It had been a long day and I was very, very tired. As soon as I got back to my room I flopped down backwards on the bed and closed my eyes and just lay there. My feet were aching, my back was aching and I had the beginning of a headache. I felt hot and dirty and my whole body was uncomfortable, as if it had been squeezed inside my dress all day.
I sat up and unzipped the back of my dress to loosen it, then wriggled it off and threw it on the floor. I dropped back on the bed. It was an improvement but I still felt constricted. I needed to breathe; my skin needed to breathe. After a moment I pushed off my pantyhose, then sat up again and removed my bra and finally my knickers as well. That was much, much better. I lay back again, flat out with my legs a little apart and my arms a little out from my sides. The room was very warm -- I had the window open but the air-conditioning was not on -- and I could feel my muscles begin to expand. At last I was beginning to relax.
I put my hands on my face and ran them slowly down over my breasts and stomach and thighs. Suddenly I knew what I needed: a bath, a drink and a massage. I wondered about the massage. The hotel would have a massage service, but what I didn't know was whether the masseur would be male or female. I did not want a gay male; I couldn't face the thought of that tiresome "all girls together" sort of chatter today. Nor did I want a straight male with the awkwardness of being naked, or near enough to it, and alone in a room with him. I wanted a woman or a girl who would just get on with it and give me a good massage.
The drink came first though. I stood up and padded over to the mini-bar. Walking in bare feet was strange after a day in heels, and with every step I seemed to thump against the floor. The window was one-way glass so that although I could see out, no-one could see in; but even so there was a touch of excitement in walking completely naked around a strange room. I stood still for a moment, feeling the faint movement of the air on my skin. I put my hands firmly over my breasts and rubbed them -- not sexually, but to loosen them up. My skin felt very smooth.
I used the whole of the little bottle of gin making a gin and tonic. There was even a lemon in the fridge. I put in some ice and took a good pull at it. It was freezing cold and beautifully refreshing.
I sat down on the sofa with the hotel directory and flipped through to Guest Services. There it was: in-room massage, 8am to 6pm, with a 4-digit telephone number. It was just before 5 so they should still be there. The entry gave no clue about whether the service was provided by a male or a female. It was a relief when a female voice answered, "Nutri-Care, Amanda speaking, can I help you?"
"Hi, I'm calling about the in-room massage. Would it be possible to have one fairly soon, for about an hour?"
"Sure," said Amanda. Her voice was clear and confident, not like that of a young girl, but she might have been 25 or 55 for all I could tell. "I could be with you in about 20 minutes if that's not too soon."
"No, that's great," I said. "I'm in Room 1103. I'll finish my drink and have a quick bath and 20 minutes will be perfect."
"Fine. I'll see you then. Bye."
I walked into the bathroom. The tiles felt cold on my feet, but not unpleasantly so. I turned on the taps as hard as they would go.
I used the toilet then tested the bathwater and gave it a little more hot. I placed my gin and tonic, still half full, on the ledge nearby, and stepped in. It was just right: warm without being uncomfortable, and deep but not too deep. I sat down, then lay back, resting my head on the end of the bath. I felt my breasts lift away from my chest; the nipples just broke the surface of the water. I consciously relaxed my whole body, beginning with the neck, then my arms, my chest, my stomach and all down to the toes. I let my arms float to the surface.
In a minute or so I could feel my face becoming sweaty. I had not taken off my makeup. I took a breath and slid down so that my head was under water. I lay with my head on the bottom of the bath, feeling the dirt of the day lift from my face as the pores opened fully.
I sat back up, tilting my head back so that my hair fell back against my skull. There was a big fluffy flannel at the end of the bath. I soaked it and very gently and carefully wiped my face to clean off the makeup. The flannel was streaked heavily with colours, and I wet it again and squeezed it. I slid back under the surface of the water and used the flannel under water, very gently, to remove the last traces. My skin still felt smooth from the oils in the makeup. I sat up again and ran my hands all over my body to remove all the grime that had accumulated during the day. I never use soap.
I sank back down in the bath one last time and pulled out the plug. I could feel gravity work on my body as the water level fell. I lay there till the bath was empty. Then I stood up, and felt lightheaded for a moment as the blood drained from my brain. I stepped out of the bath and took a towel, then patted myself dry and combed my hair straight back from my face. I used the hairdryer until my hair was merely a little damp, and then combed it all back off my face. I felt very relaxed but very, very tired.
I looked at my reflection in the mirrors. Still OK, I thought. I was 33 and it wouldn't last forever, but I was holding up pretty well. I am quite strong for a woman. There is some padding now on my stomach and buttocks but they are not at all flabby. I've got good, big, firm breasts with no sign of sag. I'm 5'10". I always keep my legs and armpits shaved, and I trim my pubic hair very close to the skin. I stood facing a full-length mirror, and I could faintly see the cleft of my cunt disappearing between my legs.
I've used the word "cunt" for a while now. I used to be afraid of it; it seemed brutal and crude. But now it seems to me to have an aura of power and strength. I feel as if I'm saying, "I'm a woman. I'm a woman because I have a womb and breasts and a cunt, and I'm proud of them." Obviously I don't say the aloud very often, but when I think about that part of my body, that's the word I use. I hate all the alternatives, especially "pussy". What a prissy little word.
I started to look for some fresh knickers. Then I thought, why should I? I would only be taking them off again soon. I put on one of the hotel robes and tied the belt, then went back to the main room and sat down on the sofa. I breathed deeply several times, trying to get rid of the enervating feeling the bath had caused.