The Good Sister: Part One (15 page)

“He did that to her face?”

“Yes, and much worse. She lost the ability to speak, spent weeks in the hospital.”

“Oh God, how horrible.”

“Jacqueline met her while visiting a friend in the hospital. They became friends and Lilli Anna has been a part of Jacqueline’s family ever since.”

“And the man? Lilli Anna’s husband?” I asked, still mortified for the poor woman.

“He was killed a few months after almost killing Lilli Anna. He finally met his match in a bar fight,” Amelia explained, brushing back a curl from my face. “Some may call it fate. Some may call it his comeuppance; pay back for what he put Lilli Anna through.” I nodded without saying a word. “Come, we have better, happier things to talk about, and much to do,” she assured me, and promptly took my hand and led me out of my room, down a hall, then up another set of stairs.

“Amelia, where are we going?”

“To prepare you.”

“What do you mean prepare me?”

“You will be the talk of the party tonight. We must get you ready.”

We entered a luxuriant bathroom. It smelled of jasmine, vanilla, honey, and various other delicate floral scents. I’ve never been to a spa, but I imagined this room to be exactly the replica of one. There was a large tub, crisp white, and almost overflowing with bubbles. The tub was surrounded on three sides by a small ledged wall. Setting atop the wall were dozens of candles, all lit and flickering. A massage table had been placed in front of an open fireplace, which raged with a crackling blaze, making the room toasty warm. On the right of the fireplace was a door that led to a steam sauna. The outer wall of the sauna held a multitude of hooks. Upon them hung long white terrycloth bathrobes and fluffy blue and white towels. Along the bottom of the wall were small cubbyholes, all filled with plush bath slippers.

I gazed around the room, and noticed the other women were lingering in various stages of repose. Some sat at an oversized vanity table. They were applying make-up from an overabundance of jars, tubes, and colorful pallets. Others were doing their nails, painting them in an assortment of decadent shades, while a few more were preparing something creamy looking in a large white bowl.

Breeze approached, holding a goblet filled with crimson colored wine. “Here, Trinity, drink this,” she offered as she extended the goblet out toward me. “It will help with your nerves.”

Could everyone read my fears?

Taking the goblet in hand, I confessed, “I’ve never drunk wine before. But then again there are a lot of things I’ve never done before.” I lifted the goblet to my mouth and took a sip. The flavor burst upon my tongue so I took another sip. “This is really good.”

Breeze and Amelia giggled.

“Yes, Jacqueline would have nothing but the best,” Amelia confirmed.

Somehow I knew this would be the case.

“I see you have found the wine,” Jacqueline announced. “Enjoy, my petit.”

I nodded, and noticed the other women. They’d come to a stop in whatever it was they were doing to give Jacqueline their full attention.

“Jacqueline, we were preparing Trinity’s bath,” Amelia said.

“Before we continue,” Jacqueline said, “there are some complications we will all need to be aware of this evening. I trust you all to ensure and hold dear what I am about to request.”

In unison a mixture of voices replied, “Of course.”

“Trinity is a rare and unique creature. She comes to us on a quest, one that has brought her through many difficult times, conquering many different fears, and all to obtain the love of a man.” I can only imagine my expression was one of shock before I blinked. Jacqueline reached out and brushed a fingertip over my cheek as soft as a whisper. She fixed her gaze upon my face. “Do not worry, my petit. We are your family now. I assure you, your desires become ours.”

It was strange, but Jacqueline seemed to comfort me in a way no one had ever been able to, not my sister Bentley, and not even Reid.

Jacqueline turned, looked out at the faces of the other women, speaking in a soft voice. “The man whom Trinity desires you all know, therefore Trinity is to be our secret. He is not to know who she is until Trinity is ready to reveal herself to him. I fear he will be in attendance tonight so we shall ensure he not know who she is. In fact, Trinity is no longer Trinity. She shall be the mystery which intrigues, the seduction of his being, and in time she will become the burning desire of his heart.”

“Who is this man?” Amelia asked.

“Reid Addison.”

Low murmurs moved through the room. I gazed at the faces of the women, my new sisters, one at a time.

“Reid is a man of many deep desires,” Amelia said. Jacqueline nodded in agreement.

“Reid is also the man that our sister desires, and so he shall be hers,” Jacqueline stated. The other women nodded. “From this night on we shall never use Trinity’s name in front of our guests. When it becomes apparent Reid wishes to know whom Trinity is, you will not give him the answers he seeks.”

“And tonight?” Breeze asked.

“Tonight we shall be in solidarity with our sister. We shall wear the masks,” Jacqueline replied.

“Mask?” I asked, unable to hold back my curiosity.

Jacqueline turned toward me. “We shall obscure our faces. You will not speak. You will watch, listen, observe, and you shall learn much tonight.”

The fact my face would be hidden, my voice not given, gave me a secret thrill and a strange burst of courage. To be hidden in plain sight. I could do this. I wanted to do this.

“Tonight,” Jacqueline said, “you will learn of many things. Some may break your illusions of Reid. You may see a side of him you did not wish to see, but you will witness the truth, and you will have a choice to make. Are you sure you are prepared for this?”

“Yes,” Trinity replied.

Jacqueline’s hand swept out in front of her. “Everyone here has a choice. We are women who hold the power to grant every wish, every desire, every need, but we choose with whom we wish to share this power. If you choose to stay, you will always have a choice. Never doubt this.” I bobbed my chin in a subdued nodded. Jacqueline took a hold of my hand. “And if you choose to stay, you will have your wish and your desire. You may also find as you learn yourself, your wishes and your desires may become something else completely. Are you prepared?”

“Yes,” I said.

“And you wish for the truth without the illusions of lies?”

“Yes, Jacqueline.”

“Then we shall begin,” Jacqueline replied, motioning toward Amelia to take the goblet of wine from my right hand.

Amelia took the wine and set it aside. Then she pulled the coat from my arms, handing it to Breeze before reaching for the bottom of my sweater.

“What are you doing?” I asked, unsure.

“We are undressing you, my sweet sister. Don’t be shy, and do not be frightened. You are part of our family, and we are with you every step of the way,” Amelia said softly as Breeze lifted my arms. Once lifted, Amelia pulled the sweater over my head.

In a rush of movement four sets of hands traveled over my body in an efficient manner as they removed my boots, my socks, my pants, my panties, my bra, and then wrapped a robe around my shoulders before they led the way to the massage table where they removed my robe and had me sit. Someone instructed me to lie upon my stomach. I shivered, closed my eyes, and flipped over onto my stomach. Something covered the bottom half of my nakedness.

I peeked through my golden curls to see Tempest by my side, rubbing clear oils through her hands. The next thing I knew, Tempest was massaging the oils onto my shoulders. I jumped.

“Relax, my sister,” Tempest said. “Allow the sensation.”

Music echoed through the room. I recognized the song. It was “When We Are One” by Gabriel Mann. I smiled. I loved this song. Soon, the low voices of the others, along with their movements mixed into the music. I closed my eyes once again. Gentle hands flowed over the curves of my back, kneading the sweet scent of vanilla and honey into my skin. The hands continued massaging the back of my neck, worked over my arms, rubbed my hands, manipulated my fingers, then relocated and lingered in the small of my back. The feeling was extraordinary and slid down the hindmost part of my thighs, calves, and into the arches and balls of my feet before resting between my toes.

“Turn over,” Tempest instructed.

I felt like a noodle, but found the strength to turn over. In an attempt to maintain some semblance of modesty, I covered my breasts with my hands. Tempest moved my hands aside and gazed at me.

“You do not need to hide yourself. You are quite perfect,” she assured.

Tempest massaged my shoulders, ran her hands over the tips of my perking breasts, over my stomach then down my legs, all the while rubbing in the scented oils. I drifted in the sensation. I didn’t like to be touched, but somehow I allowed that specific fear to fall away with each stroke of Tempest’s hands.
Was it the wine, this place, these women?
Whatever it was, I fell into a form of relaxation that I’d never experienced before. When Tempest’s hands came to a stop, my eyes fluttered open.

“Relax, allow the heat of the oil to settle into your muscles,” Tempest instructed.

I drifted in the sounds of the music, picturing the notes inside my head. I focused on the
crackle
of the fire, the movements of the others’ feet upon the wooden floor, the
clink
of a bowl being set down, the
whoosh
of fabric…. I awoke to the shifting of the sheet upon my body. Something soft was being smoothed over my pubic area. Ambre was slathering a creamy solution on my secret places, and Scarlet was painting my toenails in a white tipped pedicure.

“What?” Ambre placed a fingertip to my lips, stopping me.

“You do not want bothersome hair upon your body. This solution will remove the baby soft curls, and will keep you clean. And it will allow your body a sensation you will enjoy,” she said, and went back to applying the sweet smelling cream.

Scarlet said, “Men love to see a woman completely bared to them.”

My throat, cheeks, and ears flushed hot. I glanced down my body, embarrassed. Scarlet finished with my toes before she assisted Ambre. Ambre dipped a washcloth into the basin of water at my side then began ringing out the excess moisture. The
trickle
of water hit within the bowl. I felt Ambre lightly brush the warm wet cloth over my private area. Scarlet took up the job of slathering the sweet smelling solution over my calves. I bit at my bottom lip. Ambre brushed a fingertip over my bottom lip, causing me to release it from my teeth.

“Look what a beautiful body she has,” Ambre said. “See,” Ambre swiped the cloth between my feminine folds, “it is so precious, like a blushing flower.”

I thought I might actually die. Ambre pulled my thighs apart so she could swish the damp cloth over my female creases without obstruction.

“Trinity, you are untouched, are you not?” Scarlet asked.

Every woman surrounded the table. They were looking down at my body, and my bare parts, as if I were somehow amazing or I were built differently than them. I wanted to close my eyes, but Amelia moved forward and traced her hand softly over my bare budding nipples, causing my breath to catch.

“You are a virgin,” Amelia said, not asking but knowing.

I managed to squeak, “Yes.”

A low murmur moved through the crowd of women.

Ceclie looked down into my face. “To whatever man you choose to give yourself, you will be his greatest gift.”

“Gift?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, my sister,” Ceclie continued. “Not only are you beautiful but you are one of the rarest and gentlest of beauties. To be untouched, pure, is something most men seek but rarely find.”

“Reid did not find it such a gift.” I stiffened, shocked to hear my voice.

Amelia looked confused. “You offered yourself to him and he did not take you?”

“He did not want me,” I whispered.

The other women looked at each other before their attention rested upon Breeze.

Domonique said to me, “Then Reid must have deep feelings for you, my dear sister.”

“Yes,” Desiree agreed.

“Just not enough,” I said. “Not nearly enough.”

Desiree smiled. “My sister, for you to offer such a thing and for Reid to turn your gift away,” She paused to look at the other women then back at me, “He has greater feelings for you than you know.”

I studied the faces of the other women. I knew they were all in agreement, but I did not understand. “I have loved him since I first saw him, but I’m nothing.” My eyes fluttered shut. “Nothing but a ghost to Reid. Trust me.”

“You are everything,” Desiree assured. She tugged at me to take an upright position.

“Everything,” the other voices rang out in unison as they helped me down from the massage table and guided me into the frothy warm bath.

Friday night, six o’clock. The party.

Staring in disbelief, I stood in front of a long oval full-length mirror. The women had buffed, polished, pampered, and powdered every square inch of my body. My skin sparkled with a light dusting of translucent powder. The soft smell of vanilla, honey and the hint of jasmine danced off my porcelain skin. My golden curls where upswept, caught within a silver comb adorned with pearl-like stones, allowing the length of my slender neck to be shown. Amelia had released a few of the golden strands. They dangled and teased in long bouncing curls around my face, and along the back of my neck.