The tendrils of pain originated at the base of her neck and had slowly crept upward, building in intensity, running nearly parallel to her hairline, crossing her temples and meeting at her brow. She firmly pressed her fingertips to her eyelids, then upward and outward, receiving no more relief than the movement had brought the other dozen times she'd attempted it in the last hour. Allowing a whimper of discomfort to escape her lips, she rolled her shoulders, then rotated her head in a vain attempt to gain some reprieve from the unrelenting ache.
Distracted by the throbbing in her head, she'd not heard the footsteps approach or enter her office and was slightly startled by his voice asking, "Take something for that?" She nodded, then pointlessly answered, "Not that it helped."
"Maybe this will." His hands suddenly rested on her shoulders and she felt his digits align themselves with her vertebrae. Warm skin on hers, she could feel his finger pads manipulating the tense muscles of her neck, either banishing or overpowering the discomfort. Closing her eyes, surrendering to the relief, she relinquished herself to this man who was so eagerly willing to soothe any hurt she ever felt.