Stephen didn't recoil, which Michelle counted as a win. He was a very self-contained fellow, Stephen was. She worked the muscles of his shoulders, raising her hands once to let the cloak slide out of the way. "Thanks," she mouthed silently, uncertain of just how aware the cloak might be, but it didn't hurt to be polite.
She squelched a laugh--he might not take it the way it was intended, and answered his question with one of her own. "Have I been too subtle? That's not the usual complaint."
"But to answer your question, yes," she said. She spoke slowly, focusing on working out the knots in his muscles--and on choosing her words carefully. "You're an attractive man. You're educated, capable. And you're dangerous. We work well together, and I enjoy your company."
She finished up with a softer touch before stepping back. "And you're taller than I am. This would work better with you sitting, or lying down."
When Stephen was facing her again, she said, "Things here are hard. We need to find ways to enjoy ourselves when we're not fighting the things the island throws at us. I like sex. I'd like to have sex with you, but that's your choice. I'd also enjoy just having drinks, giving you a proper massage, maybe making out, either instead of or to work up to more."
She looked around and laughed. "This is not when, where, or how I intended to do this, but here we are."