Dangerous Pleasures by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online

to look your best, Annie.”
    “You are very good at your job,” she told him with a smile, and then she took a sip of the juice. It was delicious, and very refreshing.
    “Thanks,” he told her. “When the girls are finished we’ll do your massage, and then your facial last. You’ll have some time to rest before dinner.”
    Mei massaged her hands until Annie was almost purring. “No polish for you until you go home,” the manicurist said. “You got pretty hands, and now look good.”
    Pei finished up with Annie’s feet, and Annie thought they had never felt so good. The two young women packed up the tools of their trade and hurried from the room, passing a tall and muscular man with a brush cut who was entering as they left.
    “This is Lars,” Devyn said. “He’ll be doing your massage.”
    “A man?” Annie’s voice squeaked.
    “Massage is my profession, Mrs. Miller,” Lars said quietly. “Men, women—a body is a body.” He unfolded a large padded table, fitted a face cradle at one end, and flipped over it a silk sheet he took from a small cupboard in the room. He set a large pink towel at the foot of the table. “Take off your robe and roll your panties down to make a bikini bottom. Then get facedown on the table. I’ll wait outside until you’re ready.”
    “I’ll go back up to the suite, Annie,” Devyn said. “I’ll see that your garments are pressed immediately so you’re all ready for tonight.”
    The two men left the room. Annie slowly unbelted her soft full-length terry robe, and laid it aside. Carefully she rolled her briefs down to the required formation and, reaching for the towel, climbed onto the table. She placed the towel over herself as best she could. She was about to get her first massage. And by a man. She hadn’t been touched by a man since Nat died. What if she got aroused? Then she laughed softly at herself. Lars wasn’t likely to know if she creamed her pants.
    There was a knock on the door, and the masseur’s voice called out, “Are you ready, Mrs. Miller?”
    “Yes, I am,” Annie said back, and she heard the door open and close again.
    “Are you comfortable?” he asked her. “Face cradle adjusted all right?”
    “I’m fine,” Annie told him.
    “Your skin is a little dry,” he noted. “I’m going to use almond oil on it.” She heard him uncork something, and then the sound of hands rubbing together. The hands slid strongly up one side of her back and then the other. “And you’re tense. Let me guess. You’ve never had a massage before. Try to relax, Mrs. Miller. I’m really very good at what I do.” His fingers dug gently into her shoulders.
    She tried to take his advice. His voice was impersonal, professional. He wasn’t here to seduce her. His job was to massage her and help her to let go of her tensions. The Spa wasn’t a hotbed of licentiousness. It was a place to renew her body, her mind, and her spirit. Nat would fully approve. For the first time in her life she was free for eight days and seven nights from children, pets, and making meals. She had better make the most of it, because God only knew when she would have such pampering and luxury again. Annie drew a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh.
    “That’s it!” Lars said enthusiastically. “Let that stress go, Mrs. Miller.”
    “Do I get a massage every day I’m here?” Annie asked him as he worked.
    “Twice a day if you want,” Lars told her. “I’ve been assigned to you and you alone for your stay, Mrs. Miller.”
    “Annie, please. I may have five kids, but ‘Mrs. Miller’ makes me sound so old,” she told him. God, she was being touched by a strange man, and she was really beginning to enjoy it. It felt so good to be touched again by someone who wasn’t hanging on her leg whining, or nursing on her breasts. Not that Nat had ever massaged her like this, but still, it did feel good. Very, very good.
    He chuckled. “Five kids, huh? Well, if it wouldn’t offend you, I