Dangerous Pleasures by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

have to say you’re in great shape for a lady with five kids.”
    “I’m overweight,” Annie answered him.
    “You won’t be by the time you leave here,” he told her. “Five or six pounds is all you need to lose. You’re a big-boned woman.”
    “Like my dad,” Annie said ruefully. “My sister is like mom, and she’s half my size.”
    “Genetics,” Lars replied. “It’ll get you every time. I’d like to do your buttocks, if it wouldn’t freak you out. The glutes can always use a little loosening up.”
    “Maybe tomorrow,” Annie said, nervous again.
    “No problem! I’ll hold the towel up now, and you turn over,” Lars instructed her, and when she quickly rolled over he dropped the big towel down over her, and then, going behind Annie, he began to work on her neck and shoulders.
    Annie closed her eyes and actually began to relax. Had he seen her breasts? she wondered. But then she put the thought from her mind. He hadn’t seemed to be looking, and why would he? He had told her quite plainly that massage for him was a business. The strong fingers digging into her neck and her shoulders felt wonderful. And when he was through with them he did her arms, massaging each of her hands until they felt devoid of muscle and bone. Then he moved on to to her legs and feet. Annie grew so relaxed that she actually dozed.
    “Annie.”
    She heard her name being called, and opened her eyes.
    Lars was standing next to the massage table. “You’re through now, and I’m glad that you got a little catnap. By the time you go home we’re going to have you all loose and relaxed. And we’ll teach you how to do it at home without us.”
    She sighed deeply. “That was wonderful,” she told him. “Where do I go to get my facial?”
    “Janka will be right with you,” Lars told her as Annie sat up, clutching the towel to herself. “I’ll get your robe.” And when he had brought it to her Lars helped Annie into the soft garment, standing behind her so she felt more comfortable. Taking the towel back from her, he took the face cradle out and folded his table. “See you tomorrow,” he told her, and briskly departed.
    At the same time an elegant woman in a white uniform dress came into the room. “Mrs. Miller? I am Janka, your facialist,” she said in an accented voice. She pushed a button on the door wall, and a panel across the room opened up, allowing a comfortable chair, much like a dentist’s chair, Annie thought, to slide out into the middle of the room.
    “Please be seated, Mrs. Miller, and let us see what we have to work with today.”
    As soon as Annie settled herself in the chair, Janka pushed another button and the chair was slightly elevated. Janka moved behind her, slipping a broad terry headband about her head. She then tucked a hard yet comfortable bolster beneath Annie’s neck. Two moistened cotton pads were carefully placed on her eyelids.
    “Cucumber lotion,” Janka said. “It lessens the swelling. Everything I will use on your skin is natural and has been formulated without animal testing.”
    “My twin daughters would appreciate that,” Annie murmured, but Janka didn’t reply. Instead a bright light was snapped on that Annie could see even from beneath her eye pads. Janka’s fingers began to move slowly and gently over Annie’s face.
    “The light,” Janka explained, “is part of a large magnifying glass that allows me to see your skin closely. How old are you?”
    “I’ll be forty-four in December,” Annie answered.
    “Children?”
    “Five,” Annie replied.
    “Amazing!” Janka said. “You’ve got gorgeous skin, Mrs. Miller. It’s firm, smooth, and there isn’t a crow’s-foot in sight. Yet. You’re a little dry, but we can take care of that. And before you ask, because I sense it on your lips, I’m Hungarian.”
    “I’ve never been to Hungary,” Annie said, for want of anything else to say.
    “Not a lot of Americans have until recently. My country is beautiful, and we