Blood Song: Prelude (Blood Song Series Book 1)

by Charli B. Rose

  “Well, your makeup won’t take that long because I think we’ll go minimal. Your innocence is one of your strongest features. Too much makeup will hide that. I have a masseur who’s incredibly talented and will get you relaxed in no time.”

  “You twisted my arm.”

  She laughed and stepped in front of me with a bowl of a creamy white substance. She spread it all over my face and neck. She grabbed a couple of cucumber slices and a fluffy towel before helping me hop off the stool. We went down the hall to where they conditioned every inch of me yesterday.

  “Will it be one of the girls from yesterday,” I asked curiously.

  “No. They aren’t properly trained in massage therapy. But I promise I’ll leave you in good hands.”

  She helped me disrobe. “Take off your undergarments, so the massage oil won’t ruin them.”

  I quickly complied, figuring she saw and touched me everywhere yesterday. There was no sense in having any modesty around Sandra.

  She handed me the cucumber slices and had me hold them over my eyes while she wrapped a mask around my head to hold them in place. The darkness was a little unsettling, but I knew Sandra wouldn’t let any harm come to me.

  “Take my hand, and I’ll help you climb onto the table,” her voice said next to me.

  Once she had me prone on my stomach, she laid a folded towel across my buttocks. She stepped up to my head and placed headphones over my ears. Instantly, soft soothing music filled my ears. I’d listened to my fair share of classical music but had never heard any of these compositions before. I couldn’t see or hear her, but I could feel Sandra’s presence move around the room. A hint of lavender began to permeate the air. I pulled one headphone free so I could speak to Sandra.

  “Who’s playing the music you have me listening to?”

  “Oh. Ms. Thomas is a huge fan of this composer. I think his name was T. A. Adams or something like that.” She continued to bustle about.

  “It’s beautiful, but it sounds so melancholy.” The melody squeezed my heart with its loneliness.

  “Yes, it does. I’m going to step out now. I’ll be back to get you in a little bit. You’ll be in good hands with Jay.”

  “OK.” I murmured, wondering why all the people working under Sandra had names that rhymed—Kaye, May, Jay. Were they all sisters?

  I felt a shift in the air as someone entered the room. I was floating on a cloud of relaxation already with the music and scents in the darkness. The presence didn’t bother me. A few days ago, I would’ve been a bundle of nerves, thinking about a stranger preparing to touch and rub me. But knowing what I was about to be paid to let a stranger do to me later this evening, I couldn’t see the point in stressing over a stranger giving me a massage. It could be good practice with letting go.

  Someone walked up to me and rested a hand softly on my shoulder to let me know I was no longer alone. I couldn’t discern much from the light touch. I gave whoever it was a thumbs up with my right hand. Warm oil was drizzled onto my back and shoulders. Two hands began to work the oil into my muscles. The hands were much firmer than the hands that touched me yesterday. They were also much larger than those that touched me yesterday. These hands were too big to be a woman’s hands. I tensed slightly, realizing I was in here naked, being massaged by a man. He felt me tense and placed a comforting hand on the small of my back while the other moved the headphone off my right ear.

  He leaned down and spoke softly, “No need to worry, Celesta. I’ll take good care of you and work all the little knots out of your muscles.”

  I swallowed hard. “OK.”

  He placed the headphone back over my ear, and I tried to relax into the haunting melody coming through the speakers. As he rubbed my shoulders and back, I did just that. He worked down to my lower back. I couldn’t help the small moan which escaped when he pressed hard into the small of my back. Though I couldn’t hear him, I felt him chuckle at my response. I ought to have been embarrassed, but I wasn’t. He was too good at this. He stepped down to my feet and lifted one foot to massage it.

  I was in heaven. He worked his way up my legs but stopped when he reached the edge of the towel. I wondered how forward he would be. So far everyone employed at this place seemed to have no sense of piety. It would take some getting used to if I was planning to be a part of this world for long.

  He moved back up by my head and started rubbing my arm and hand. Before he switched to the other arm, he removed my headphones.

  “I’m nearly done. Are you feeling more relaxed?” he asked in a smooth, masculine voice.

  “Yes. You have magic hands,” I gushed. A voice that sexy had to belong to a god. Too bad I was blind at the moment.

  “I’ve been told that before. I’m all done unless you need my magic hands to rub anywhere else,” he suggested in a flirty tone.

  Heat covered my exposed skin as I blushed.

  “Wow, your whole body pinkens up when you blush. That note should’ve been in your file.” He trailed a finger lightly down my spine.

  “I think I’ll have to pass on anything else today,” I croaked.

  “Maybe next time I can provide a happy ending,” he whispered in my ear.

  My pulse picked up at the suggestion. I wondered if there’d be a next time—and part of me really hoped so.

  “Perhaps,” I answered.

  A rustling sounded off to my side. Soft terry cloth draped over my back.

  “Slip your arm in,” the sexy voice commanded.

  I slipped my arm back into my robe while still lying on my stomach. As he arranged the back of the robe down over my buttocks, he slipped the towel out from under the robe. He came to the other side to help me slip that arm in.

  “Now, I’m going to help you sit up and return you to Sandra to do your makeup. OK?”

  I nodded as he helped me sit on the edge of the table. I felt the touch of his gaze as it traveled over my breasts. The heat of his stare seemed to linger, causing my nipples to pucker into hard peaks.

  He drew in a breath as he moved lower. I blushed as I imagined his stare on the juncture of my thighs like a caress. I knew he couldn’t see much more than my smooth mound with the way I was sitting, but I couldn’t help being self-conscious at being on display.

  “A blush looks so pretty on you. Whoever gets a contract with you is going to be very fortunate indeed. Makes me wish I was a client who could put in an offer rather than an employee,” he said gruffly.

  I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say to his compliment. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to need a response. He took one of my hands in his and wrapped his other arm around my waist.

  “Hop down. I’ve got you.” He sniffed the air. “Is that vanilla and strawberries I smell?”

  I nodded as I slid down carefully, trying to keep the robe from gaping open.

  I landed lightly on my feet but right up against Jay. The heat of his body brushed my skin. He let go of me and moved to stand in front of me. His hands grabbed the lapels of the robe, barely brushing across the tops of my breast as he drew the edges of the robe together. Then he gripped the belt and cinched it up, enclosing me in soft warmth.

  “All set.”

  “Can I take the mask off?” I asked, eager to see the face that went with the voice and magic hands.

  “Hmm?” He paused to think it over. “Nah. Then you wouldn’t need me to lead you back to Sandra, and I’d have to bid you farewell now.”

  I giggled. “OK. I guess we wouldn’t want to cut our time together short. Lead the way.”

  He placed a hand on the small of my back and nudged me out of the room.

  “She’s all yours now, Sandra,” he announced as we entered a room.

  He stepped in front of me and gripped me by my hips. Then he boosted me easily onto a stool.

  Leaning down, he whispered in my ear, “It was my pleasure to loosen you up today. Remember to relax tonight. Hopefully, we’ll meet again.”

  He pressed his mouth to the top of my head th
en left.

  Sandra chortled as she removed the mask and cucumber slices from my eyes. “You’ve already smitten Jay. Those clients won’t know what hit them tonight.”

  “Oh, please. Jay strikes me as the flirty type.” I waved off her compliment.

  “Maybe a little. But he isn’t usually so gentle or forward.”

  “Is he as hot as he sounds?” I panted at the thought of the man’s hands on me.

  Sandra fanned herself. “Hotter.”

  “Damn, I wished I’d insisted he take the mask off, so I’d have a face to go with the voice.”

  She winked at me. “I’m sure you’ll see him in the flesh one day. Now, let’s get to work.”

  She washed the cream from my face that hadn’t rubbed off while I was melting into the massage table, then got to work with a little makeup here and there to highlight my features. She thinly outlined my eyes, so they looked wide and innocent. The eyeshadow she used really heightened my green irises. She painted my lips a deep wine color which made me want to kiss them.

  “Now your hair.”

  She unrolled the few strands she’d added curls to. She brushed out my long, bottle dark hair, then began to twist it up into an elegant style. She used a handful of bobby pins to hold it in place. With careful fingers, she used the curled strands to frame my face. When she was done, she lightly sprayed to hold everything in place. Then she placed some green crystal combs in place for decoration. When she turned me around, I was in awe of the transformation.

  “Wow.”

  She beamed, pleased with the end result of her work. “Exactly. Now go find Jacque. I’m sure he’s anxiously waiting to dress you.”

  “Thanks, Sandra.”

  The hallway was quiet when I walked out of the spa. I strolled to Jacque’s open door. “Jacque, are you ready for me?” I called out.

  “Yes, yes. Come in.”

  I walked in and shut the door. He was along the back wall, waiting with my dress and some strappy, open-toed heels. There was a suitcase and a large zipped up garment bag next to him. He looked up from what he was doing, and his mouth fell open. “You look stunning.”

  “Thank you, “I said, blushing.

  “Take off your robe and place it on top of the suitcase. I’ll stitch your name on it, and you’ll leave it here, so it’ll be here for you whenever you come for spa treatments.”

  “Thanks,” I answered as I shucked my robe and placed it where he indicated.

  I stepped over to him completely bare. He handed me the tiniest scrap of fabric. I untangled what appeared to be a bunch of strings to discover a thin, black G-string.

  “That may still be too much panty line for your dress. We’ll have to see how it looks when you get in the dress.”

  I drew the non-existent underwear up my slender legs and settled them into place. I couldn’t even tell I had them on, they were so tiny—a thin strip of floss between my butt cheeks and around my waist to hold up a triangle of lace smaller than my palm. It left nothing to the imagination.

  Jacque then had me sit in the chair, so he could help me put on my shoes. Once the straps were fastened, he pulled me to my feet.

  “Walk across the floor so I can see how these heels work for you.”

  I walked toward the mirror, my eyes locked on how sexy I looked in the tiny black panties and high heels. Clothes, or the lack thereof, could certainly make a girl feel sexy.

  ♪ I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred

  “Good. Now walk back.”

  I turned to walk back toward him but was unable to resist looking over my shoulder to check out myself from behind.

  Holy, geez. My butt looked amazing in the skimpy underwear. I strode back to Jacque. As I stood in front of him, he helped me step into the beautiful green dress. He pulled it up to settle at my hips. Then he dragged the top up into place over my breasts. Stepping behind me, he tugged up the zipper which stopped low at my back before fastening the halter behind my neck. He moved to the front once more. Efficiently, he reached into the folded fabric of the halter to shift each breast into better position to create deeper cleavage. Then he walked around, inspecting me. He ran his hands down my hips and over my butt.

  “Perfect. You won’t have to go commando after all.”

  With a wink, he sauntered over to the table and picked up a pair of dangly earrings which he fastened to my earlobes. Then he secured a thin, elegant watch to my left wrist.

  “I’m going to ring Circe to come in. Then we’ll unveil you to yourself.”

  He pressed a button on the phone sitting on the worktable. “She’s ready, Ms. Thomas.”

  “I’ll be right there,” came the excited response.

  He patted the stylish luggage. “The clothes you wore here today, your purse and cell phone are packed into this suitcase, along with the new clothes. You’ll come back in here to grab your stuff when you get ready to leave.”

  “OK.” Before I could say any more, the door opened. Jacque backed me toward the mirrored corner.

  I heard a feminine gasp as Circe came around the racks of clothes. I hoped the gasp was one of approval and not disappointment.

  “Ready to see yourself?” Jacque asked me.

  I nodded nervously and bit my lower lip. Before he could turn me around, Circe reached up to my lip and using a gentle finger, pried it from beneath my teeth. “Tonight, someone else gets the privilege of nibbling on your lips.”

  I nodded then allowed Jacque to turn my body.

  My breath rushed out of me when I caught sight of the vision in the reflective surface. I stared deeply into the mirror. It was me but an improved version. I had no idea I could look like this.

  “Jacque, you outdid yourself. That dress is perfect. I never would’ve selected it off a rack for her. But it’s stunning,” Circe praised him. “Celesta, you’re ravishing.” She ran her ringers over the skirt of my dress. “This fabric feels amazing.”

  “I know. I love how it feels against my skin.” I shifted my weight so the dress moved against me.

  “Jacque, do you have all her other clothes packed up?” Circe turned to him.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not sure why you arranged so many outfits. I’ll never be able to pay you for them,” I started to protest.

  “Dear, your wardrobe is provided as part of your employment. Your thirty-five percent more than covers the cost of your clothes.”

  I nodded in understanding.

  “Let me take you to where the other girls are waiting.”

  I followed her down a different hallway until we came to a conference room.

  Halting, she stepped in front of me and rested her hands on my bare shoulders. “No matter what the other girls tell you, know you’ll do wonderfully. You deserve your spot in the book,” she reassured me.

  I nodded. She opened the door behind her, and we entered a room with about fifteen or twenty girls, all dressed impeccably. Half of them were in red, most of the other girls were in black, and there were a couple of girls in blue—just as Jacque had predicted. My dress definitely stood out.

  Lucy scurried up to me. “You look astounding. I love that color on you.” She reached out to finger the fabric.

  “I like your dress too,” I said, nodding at her short black dress.

  “The client I’m hoping to land likes short dresses.” She winked.

  At her comment, I looked around the room and saw that everyone else was in longer gowns, so she’d stand out in her short one.

  “What guy are you hoping to land?” I asked.

  “Victor. He’s in housing development. I want to do interior design. I’m hoping he can help me make some contacts, so I can decorate newly-constructed developments.”

  I frowned when she said Victor. I didn’t want any competition from the only friend I’d made among the other girls. I was also upset I wasn’t dressed in a way that would appeal to Victor, comparing the length of my dress to Lucy’s.

  Crap.

  Straighteni
ng my spine, I vowed to still try. I was supposed to talk with all the clients anyway. Maybe he’d overlook the length of my dress.

  Circe was making the rounds, commenting here and there on things. Some compliments and some criticisms. When she was satisfied, she clapped her hands together. All chatting ceased.

  “Line up girls. Remember make a good impression. Mingle and talk to as many clients as you can.”

  I lined up next to Lucy near the back. We all followed Circe out to a pair of large elevators.

  Lucy whispered, “The gala is on the top floor in the glass-enclosed room. It’s really romantic with the stars overhead and the balconies around the edge of the building.”

  Several long moments later, both elevators arrived at the twentieth floor. We stepped out. My eyes swept across the room, taking in the flickering candles and the elegantly decorated tables to the right. An empty dance floor stood to the left. Scattered about the large room were about twenty men, dressed impeccably. My eyes wandered over each handsome man. A door leading out to the balcony stood in the back left corner. It opened as my eyes drifted over it. When a tall, well-dressed body stepped across the threshold, the air crackled, and my spine tingled with awareness. My eyes glided upward and collided with whiskey-colored orbs. My heart stuttered to a stop.