Chapter 8
“Come on Jake, wake up.” Sean’s usual playful banter was absent from this morning’s wake-up call. “Alice?” Jake felt around the bed as he formulated the question.
“If you are referring to the redhead with the Athena tattoo on her ankle, she snuck out of here a few hours ago. You dog!” Sean’s words implied a male bonding but there was an irritated edge to his voice.
“What’s wrong Sean? I thought that is why you brought me here, to hook up and get over Charlotte. And how the fuck do you know she has a tattoo” Jake was a bit angry that Sean had spied on him.
“It is, Jake. It’s just that I thought you would keep me in the loop. You have been so despondent this whole trip. I passed on several hot honeys so I could come back here and make sure you were ok. I peaked in to check on you and see you thrusting into the hottest girl at the resort. Her legs were locked around your back, the tattoo was hard to miss. I backed out, closed the door, and crashed on the couch.”
Jake softened his temper. “It’s nothing. She obviously just wanted a fuck. But the ice is broken, Jake is back! Let’s find ourselves a couple of blonds tonight!” Jake tried to sound convincing, but the truth was, he was hurting from Alice leaving without a goodbye.Was he that bad in bed? Had she just wanted him physically? They had seemed to connect on the beach. Maybe her influencer persona wasn’t an act. Jake was reeling from the first person he let inside since Charlotte, also leaving at the first chance she got.
Sean didn’t give Jake time to think about it. He rummaged through Jake’s still unpacked suitcase and tossed him a speedo and a towel. “Let’s go. I had Charles make reservations for breakfast at The Bahaman. Tonight is the glow party at the pool. They are doing body painting after we eat.
They walked over to the restaurant, a bright neon blue open dining area. Jake ordered a mug of coffee spiked with rum, hoping it would keep him awake. Sean skipped the coffee, selecting a Sands, one of the local beers. Sean had always drank beer as if it was water so it was no surprise to see him partaking at breakfast. There was a buffet set up filled with amazing-looking waffles, sausage patties, eggs, crab, and lobster. Jake wasn’t very hungry so when he sat down, he realized he had only a piece of bread and a single piece of shrimp. Compared to Sean’s stack of crab legs, his plate looked embarrassing. Throughout the meal, Jake kept looking around, hoping to see Alice.
“Over here, Jake!” The snap of Sean’s fingers brought Jake out of his staring trance. “She’s not worth it brother! When you are at a buffet, you don’t just eat the shrimp, you try a little bit of everything.”
“Sex is not a buffet Sean.”
“It is here at Temptations! Says so right here in the brochure.” Sean held up a napkin as if it were the resort advert. Jake suppressed a chuckle.
“You know what Sean, I’m going to skip the glow paint and see if Belle can get me an appointment at the spa. I need to relax.”
“Sure thing sport,” I’ll swing by after the painting and see how you are doing. Just don’t meet anyone without me!
As Sean headed out towards the pool, Jake dialed Belle’s number on his phone.
“Hi, Belle here, how can I make your day better?”
“Hi Belle, this is Jake from room …”
Belle cut him off. “Oh, I know it’s you, Jake! I program all the guests’ cells in our system. Now how can I help you?” Jake raised an eyebrow before continuing. “Of course. Thank you. Would it be possible to get a massage appointment today? Sorry it’s last-minute”
He practically heard Belle’s frown on the phone. The sound of incredibly quick typing echoed over the phone for a good minute before she responded. “You are in luck, we just had a cancellation. It is with our newest therapist, Cadyna in about an hour, will that be ok?”
“I am sure she will be fine! Thank you so much!”
Jake set an alarm on his phone and headed back to the villa. The room still smelled of Alice and he realized so did his skin. He entered the shower, not wanting to show up for a massage smelling like sex and sweat. As he lathered his body, he couldn’t help but imagine Alice’s fingernails digging into his back the way they had last night, and he felt himself stiffen. He turned the water temp down to cold, but it failed to relieve him of the rigid memory of her touch.
Eventually, his erection subsided enough that he wouldn’t be uncomfortable at the spa. No sense in getting dressed, he threw on his speedo, grabbed a towel, and headed over.
Pleasures, The Spa, had a distinct upscale island theme. Relaxing waterfalls, rock formations, a Zen wall, and the sound of chirping birds piped in over peaceful music. The entrance to Pleasures was a swinging light brown shingle-style door. Sitting at the desk was a dark-skinned woman Jake estimated to be in her late thirties. She wore only a bikini with the word Pleasures inscribed just over the underwire.
“Welcome! You must be Jake! Cadyna will be with you in just a minute. Would you like some water?”
“Thank you, that would be great.” Jake took the small water bottle and turned around just in time to see Cadyna beckon to him from the door to the massage rooms.
Cadyna had a thin, tall frame, no more than 21 years old. She had an exotic look and a thick island accent. She spoke in soft, shy tones, “Please sir, make yourself comfortable under the towel and I will knock in a minute.” With that, she backed out of the room and shut the door.
The aroma of jasmine filled the air. Several aromatherapy candles provided the only light. Whispers of chimes and strings wafted through the air. Jake felt the tension leaving his body as he removed his bathing suit and climbed onto the massage table, wrapping himself in the thin sheet.
A gentle knock on the door and Cadyna announced her return. “Come in!” Jake called.
“What are you looking for, sir,” Cadyna asked, her voice barely audible.
Jake misunderstood the question. “Just a massage thank you, I’m not into those happy endings”
Cadyna chuckled and seemed to relax a bit. “Don’t you worry sir, we are forbidden from that anyway. I meant is there a part of your body you want me to focus on.”