Chapter 3: Rising Action
The scent of jasmine and sandalwood hung heavy in the room, draping a sensual veil over every surface. Lilinaya shivered slightly as she slipped off her worn, travel-stained cloak and let it fall to the thickly cushioned floor. With a deep breath, she embraced the erotic atmosphere.
Erotic? Lilinaya's cheeks flushed. It wasn't exactly what one expected on a noble quest. However, she was desperate. War, plague, and disaster had stretched her body and spirit thin. She ached from head to toe.
Her bottles of healing potions were empty, her prayers to the gods seemingly going unanswered, and her companion's advice to indulge in a little self-care started to sound subtler than a wink. Curiosity piqued, she approached the ornate wooden table where the mysterious masseur stood with an exotic oil that shimmered like moonlight.
In the center of the room, the mistress of this private sanctuary held herself like a cat, head tilted, dark eyes size of moons.
Her ebony hair was cropped short, framing a face devoid of the slightest wrinkle—as if time dared not come near her. A plunging neckline adorned her simple black dress, drawing one's eyes to a decorative silver chain nestled in the valley between her full, inviting breasts.
"Welcome, Lilinaya.
Her ebony hair was cropped short, framing a face devoid of the slightest wrinkle—as if time dared not come near her. A plunging neckline adorned her simple black dress, drawing one's eyes to a decorative silver chain nestled in the valley between her full, inviting breasts.
"Welcome, Lilinaya.
I'm Anais, your masseuse for tonight. I've been expecting you." Anais' sultry voice filled the room, snapping Lilinaya out of her daze, her auburn tresses cascading over her shoulders.
"Ah, hi." Lilinaya nervously tugged at her clothes, trying to conceal an unexpected surge of desire that coursed through her.
Anais chuckled softly, and gently guided Lilinaya towards the massage table. "Don't be shy.
Lie down on the table," Anais instructed, her voice a soft, sultry purr that sent a shiver down Lilinaya's spine.
Lilinaya hesitated, but Anais' sensuous eyes held an intensity that paused her doubts. Swallowing hard, she climbed onto the table, curling up like a caterpillar against a leaf.
Anais approached her, her black silken robe rustling as she knelt beside Lilinaya. "Relax, my dear," she whispered, rubbing the palms of her hands together in an almost intimate gesture.
As she did, the shimmering moonlit oil caught the light, producing a faint aura that seemed almost otherworldly.
Lilinaya nodded slowly, her eyelids growing heavy as she exhaled a deep, calming breath. A faint murmur escaped her lips as she felt Anais' soft, skilled hands begin kneading her shoulders. Slowly but surely, the tension in her muscles unwound, leaving her shivering at the sensation.
Lilinaya sighed as the last remnants of fatigue slipped away from her body.
Anais' hands continued their magic, migrating from her shoulders down her arms, coating her fingers with the fragrant oil. Her touch endeared itself to every inch of Lilinaya's skin, somehow both soothing and arousing all at once.
As she reached Lilinaya's waist, the Catholic cleric tensed again, catching her breath as Anais' thumbs brushed against the swell of her breasts.
Lilinaya blushed fiercely, wishing she could disappear under the bed, but she couldn't deny the electric current that surged through her being.
"What's wrong, dear?" Anais teased, running her fingertips down Lilinaya's arms. "Feeling shy all of a sudden?"
Lilinaya cursed inwardly at herself, wishing she didn't crack so easily, but there was something about the mysterious woman that made her want to be vulnerable.
"Dear, come closer," Anais cooed, drawing soft, intricate tendrils from the bottle of oil and applying it to the subtle curves of her narrow waist. "This will help."
Lilinaya watched tensely as Anais' hands began to move lower, traveling down her abdomen and vanishing beneath her loose tunic. As her fingers emerged between Lilinaya's parted thighs, she bit back a soft moan.
Anais' dark eyes flashed up to Lilinaya's, causing her to freeze completely.