Lisa pulled into the lot and parked in front of the massage parlor. It had been three years since her last visit--right after she'd helped her sister with the youngest child. That massage had been a gift from her sister, and the experience had stayed with her ever since. The woman who'd worked on her back then was incredible. Lisa had wanted to return ever since, but between running her own business and helping raise her sister's kids, time had slipped away.
She flipped down the visor mirror for a quick check. Her light brown hair hung straight to her shoulders, framing a thin face with striking green eyes. She took pride in her appearance. Whenever possible, she'd hop on the stationary bike or squeeze in a run--even during work meetings when she could just listen.
Despite the chaos of life, she thought she'd managed to stay in decent shape. By most men's standards, her figure was more than appealing. Curvy in the right places, a C-cup chest that had begun to show just a hint of age, toned arms, and what she considered very sexy legs. She missed the abs she'd had in college, but everything else still looked good. "Perfect," according to the men she occasionally picked up at bars. At 33, Lisa still turned heads the moment she walked into a room.
Satisfied there were no food particles in her teeth, Lisa stepped out of the car and walked into the massage parlor. A young woman sat behind the front desk and greeted her with a friendly smile.
"Hello! How can I help you?"
Lisa returned the smile. "Lisa Morelle. I have a 4:00 appointment with Jennifer."
The receptionist's expression faltered slightly. "Ah--unfortunately, Jennifer had to leave this afternoon. Her child got sick. Let me double-check that we have someone else lined up for you." She turned to the computer and began typing.
Now it was Lisa's turn to frown. She had waited three years to come back--specifically for Jennifer's magical hands. Her mind flipped to the calendar at home. When would she even have another chance to reschedule?
The receptionist looked up from the screen. "It looks like the only masseuse available this afternoon is Mark. He's new to our team, but I don't think his schedule will stay open for long..." She gave Lisa a sly glance and added with a wink, "He's also pretty easy on the eyes."
Lisa sighed. She didn't care what Mark looked like. She just wanted Jennifer. But as she mentally ran through her schedule--upcoming work deadlines, her sister's kids starting spring sports--nothing opened up.
"Fine," she said with a reluctant exhale. "He'll do, I guess."
The receptionist smiled and stood, gesturing toward a nearby door before heading toward it herself. "If you'll follow me, please."
Lisa followed the receptionist down a quiet hallway to the last door on the right, which stood open, inviting her in. A soft scent of eucalyptus lingered in the air--subtle and soothing. Gentle accent lighting glowed from behind a few strategically placed plants in the corners, casting a mellow warmth throughout the room. It felt peaceful, comforting--just what she needed.
The woman stepped inside and gestured toward a bench. "Mark will be with you in a few moments. Feel free to wait here," she said, then exited, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Lisa exhaled and shrugged off her coat, hanging it neatly on the hook beside the door. She slipped off her heels and placed them on the floor beneath her coat, setting her purse beside them. Turning toward the massage table, she ran her fingers across the surface as she approached. The fabric was soft--almost warm to the touch. She gave herself a little mental pep talk: This will still be a good massage.
A knock on the door broke the quiet. It opened to reveal a tall, muscular man with dark brown hair, warm skin--almost Samoan in tone--and a tight-fitting shirt paired with board shorts. He smiled and extended a large hand.
"Hello, I'm Mark. I'll be your masseuse today."
Lisa reached out and shook his hand. It was warm and firm. And yes--very attractive. The receptionist hadn't been exaggerating. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lisa," she replied, withdrawing her hand.
Mark moved with smooth confidence to the dresser against the wall, opening a drawer. "Here are a couple of towels for you to use," he said, placing them on the table. Mark turned back to the dresser, pulled out a long lighter, and began lighting the candles arranged around the room. "Any specific areas you'd like me to focus on today?"
Lisa watched him move--his biceps flexed beneath the sleeves of his shirt as he worked. He was easy on the eyes. "No, not really," she said. "Just looking for a full-body workover."
Mark glanced at her, his eyes briefly flicking downward before returning to her face. "No problem," he said smoothly. As he lit the final candle, he added, "In that case, take your time getting ready. Just call out when you're on the table. We'll start with your back, so please lie face down."
With that, he gave her a polite nod and stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Lisa tried to stay optimistic as she undressed. She had really been looking forward to Jennifer's expert touch. As she slipped off her blouse, it struck her--this new masseuse was a young, attractive man who would soon be running his hands over her body. Self-consciously, she glanced down at her bra and stomach. I should've worn the red one, she thought, noticing she'd defaulted to a plain, cream-colored bra.