Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

this.”
    “Mmm,” was all Bella and Tara said in response.
    An hour later they were ready for their massages. “All right ladies, let’s go get rubbed down. I hope my guy is named Sven.” Wagging her eyebrows at them, Tara added, “Do you think he’ll give me a happy ending?”
    Bella and Liz laughed.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bella lay on the table with her head in the circular face pillow. She couldn’t move. Her massage had left her muscles feeling like water, and sleep was trying to claim her. The massage had not started out so relaxing. Bella had just gotten on the table when a woman had come in with a little carrier filled with bottles of wax. Tara, that sadistic woman, had gotten Bella a Brazilian wax.
    Bella had never felt anything as painful and couldn’t help the yelp of pain that tore from her lips as the hair was removed. The quiet Russian woman had come in and contorted Bella’s legs this way and that way making sure that all the hair was removed properly. Bella thought it made for a very effective method of torture. Shortly after the waxing was finished, a pretty blonde woman with a soft, soothing voice came in and started her massage.
    When she was finished, the woman with the quiet voice told her to stay, relax, and reminded Bella to stay hydrated. Bella lay there for long minutes trying to work up the energy to get up. Once she had felt cool air wash over her exposed skin as the door opened then closed again, sealing her into the quiet tranquil space. Thinking that was a polite hint for her to get moving, Bella forced herself to get up. Bella looked around and didn’t see anyone, but she saw a fresh glass of water with raspberries floating in it waiting on the counter. She took a few sips of the water before slipping on her robe to make her way to the relaxation room.
    Liz and Tara were both in the room when she got there. Bella flounced onto a lounge chair and leaned back.
    Tara met Bella’s frown with an evil grin. “So, you nice and smooth down there?”
    “I hate you.”
    Tara laughed. “Hey, you got raspberries.” Obliging, Bella held out her glass so Tara could pick out a few berries to pop in her mouth.
    Reminding herself to stay hydrated, Bella took a drink. Trying to move as little as possible, Bella stretched to place the glass back down. It tilted against a folded towel and fell on the carpeted floor with a muffled thud.
    “Oh no!”
    “No worries, I need a refill anyway.” Tara sprung up to get the both a fresh glass of water.
    Murmuring her thanks, Bella cleaned up the puddle of water with the extra towel then lay back in blissful silence.
    Liz shifted uncomfortably. “Umm…it feels weird, but I think I kind of like it.”
    Bella’s eyes popped open in surprise and gaped. “She got you, too?”
    Liz glared at Tara and nodded.
    “Well, at least I wasn’t the only one caught off guard.” Somehow, she felt much better now. She closed her eyes again and relaxed. “How was your massage?”
    “Un-fucking-believable.” Tara came back with three full glasses of water and lay back after handing them over. “Sorry, I couldn’t find any more raspberries. Thanks for the gift, ladies. But too bad it was a woman. I always like it when a man knows how to rub a woman down the right way.”
    “Is that all you ever think about?” Liz asked, her disapproving tone at odds with the sparkle in her deep blue eyes.
    “No, but it does take up a considerable amount of my time,” Tara joked. She opened one eye to focus on Liz. “Maybe we should work on getting you a little nookie. You could use some loosening up.”
    “My sex life is none of your concern.”
    Tara and Bella grinned at each other. “You mean you have a sex life? Who you bouncing on now? Do tell.”
    “That is a crude question and none of your business.” Liz huffed then shot them a sheepish smile. “I don’t think my vibrator counts, so we can change the subject now.”
    “Yeah.” Tara sighed. “I’m not getting any right now either. That may be why it’s all I can think about. Sex on the brain. Mmmm.”
    Bella’s chuckle was cut off by a wave of dizziness. Something wasn’t right. Bella’s stomach cramped, and the tingling sensation started to expand to her whole body. Bella felt her body go weak, and her vision blurred. “Something’s…Oh no.” She turned her head and vomited.
    “Bella! Bella, what’s wrong? Oh my God!” was all she heard before everything went black.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bella tried