CHAPTER 1
JACOB
His arms were the first thing I noticed when I looked up from the novel I was reading. Smooth curves of biceps stretched his light blue shirt and his large, corded forearms looked striated and powerful in the dimmed café lights. One massive hand cradled his forehead as he stared down into a textbook flung open in front of him.
I recognized him immediately. Like me, he was a regular at this coffee shop, although normally, he spent his time in one of the back booths laughing and joking with friends. There were always one or two girls angling to sit near him, though never the same ones, so I had guessed he didn't have a girlfriend. Today though, he sat alone at a table near my spot along the window at a table only large enough for two. From the look on his face, he was in no mood for jokes.
As I admired him, he looked up and caught my gaze for a second with his ice-blue eyes. He had a defined jaw and square face that looked as rugged and solid as the rest of him. Meeting that gaze, my heart skipped a beat but I coolly nodded to him as a 'hello.' He nodded back, then returned his attention to his textbook.
I didn't expect anything more. Having lived in this college town for a couple of years now, I had seen plenty of young, handsome guys, although this stud was probably the most striking.
Our acquaintance might have ended, there except that when I got up to refill my cup, he slammed shut the book, shoved it away and let out a deep groan. Introduction to Psychology the front of the textbook declared in bold lettering.
"Psychology not your thing?" I asked, stopping beside him.
"I'm gonna bomb the fucking class," the guy said in a resonant baritone without looking up at me. "First semester and I'm gonna get an F on my first exam."
"First semesters can be rough," I said, trying to sound understanding. This close to him, I could smell his cologne mixed with hint of his natural musk. Keeping myself focused, I continued "Psychology can be pretty interesting though. And useful. I actually studied it in college."
"Useful? How?" he asked, looking up at me skeptically.
"Well, for one, there's hypnosis," I said, casually sitting down in the chair across from him. His huge frame easily dwarfed the table and I immediately felt like I was in his space. It was good I had sat down too, because I was starting to get a tent in my slacks just talking to the guy.
"Hypnosis? That ain't real," he laughed. He pantomimed falling asleep and laughed again, his deep jock voice echoing through the coffee shop.
"It's plenty real," I told him. "I've seen hypnosis do many things. I've seen it help some people quit smoking. Others have used it to work out harder. And for some, it helps with studying..."
"Studying what?" he asked, now interested. The idea of having this guy under my hypnotic suggestion, even for a few minutes, was so hot. My pants definitely felt tight now and I felt my whole body starting to flush.
"Well for one, it can help you focus and remember things for that exam you have coming up," I said and cocked my head at the abandoned textbook between us. The stud smirked and leaned back in his chair and stretched, letting his shirt slide up to bare just the smallest stretch of his stomach.
"Show me," he said. "Show me it works."
"With pleasure," I said. "I'm Jacob by the way."
"I'm Max," the jock said still smirking. I would have to be able to focus if I was going to put him in trance.
"We can probably do it here -- maybe at that couch?" I suggested, waving at a sofa in the back of the shop near the booths. "It works better if you can really relax."
Max agreed, gathered his stuff and stood up. At something like 6'4", he easily towered over me, and just like with his arms, every part of his body looked completely solid. As he made his way to the sofa, I admired the way his jeans fit perfectly to his impressive rear. I was grateful he had turned his back to me so I could adjust the raging hardon in my slacks before joining.
As I sat down, my hand brushed against Max's knee, though he didn't seem to notice. I realized the sofa was smaller than I had thought -- or Max was bigger. Either way, I was really close.
"If you're settled, why don't you close your eyes and start taking nice, slow breaths," I told Max. "Let your eyes slide shut on their own."
The stud did as he was told, taking one slow breath at a time, his massive chest expanding and falling rhythmically. I felt like I could watch him all night. His eyes fluttered shut and I could see the tension releasing from the way his huge shoulders began to loosen.
"This is so easy, right?" I said.
"So easy," Max said, his deep voice already more relaxed.
I guided Max's attention, focusing first on his fingers, then hands, arms, back -- feeling each muscle loosen and relax. His body slackened and his head leaned back to rest against the back of the couch. I had such an urge to rest a hand on his huge thigh.
"You feel very good, don't you," I said.
"Feel good," Max repeated. His voice was far away now, as though he were sleep-talking.
"As you listen to me, each exhale takes away stress and every inhale gives you more energy.
"Less stress. More energy," Max agreed.
"It's easy to listen to me and relax. My words are the only thing on your mind,"
"Only your words in my mind," Max said.
"Anytime you hear me say 'Breathe in Slowly' you will relax and feel just like you do now. What happens when I say 'Breathe in Slowly,' Max?"
"I feel just like now," he said. He was deep now. I continued walking him through more relaxation, admiring the way his body loosened. From the way he was leaning against the couch now, I could see the outline of abs under his shirt.
"I'm going to count to three and you will leave trance, Max. When you leave trance, you will tell me how you feel. Ready?"
I let him take another breath and counted.
"One"
Another breath.
"Two"
Another deep breath.
"Three!"
For a long moment, Max didn't move. He looked like he had fallen completely asleep. Then, his eyes flipped open, he stretched, yawned and looked around. Seeing me, he grinned.
