The room had two beds that looked like alien pods right out of a sci-fi movie. The curved tops turns different colors that showed through the frosted windows.411Please respect copyright.PENANAIIEHW04b6k
411Please respect copyright.PENANA5qCXjNzOBK
“You’ll want to get completely undressed and get inside,” the spa consultant, Kaylee, said. “Press this blue button three times”—she held three fingers up—“when you’re ready. The hood doesn’t lock, so you can get out at any time if you need to.”411Please respect copyright.PENANA8LX16hgFav
411Please respect copyright.PENANAPMgquLNPTh
Tara barely heard a word beyond “completely undressed.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at James directly, but watched for his reaction out of the corner of her eye. He was nodding at what Kaylee said, not seeming embarrassed or anything.411Please respect copyright.PENANA6BzCYsdyXX
411Please respect copyright.PENANApkx1k43GIc
Tara had gone to college. She knew what naked men looked like, but she’d always been careful not to let anyone see her naked—even when she’d lived in a dorm.411Please respect copyright.PENANAEjI5jXgsya
411Please respect copyright.PENANANWNzhFxJAR
Almost before Kaylee left, James stripped off his t-shirt and tossed it on the chair. As he started to undo the button on his pants, Tara turned away automatically. She pretended to inspect the hydro-derma-fusion bed, wondering if she could get away with telling James not to look while she took off her clothes and got in.411Please respect copyright.PENANAcSmO7ZOvyx
411Please respect copyright.PENANAAdSKPKBbcw
“Need help?” James’ voice said in her ear, his breath tickling her neck.411Please respect copyright.PENANAoQ3jWcTlUE
411Please respect copyright.PENANAQduJqPIlvF
She wanted to reply in exasperation, but what came out was, “Yes.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAuR6QESiWFK
411Please respect copyright.PENANADTpxqGdFS1
His hands curled under her shirt and grazed her skin as he pulled it over her head and tossed it onto the chair along with his clothes. He took a step closer to Tara so she could feel his warmth from behind. He undid her bra clasp with one hand. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to act casual, even as her skin was prickling.411Please respect copyright.PENANAP0LgNRMmiq
411Please respect copyright.PENANAknbiToP7Tf
She climbed quickly into the pod, comforted by how it enclosed her body. James got into his pod leisurely. When his body was hidden from her, she watched as he pressed the button, repeating what Kaylee told them.411Please respect copyright.PENANAtEkOPkst1g
411Please respect copyright.PENANA3z85hNHhMX
Tara did the same and faced the ceiling. The bed pulsed with vibrations that reverberated through her teeth. The temperature grew steadily hotter and hotter until it reached the point where it burned the surface of her breast, stomach, thighs, and toes. Sweat beaded at her eyebrows and tickled its way down her nose and under her eyes.411Please respect copyright.PENANAnLc1hlAxtN
411Please respect copyright.PENANAlJFAD8u5Gw
Turning her head again, she looked at James. His eyes were closed, and though a hint of sweat lit his cheekbones, he seemed at peace. Tara liked the chance to trace his profile and imagine painting it without him being aware she was doing so.411Please respect copyright.PENANAw9qDkET0kN
411Please respect copyright.PENANAmQX2GURgIF
“Why are you staring at me?” he said without opening his eyes.411Please respect copyright.PENANAskJC02PNlP
411Please respect copyright.PENANA9F1GPLkvEh
Tara wanted to deny it, but instead she said, “You look so peaceful.”411Please respect copyright.PENANA2tvZimffKP
411Please respect copyright.PENANABBpaJSfJUW
He still didn’t open his eyes, but the corners of his mouth quirked up.411Please respect copyright.PENANAx6zNNHwTN3
411Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZnDEWqvha
She closed her eyes, too, and imagined she was in India. No, not India because James wouldn’t be there with her. Somewhere else hot and humid—maybe Thailand.411Please respect copyright.PENANAGEgSRyyyq7
411Please respect copyright.PENANAC8qhFtTwNw
Sometimes she thought James was just an aspect of her imagination—as if she’d just seen him across the bar and imagined all these interactions. But then there was the fact of how physical and present he was. There were the little details, like how he kept his nails short so he could type quickly; how Tara barely came over his shoulders when she stood beside him; how his forearm was bigger and longer than hers; how he hummed as he cooked.411Please respect copyright.PENANA9FYfR7TW7Y
411Please respect copyright.PENANAfJy7GhBNmZ
The next thing she knew, the heat evaporated, and the pod gave a low whine. James stood beside her, a towel low enough around his waist that she could see the ridges of his pelvic bone. His skin and the curls at the nape of his neck were damp.411Please respect copyright.PENANA3Uuqa6rYBT
411Please respect copyright.PENANA5s9xADLCm9
He wordlessly lifted the hood so cool air rushed onto her body. She realized with some surprise that she was covered with a sheen of sweat and distilled mineral water. Her first instinct was to cover herself or roll into a ball, but she couldn’t move. All she could do was James look at her. In her stark nakedness, she was forced to confront a stark truth. As much as she tried to keep James at arm’s length, she couldn’t.411Please respect copyright.PENANAgZLbajCU1B
411Please respect copyright.PENANAK8wKNAoRwa
He leaned over and set his finger lightly against the base of her throat. Tara could feel her pulse beat against it before he ran it down—between her breasts, along her abdomen, through the concave curve of her belly button, and down, down, down until her body ran out. His touch scorched more fiercely than the 118-degree infrared lights.411Please respect copyright.PENANAWqInQFGIeR
8964 copyright protection407PENANATlq7J3uShl 維尼
arrow_back
Moments
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Moments
Author:
TejiReve

ISSUE #7
A Spa Date
LIKES 0
READS 407
BOOKMARKS 1

Click to load the next chapter
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
People Who Like This