Chapter 6

“How ‘bout we start with just trying to loosen up your back and shoulder muscles and if you want to take it further, great. If you don’t, that’s fine, too.”

Dale stared up into Riadh’s dark eyes. “You know any human guy would be so long gone with all the stupid shit going wrong in my head.”

“Then be glad I’m not human. Roll over.”

Dale turned onto his belly, pillow pushed off to one side so his head was on the mattress. Riadh began between Dale’s shoulder blades, strong fingers working at stiff knotted muscles.

“Unh, ow,” Dale muttered.

“Should I stop?”

“No. I just didn’t realize how damn clenched up some of those spots were. Keep going.”

The pressure of Riadh’s hands eased up slightly, but he continued, eventually moving on to Dale’s trapezius muscle and the back of his neck.

Between the careful pushing and rubbing and the meds finally taking the edge off the bone deep ache, Dale began to relax.

“Flip over,” Riadh said.

Dale rolled onto his back.