and I'll be back soon," she said cheerily before leaving us alone, shutting the door behind her.

Angel whirled around and placed her hands on her hips, attempting to stare me down. “Last chance, Nick. Please leave.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head. "Nope, not going to happen. I'm not going to give up that easily."

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“You’re ignoring me. Tell me why. What did I do that was so wrong?”

Something crossed her features, a fire, an anger. But there was also something else and I was surprised to see a bit of hurt in that passing shadow. “I-I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

The door opened, and another attendant walked in, surprised to see us both still fully clothed. “You’re not undressed… I’m here for the couple’s massage?”

Angel gave me a look. “He won’t leave.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few bills, giving them to the masseuse. "Here. We'll be out in an hour."

She looked at me dubiously. “But sir.”

I gave her my best grin. "It's still Valentine's week, isn't it? We want to be alone. Think of it as a gift from the both of us."

“What are you doing?” Angel asked as the masseuse looked from me to her before turning and walking outside, shutting the door firmly behind her. “There goes my massage!”

I pushed up the sleeves on my thermals and pointed towards the table. “Get on. I will give you your massage and we will talk as I do.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not doing anything like that. Get my masseuse back, Nick. Right now.”

“Not going to happen,” I answered. “Either you want your massage, or you don’t, Angel.”

She huffed, and I inwardly smiled as Angel started stripping off her clothes, giving me a tantalising glimpse of her body before she slid under the sheet, laying on her stomach. "Fine, do your worst. But Nick, don't even think about doing…"

“Doing what?”

“Eugh, never mind. Just hurry up, my head is about to explode.”

I walked over to the table and started on her shoulders, carefully manipulating her tense muscles with my hands. “Tell me what’s wrong, Angel.”

“You’re not supposed to be talking during a massage.”

"This is not a normal massage you know," I answered, kneading her neck with my fingers. I had no fucking idea what I was doing, but I wasn't going to leave unless she pushed me out the door. "It's not every day a woman gets a massage from a bona fide marine.”

She chuckled, her body shaking under my touch. “That’s not what I was thinking.”

I grinned and moved to her back, sliding the sheet lower until the curve of her lower back could be seen. She did her best to stifle a moan but I heard it all the same. My throat went dry and I ached to caress her all over. “What were you thinking then?”