by Imari Jade
Kevin chuckled and placed his hands on her shoulders just below her neck and began massaging. “No, there aren’t many tall gymnasts, but you could have been a model.”
“No,” Tina said. “Too much trouble. You have to smile all the time and pretend that you like all those god-awful clothes the designers want you to wear. And then you have to learn to grace the catwalk. No thanks, I think I made the right choice.”
“I think so too,” Kevin replied, pressing his fingers into her neck and working the knots out.”
“You’re very good at this,” Tina said, relaxing and letting his fingers work miracles on her aching shoulders.
“I’m a licensed masseuse,” he told her. “Like you, I went through a lot of career choices. I haven’t always been the suave and debonair Kung Fu master I am now. I got thrown around a lot as a child.”
Tina found that hard to believe since Kevin stood well over six feet tall and had probably been a tall child.
“And how long have you been into martial arts?”
“Since the time I could walk. My father and grandfather were big into it back then. I was the youngest black belt in our area and they had me competing from a very early age.”
“When did you have time for fun?” Tina asked, moving her head in a circle to work out a kink in her neck.
“That was fun,” Kevin said. “And great exercise.” He moved further down on her shoulders.
“That feels so good,” Tina moaned. Her eyes widened, realizing how that might have sounded.
Kevin chuckled. “I’ve never gotten a response like that before from a client, but then most of my clients aren’t tall, beautiful billionairesses either.” He rubbed a little more. “You need to learn to relax and take it easy.”
“Easier said than done,” Tina replied, closing her eyes and enjoying the full effect of Kevin’s magical fingers as they made their way down the small of her back.
“I’d love to give you a proper massage,” Kevin said.
“You’re doing pretty well right now,” Tina replied. Yet the thought of a full body massage didn’t sound like a bad idea. Most of the salons were probably already closed. “Too bad you don’t have a table.”
“What if I told you that I do? Would you allow me to do you?”
Tina eyes opened at the sexy question. “Where?” she asked, not believing him.
“I have one in a room, just outside my office. It’s fully equipped.”
“Seriously? You’re a masseuse? I thought you were kidding.”
“Fully licensed,” Kevin told her. “I can hit all your pressure points and awaken a few of those pleasure spots.”
“Sounds inviting and a bit kinky.” She chuckled. Kevin was such a tease.
His fingers went lower on her back and Tina jumped.
“It’s a knot,” he told her. “It needs to be properly worked out.”
The spot he touched hurt like crazy. “Do you have music?” Tina asked.
“Yes,” Kevin replied. “Tranquil, relaxing music, and iced tea.”
“Do you do deep tissue?”
“I can go deep,” he answered.
Tina shuddered. “Would I have to undress?” She felt his fingers tremble.
“That’s entirely up to you.”
“When?” she asked.
“When what?” he asked.
“We can we do it?”
The massage stopped. “Now. Hit the shower and join me in my office in fifteen minutes.” He rose and helped her to her feet. “I’ll try to be gentle,” he told her.
Tina gazed up into his eyes. They twinkled merrily behind his glasses.
“I trust you,” she said. “See you in fifteen minutes.” She grabbed her towel and walked away from him.
****
Tina entered Kevin’s office and looked around. She’d been there hundreds of times before and even though she noticed the other door he’d just come through, she never paid it any mind. Kevin had changed into a white outfit and beckoned her into the other room with a finger.
“The room is ready,” he told her. “There’s a folding screen for you to change behind if you have a desire to do so. Just get up on the table, lie down on your stomach, and cover yourself with the sheet.”
Tina nodded that she understood and walked through the door. “This is nice,” she said, checking out the table and the beautiful Asian décor. Beside the shade, she spotted his degree in a frame on the wall, a cabinet next to the door with a towel warming machine, and rack of white towels. Oriental music filtered into the room.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” Kevin said, excusing himself and leaving the room.
Tina walked over to the shade, stepped behind it, and began to undress. She wasn’t modest and she and Kevin were friends. She was sure they could both handle it. Tina came from behind the shade, climbed up on the table, and covered herself with the sheet.
Kevin came back in carrying a tray of oils and set it down on the cabinet next to the table. “I’m just going to adjust the music and the lights,” he told her.
“Okay,” Tina said, feeling a little self-conscious now about being nude in a small room with Kevin. The music changed to rhythm and blues and the lights dimmed.
“I think you will be more comfortable now,” he explained.
No, in fact, it had the opposite effect. Tina smiled weakly, thinking now how romantic music and dimmed lighting took on a whole new meaning.
Kevin adjusted the sheet, lowering it around her shoulders and tucking it just below her shoulder blades. She heard him move the little bottles around on the tray, and then she felt his hands on her shoulders.
“Just relax,” he told her. “Close your eyes and enjoy the music.”
Oh, that feels so good, Tina thought. Kevin had big hands and nimble fingers and after a few minutes, he had her so relaxed she didn’t care about her state of nakedness beneath the sheet.
She felt a draft as he adjusted the sheet again, and then his fingers moved down her back. Kevin didn’t say a word as he worked his way down her spine.
“Ooh,” Tina said as he worked her lower lumbar area and her sides. His hands went down to her hips and his fingers gripped both sides and squeezed. His fingers were dangerously close to her behind, but he didn’t lift the sheet. His fingers kneaded the side of each cheek near the hip to work out the stiffness.
“Your glutes are phenomenal,” he replied.
This is so embarrassing, Tina thought as he gripped her hips again and pressed his fingers into them.
Kevin worked his way down the left leg to her feet and then continued on to her right side. Her body took on a new meaning of tense as he massaged her toes.
“You can turn over now,” Kevin said, adjusting the sheet back up to her neck.
Tina rolled over and sat up and watched Kevin as he poured her a glass of iced tea. She tucked the sheet around her breasts and held it so it wouldn’t slip. Kevin walked back over to the table and handed her the iced tea. She kept one hand on the sheet.
“I hope you like oolong.”
“Never tried it,” Tina said. She sipped the tea. “This is good.”
“And it’s good for you,” Kevin told her like a doctor. He paused. “How do you feel so far?”
“Your hands are magical,” she said, looking at him. He lifted a glass of tea and saluted her.
“Thank you. I hope I’m not massaging too roughly.”
“No, you’re doing an excellent job.” She sipped the tea again, very aware that he was staring at her. “I didn’t realize I was so tense.”
“It’s from sitting all day behind a computer,” he told her. “I recommend that you get a massage at least once or twice a month.”
“Most of the massage parlors are closed by the time I get off of work,” Tina replied.
“Then I’ll do it. I can fit you in whenever you need it.”
“You know I was a little embarrassed at first to be naked under this sheet, but you’re very professional.”
Kevin put down his glass of iced tea. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You are a beautiful woman.”
Tina sipped the tea, not out of thirst, but for the rush of heat in her loins.
“Why are you blushing?” Kevin asked. “I’m sure men have complimented you on your looks before.”
“Not lately,” Tina said. She took a big sip of the tea, suddenly aware that the rest of her body was responding to the conversation. She handed Kevin the glass and lay back on the table.
“May I?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Kevin adjusted the sheet to the top of her breasts, pausing slightly and then smiling.
Tina blushed, sure that he got a glimpse of her erect nipples even though the sheet covered them. “Your cologne is nice,” she told him to change the subject.
Kevin began massaging her clavicle.
“Thanks, it’s a special blend I’ve created.”
He didn’t have to brag. The man was a genius. “You should market it.”
“I’m way ahead of you,” Kevin said, working down her arms. His hands dipped under the sheet, rubbing her sternum. “That’s one of the reasons I’m going to San Francisco. I have a meeting with a cosmetic company.”
Tina’s nipples hardened and budded as he neared them. He brought the sheet down to her waist, exposing her breasts and working the sides of her rib cage.
“You have beautiful breasts,” he said, still massaging.
“Thank you,” Tina said, in full blush.
No more conversation. Kevin just continued down to her hips, moving the sheet up to cover her breasts and working his way down her legs. She didn’t know her knees were so sensitive. Hell, she didn’t know why her entire body felt like it was in tune with his fingers.
Kevin massaged her left leg and then moved over to the right. Finally, he made it down to her feet, taking care of each little toe and stroking the soft padding beneath her feet. “You don’t have any corns or calluses,” he said.
“I try not to wear tight shoes,” she told him. “And I get a pedicure every two weeks.”
“Good practice,” he said, gently massaging her little toe.
Tina felt her stomach tighten. It’s just a toe. She moaned. Then why does it feel so good?
Kevin worked his way up her legs again, his fingers coming to rest just at her hips near her behind.
Tina closed her eyes again, imagining what those fingers would feel like thrust deep inside of her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“So relaxed,” Tina moaned as his hands moved over to stomach and his fingers dug into her ab muscles. “I’ve never had a massage quite like this before.”
Kevin spread his fingers and rounded the area where she was sure her womb was located. He pressed gently and she got wet between the legs.
“Ooh,” she said. “I had no idea I was so sensitive in the belly area.”
“I’m not hurting you, am I?” he asked. His voice dropped an octave.
“No,” Tina said, trying to fight off the feeling that she was about to come. She bit her lip. How can this be possible? The man is just rubbing my stomach. She was going to die from embarrassment if he dipped those fingers any lower. He gently ran his fingers over her stomach just above her shaved mound and she trembled. Just an inch lower and he would know just how effective his massage was. He continued to rub the area, making her knees weak and her heart pound. Dip lower, she pleaded inside her head. Just a little more.
Kevin moved his hands abruptly.
“Oh no,” Tina groaned.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kevin asked, coming to the side of the table.
“Nothing,” Tina said, quickly sitting up, bringing the sheet with her. “My body feels so alive.”
Kevin chuckled. “Then we have to do this again real soon.”
“I feel like I can go to bed and have pleasant dreams.”
“Have you been having trouble sleeping?” His eyes weren’t focused on her face, but on her breasts.
“Yes,” Tina said, adjusting the sheet. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Tina shook her head and her hair spilled forward into her face. She felt Kevin’s fingers move it back. “No, it’s personal,” she replied, aware of the tall Asian’s heat radiating over to her.
“Well, let me know if you ever do,” he said, gently stroking her hair back off her forehead.
She wished he wouldn’t do that since her body was still quite aroused from the massage. Tiny sensations ran through her and had her wondering just for a moment what it would be like to get with a man like him. She could picture him thrusting between her thighs, caressing her and making her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
“Earth to Tina,” Kevin said. “You zoned out on me for a moment.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I think I’d better get dressed. Thanks for the massage.”
Kevin smiled at her. “Any time,” he said, and then he left her to get dressed.
****
Erik had returned from his vacation and Tina was busy unpacking his suitcase as she usually did to remove his dirty clothes so she could wash them. “What is this?” Tina asked picking up a filmy pair of red female panties.
“What’s what?” Erik asked as he sat on the bed with the remote control in his hand, flipping through channels trying to find some sports.
“These?” Tina asked, holding them up by the band so Erik could get a good look at them.
“Did you buy some new panties?” Erik asked, half looking and half paying attention to the television.
“No,” Tina said, tossing them at him. “My ass isn’t that wide. I just pulled these out of your suitcase.”
Erik didn’t answer.
“Bad enough I have to wash your clothes, but I’ll be damned if I wash your bitch’s dirty drawers.” She bundled up his clothes and stuffed them back into his suitcase.
“What are you doing with my stuff? That’s a three-hundred dollar Italian shirt you’re wrinkling.
“Take them to her and let her wash them, and I know how much that shirt cost. I still have the receipt.” Tina stormed out of the bedroom and went down stairs to her office. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. She half expected him to follow her and try to give her some excuse, but the cheating coward didn’t come down. She didn’t care anyway because she had a class scheduled with Kevin in a half hour. She grabbed her car keys and her gym bag and dashed out of the house.
It was another mixed class. Alexis had arrived and walked over to her. “What’s wrong now?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Tina said.
“Girl, don’t lie to me. I can see it written all over your face.”
Tina refused to cry, but the tears welled up in her eyes.
“Come on. You can tell me about it while you change.” Alexis ushered Tina out of the main exercise room before anyone could see how upset she was.
Tina stripped out of her clothes and changed into her Taiji outfit. “I found a pair of red women’s panties in Erik’s suitcase,” she finally admitted.
“Not yours, I’m sure,” Alexis said.
“No, they’re a couple of sizes too big.”
“Did you ask him about it?”
Tina nodded. “He tried to play it off like a joke and then he wouldn’t say a thing.”
“Honey, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Tina said. “All I know is that I can’t continue on this way. I’ve tried to be understanding, and I even suggested that he get some help, but you know him, he won’t admit that he’s done anything.”
“So, he took her on the trip with him. You knew that already from the conversation in the beauty shop. The only person who is stopping you from doing anything is you. Put his ass out. Send him packing.”
“Where is he going to go?” Tina asked.
“Who the fuck cares?” Alexis asked. “Wha
t are you going to do, take him back, and sleep with him again with the chance of him giving you something horrible like a pelvic inflammatory disease or crabs?”
Tina sniffed, shook her head, and smiled weakly. “No.”
“Then make a wise decision and get him out of your life. You don’t need him. There are plenty of other men in the sea.”
“I’ll think about it,” Tina said. She sighed to herself. That’s all she’d been doing lately…thinking. It was getting to the point that she couldn’t sleep for all the activity going on in her brain.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be buying him that suit shop now, will you?”
“Hell no,” Tina said as she zipped up her gym bag, sat down, and took off her shoes. “He’d be lucky if I buy him soap to bathe with.”
Alexis chuckled and led her out of the dressing room. “That’s it, girl. Do the small things first and then advance up to the payback.”
Erik wasn’t home when she returned and hadn’t come back by the time she went to bed.
****
“How would you like to join Jerome and me for lunch today?” Alexis asked Tina the next day. Tina had just got out of a meeting with some big name executives whom she met with to talk about their contributions to her sponsored charities.
“I don’t want to be a third wheel,” Tina said as she straightened up her desk and piled the folders she had been using in her in-basket. “And you don’t have to feel sorry for me, I’m okay.”
“What are you talking about?” Alexis asked. “Jerome and I would love to have you join us.”
“What restaurant are you going to?”
“Dominoes.”
“Ooh, Italian.”
“And you know how you love Italian food,” Alexis said.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to be in the way.”
“What if I invite Kevin to go along with us? Would you go then?”
She hadn’t seen her partner all morning. “Only if he agrees.”
Alexis walked out of the office and returned a few minutes later. “He’s going,” she replied. “Apparently, he likes Italian food too.”