you’ve signed the contract and are totally agreeable to the terms.”
Lauren nodded. “I am. I’m very happy to be here, and I’m sure I’ll love it at Cane, Moss, and White.”
60
Christelle Mirin
Justice raised a glass. “Toast,” he said, grinning. “To our newest colleague, welcome to our little family.”
All at the table clinked their glasses and drank.
Lauren smiled widely. It was odd, but she felt so secure here, in the midst of them, that her inhibitions seemed to evaporate. They began to eat their dinner, conversing lightly of mundane things, everyday things, and Lauren fully enjoyed the dinner and the company. After dessert, Rodgers served coffee.
The brew was rich and strong. Lauren savored it on her tongue before swallowing.
“Well, Lauren, it seems we have a meeting in half an hour,”
Crystal said. “What do you say we meet in the massage room for a little massage after dinner? Just to get completely relaxed.” There was a glimmer in Crystal’s dark eyes.
“A massage? That sounds like heaven. Just let me freshen up a bit, and I’ll meet you there.” Lauren’s muscles were a bit sore from all the activity of the day. A massage before bed would be heaven.
“It’s a date, then.” Crystal said, smiling.
* * * *
Lauren entered the massage room, wrapped in a large, fluffy white towel.
Crystal was lying on a table on her stomach, a towel draped over her bottom. Missy was massaging the calves of her legs. “Lauren, I see you’ve found the preparation room. Aren’t the towels soft?”
“Yes.” Lauren ran her hand over the nap of the towel. It was the softest thing she’d ever felt. “Shall I sit?” she asked, pointing toward a white wicker chair against the wall.
“Oh no, don’t sit there. Go ahead and lie on the table beside me here. That way I can see you while we talk.”
Bonding Camp
61
Lauren nodded and moved to the other massage table beside the one Crystal was lying on. She was a little self-conscious about dropping her towel in front of Crystal.
Crystal noticed. “Don’t be embarrassed, Lauren. We’re all girls here. There’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Now relax. That’s an order from your superior.” Then she grinned.
With shaking hands, Lauren removed her towel.
“My goodness,” Crystal said, lying her head down with her face turned toward Lauren, “you look juicy.”
Lauren felt heat rush to her face. “Thank you. I think.” She mounted the massage table and lay down on her stomach. Resting her cheek on her crossed arms, she faced Crystal. “You’re very lovely, too.”
Crystal smiled. “Missy, why don’t you begin on Lauren? From what I’ve heard, she’s had quite the workout today.”
Heat rushed to Lauren’s face. They told her what they did together.
Crystal laughed, the sound like bells. “Don’t be embarrassed. We tell each other everything when it comes to bonding camp. That way the other partners and I know whether the prospective associate is going to fit in with our little family. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Lauren felt Missy move to her side. “Are there any places in particular that you’re feeling tightness in?” Missy asked, moving the towel that Lauren had draped over herself down to her bottom, exposing her bare upper body.
“My shoulders are a little tight,” she said. And they were.
Missy nodded, her blonde ponytail bouncing. She was dressed in a sports bra and short shorts, looking very much like an athlete. Missy glanced toward Crystal. “What lotion do you think?”
Crystal pursed her lips for a moment. “Hm, the cinnamon. Yes.
The cinnamon.”
62
Christelle Mirin
“You use flavored lotions?” Lauren asked, shifting so that her cheek lay flat on the table, her arms to her sides.
“It is flavored, but it also has other qualities,” Missy answered, taking a bottle of lotion from the warmer on a side table. “I’ve already got it warmed up.”
“You’ll love it,”
Lauren nodded. “I am. I’m very happy to be here, and I’m sure I’ll love it at Cane, Moss, and White.”
60
Christelle Mirin
Justice raised a glass. “Toast,” he said, grinning. “To our newest colleague, welcome to our little family.”
All at the table clinked their glasses and drank.
Lauren smiled widely. It was odd, but she felt so secure here, in the midst of them, that her inhibitions seemed to evaporate. They began to eat their dinner, conversing lightly of mundane things, everyday things, and Lauren fully enjoyed the dinner and the company. After dessert, Rodgers served coffee.
The brew was rich and strong. Lauren savored it on her tongue before swallowing.
“Well, Lauren, it seems we have a meeting in half an hour,”
Crystal said. “What do you say we meet in the massage room for a little massage after dinner? Just to get completely relaxed.” There was a glimmer in Crystal’s dark eyes.
“A massage? That sounds like heaven. Just let me freshen up a bit, and I’ll meet you there.” Lauren’s muscles were a bit sore from all the activity of the day. A massage before bed would be heaven.
“It’s a date, then.” Crystal said, smiling.
* * * *
Lauren entered the massage room, wrapped in a large, fluffy white towel.
Crystal was lying on a table on her stomach, a towel draped over her bottom. Missy was massaging the calves of her legs. “Lauren, I see you’ve found the preparation room. Aren’t the towels soft?”
“Yes.” Lauren ran her hand over the nap of the towel. It was the softest thing she’d ever felt. “Shall I sit?” she asked, pointing toward a white wicker chair against the wall.
“Oh no, don’t sit there. Go ahead and lie on the table beside me here. That way I can see you while we talk.”
Bonding Camp
61
Lauren nodded and moved to the other massage table beside the one Crystal was lying on. She was a little self-conscious about dropping her towel in front of Crystal.
Crystal noticed. “Don’t be embarrassed, Lauren. We’re all girls here. There’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Now relax. That’s an order from your superior.” Then she grinned.
With shaking hands, Lauren removed her towel.
“My goodness,” Crystal said, lying her head down with her face turned toward Lauren, “you look juicy.”
Lauren felt heat rush to her face. “Thank you. I think.” She mounted the massage table and lay down on her stomach. Resting her cheek on her crossed arms, she faced Crystal. “You’re very lovely, too.”
Crystal smiled. “Missy, why don’t you begin on Lauren? From what I’ve heard, she’s had quite the workout today.”
Heat rushed to Lauren’s face. They told her what they did together.
Crystal laughed, the sound like bells. “Don’t be embarrassed. We tell each other everything when it comes to bonding camp. That way the other partners and I know whether the prospective associate is going to fit in with our little family. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Lauren felt Missy move to her side. “Are there any places in particular that you’re feeling tightness in?” Missy asked, moving the towel that Lauren had draped over herself down to her bottom, exposing her bare upper body.
“My shoulders are a little tight,” she said. And they were.
Missy nodded, her blonde ponytail bouncing. She was dressed in a sports bra and short shorts, looking very much like an athlete. Missy glanced toward Crystal. “What lotion do you think?”
Crystal pursed her lips for a moment. “Hm, the cinnamon. Yes.
The cinnamon.”
62
Christelle Mirin
“You use flavored lotions?” Lauren asked, shifting so that her cheek lay flat on the table, her arms to her sides.
“It is flavored, but it also has other qualities,” Missy answered, taking a bottle of lotion from the warmer on a side table. “I’ve already got it warmed up.”
“You’ll love it,”
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