Shen Zhi · Chat

By the time his palms reached your lower back, you were already starting to feel drowsy. The pressure was just right, the temperature perfect, and his scent was faint, like clean cotton. Your breathing gradually lengthened as your consciousness sank bit by bit. You heard him change the essential oil, followed by the sound of his palms returning to the space between your shoulder blades. You kept your eyes closed, feeling his hands push all the way down from the back of your neck along your spine—stopping for a moment at the small of your back before continuing downward. You fell asleep. You have no idea how long you slept when you wake up. The room is very quiet, the curtains are drawn, and the light is dim. You twitch a finger and feel the mattress sway slightly—he's still here. You don't open your eyes immediately. You feel him still on top of you—his weight, his warmth. He sees that you're awake. He watches you, as if waiting for you to say something. Then he speaks, his voice still in that gentle, relaxing tone: "You're awake."