Her sister nodded. “It is. People were always drawn to you. I used to hate you for that.”
Maya’s head dropped forward. “Oh.” She looked up when Carly touched her hand. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know. It wasn’t your fault I wanted to be like you. I outgrew all that petty crap a long time ago.” Carly heaved a sigh. “Anyway, that isn’t part of what I’m trying to tell you.”
“What happened?”
“He and two of his buddies—Ryan Peters and Chris Cahill—cornered me by the bleachers. He kissed me.”
Maya felt a wash of relief that it wasn’t anything worse, but Carly continued before she could say anything. “He pushed up my shirt, and one of the guys put their hand down my pants…” Carly wiped at a tear on her cheek. “They didn’t rape me or anything, but the three of them left some bruises on my breasts. I was sore for a while and had an aversion to boys touching me at all for months.”
Maya shook her head unconsciously. She wanted to deny what her sister had said. “Why would he do that?”
Carly shrugged. “He’s an asshole?”
“That was years ago…”
Her mouth twisted. “Yeah. I’m sure he’s outgrown it.” Her tone held an edge. “Anyway, shortly after that, you two got serious and I started working out. He never bothered me again.”
Maya’s mouth dropped open. “We were dating at the time?”
Carly nodded. “So, it’s not like he’s innocent, Maya. Enjoy your fling with Roarke. Then, if you must, marry Bobby.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
Carly shrugged. “It was years ago, and I’m over it now. I just thought it was time to tell you.”
“So I can do an eye for an eye?”
“No. So you can realize that Bobby isn’t as great as you think, and that you owe it to yourself to explore other options before settling down with him. You’ve never had anyone else, Maya.” Carly’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “I don’t want you to make a mistake.”
Angry words rose to her tongue, but she swallowed them. It pained her, but she no longer felt the urge to defend Bobby as she had in the past. Her sister’s revelation was just one more incident in a pattern that had started to emerge. Her eyes dropped to the ring on her finger, and she was briefly tempted to pull it off.
That thought scared her and Maya tore her eyes from the small diamond. Things hadn’t been great lately, but she still wanted to marry Bobby. Didn’t she?
Her eyes drifted to the day-pass for the spa, and her heart rate increased with anticipation. Carly was right. She deserved to get something out of the mess her life had become. Bobby had even encouraged her to participate in Roarke’s game.
The thought of another lover caused Maya’s stomach to clench with excitement and nervousness. What if she liked it so much that she didn’t want Bobby anymore? But if she didn’t do it, she would never know. That could be worse than anything else that might happen. How would things be with her and Bobby if she always looked back with regret and wondered what-if?
Carly cleared her throat. “Can I try out your spa?”
Maya pulled the box closer. “Not until I do.”
“Hurry up, sis. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
With a laugh, she rose from the table and carried the box with her down the hall. Once more Carly had persuaded her to see both sides. Maya only hoped her confidence wouldn’t fade with her sister’s departure.
Chapter Sixteen
Rendezvous
Maya arrived at Rendezvous a little after eleven on Tuesday morning. She had been delayed by the need to run a few errands for Bobby, and then pay some bills. As of yet, she hadn’t found the time or opportunity to ask him about what Carly had told her and anxiety shadowed her hazel eyes.
The spa was located in a small white brick building amid upscale shops, a wholesale makeup supplier, and a wig manufacturer’s outlet. Maya pushed on the golden bars of the clear glass door to open it and caught her breath when she stepped into the interior.
Pale pink walls and bright fuchsia carpets pleased the eye. A richly polished reception desk was tucked into the corner, almost hidden by a mass of greenery that sprouted from wicker pots. A gorgeous woman sat behind the desk. She had shiny dark hair, glossy red lips, and a perfectly proportioned body.
The corner of Maya’s mouth quirked as she wondered if she was supposed to believe a visit to Rendezvous would transform her into that? She shook her head and walked to the desk.
“Good morning.” The receptionist’s voice was as perfect as the rest of her.
“Hi.” Maya clutched the pass in her hand.
“How may we help you?”
Maya resisted the urge to look around for the others that made up ‘we’. Instead, she handed the woman her pass. “I have a reservation.”
With one brisk nod, the receptionist took the card and consulted a book beside her. “Welcome, Ms. Langelles.”
Maya’s eyebrows shot up as the woman actually pronounced her name correctly. “Thanks.”
“Mr. Thomas is waiting for you in the lounge.”
Maya swallowed hard. “He’s here already?” Hadn’t she expected him to be though? Why else had she hurried through the morning’s schedule and gotten more impatient with each delay?
The woman nodded. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the changing rooms.”
“Changing rooms?”
“Our clients generally prefer a more relaxed state of dress while undergoing a session.”
Maya nodded and tried to look knowledgeable as she followed the receptionist, whose impossibly high heels sank into the thick carpet without a sound. They went down a hallway that featured the same wall coverings and carpet before they stopped before a light-pink door labeled Women’s. “Now what?”
“There are robes or terry sarongs to choose from.” The woman pushed open the door. “There’s also a selection of slippers and flip-flops.”
“After I change, where do I go?”
“Inside is a door marked Lounge. If you go through it, you’ll find Mr. Thomas.”
“Thanks.” Maya’s smile felt wobbly as she walked through the door the receptionist still held for her. She surveyed the room and looked for the robes. Her eyes slid past the pink marbled floor and wall tile, pink lockers, and shower stalls to a large closet against one wall.
She walked over to examine the choices. The robe selections varied from a crimson silk robe that might have fallen two inches below her hip, to a full-length light-blue terry robe. The sarongs were fashioned like a wrap-around towel, but secured in place with Velcro.
She flipped through the selections and chose an emerald silk robe with a hood. It would be thin enough to allow Roarke a view of her body, but wasn’t completely see-through. She slid it from the hanger and picked up a pair of cork thongs, which she took to a locker. She dropped the robe and shoes on the bench and removed her slacks and vest top quickly. She had worn her hair up in a clip, and she left it that way as she slid on the robe. She dropped the shoes on the floor before she pushed her feet into them.
The silk slid across her bare skin with every step she took, and the sensation made Maya shiver. She stopped in front of the wall-length mirror to admire herself. The emerald went well with her hair and brought out green glints in her eyes. Her nipples poked through the thin fabric because they had hardened from the sensuous sensation of the robe as it slid across her flesh. The hem ended mid-thigh and exposed the length of her legs to their best advantage.
With a smile to herself, Maya walked out of the dressing room, through the door marked Lounge. She froze three steps into the room when she saw another couple waited. They looked up at her, and then returned their attention to magazines.
Roarke sat in a leather recliner with his feet propped up, as he sipped from an espresso cup. He wore a thin black robe that ended just above the knee. When he saw her, he lifted a hand to wave her over.
Maya walked across the burnt umber carpet and tried to ignore th
e presence of the other man and woman. They seemed oblivious, which alleviated some of her self-consciousness. She resisted the urge to tug on the robe’s hem, because it would only cause the bodice to drop lower. It was a relief to stop
beside Roarke, who got up from the recliner. “Hi.” Maya’s voice trembled, and she didn’t know if it was from nerves or the sight of his body revealed through the silk robe that molded itself to him.
“Good morning, Maya.” Roarke touched the three-quarter sleeve of her robe. “Beautiful color on you.”
She smiled up at him and ducked her head slightly. “Thanks.” She wanted to compliment him, but her tongue felt too thick.
“Would you like to start with a massage, manicure and pedicure, or a mud bath?”
Her forehead furrowed. “Mud bath? What is that?”
“I’ve never tried it, but Lisa said it’s very relaxing. Apparently, they immerse you in this tub full of mud with a gel mask over your eyes. They use aromatherapy to scent the air and play soothing music.
Maya couldn’t keep a grimace from her face. “I’m not anxious to climb into a vat of mud.”
He laughed. “Then what shall we start with?”
“Manicures?”
It was his turn to grimace. “That will be a new experience for me, but Lisa said this was a—nice place.”
Roarke winced, realizing he had almost revealed exactly what Lisa had said—a romantic place.
Maya’s stomach clenched at his repetition of the name Lisa. Who was she? An ex-girlfriend, maybe? Or maybe someone who had played Roarke’s game in the past? Maybe she still played it? He did have five other days in the week when he didn’t see her. Who knew what he did with all that time? Maya tried to sound casual when she asked, “Who’s Lisa?”
Roarke bit back a grin as he saw her eyes darken and hands clench. Her tone had bordered on glacial. Jealous? He certainly hoped so. He was tempted to let Lisa play a different role, but it wouldn’t be fair—especially if she ever met Maya. “She’s my brother’s wife.”
“Oh.” Maya refused to acknowledge her relief.
A side door opened, and Roarke waved to the woman entering. She wore a long red dress with gold flowers. A tiger lily was tucked behind her ear, and her eyes looked exotic. They were a vivid green, lined with dark kohl, and edged by thick lashes.
Another product of the Rendezvous regimen, Maya thought with uncharacteristic cynicism. Was that the kind of woman Roarke wanted her to be? Her stomach churned at the thought. She could never be exotic or alluring.
She smiled as she came over to them. “Yes, Mr. Thomas?”
“We’re ready now.”
“Where did you want to begin?”
“With manicures and pedicures.”
She nodded. “Follow me, please.”
“That’s Claudia,” Roarke said softly to Maya as they left the lounge and entered another hallway. This one had beige walls and blonde hardwood floors. “She’s our personal attendant for the day.”
“Oh.” Was he attracted to her? Maya’s eyes narrowed as she watched Roarke’s face and searched for any sign of attraction to the blonde. His expression remained bland, and some of her anxiety dissipated.
They passed into a small room where Roarke and Maya were seated in chairs with their feet elevated. Two other attendants joined Claudia, and they set to work on the manicures while she did Maya’s pedicure, followed by Roarke’s.
Maya watched him from the corner of her eye. She grinned as he eventually relaxed his stiff posture. She couldn’t imagine Bobby being so extravagant as to take her to a spa and sit through a manicure/pedicure. He wouldn’t mind the manicure, but he’d be annoyed at spending the time to make it a couple’s outing. But Roarke seemed to enjoy the experience.
After the attendants had finished, Claudia led them back into the hallway, to another room. Two massage tables stood side by side, and a petite Asian girl in a white cotton dress sat in a chair. She flipped through a magazine with an air of boredom.
“Miko, will you please see to Ms. Langelles?”
With a nod, she rose from her seat. Miko laid the magazine on the chair and patted the table on the left. “Lay down on your stomach, please.”
Maya’s fingers trembled as she undid the bow on the sash. From the corner of her eye, she saw Roarke’s eyes drop to her hands, and then shoot up as she pulled the robe off. She ignored her nudity as she laid on the table.
Miko draped a towel across her buttocks before she lifted a bottle from the rack nearby. Before she put her face into the opening of the massage table, Maya watched Roarke shed his robe and lay on the table beside hers. There was a flush along his cheeks, and she wondered if it came from her nakedness or from his own nudity. When Claudia draped a towel over Roarke’s rear, Maya sighed.
She turned her face into the hole in the table and tried to imagine she was boneless. As Miko’s fingers began to work their magic, she couldn’t bite back the occasional groan of pleasure. She had never had a massage before and suddenly understood why they were so popular.
Roarke gritted his teeth with each sound of pleasure she made. His hands were clenched into fists, and freshly manicured nails dug into the flesh of his palms. He tried to enjoy Claudia’s ministrations, but he wanted her hands to be Maya’s. He was still tense when the massage ended thirty minutes later.
“Would you like lunch before the mud bath?” Claudia asked them as they rose and slipped back into the robes.
Maya’s stomach rumbled to remind her she had skipped breakfast. “Please.”
“We have a sushi bar, or we can have items delivered if you would prefer?”
Roarke shrugged to indicate the decision was Maya’s.
“The sushi is fine.”
Claudia led them into a small room with one table and two chairs. She brought menus, and they ordered.
Within minutes, plates of marinated sushi chunks and handrolls were before them. Hot oolong in delicate bone china cups accompanied their meal.
“How do you feel?” Roarke tried to wield the chopsticks to pick up a roll, but dropped it every time.
“Wonderful. I’m so relaxed.”
With a growl, Roarke laid aside the chopsticks and picked up the sushi handroll to pop in his mouth. “Me too.” His shoulders were still tense though. He had been unable to truly enjoy his massage because his attention had focused on his attempts to incorporate Maya’s groans and moans into a different sort of scenario that still played out in his head.
Maya bit back a giggle as she watched him eat the sushi. She laid aside her chopsticks and picked up the rolls with her hands to make him feel better. The sushi disappeared quickly, and her stomach felt pleasantly full fifteen minutes later.
Almost as soon as they had finished, Claudia returned. “Are you ready for a soak?”
Suppressing a shudder, Maya got to her feet. “I guess.”
“Yeah.” Roarke tried to sound enthusiastic, but the thought of a mud bath didn’t appeal.
She ignored their reluctance as she escorted them from the private dining area. Through the last door on the left, they entered a large room with a tub sunk into the floor. What looked like brown slime churned lazily. It was thinner than traditional mud, and there was no foul odor in the air.
Maya breathed in deeply and recognized jasmine and lavender from the myriad aromas. They blended together to form a fragrant cloud that was spread by humidifiers in each corner of the room and sent out as a barely visible mist. Low-pitched Spanish guitars serenaded them through discreetly placed speakers.
“If you would like to wear something into the tub, there’s a selection of swimwear.” Claudia pointed to a rack with men’s and women’s accessories.
Before Roarke could answer, Maya smiled. “I want to try it au naturale.”
Roarke’s eyes widened when Maya winked at him. He blinked and tried to determine if she really had winked. Had she tried to flirt with him? Did she want to tease him? He frowned and dropped the robe with an a
ir of challenge while he waited for her to do the same.
Maya struggled to appear nonchalant as she untied the sash to remove the robe. Claudia took it from her and bent down to pick up Roarke’s. Maya kept her expression bland as she turned to him. “Are you ready for this?”
“Uh…” He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”
“You can go in.” Claudia handed them each a gel mask. “This will relax you, but if you prefer not to wear them, that’s your choice, of course.”
Maya took hers and slipped it over her head. She was careful not to snag the elastic strap in her hair clip as she positioned it on her forehead. With the knowledge that Roarke’s eyes rested on her, she sashayed to the steps of the tub. With a grimace, she took the first step into the mud.
She stopped as it began to ooze around her toes. It was warm and smooth, rather than slimy, as she had expected. She took a deep breath for courage and walked down the other three steps until the mud was at mid-thigh. She felt her way around the side and dropped onto a bench. The mud surged to her neck.
The mud squelched when she pulled an arm free to push the mask down over her eyes. The mask was cool and tingly, while the parts of her immersed in the mud were warm. “Coming in, Roarke?”
He swallowed. “I guess.” Roarke took a mask from Claudia before he strode to the steps. His first couple were confident, before the mud engulfed his legs. He shivered at the not-unpleasant sensation and forced himself to walk deeper into the pool. The mud resisted him slightly, and he forced his way through so he could take a seat beside Maya. Once settled, he pushed the mask over his eyes and leaned his head against the pillowed ledge. He gradually let the rest of his body sink into the thin mud.
“I’ll be back in awhile,” Claudia said cheerfully. A second later, the door closed behind her.
“This is amazing.” Maya sighed and scrunched down until the mud touched her chin. “It looked so…”
“…disgusting,” Roarke put in.
“But it feels so…”
“…relaxing.”
“Yes.” Maya slid closer to him as she leaned her head against the ledge of the tub. “How do you think they make this?” She felt him shrug.
Playing His Game Page 9