Tainted Desire (Desire Series, #1) (7 page)

   I lay in bed for a while, thinking about my reunion with Cameron tomorrow. I’m too nervous to fall asleep, which causes me to toss and turn well into the night. My last thought before falling asleep was that I was just going to give Cameron a big kiss and hug when I see him. I don’t care what Courtney thinks, I have waited twelve years to feel his arms around me and I’m going to take full advantage of it.

     I’m awakened out of a deep slumber when Courtney launches herself onto my bed. I quickly place a pillow over my head and try to ignore her. “What time is it?” I ask sleepily. 

     “It’s nine o’clock; I have breakfast started but wanted to wake you up to ask how you like your eggs. I will finish cooking while you take a quick shower. No need to do anything with your hair, just run a brush through it. Our appointments are at ten, so we should have plenty of time to eat and get there,” Courtney says with way too much enthusiasm for this time of the morning.

     I reluctantly roll out of bed, grab some of my new clothes I purchased, and make my way to the bathroom. After a nice hot shower, I actually feel awake, I had spent so many of my days at the apartment lying in bed depressed and not wanting to do anything. I make a promise to myself to be up and ready to face the day by nine o’clock each day. Maybe earlier, if I want to take advantage of the gym this place has. Courtney showed it to me yesterday and told me that Cameron does early morning work outs every day when he is home. I wonder how early he goes. I can’t believe I’m considering working out just to be near a man. That’s pretty pathetic.

     In the kitchen, Courtney is busy scooping our food onto our plates. She made scrambled eggs with melted cheese on top, bacon, toast, and hash browns. It smells wonderful but I have to stop eating so much or I’m going to blow up. “Coffee or juice?” Courtney asks setting down my plate. 

     “I think a cup of coffee so I can be buzzing all day, I’m so excited. I have been looking forward to this since you told me Cameron is doing this for us. Can he afford it?” 

     “Yeah, he can afford this place. He called me late last night when he got in, asked if you were already in bed. He wanted to come in but I told him it would have to wait until dinner tonight. He said he would probably go to work for a few hours at his part time job. Make some extra cash so he can treat us to dinner. I think he’s trying to make a good impression on you,” she teases.

     “I can’t wait to see him either.  It has been too many years since the three of us have all been together. Nevertheless, I don’t want him going over the top trying to impress me if he can’t afford it. Just the three of us together again, will be good enough for me. Remember, our last known hang out was McDonalds when we were kids. I would be fine with that for dinner.” I smile at the thought of how cute Cameron used to be.

     “Speak for yourself! He is taking us to a fancy steak joint tonight and I fully intend to have prime rib. A quarter-pounder will have to wait for another day. Well, we definitely aren’t riding our bikes today. We will be riding in style in Cameron’s sports car. Are we ready to go hit the spa and be pampered for the day?”

     “Umm, let me go brush my teeth quick, then I will be ready to go!” I jump up quickly.  This is going to be so exciting; I have never been to a spa. I hope I don’t like the pampering too much, because I won’t be able to afford going all the time.

     When we enter the spa, my senses go into overdrive. It smells wonderful, kind of like lavender but I’m not completely sure. They must pipe that smell through the ventilation system. The spa is huge and sectioned off for each service they offer. In the open area of the spa, I can see people getting their haircut, highlighted and styled. They also have an area for manicures and pedicures, which I’m excited about, my
toes, could use some TLC. I’m only to assume that the waxing and massages are behind closed doors. Thank God, the waxing part is going to be mortifying. I still haven’t decided, if I’m going to go through with that part.

     Courtney goes up to the desk and gives the receptionist our names and appointment times. They talk a few minutes
longer, as I check out the various high-end beauty products in the display cases available for sale. Someday I hope to be able to afford coming to a place like this and buying their products. I hear Courtney talking to the receptionist. “Yes those two men will be fine for our massages. I have had Mitch before so I will go with him, Kylie can try the other guy.”

   
Great, sounds like I get the left over guy, but beggars can’t be choosers. I’m sure he will be fine. I’m somewhat nervous about lying behind closed doors with nothing on but a sheet while some guy is rubbing my body parts. Then again, it sounds somewhat erotic. Wow, this day is going to be an experience I’m sure not to forget any time soon.

     “Ready to go get our hair done? We are starting with the hair, then getting our nails and toes done. After that, we will have the
waxing and lastly the massage. Do you have any thoughts on what you are going to do with your hair? I’m thinking about getting mine cut into a sleek shoulder length bob and getting some red highlights in my dark hair to soften it up some.”

     “I haven’t really thought about it
, but I guess I better if we’re having that done first. I think I’m just going to get mine trimmed and have a few blonder highlights put in. I want to keep my length for now; I’m not as brave as you are.” I tease her, “If you get the red highlights they will match your bedroom set.” 

     “Hell yes, I want to look like a sexy vixen. I’m tired of the same old boring long brown hair. I’m going to do it,” she says with conviction.

     We both take a seat at the washtubs and nothing feels better than having someone else wash your hair. I love that tingling feeling you get as they run their fingers through you hair; it’s so relaxing. Next, we move over to the stylist chair to get our haircut. I think Courtney is having second thoughts seeing all her hair fall to the floor. Even without the highlights, it looks great. Her hair is definitely sleeker and more mature. Maybe I should have followed her lead. The hair stylists start applying our color and I start getting nervous. I have never had highlights before, but I hope it helps brighten up my dull color and makes me feel more alive. The hair stylist and I make small talk while she works, then we are both put under the dryers. With our foil wraps in place, we look like a pair of Martians. We both flip through a couple of magazines until it’s time to get rinsed and styled. 

     Courtney is done first and she looks gorgeous. She keeps staring at herself in the mirror waiting for my stylist to be done with my longer hair. Excitedly she says, “Kylie, look at me, I finally look and feel grown up. My daddy is going to freak when he sees me like this, he still thinks of me as his little girl. If he only knew, what his little girl has already done. I’m hoping this new look helps me land Mr. Volleyball.”

     “Well, he was drooling before when you walked by in your almost not there bikini. I’m sure he will notice for sure now.”

     Smiling, “Yeah he was staring, but he never came over to talk to me. I sure hope he isn’t gay. All the hot guys down here seem to be gay.”

     “If he was gay you could have walked by naked and he wouldn’t have cared. He definitely isn’t gay. It would be a damn shame if he was with a body like he’s got.”

     “Hey, don’t be checking out the guy I am lusting over. You need to find your own hot guy. There are plenty of fish in the sea and our back yard is like a playground of hot men.”

     Finally, my stylist is done and she turns me to face the mirror to check out my new hair. It’s fabulous; the highlights are subtle but make a huge difference in the shine factor of my hair. My eyes seem to pop out more and my skin tone does not look as washed out. Courtney gives me the thumbs up so I must look okay, she wouldn’t lie to me.

     Looking at the nail stations the stylist motions us towards them, “Ladies, it looks as though they are full so instead of waiting why don’t you let me do both of your makeup for your dinner dates tonight? I can give you both sexy smokey eyes and pouty lips that men go nuts over.”

     Courtney contemplates the offer for about two seconds before jumping in the chair. This stylist should be working in Hollywood doing hair and makeup, she did a fantastic job! Both of us already look like completely different people than when we came in. One of the nail stations opens up and Courtney motions for me to go ahead. “I have to run outside and make a quick call to take care of something, I will be right back.” She returns just a few moments later and takes a seat at the nail station next to me that just opened.   

     “Wow! That was a quick phone call.”

     Smiling devilishly, she informs me, “Just had to confirm something, and it only took a second.”

     We proceed with getting our nails and toes painted. I pick a hot pink that I hope will look great with a summer dress I bought for tonight’s dinner. While Courtney sticks with her sexy vixen theme she has going, and gets dark sexy red nails and toes. She is one of the few people I know,
that can pull off wearing red; it has to be her dark hair, and tanned skin. I just can’t do red; it makes my skin look even whiter, as if I’m glowing. With our nails done, we are on to our next conquest, one I’m scared to death about, waxing! Whose idea was this anyways? At this particular moment, I wish for nothing more than to spontaneously turn into a man. Why do women have to go through so much prepping just to look hot? What does a man do? Shower and shave, totally not fair!

     The receptionist leads us into a little lounge area with dressing rooms. She asks us to get undressed and put on the robes that are hanging in the dressing rooms. My nerves kick into overdrive. I feel sick to my stomach and my hands are shaking. Am I really going to go in there and let someone I don’t know put hot wax near my vagina and rip the hair out? Just the thought of someone I’m not intimate with seeing me down there gives me heart palpitations. “Courtney,” I yell through the door.

     “Just get undressed and put the robe on Kylie! I promise it’s not as bad as you are imagining in your mind.” How did she know what I was going to say? I proceed to get undressed, not sure if I should leave my underwear on and then I think how are they going to wax it if it’s covered. Completely naked under my robe I feel bit exposed. I exit the dressing room and Courtney is already out, sitting in a chair sipping on a glass of white wine. “Here, the receptionist said it would be a few minutes and brought us each a complementary glass of wine,” she says and hands me a glass.

     “With what I’m about to do
, I could have used the whole bottle. Maybe then I would be relaxed enough to go through with this.”

     Courtney taunts me further, “Bikini or Brazilian?”

     “Courtney please, this is embarrassing enough without sitting here discussing the hair on my vagina. I know we are best friends, but some things are just private.” 

     Smiling her devilish smile again, she says, “If you get the Brazilian wax done
, it will make you more sensitive down there. A man can make you have an orgasm much quicker because the sensation is so intense with no hair. And if he uses his tongue, it’s almost an instant orgasm.”

     “I don’t think that is going to be an issue. I don’t have anyone that I’ll be having sex with any time soon,” I regrettably admit.

     “You never know when you are going to meet someone and it’s always best to be prepared. I’m getting the Brazilian because I fully intend to try to seduce Mr. Volleyball into my bed.”

     “You are really something. I can’t believe we are sitting here even discussing what type of waxing we are going to get. Shut the hell up Courtney and let me enjoy my wine before I completely back out of this.”

     We both bust out in a fit of laughter and I don’t even see the door opening to the lounge. “Okay ladies, we are ready for each of you. If you will follow us, we will each be taking you in separate rooms and you can meet back here before getting your massages.

     I follow a girl who is about the same age as I am into a little room with a table. The table has paper on it like at the doctor’s office. “My name is Brittany, what are we going to be doing for you today?”

     “Umm, a bikini wax I guess. I have to admit I have never done this before and I am really nervous.”

     With a warm smile, she says, “First time for everything. It stings a little but it’s not that bad. I will apply the warm wax then cover it with a special paper. I let it dry a few seconds then I will pull off fast in the opposite direction of the hair growth. I’ll be wearing gloves to protect myself as well as you from any infection. Any questions?” 

     Her openness puts me somewhat at ease enough to ask, “My friend says I should get the Brazilian wax, what do you suggest?”

     “I say if you are going to do it, you might as well do it all. I can start in the groin area and you can see how it feels. If you decide to do the rest then we can proceed,” she explains professionally.