Chapter 26: Chapter 26

EMMA

They rented the spa for the entire day. It’s completely empty.

MARGO

That’s rich people behavior.

EMMA

Should I ask Preston if I can just marry into the family? He’d never have to pay me any attention if I got spa days like this frequently.

MARGO

You never know what could happen. Maybe your summer of self-discovery will end up with you madly in love with one of the world’s most eligible bachelors!

I roll my eyes, tightening the belt of my robe so I don’t accidentally flash someone from Peyton’s wedding party.

WINNIE

I love that idea! Emma Rhodes has a nice ring to it.

EMMA

Stop you two. It’s a fun fling that will end as quick as it began and that’s fine by me. I’ll enjoy the perks.

I exit out of the group chat and pull up the camera. I stretch my arm out and snap a selfie of me in my fancy robe. The locker room is surprisingly vacant. It’s so empty I wonder if they have multiple of everything at this spa. Pembroke Hills is a country club for the elite of the elite. I’d been here once before with the girls, but that time, it was far busier than it is today. I’ve had my nails done and a facial, and I haven’t seen anyone from the wedding party after either of those.

My phone vibrates in the locker. I pick it back up, wanting to check it one more time before going off to the sauna to kill time before my massage.

MARGO

No matter what, have the best day today and enjoy yourself! Win and I will be waiting for updates.

WINNIE

Also can’t wait to watch another video update on your IG. It’s been so fun to hear you talk about sports guy when we know exactly who you’re with.

EMMA

It really isn’t that juicy. He’s a normal guy. Very grumpy honestly.

MARGO

Go have fun with your future in-laws. Love you, Em!

I’m tempted to tell her there’s no way Preston’s family would ever be my in-laws, but I don’t. I put my phone in the locker and shut it for good. I don’t have to state the obvious to her that nothing will transpire between Preston and me after this week.

But I will enjoy the perks of his family’s insane amount of money and enjoy this spa day. Like Peyton mentioned earlier, I earned this spa day. I’ll be on my way to the US Open in no time with the way I played today—aside from the purposefully missed serve that Preston noticed. I’m pleasantly surprised with how well I played. Sitting in a sauna and relishing in my almost victory is exactly what I need.

A massage will be ideal too. Hopefully, I get someone with strong hands ready to really work at the knots. It’s been a long time since I had a professional massage, and I’m ready for it.

My slippers slap against the marble floors as I search for one of the sauna rooms. According to the spa attendant, there are multiple saunas, so it creates a more intimate experience for the guests. When she walked me back to the locker room after my facial, she said the ones to the right were all in use, but if I went to the left and continued down for a minute, I’d find a row of sauna rooms that were all empty.

I accidentally walk into a break room, interrupting what looks like an intense lunch group gossip session for some of the people who work at the spa before finally entering one of the saunas. When she told me they were private, I expected small rooms the size of closets. This sauna doesn’t seem to be on, so instead of trying to mess with the controls, I head to the one next door. It’s fogged over, clearly on and ready for me to sit back and relax.

I pull the door open, barely able to see anything in front of me because of the steam. Stepping in, I relish in the way the steam clings to my skin even through the fabric of my plush robe.

Maybe wearing the robe wasn’t the best idea. I slide my feet out of the slippers and leave them in front of the door. I’m placing them neatly to the side when I notice a very large set of slippers already in here.

“Oh shit,” I mutter, my back going straight with panic.

“Breaking into my sauna, rebel?” a smooth voice I’d recognize anywhere asks from behind the steam. I squint, trying to see through all of the moisture in the air to find Preston. I think I make out his tall frame in the corner, but I can’t be entirely sure.

“How’d you know it’s me?” I ask, inching toward the door.

“I’d recognize your voice anywhere,” he answers honestly. “You going to join me?”

A small squeak comes from my throat because there’s something about the setting in here that makes it far more…intimate. His voice is deep and throaty and sends tingles down my spine.

“Oh, I don’t have to stay. I’ll find my own sauna. I didn’t expect to⁠—”

My words get cut off when he walks through the steam. He turns down the temperature of the sauna a few notches before grabbing my hand. “You’re not going anywhere,” he declares, tugging on my hand and pulling me deeper into the space.

My heart races, and I don’t know why I’m suddenly nervous to be alone with him. The man was fucking me with a vibrator last night and has seen every inch there is to see of me.

Maybe it’s the looming threats he’s made. I’m ready to see if he follows through with them. The anticipation makes the sauna feel way hotter than it actually is.

Preston leads me to a stone bench that’s part of the wall. Over here, the steam is a little thinner, but not by much.

“Enjoying your spa day?” he asks, gesturing for me to sit. I do, even though it feels weird because he’s still standing with his eyes pinned on me.

All I can do is nod as I try to keep my eyes on his, but it’s hard when he’s shirtless. Not only shirtless, but the man is wearing nothing but a plush white towel wrapped around his hips.

And oh my god, he has the body of a Greek god. Actually, scratch that—I think the gods would’ve been jealous of the perfect slopes and planes of his body.

He chuckles, the sound barely audible over the spa music that plays through speakers I can’t see. “You like what you see, rebel?”

I jump, my eyes finding his. The corners of his lips twitch with the hint of a smile.

“I wasn’t staring,” I lie, sitting back and trying to play it cool.

“You were. And that’s okay. I like it when you stare.”

My mouth falls open. Is it hot in here? I guess it is a sauna. That must explain why my whole entire body feels flushed, and not because I’m fairly confident Preston’s muscles have muscles, and I have the strongest urge to run my tongue along them.

He takes a step closer to me. I’ve seen him in a suit and clothes that no doubt probably cost an ungodly amount of money, but I think the hottest thing I’ve ever seen him wear is this towel. It’s knotted low on his hip. The deep v that disappears underneath his towel is so pronounced I want to lick it and feel it against my tongue.

“You’re normally so chatty. Why so quiet now?”

I swallow, the pronounced outline of his abs now so close to me I could reach out and touch them if I wanted to. “I’m just very relaxed.”

He laughs again, and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds. It’s because I know he doesn’t do it too often that it makes it that much more special when he does. “Are you enjoying the spa?”

I nod. “Yes. Are you?” My voice breaks a little at the end because he’s taken another step closer to me. My knees now brush against the towel around his waist.

Leaning in, he places his palms against the wall on either side of my head. He’s caging me in, his presence now the only thing I can concentrate on. Not that I’m complaining. He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and I’ll bask in the heated way he’s watching me right now. “I’m enjoying my day a lot better now.”

He sticks his knee between my thighs, forcing them open. It’s such a simple move, but it sets my entire body on fire. My clit throbs because of it.

“So, you’re really into saunas?” I twist my hands together in my lap. He leans over me, so close I’m wondering if I’m supposed to place my hands on his chest? Slide my fingers underneath his towel? The way he stares at my lips angrily, I’m thinking I’m about to have my first public sexual experience, and I can’t even be embarrassed by it because my body is on fire with desire for him.

“Yes. If you’re in them. I didn’t think I’d see you until our scheduled couples massage, so this was a very welcomed surprise.”

He keeps one hand braced against the wall while the other begins to trace the side of my face. His fingers keep drifting down until they’re wrapped around the tie of my robe.

“I didn’t know it was a couples massage.”

His fingers are quick at getting the tie undone. He pulls it from the loops and places it on the bench next to me. I’m transfixed by the way his muscles ripple with every movement.

He slips his hand underneath the collar of the robe, his fingertips splaying against my collarbone. “You don’t have to just look. Touch me, rebel.”

My eyes flutter closed for a moment. “Preston.” His name is said like a warning—or maybe a plea. I’ve never wanted someone as badly as I want him, and now that he’s right in front of me, clearly mine for the taking, I don’t know what to do.

Preston decides for me. He pulls his hand free from my robe and grabs on to my wrist. His fingers are strong as he guides my hand to his abs.

I gasp the moment my fingertips press to his skin. Now that I’m touching him, I want more. I flatten my palm against him, wanting to memorize every dip of his muscles.

“All I’ve thought about since last night was how badly I needed to touch you…” His fingers return to my skin again, but this time, his movements are faster with more intention. He pushes the fabric of my robe off my shoulders, baring more of my skin to him.

His fingertip traces the swell of my breast. There’s no way he doesn’t feel my racing heart under his touch. He tugs on the robe one more time until it’s completely open, freeing my breasts as the fabric falls to my hips. He lets his knuckle brush over my peaked nipple, teasing me in the most excruciating way. “I’ve thought about how badly I wanted to taste you…”

“You have tasted me.” My voice comes out strained as he circles my nipple with his fingertip. His touch is so light that all it manages to do is tease me and have me yearning for so much more from him.

He clicks his tongue, and his hand drops to my lap. His fingertips slip between my thighs. “No. Taste you here.” He slides his fingers through my wetness, letting out a grunt of approval to find just how wet I already am.

“Oh god,” I moan, my head falling backward as he presses his thumb against my clit.

“I’ll make you see god by the time I’m done with you.”