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As John paid, he decided to make an appointment for another session the following day. “Do you have any openings for tomorrow... Preferably the same time as today?”
“Did you enjoy your massage, Mr. Srisuk?” Summer smiled.
John replied, “Yes! You blew my mind,” he nodded. “I’ve never felt better.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was my pleasure to help you relax,” she assured him. “Yes, I can accommodate you tomorrow.”
Their eyes met as he prepared to leave. Her longing for more, mirrored his. John could no longer pretend his attraction for her was a fluke. He knew there was no way he could arrest Summer. He realized that no matter what, he couldn’t allow her to be arrested and put on trial for prostitution.
He had to protect her, somehow, even if it cost him his job. “I appreciate it,” he said. Something came over him. John didn’t understand why, but he leaned over the counter and kissed her mouth, softly. Summer pressed her lips onto his and they shared their first kiss outside of their professional careers.
“Mr. Srisuk, I’m due for a break. Do you have time to share a cup of tea with me?”
“Yes... I was going to ask you out for a cup of coffee, but tea is great,” he answered, eagerly accepting her offer.
Summer led John to her office and brewed him a cup of tea. Their conversation was light and easy, mostly first date type stuff. Summer was comfortable with John, so she snuggled in his arms on the sofa in her office. She sighed happily, content for the first time ever. It felt good to allow a man into her personal space without paying for the privilege.
Nervously, his fingers played in her long hair. He was on the clock, but he didn’t want to leave her. John instinctively knew he needed Summer. He realized his life had been empty without a woman. He suspected it was the reason he was grumpy and depressed, most days. Summer was just what he needed to get his spirit out of the dump.
Summer was experiencing a similar revelation. She looked into John’s eyes and realized that he had awoken something in her that had been dead for years. “I have a confession, Mr. Srisuk.”
“Please call me Donnie.”
“Okay, Donnie I have a confession to make.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t date...”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say I’ve developed an unhealthy distain for men.”
“That’s not good,” he joked. “...Not good at all. Just when I thought I had a chance to take you out on a real date.”
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“Sorry... Please do.”
“Until I met you, no man has ever touched my heart... But somehow you managed to do that. I like you.”
“I understand how you feel,” he responded. “I’m dealing with a similar dilemma. I’ve been divorced, twice. And both times were bad... really bad.”
“I wish my reason was so simple.”
“Why? What happened?” he asked concerned.
Summer’s eyes filled with tears as she told John about the molestation and raped, she’d experienced, when she was twelve. She recanted the details. It helped to cleanse her spirit of the shame. She’d never told anyone except John. She trusted him and wanted him to know that she was damaged, but ready to heal.
John’s gut twisted as he realized that essentially, he had raped and betrayed Summer as well. He couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her. The fact that he was there to investigate her and possibly arrest her would devastate Summer. It would shatter her trust, and she might never get over it.
Pulling Summer into his arms, he tried to block out the thoughts of arresting her. He wished they met at a bar or coffee house. Things would be so different. “Summer, why do you sell your body?”
“Simple... I like sex, but I can’t trust a man,” she explained. “All the men I’ve known only wanted one thing from me, sex. And I refuse to give them my body to be used like I don’t matter. So, I charge for it.”
John looked into her eyes. “Initially, that’s why I came to you. But now, I realize that I want... No... I need more than sex from you,” he confessed. “You make me feel like it’s safe to pursue a relationship, again.”
“I feel the same,” she assured him.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been honest with you. And I have something difficult to tell you.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re actually married.”
“No... I told you, I’m divorced... That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m an undercover vice detective. I’ve been investigating your business for operating a prostitution ring,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
Summer’s mouth fell open in shock. “No! Please don’t tell me that.” Flinging herself in his arms she begged John for mercy. “Don’t arrest me. It will kill my parents if they find out what I’ve done. My mother will literally die of shame.”
Through a river of tears, Summer came clean. She told John everything, explaining when and how she started doing intimate massages. When she finished, she’d convinced him that there was no big prostitution ring like he suspected.
None of her other girls were involved in prostitution. They were all happily married with children and they all worked hard to provide for their families. Summer was the only masseuse providing sexual favors. The other women had no idea what was going on.
Sure, she could have been lying, but something in her eyes made John believe her. He wanted to believe Summer whether it was true or not. In no uncertain terms he tried to make her understand that she would be locked away if she continued to trade sex for money. He explained to her that as a sworn police officer he was obligated to enforce the law. But after a river of sincere tears, Summer convinced him not to turn her in.
“Promise me you won’t do it again,” he looked into her eyes and demanded.
“I promise... It will never happen again,” she wiped her tears and assured him. “I know you’re not going to believe this, but I never charged you.”
“What?” he protested, confused. “Of course, you did. I have the receipts to prove it.”
“You have the receipts to prove you had a regular massage session. I never charged you for sex. Sex is extra, paid in cash, and agreed upon before the act.”
“So... What we had was...”
“Consensual sex... I mean at least I hope it was. I wanted you... And I hope you wanted me... Or was it all part of your investigation? Was it?”
“Of course not,” John confessed. “It was consensual. I wasn’t sanctioned to have sex with you,” he continued. “So, you never once charged me for sex?”
“Never... Not even a dime.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m attracted to you... It would have cheapened what we shared to charge you.”
“Well, I’ll be damn,” John sighed, deeply, floored by the information.
“So, I didn’t do anything wrong. Right?”
“Technically, no... Well, at least not with me,” he agreed. “But Summer, you can’t do it again. I’m not going to report any activity, but other detectives may follow up to be sure. If they do and you’re still tricking, you’ll be arrested.”
“I won’t,” she swore. “I’ll never have sex with another client, unless it’s you.”
A sexy grin slid across John’s handsome face. “I guess there’s no law against having sex with your boyfriend while on the clock.”
“There’s none I know about,” she giggled.
John had a feeling he was more than just a client to Summer. Pulling her into his lap he kissed her deeply. Their tongues danced slow and easy as they embraced. “In that case... What time do you get off work?” he slyly grinned.
“I own the place, I can leave any time I desire,” Summer giggled, like a schoolgirl experiencing her first crush.
“Great! I’ll pick you up here at six, after I get off. We can go to my place. I’ll order some Thai food and we can relax and get to know each other a little better.”
“That sounds good, but I have a much better idea.” Summer smiled, as she gently nibbled on his bottom lip.
“Okay... What is it?” John asked, elated she agreed to date him.
“Let’s go to my house. You can put your feet up and relax. And I will cook you a delicious, authentic Thai meal.”
“...You can cook?”
“I’m a great cook.”
“Even better!” John agreed, with a big grin plastered on his handsome face. “I haven’t had a good home cooked meal since Thanksgiving,” he chuckled.
“Maybe you need a wife... Someone who will take good care of you,” Summer coyly responded before gently kissing him.
“Maybe I do,” he smiled. “Do you know a beautiful, single woman who might be interested in dating a scruffy detective that loves Thai food and deep tissue massages?”
Summer giggled as her hand slipped beneath the waistband of John’s jeans. “Yeah... Actually, I do... I have the perfect girl in mind for you.”
“Is she cute?”
“You tell me... Some people say she looks just like me.”
“Oh... Then she’s beautiful.”
“I hear she is an excellent cook, and a Registered Thai Masseuse.”
“You’re right, she is the perfect girl for me. When can I meet her?”
“Right now,” she coyly smiled. “Hello, I’m Summer Raine, and I’m very happy to meet you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you Summer Raine, I’m Detective John Srisuk,” he mumbled against her lips.
“I thought your name was Donnie?” she teased.
“Only when I’m undercover,” he explained. “You didn’t expect me to use my real name. Did you?”
“I guess not,” she said, pretending to pout. “But I like the name, Donnie.”
“Then call me Donnie,” he chuckled. “Just as long as you call me.”
Then he kissed her. While they kissed, Summer’s magic hands took John to a magical place. It was a place where John discovered love, peace and erotic bliss for many years to come.
