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had a reaction if it was just a kiss.

    He settled back on the couch and trapped my fingers against his chest. His heart beat strong, mocking my racing pulse. He traced each one, sending another ripple of not-lust-only-drugs thrumming through my nerves.

    Still looking at Kerri, I tugged my hand away. “Start it.”

    She nodded and set the popcorn on the table and reclaimed her spot. I ignored her attempts at eye contact. We weren’t talking about this.

    Ever.

    I’m not sure what I’d been thinking. I guess I thought it would be like when Axel kisses me—and clearly that had taken a wrong turn too—maybe more like when I kiss him. Brotherly, platonic, not a single urge to do it again.

    By the way my lips tingled, none of those were even close to accurate.

    Jesse grabbed a bowl and settled it on my stomach, then grabbed a handful, making the bowl wiggle. What should have been a calm night with friends now had a strange tilt to it because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut and had to offer up something I’d clearly been wanting anyway.

    A small circle of pain radiated outward from beneath my left eye. “Kerri, can I have more drugs.”

    She twisted and checked the kitchen clock. “Not for another forty-five minutes.”

    “Here,” Jesse shifted on the couch, still settled against the hollow of my waist. “Give me your hand.”

    I lifted an eyebrow. Another ploy?

    He bounced his open palm once. “Trust me. I’ll do some acupressure.”

    “No more kissing.” I settled my hand into his warm one.

    “Not a sex-crazed maniac. It was just a kiss, Sasha. Not even that, just a reward.”

    With a gentle touch, he turned my hand over and probed the soft pad of my thumb. “Headache or leg?”

    I leaned my cheek against the cushion. “Both.”

    “Head first then, it’s faster.” Squeezing the web between my thumb and index finger, he massaged a painful knot away. It hurt and felt good at the same time. After the knot melted, he gently rubbed back and forth over the spot, soothing the redness. Then he massaged each finger, pinching the tips of my fingers. “Still have a headache?”

    I probed my cheek. “No. Wow, thank you. Do my leg.”

    “Demanding.”

    I smiled. “Hey. You offered.”

    “I did.” He lowered my hand to my chest and stood. “Let me resituate first though. This one takes longer and I don’t want to miss the movie.”

    Settled back under my legs, he drew my hand against his chest. Cradling it, he poked and massaged different points. The ache in my leg eased. When I told him, he nodded, but didn’t stop. “The bone is still broken. I’m working on that now.”

    “You can fix her broken bone?” Kerri asked.

    He shrugged. “Not instantly, but yeah, I can activate certain areas that will help it heal faster.

    A few times, I thought he activated spots directly north of my legs, but when I jerked my attention off the screen, he was still watching the movie, face impassive. After my entire body felt like jelly, he lowered my hand and switched to drawing circles on my good knee. I didn’t want to know it wasn’t related to mending my bone, so I let him.

    Jesse swirled his fingertips around my kneecap. More tingling erupted in my belly and spread outward. I reminded my body that he was a musician—a talented one who wasn’t going to give it up, no matter what I said.

    My body didn’t care.

    I picked my thumb cuticle until it bled, then switched hands. Jesse covered them with his and squeezed. His other hand quieted on my leg.

    Damn, now he probably thinks it’s his caresses making me destroy my fingers. Never mind that it was true, I didn’t need him thinking that.

    “Watch the movie, Sasha,” he whispered. “Stop thinking about it.”

    I forced Meg Ryan’s face into focus. “I am watching.”

    He squeezed both hands gently. “You didn’t laugh at the funniest part.”

    Warmth crept up my neck.

    “The drugs are messing with me.” Not you. Not how nice you