Jan Week 3: Spa Day with Samantha...It was just a regular massage and very relaxing (Luck: +15)

“Just the…umm usual massage please,” Leah said, her conscience holding firm. She wanted to just relax. Sure Ethan was very sexy, and yes, he seemingly had the body of a Greek god and the touch of a master masseuse…but Leah knew it would be wrong to tempt fate and let him go much further.

Ethan’s hands found a different rhythm then — firm, purposeful, working the knots from her shoulders and the tension from the long muscles of her back with the kind of steady, unhurried pressure that felt less like luxury and more like repair. The worry about Mr. Howard, the emails, all of it dissolved under his palms the way ice thins at the edges first.

His thumbs traced either side of her spine in slow, deliberate passes, and each stroke seemed to push something else out of her — the dread she’d been carrying in her shoulders, the low hum of shame she’d almost stopped noticing. By the time he reached the base of her neck, she couldn’t have named a single thing that had been troubling her.

The pressure he applied was calibrated in a way that felt almost clinical — never too much, never too little — and her muscles answered each stroke by releasing in small, involuntary increments. The ****, the secrets, the careful architecture of lies she’d been maintaining — none of it could hold its shape under hands that skilled. Then before Leah knew it, that moment of peace was all over.

“This concludes our session. Feel free to use the facilities and return to the lobby whenever you are ready.” He said before he smiled and left the room.

Leah showered and toweled off, surprised at how steady her hands were. Her whole body tingled, a deep, viscous hum running beneath every inch of skin.

“You look like you just had all the evil spirits exorcised out of you. Good session?” Sam looked up, grinned, and arched an eyebrow.

“I think I achieved clinical **** about halfway through. I saw God, and he has really strong hands.” Leah collapsed beside her on the bench.

“You’re glowing, babe. I’m so jealous. My guy was, like, a failed Swedish DJ who just wanted to talk about DMT.” Sam laughed.

“Want to get an early dinner? I don’t think I can feel my legs.” Leah snorted, feeling lighter than she had in months.

"Sounds good to me." Samantha said with a smile.

They ate an early supper at some casual, overpriced place and enjoyed a relaxed meal and more conversations about everything under the sun. After eating out Leah was soon headed back home to Jonathan.