It was around Christmas that I had broken up with my boyfriend and wasn't really looking to date anyone. My best friend Toni gave me a gift certificate to a fancy new day spa as a way to lift my spirits. She talked me taking a day off to do something for myself as the New Year's Party was later that week. I called "Natural Beauty Spa" and I gave the receptionist the 'secret code' on the gift certificate and made the appointment. This was my first time at the spa or any spa for that matter. I really didn't know what to expect. But from the way Toni raves about this spa, I knew that I had to check it out at least once.
I arrived at "Natural Beauty" a few minutes early, just as the receptionist suggested. I was directed to sit in the lobby where I was brought out a list of wines and chocolates. "Interesting" I thought to myself. I began to look at the other clients and most were wearing robes and drinking from champagne glasses.
It was a mixture of both men and women. Just then I heard my name being called, "Victoria P." I looked around and saw a young woman calling my name.
"Yes." I said as I walked to her.
"Please follow me" she motioned with her hand and pointed to a dressing room. "Please remove your clothing and use the towels and robe that have been picked out for you. If you have any questions, my name is Felicity."
"Thank you." I said. I walked into a small changing area and took off my clothes and put them in the locker provided. Five minutes had passed when Felicity came back for me.
"Ms. Victoria, you will be meeting with Athena for your massage and wax." she says as we walk out of the dressing room and into another part of the building.
"Wax?" I asked. "I didn't sign up for a wax!"
"Yes, your gift certificate is a package deal that includes massage and wax. Didn't the person that gave you the gift certificate mention that?" she asked.
"No." I quietly responded, "What kind of massage and wax will I be getting."
She stopped in front of a door with the sign 'Athena's Goddesses' and she motioned me inside. "This is it Ms. Victoria. Athena will be with you shortly." She handed me a rose as she left the room and said, "I hope you enjoy your day with us."
I entered the room quietly --- a little uncertain of what I was going to find. I was a little surprised at what I found. The room was designed to resemble an ancient temple in the Mediterranean. There were mosaics painted on the walls that looked like they belonged in a temple in Ancient Greece. I walked along the all studying the mosaics, blushing at some of the scenes that depicted a couple in an erotic moment. Just then I heard a voice behind me, "Do you like what you see?" I turned around and found myself staring at a very attractive woman. "Oh...hello, I am sorry I didn't see you there" was all I could to say to her.
She motioned me to the massage table and said "please remove your robe and lay on the table."
I took off my robe, feeling a little subconscious about my body. I am not what society sees as the ideal beauty. I have some roundness and softness to my body --- enough to be labeled chubby or 'thick'. I am a little shy about my body, or as I called it --- my "womanly body." I am sure this woman was used to seeing naked bodies before --- in all shapes and sizes, but I couldn't stop mentally comparing myself to this woman. She is beautiful, with an incredible figure, and perfect complexion. She looked like she could be Salma Hayek's twin. I envied her for being so beautiful without even trying. I was starting to feel a little self-conscious. Athena noticed my uneasiness and began to talk to me about her job. I talked to her about my break-up and my complaints about my ex-boyfriend.
"I have been there myself," Athena told me, "maybe you should consider dating girls."
I laughed at her comment. "Going gay," that was something I always told my friends I would do if Rick and I ever broke up. I was only joking but Athena sounded serious when she said it.
I began to relax, as felt her warm hand rubbing lotion on my back. I have never experienced a massage like this. My ex-boyfriend would give me a 'rub, rub, rub and pat, pat, pat' and call that a massage. But Athena's fingers and hands were rubbing away all my stress. Athena's soft voice was almost like a lullaby. I tried to listen to her words, but the mixture of her soft whispery voice and the 'ocean' music that was playing in the background, was just too relaxing.