Fortified with food and caffeine, she was ready to start her day. More than ready. She looked forward to it. The work wasn’t harder than what she was used to. The setting with its breathtaking view was a bonus. Who’d mind having their office on an island? The sun shone through the veil of the palm trees, drawing shadow patterns on the white sand. A breeze blew in from the ocean, and the air smelled like sand and sea.
Inside the spa, she lit the aromatherapy candles. She was putting clean towels on the massage table when a knock fell on the open door.
“I’ll be right there,” she called.
“Take your time,” a man replied.
Juan Hernandez.
Asia froze. She inhaled deeply and took a moment to compose herself before entering the small adjoining room that served as waiting area. Juan stood in the door, dressed in a T-shirt and swimming trunks. Even in the casual attire, he emanated an air of superiority. He might as well have been wearing a tux.
Straightening the short tunic she wore over a pair of white slacks, she asked in her most professional voice, “What can I do for you?”
“You don’t look happy to see me,” he said, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe.
“I didn’t expect you, Mr. Hernandez.” She forced a smile. “There’s a different name on the booking form.”
“We swapped. Please, call me Juan.”
“If you don’t mind, I prefer to keep a professional ambience with my clients.”
“I do mind. It’s Juan, Asia. Got it?”
She gave a tight nod. “Of course, Juan.”
“Good.” He pulled the T-shirt over his head, revealing broad shoulders and graying chest hair. “How do you want me? Front or back?”
“Your stomach, please.” She stepped aside to let him through. “You just have to fill out the health questionnaire, and then we can get started.”
“I have no health issues,” he said, entering ahead of her into the massage room.
“The questionnaire is compulsory for all—”
Turning to face her, he held up a hand. “Slow down. This is supposed to be a party, and parties are supposed to be fun. Since I’m paying, I say how it happens.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Do I need to spell out the rules?”
“Of course, not,” she said, biting her tongue. “In that case, we can jump straight to what treatment you want.”
He looked her up and down. “What do you recommend, chica?”
“I could do a relaxing massage or lymph node cleansing if you want something harder.”
“Mm. Definitely harder.” He smiled as if his joke was clever.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. No matter how he behaved, she needed to remain professional. For this week, he was her boss, after all, not to mention the fact that he was a dangerous drug lord.
She indicated the bed. “Please.”
When he gripped the elastic of the swimming trunks, she said quickly, “That’s not necessary. You can keep those on.”
Ignoring her, he removed the trunks, dropped them on a chair, and faced her fully naked. Cushioned on big testicles in a nest of pubic hair, his cock hung thick and long between his legs. Thank goodness he wasn’t turned on, or it would’ve been too embarrassing. It was only with sheer willpower that she kept her cheeks from flushing, trying to maintain that professional air she promised herself she would.
Sensing that it was some kind of test, she decided against arguing with him. Instead, she waited patiently as he climbed onto the bed before she covered his lower body with a towel. She couldn’t wait for this session to be over.
The groan he uttered when she started massaging his shoulders grated on her nerves.
“Tell me, Asia.” He bent his elbows and rested his cheek on his forearm. “Is there something between you and the barman?”
Her instinct went on high alert. If she said no, Juan would assume she was available. If she said yes, she could cause trouble for Sean. She wasn’t going to hide behind Sean’s back. She’d always fought her own battles.
“No. We’re here for the same reason.”
He strained his neck to look at her. “That is?”
“To earn money.”
He grunted in approval. “How old are you?”
She hesitated only momentarily in working the knots from his back. She had no problem with telling people her age. What worried her was why he was interested in how old she was. “As I’ve stated on my application form, I’m twenty-six.”
“You look younger.”
“Thank you,” she said politely.
For the rest of the session, Juan was silent, impersonal even, and by the time he’d dressed and left, she was sure that whatever the drink of last night had meant, it wasn’t nearly as important as Sean had made it out to be. As for stripping down to his birthday suit, Juan had probably been testing the waters and realized he wasn’t going to get a reaction out of her. Either that, or he was completely uninhibited.