The Baby Favor

by Chance Carter

  She could have fought back. She had a lot of nasty ammunition, like the multiple affairs, his current mistress, not to mention the years of emotional abuse. But she just wanted out and if she had played along she would only be feeding into his narcissistic game. It just wasn’t worth it. She was ready for the healing to begin.

  Emma made herself a cup of tea and sat down on her sofa. She looked into the cup, swirling the hot black liquid gently around. She reminisced about the conversation she had with Luke that night and smiled, wondering what steamy scenario matched with tea.

  Chapter 3

  Luke was definitely not expecting the night to unfold the way it had. When Mimi had texted him and asked him to meet her at the bar, of course he changed his plans and said yes. Her divorce was a big deal and he wanted to support her.

  She had come a long way in the past few years, finally summoning the courage to leave her asshole husband, and he wanted to celebrate. What he wasn’t expecting was for her to ask him to introduce her to his way of life. He had what most people considered, ‘adventurous tastes’ when it came to sex. For the most part, he liked to keep things spicy, although he had to admit, lately that seemed to be shifting. Although he couldn’t explain why, he was getting restless. He didn’t have the heart to tell Mimi that though, especially not tonight.

  When she brought it up, he thought she was kidding, but as their conversation progressed and got hotter and hotter, he realized she was one hundred percent serious. He couldn’t blame her really, Andrew had been a controlling, overbearing piece of shit to her, and she had been pretty sheltered most of her adult life. She’d never been able to develop her own sense of self or explore her desires.

  They were freshmen when they first became friends. He was a popular kid, thanks to his natural athletic ability and his obsession with sports. He was on most of the teams, but his main interests were wrestling and football. He excelled in both and became well known in the high school, making friends easily. Luckily, he was never the type of guy that bought into stereotypes or cliques, and as a result was able to cast a wide net when it came to socializing, otherwise he might have overlooked Mimi. She wasn’t in the jock clique.

  He met her in drama class. It wasn’t his favorite subject but the girls liked it, and he liked girls, so taking drama as an elective was pretty much a no-brainer. He connected with one particular girl in the class who just happened to be Mimi’s best friend. They dated, off and on for a few months, but like typical high school romances, it was pretty unstable and fizzled out quickly.

  The best thing that came out of that relationship was Mimi. It was unusual for teens of the opposite sex to become best friends, but Luke liked her right away. She was smart, quick-witted and feisty and didn’t take much of his crap. He liked that she was always honest with him. They got along so well because they were similar creatures, both confident and secure, just in different ways. One seemed to be strong where the other was weak. They were each other’s better halves.

  She was like the female version of himself so they were able to connect without all that awkwardness that usually happens with teenagers. They were just goofy together and talked about everything, crushes, sports, music, gossip, and sex. They were both driven by their hormones, curious and horny, just not with each other. Maybe that was why it worked so well.

  Ironically, Mimi was the first girl he had ever kissed. It was in drama class. They were acting out a scene in a play and at the time they were both embarrassed by the fact that her best friend, and his soon to be girlfriend, was in the class watching. That might have taken the sizzle out of it for Mimi but it left a lasting impression on him, although he never admitted it.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t find her attractive, just the opposite. She was cute in high school, but didn’t spend her hours obsessing about her appearance the way most of the girls her age did. She was more the girl next door type, comfortable in a ponytail and jeans, with no makeup to speak of. She was into reading and writing, always studying. She was the one who helped him excel through school, encouraging him to focus on academics as much as he did sports. Her ‘smarts’ just rubbed off on him. She had confidence in him when it seemed like no one else did, which made him believe in himself. If it weren’t for her, he probably never would have gone on to college.

  Over the years she became even more beautiful of course, but his attraction to her transcended the physical. He was drawn to her energy and spirit. She was just Emma, his honest, loving, non-judgmental Mimi, and he was fiercely protective of her.

  He had to admit, their conversation earlier that night surprised him. Mimi had always been curious and was happy to hear about his adventurous exploits but he had never heard her reciprocate her fantasies before. She always held her cards close to her chest. It was obvious that she had a terrible sex life. She never carried herself the way a woman does who’s being properly fucked. That always pissed him off. He knew her heart and she deserved so much better.

  She wanted to have some fun, and why shouldn’t she? She was a grown woman and if she wanted to jump in with both feet then she deserved some support. But it was a different world now than when she met Andrew and so much had changed. She was just a kid when she got married and in Luke’s opinion, pretty naive when it came to sex. Then again, at that young age, so was he. Of course it would be daunting for her to venture out on her own, having zero experience with dating and men. He didn’t blame her for wanting some guidance, and some back up. She had asked him if he would be comfortable with it and he wasn’t sure, but he knew damn well he’d be less comfortable if he weren’t there looking out for her.

  Luke felt soft arms wrap gently around his shoulders, followed by a breathy request.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  He turned around and smiled at her, the tall, leggy blonde that had been brazenly flirting with him all night. After Mimi left, he had approached her and struck up a conversation.

  She had the same thing on her mind as he did so it didn’t take long for the sparks to fly.

  She had excused herself to freshen up, and now he was more than ready to go home with her.

  Mimi caught him off guard earlier and if he was being completely honest, it fucking worked him up. True, he was a horn dog and it usually didn’t take much to juice up his libido but he needed to get laid.

  “I am. Your place or mine?” he replied, placing his hand on the small of her back, leading her through the crowd.

  “Let’s go to my place. What did you say your name was again?” she asked, laughing off her embarrassment.

  “It’s Luke. And yours?” he grinned devilishly.

  Chapter 4

  The following afternoon, when Emma got home from work, she was stopped by her doorman, Wayne. He had a package waiting for her, handing it to her after a warm hello. She wondered who it was from and quickly opened the small box as soon as she settled in.

  It was a shaving kit, with a note tucked inside.

  Meet me at the Loving Hands Massage Parlor. Tonight at 9:00 pm. Bibbety Boppety Boo.

  Emma’s smile quickly turned into a fit of laughter. As soon as she recovered, she dug her cell phone out of her purse and quickly dialed Luke’s number. He picked up on the second ring.

  “This is your fairy godfather, how may I help you?” he said, his tone as serious as he could manage.

  “You’re hysterical,” she chirped, flopping into her sofa.

  “I take it you got my gift?” he asked lightly.

  She turned the shaving kit over in her hands and looked at it curiously. “Yes, I did. What’s with the razor?”

  Luke chuckled on the other end of the line.

  “Well, my dear, that’s so you can trim your bush. It’s not the 70’s anymore,” he taunted playfully.

  “Excuse me? What makes you think I have a retro bush?” she grumbled, pretending to be offended.

  “Mimi, you were married to a man who would have accused you of all kinds of indecencies if you mowed the law
n. You aren’t fooling anyone,” he rationalized, mocking her gently.

  “Hmmm, ok smarty pants,” she murmured, “but is this really necessary?” She wasn’t even certain she would know how to do it.

  Luke groaned, feigning exasperation, “Of course! You need to shave your nether region woman. No one is interested whether the carpet matches the drapes. People like hardwood, if you get my drift.”

  She did but wasn’t crazy about the idea.

  “I don’t know...” she hesitated.

  “Mimi, I don’t actually own a magic wand so you’re going to have to take care of this yourself.” He chuckled, comfortably teasing her.

  “Okay, okay, I’ll figure it out,” she agreed. She picked up his note and read it again.

  “So, ‘Loving Hands’? Isn’t that a rub and tug?” she mused, her curiosity peaked.

  “I will have you know that they are a professional, licensed establishment!” he said.

  “That just happens to be open 24 hours?” she quipped back.

  “Yes, well....” he paused, “yeah, I got nothing. Just meet me there and stop asking so many questions.”

  Emma laughed, nervous and excited by what he had planned for her.

  “Okay, okay. I will be there with bells on,” she finally agreed. “Thank you Luke, I mean that.”

  “It’s my pleasure. To be honest, I’m looking forward to it,” he admitted.

  “Me too!” she replied, “See you soon!”

  “Wait, Mimi, I have to ask you something...” he interrupted.

  “Yes?”

  “Does the carpet match the drapes?” he asked indelicately, in typical Luke fashion.

  “I guess now you’ll never know,” she laughed, hanging up the phone.

  Emma looked at the time, wondering if it was too late to make an appointment at the spa. She didn’t like the idea of using a sharp instrument so close to her delicates, especially since she had no idea how to do it. Also, it had been months since she had been to yoga, so flexible she wasn’t.

  Thankfully they had a cancellation, and when she called, they said they could fit her in for six. They asked her if she ever had a Brazilian before and she admitted she hadn’t. They warned her that it might be painful, but really, how bad could it be?

  Chapter 5

  Bad. Like pruning with napalm, only worse. Much, much worse.

  The good news was that she was clean as a whistle. She felt like a bad-ass warrior, having survived the torture, no need to discuss the screaming.

  And she only had to do it again in a month.

  All humor aside, once she got past the shock of the assault she loved the way it made her feel. It was a tantalizing sensation, her cotton panties brushing against her sensitive lady parts, like feathers on flesh. She had been wet ever since. It almost made it worth it...almost.

  She just had enough time to go home and quickly change before she had to meet Luke. Maybe it was the adrenalin still rushing through her veins but she felt fearless, opting to go commando under her sundress. She hoped she would feel sensual with nothing between her and the cool night air. She wasn’t disappointed.

  She parked her car beside Luke’s and walked toward the building. They certainly weren’t discreet. Their neon sign flashed like a lighthouse beacon, illuminating the way like an airport runway. Open 24 hours, no appointment required. Yup, seemed legit.

  She took a deep breath and stepped inside. She expected it to be run down, maybe even a little seedy but it was quite nice, even rivaling the spa she just left a few hours earlier. The lobby was light and airy, decorated with modern chrome and leather furniture. Luke was sitting on the sofa and stood up when he saw her. Thankfully, he was the only patron in the place. Emma let out a sigh of relief.

  “Hello,” he chirped, offering her a reassuring hug, “how was the rest of your afternoon?”

  “Well I turned my peach into a nectarine,” she quipped, rolling her eyes at him, “a Brazilian.”

  Luke couldn’t stifle his laughter, drawing a swift punch to his shoulder.

  “Ouch, that hurt,” he grinned, massaging the injury dramatically.

  “Oh, you poor baby. My snatch will never be the same but by all means, we wouldn’t want to bruise you,” she mocked, poking him in the ribs. He laughed and pulled himself out of her reach. He always was ticklish.

  “How do you feel?” he flirted, raising his brows.

  She felt the cool air against her nude flesh and grinned, delighting in her boldness.

  “I feel...sexy,” she confided softly, a gentle smile forming on her lips, “and a little chilly.” Luke placed his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.

  “That’s my girl. Let’s get you checked in,” he praised, leading her to the reception desk.

  “This must be Mimi. Welcome,” the pretty receptionist greeted her. She was an adorable Asian girl, with the greenest eyes Emma had ever seen. Contacts, she assumed. She smiled nervously, wondering what Luke had arranged for her, and grateful he didn’t use her real name.

  “The one and only,” Luke chimed in. “Is Lorenzo ready for her, Lucy?”

  “He’s just preparing his room. You are a lucky lady, Lorenzo is one of our best. Highly skilled,” Lucy offered with a wink.

  “Oh...,” was all Emma could muster. She looked at Luke and was met with a cheeky grin.

  “Relax,” he said, gently, “he’s a nice guy. He will be extremely thorough. Magic hands, I’m told.”

  “Uh-huh...” she replied nervously. Luke offered a good-natured laugh and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Consider this your initiation,” he whispered in her ear, causing a blush to rise on her pretty face.

  “What about you, Luke? You want to book in with Jolene while you are waiting for your friend?” Lucy coaxed, most likely trying to meet the night’s quota.

  “Not tonight. This is all about Mimi. I’ll just wait out here for her, but I’ll take a cup of coffee if you are offering,” he said, with his hard to resist charm.

  “Of course! I’ll be back in a minute,” she blurted, scurrying out of the room.

  Luke turned to Emma, regarding her thoughtfully.

  “You look nervous,” he observed, chuckling softly.

  “You could say that. This is just a massage right?” she asked hopefully.

  “Of course...” he trailed off, just as a man entered through the same door that Lucy had disappeared through.

  Lorenzo was attractive and very tall. His long dark hair and beautiful olive skin popped against his white uniform, making him look exotic.

  “Mimi? Are you ready?” he asked, his accent deliciously thick and Mediterranean. Emma felt herself swoon and glanced at Luke with a suggestive grin. He nodded back mischievously at her, knowing exactly the effect that swarthy accent would have on her.

  “I guess I am,” she agreed, following him through the door.

  Emma accompanied Lorenzo into his treatment room. It was prettier than she anticipated, with soft light from at least half a dozen candles glowing around the room.

  “Do you have a preference for music?” he asked, making his way to the sound system.

  Emma shifted nervously from one foot to the other, uncertain of what was expected of her.

  “Um...not particularly. Anything really,” she said quietly, setting her purse on a chair.

  “Is smooth jazz ok?” he proposed, looking at her hopefully.

  “Works for me,” she replied, hugging herself protectively.

  He turned on the rhythmic music, ensuring that it wasn’t too loud. She had to admit, it added the perfect amount of ambiance to the scene.

  “So I will step out for a moment. Please disrobe and make yourself comfortable on the table. There is a sheet you can use to cover yourself,” he said, the words dancing on his tongue.

  She smiled coquettishly and took a deep breath hoping to soothe her nervous energy. He nodded at her gently and closed the door behind him.

  Ready or not, s
he asked for this and she wasn’t going to back out. Luke was testing her by easing her in slowly and if she chickened out now, she would be sending him a clear message that she wasn’t ready for the new adventures she hoped he had planned for her.

  “Come on Emma, you’re not nervous, you’re just excited,” she whispered to herself, “just go with the flow...you got this.”

  She slipped her sundress over her head and laid it carefully over the chair, then unhooked and removed her bra. She held on to it for a second, wondering what to do with it. She anxiously stuffed it into her purse, then quickly made her way to the table. She lifted herself up and then hesitated, wondering if she should be lying face up or face down. What was the protocol in a situation like this? Her adrenalin was surging but she was strangely turned on by it, intrigued by what was coming.

  She chose to lay on her stomach and awkwardly adjusted the sheet to cover herself. Seconds later, Lorenzo walked back in, just as she covered her naked bottom. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

  “How are you feeling, Mimi. Are you relaxed?” he asked, his delightful Italian accent stimulating her senses.

  “Yes,” she lied. She was definitely not relaxed, noting that her flushed skin was uncomfortably tingling in anticipation.

  He approached the table and readjusted her covers modestly. She felt herself settle in, grateful for his consideration.

  “I am going to start with your shoulders and back, ease the tension out of your muscles. Luke has told me you have had much stress in your life. I will take care of you,” he promised, pressing his hands against her shoulders.

  He took his time, his hands working across her shoulders and down her back, applying just the right amount of pressure. Emma felt at ease almost instantly as he massaged her body with care. The music was soulful, sexy and hypnotizing, and she felt herself swooning as his hands and the hot oil tantalized her flesh. She could feel her body flushing under his touch, his experienced hands awakening her arousal.