"Welcome to the Inner Circle Spa," a disgustingly perky receptionist chirped. Corinne took the clipboard from her which contained the usual medical background questions. "What is your name and who were you referred by?"
"Corinne Jenkins. I was referred by Brandy Hicks."
"Ah yes, I see you have a three o'clock appointment for a deep tissue. If you'd fill out that paperwork we'll get started."
Corinne rolled her eyes inwardly. Call her cynical, but she knew that these questions were mostly so they didn't get their asses sued should something bad happen.
She sat and started to review them, providing her own sarcastic mental commentary while she wrote down her real answers.
Age: how about too fucking old to be back on the singles market?
Any areas of tension: let's see...my entire life since my husband left me for his dental hygienist?
Medications: does vodka count?
Health concerns: can a vagina dry up and fall out if it hasn't been used in years?
She paused with that one. Would a neglected vagina dry up and fall out or fall in? A medical mystery. She'd probably end up a case report in some obscure gynecological journal as the first woman to find out.
She approached the receptionist again, who took her clipboard and handed her a small gold sticker in the shape of a heart. It was the size of a quarter and slightly padded. "What's this for?" Corinne asked.
"Oh, we call it our relaxation monitor. It measures your heart rate and breathing and sends it wirelessly to your therapist so they know when you are super relaxed. If you could place it on your chest over your heart that would be super." She handed the older woman a tablet as Corinne placed the sticker as instructed. "Please open our photo gallery app and review the therapists, any of the ones pictured are available in your time slot."
Corinne raised an eyebrow. "Super," she said drily as she opened the app and took a seat. She chose male gender and started swiping through. Each had a professional looking picture and a brief resume. She didn't really see the point in knowing what they all looked like, since she planned to sleep through the whole thing, but when in Rome. Her friend Brandy had promised her this place had superior service.
She was surprised when one young man caught her attention. His name was Edgardo, and while not classically handsome, there was something about the way his eyes crinkled up when he smiled that was kind of endearing. He was clearly of Latin descent, with wiry brown hair over a swarthy complexion and sparkling white teeth.
It reminded her of the time her ex had taken her to Mexico, and her Irish complexion had been so badly sunburned she'd spent the whole trip covered in aloe vera in their suite. Needless to say flirting with cute cabana boys had been out of the question. Maybe she'd make up for lost time now.
She shrugged and pressed the 'choose me' button. Seconds later a door opened and out he came, even cuter and more magnetic in person. His medical scrubs should have made him shapeless, but she could see where the shoulders strained and the sleeves barely contained his smooth brown biceps. Even Corinne in her battle scarred state felt a little kick of her heart rate.
"Ms. Jenkins, a pleasure to meet you. I am Edgardo and I shall be your humble massage therapist today." He flashed those pearly whites and Corinne found her hands engulfed in his. They were strong and sure on hers. Oh my. If only she was twenty years younger.
"Nice to meet you too," she smiled and tried to withdraw her hands but he held them a little longer than necessary.
"I will do whatever I can to make you feel like a queen," he said earnestly. She laughed a little at how serious his expression was when he said it. For a second she almost believed him.
He led her through the doors and down a darkened hallway, instructing her to change in the locker room and meet him in the lotus room.
Within minutes she was face down and naked on the massage table, lightly covered in a sheet. The soothing spa music was just starting to relax her mind, and then Edgardo laid his hands on her. She couldn't help but stiffen slightly at first.
"Mmmm, you have not been touched enough," he murmured. "A woman as beautiful as you should be accustomed to being worshiped." Corinne grinned into the face ring since he couldn't see her. He was already making her feel like royalty. She forced herself to relax as he reminded her to take deep cleansing breaths.
His hands were like a soothing balm on her spirit as well as her body. They slid over her, kneading, pressing and soothing away her twisted knots of muscle. She felt herself relax more than she had in months.
She was half asleep when he murmured, "so much tension, Ms. Jenkins. You've been suffering. What took you so long to come to me?"
His phrasing was a little odd, but her brain was floating somewhere near the ceiling so she didn't care much. "Please call me Cori," she replied groggily. "I'm only here because my friend got me this gift certificate. I never get massages." Her cheating bastard of an ex had always called them an unnecessary extravagance.
Edgardo raised an eyebrow, surprised. The clientele here all knew what the Inner Circle had to offer, except this curvy red headed goddess on his table. Apparently her friend had not told her the whole truth, which meant he would have to tread carefully.
He glanced up at the row of tiny round lights mounted discreetly on the wall. One green light and two reds. He had his work cut out for him. His deep brown eyes glinted with determination. He loved a challenge.
"You need to see me at least once a week for two months. It will take time to remind your body of what it needs."
"And what is that?"
