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of working on the butt, but there was a lot of tension held in those large muscle groups.
    “Why did you take this course?”
    N’kad paused for a moment before returning to her back. “I thought it was a handy skill to learn, and you spoke so highly of the benefits of getting a massage that it seemed a good idea.”
    “I spoke of it as an alternative to pain meds. It doesn’t do you any good if you are the one administering it.”
    She was trying to get him to declare that he had some intent that involved her, but he didn’t seem to be willing to say it.
    “I wanted to be able to help you in the same way you helped me.” He said it so softly, she barely heard it.
    Tears pricked her eyes. She licked her lips and gasped when he eased one of her arms out away from her side. Her shoulder screamed from the small motion.
    “What did you do here?”
    “I have been a dummy for this class before. You learn better when the body has been through a bit. I did some pull-ups on my way here.”
    “This doesn’t feel like your own work.”
    “Fine. M’rin held onto my legs and I lifted both of us. She’s a high-gravity species.” She snorted.
    “She is a good instructor. You two are friends?”
    “I have a lot of friends here, but, yes. We are.”
    M’rin wandered by. “She is immune to my charms but a lovely dancer. You are doing well, N’kad. Keep it up.”
    Simry enjoyed his loosening of her shoulders, elbows and hands. When he finished her right arm, he tucked it against her side and worked on the left. When her left arm was completely limp, he brought it up next to her as well.
    Breath whooshed out of her when he leaned carefully on her back in a rhythm as he moved down her spine.
    “How long have you been doing this?”
    “About eight days now. I practice every day until the instructor kicks me out or I am summoned back to the base.”
    Simry groaned when he ran his thumbs down either side of her spine. “You seem to be a quick study.”
    He chuckled and draped the sheet over the center of her back again. “Turn to your back please.”
    She shifted and faced him for a moment while she adjusted the sheet across her breasts and the other over her hips.
    He stepped behind her head and massaged the balls of her shoulders. If he kept going, she was guessing that there would only be three square feet of her that he hadn’t touched.
    He spoke softly. “There is something about being paralyzed that makes you appreciate the slightest things. The movement of a hand or the texture of a woman’s skin, they are now precious.”
    She swallowed when he massaged the tops of her breasts before smoothing his hands over her torso as he worked the muscles of her belly.
    When he finished by rubbing her legs again, she sighed in regret. It had been her best hour in the last week.
    She remained in the bed while the other students were dismissed. When M’rin declared the all clear, the volunteers slowly levered themselves upright and filled out a questionnaire on the student that had worked them over.
    Simry gave him high marks on all counts. He had been discreet, polite, courteous and had not startled her frequently while he moved. He had used light touches to keep her aware of where he was, so she had always known where he was going.
    “So, what do you think?”
    Simry handed the questionnaire over. “He is good. Very good. Professional and careful. You are still better for direct pressure, but for a student, he was excellent.”
    “Flatterer. Well, come on. You need water.” M’rin wrapped her in a clean sheet and walked with her to the change room.
    Since she wasn’t on duty today, Simry got into her casual clothing after a quick solar shower. The lace-up top left a few inches of skin visible below the fabric before her trousers began.
    She finished pulling on her boots and fluffed her hair. A quick pat down told her everything was where it was supposed to be, so she left the change room and followed M’rin to the