Lying there, fully dressed but face-up in front of a guy I barely knew, I could not help feeling jittery.

My hands clung to the couch like they were the only things keeping me grounded.

Howard caught on to my jitters and chuckled softly. "Just relax, ma'am. You can lift up your shirt now."

I nodded, bit down on my lip, and with a blush creeping up my cheeks, I pulled up my shirt just enough to bare my chest.

Howard gave a nod, his eyes locked on my chest with a look of pure wonder, as if he had just spotted the most incredible gem in the world.

I was well aware of my chest's appeal, and having a kid seemed to have only enhanced it.

However, Howard was not exactly subtle about it, and I felt like I was on display, like a fish laid out for inspection.

The thought made my cheeks heat up, and I shifted a bit, murmuring, "Mr. Jones, can we start now…?"

Howard came back to earth with a soft smile.

"Absolutely, you look stunning."

The way he said it was kind of double-edged, and I was not even sure what he was complimenting.

Before I could get a grip on that, a chilly sensation spread across my skin.

I gasped and recoiled a little.

Howard let out a low laugh, clearly enjoying this. "Ma'am, you're quite sensitive."

His comment only turned my face redder, my eyes darting around, not knowing where to settle.

Howard caught on to how flustered I was and offered an eye mask with a thoughtful tone.

"Would you like me to put this on for you? It might help you relax into the massage more."

I mulled it over and decided to go for it.

I mean, I could not just gaze at Howard for hours on end, could I? That would be way too embarrassing.

Howard looked like he was about to help me with the mask, but I quickly grabbed it. "I'll handle it…"

He got the message and backed off.

With the mask on, the world went black, and the awkwardness faded away, leaving my senses to focus on the sensation at my chest.

I have got to hand it to Howard, his touch was spot on: gentle, yet with just the right amount of pressure to put me at ease.

Howard's hands grew stronger, his palms radiating warmth as he worked the muscles with care. My body, ever so sensitive since having a child, reacted to his touch with a warmth that spread through me. I was internally glad for the eye mask that hid my flushed face.

The massage went on for over two hours, and by the end, my cheeks were tinged with a rosy glow. Howard's sudden firm grip caught me off guard, and a soft moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"Mmm…"

My foggy mind snapped to attention, and I quickly covered my mouth, feeling my ears burn with embarrassment.

I could not see Howard's face, but his deep, calm voice soon reassured me.

"Ma'am, there's a tight spot here that needs a little extra work," he said, pausing for a moment. "Don't worry about it, it's perfectly normal to react."

I felt so awkward, I could have sunk through the floor.

Howard's touch became lighter, soothing my nerves and lulling me into a near-sleep state. "We're all done, ma'am," he announced, just as I was on the edge of dozing off.

I sat up quickly, removing my eye mask in surprise. "Finished already?" I asked, a little disappointed that the session had ended so soon.

I glanced up to see Howard cleaning his hands with a damp cloth, noticing a smear of massage lotion. I looked away, my face heating up at the sight.

Howard remained unfazed, his expression unreadable. "Yes, this session should help you feel better. If you'd like to continue with the messages, just message me to set up another appointment," he said, packing his things to leave.

I sprang to my feet, ready to walk Howard out, but something about his look just did not sit right with me.

My shirt was still halfway up.

Then, out of nowhere, the door rattled.

I jumped, almost forgetting I had a husband in the picture.

If he walked in on another guy and me, my shirt half-off and all, he would be livid.

I yanked my shirt down quickly just as Howard made it to the door.

Sure enough, my husband's face soured the second he saw a strange guy standing there.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

My husband had a short fuse, and I was worried they would come to blows, so I jumped in with an explanation.

"Honey, this is a professional I found. He just finished giving me a massage."

"A professional? A guy?" My husband's face twisted up even more after that. "Since when do guys do massages? He's probably up to no good!"

He shot me a look full of doubt. "You were just getting a massage? Nothing else?"

"It was just a massage, for real!" I was ticked off that he did not trust me. "Don't believe me? Go check the cameras!"

We had put in a surveillance cam in the living room to keep an eye on the kids.

Never thought it would prove its worth in a situation like that.

Seeing I was not backing down, my husband started to get that maybe nothing sketchy was going on, and his frown eased up a bit.

"Sorry, I got it wrong."

"It's fine."

Howard was still all ice, gave a nod, and took off.

Did not look back once.

That made my husband breathe easier.

He saw I was still steamed and came over to wrap me in a hug. "Let it go, babe. Any guy would've been concerned in that spot..."

My eyes welled up a little. I got where he was coming from, but it still stung.

In the days immediately after giving birth, I was a bundle of raw emotions, tears coming easily.

My husband looked anxious, pleading for my forgiveness and doing his best to lift my spirits.

I was not truly angry; I could understand that in his position. I would have doubted, too.

I was the first to pull up the security cam footage. "Look! Nothing happened between us, see for yourself.

"Mr. Jones, or Howard, was a tip from my best friend. He may look young, but he's got over ten years under his belt, a total pro."

Since Howard's visit, I did not feel so tight in the chest anymore, and nursing my baby was a breeze.

My husband kept saying he trusted me, but his eyes told the real story.

He watched the entire surveillance tape.

Only then did he genuinely relax.

My husband even said that next time I hire a guy for the job, I should have someone with me–just to be safe.

I nodded but did not really worry about it.

Howard was all about the rules. His hands stayed put, and man, he knew his stuff.

After his massage, I felt way better.

However, that nagging pain crept back before too long; the fix was not a full one.

My husband had just left on a trip, and I thought about waiting for him to come back before calling Howard again, but I could not handle the constant ache.

With that, I rang up my best friend to come over.

She was all in, but when the day came, she bailed.

"Hey, just kick back and enjoy!" she said jokingly over the phone. "Trust me, Howard's got magic hands. He'll take good care of you..."

When the convo took a turn for the too-much-info, I just hung up.

While I was on the phone, Howard was right there, waiting.

Noticing my discomfort, Howard gave me a knowing smile and said, "Ma'am, you can relax. When it comes to my work, it's all professional, no matter who the client is."

I could not help but remember how Howard's hands had worked magic last time, far better than any of those so-called pros I had tried before.

Hey, with a camera keeping watch in the living room, I figured Howard would not try anything funny.

I gave a shy nod. "I appreciate it, Mr. Jones."

Howard got ready on the couch, just like before. Even with that first time under my belt, I was still nervous.

Blindfold on, the world went dark, and every touch from Howard's massage seemed to echo louder in my body.

Like before, his massage was sending me into a sleepy haze.

Then, out of nowhere, a chilly tingle zipped across my chest.

I jumped, itching to rip off the blindfold and see what was up.

Howard's voice was a soothing balm, "No worries, ma'am. It's just the massage oil we always use. It's great for easing any soreness and getting better bit by bit."

That settled my nerves.

I mentally rolled my eyes at myself. Since when did I get so jumpy?

The oil started off cool but warmed up as Howard worked it in. His hands, firm yet gentle, made this time feel even more intense than the last.

He started with gentle circles on the outside, then added a little more force as he moved toward the center. The oil made every movement slick and smooth.

Sprawled on the couch, I felt my strength ebbing away with each press and knead, my head getting woozy.

Sometimes, I could even sense Howard's strong arms brushing past my chest.

Heat bubbled up inside me, and without thinking, my legs clenched together.

My chest was a mix of heat and pressure, and it felt like my whole body was firing up.

"What's in this oil, it's so... whoa!"

I barely got the words out when Howard's sudden squeeze drew a yelp from me.

Howard's breath was a warm whisper in my ear. "Don't worry, ma'am," he said softly. "This warmth you're feeling is totally normal. It's just part of the treatment, helps you relax and eases any discomfort."

I jumped a little–I had not expected him to get so close. My ears have always been super sensitive, and the heat of his breath made my whole body go weak.

The feeling only intensified.

I was getting hotter by the second, and it had been so long since I had felt anything like this. Ever since the baby came, my husband and I had drifted apart. At this point, the rush of sensations was almost too much to bear.

I started to squirm without even realizing it, biting my lip to try to keep myself under control.

I could not even think about Howard being right there. It was just too much, like a thousand ants were marching over my skin.

"Ma'am, do you need... any help?" Howard's voice was low and close.