Page 28 of Tamed By You

“And may I suggest, you go for the holistic package and get your chakras realigned? You might come out a half-decent person.”

“Haha, you're so funny. No, I’ve gone with the treatments you suggested. I’m hoping I get Cindy over there.” He gestures to the petite blonde spa therapist standing behind reception and I roll my eyes in annoyance.

“She’s got her work cut out with these bad boys,” he says, pulling up the sleeves of his robe and flexing his huge biceps.

Damn, why is he so hot and so irritating?

“I'll give Cindy a warning,” I mumble dryly.

She calls Harry's name, and he saunters off with her. Suddenly, his words play over in my head.I’ve gone for the treatments you suggested…. Oh shit! I’m out of my seat and rushing over to a short guy with salt and pepper hair and glasseswho is standing behind the reception desk. “Hello, ma’am. How can I help you?”

“Hi, my friend, Harry, who just went in, what treatment did he sign up for?”

“I’m sorry ma’am we can’t divulge that information to you. Client confidentiality.”

“I understand but please, I’m just worried he’s signed himself up for something he doesn’t understand,” I say pleading with the man.

“I’m sorry I can’t comment on Mr. Walker's treatment.” Letting out an annoyed huff I continue my plea.

“Look I need to make sure he hasn’t signed up for a certain treatment, please, I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, we can’t share anything with you.”

I let out a frustrated breath. “Okay, thank you.”

I walk back and slump in the seat.Shit.I didn’t think he was actually listening to me earlier. I’ve had those treatments and yes, I felt great after, but during, it was brutal. Let's just hope he can handle it.

I float out of my treatment room feeling like a new woman and ready for a little nap before tonight’s antics. I find the rest of the gang looking as relaxed as I do, lounging on various couches in the waiting area. Everyone but Harry. I take a seat next to Gabby and reach for a glass of water and a chocolate that sits in a round, glass dish on the low table in the center of the seating area.

“Haz, you alright?” Jack calls. Harry is walking over to us like a jockey who's lost his horse.

“No, I feel like I’ve been assaulted.” His tone is weary.

Oh shit. I reach for a magazine, opening it up, and pretend I’m reading, only glancing up every so often.

“What do you mean?” Brad asks, narrowing his eyes.

“I don’t know what the fuck just went on back there, but I need to lodge a complaint.”

“What happened?” Gabby asks. “You are really red all round your neck.”

“I thought I was going to have Cindy, but some big Hungarian linebacker named Alan came in and said he was doing my treatment. Turns out, Cindy was just showing me to my room. It started off fine, a nice massage but then I saw the trolley with glasses on it.”

I peek out from behind my magazine and look at him. He's all wide-eyed, like he is reliving a horror story and I can’t look at him. If I do, the guilt will eat me up.

“I think, oh, maybe he’s making us a cocktail… he wasn’t. Not even fucking close. He takes these jars and a blowtorch. Tells me to lie still and not move.”

A little squeak escapes me, because I can just picture him in that moment and though I feel bad, it gives me a little giggle, but no one notices my reaction and Harry continues, “I say, ‘Hey Alan, where do you think you are putting that my friend’ but before I can ask again, he puts the flame in the glass and then sticks it on my fucking back.”

“He what?” Jack gasps.

“Yeah, on my back, twelve of them, if I counted correctly, sucked my skin right up in that jar like a vacuum. My back was covered in these little bulb-looking glasses. I looked like a human light fixture.”

“Oh, my god,” Gabby yells, clamping her hand over her mouth. “It’s called cupping. You had cupping.”

“It’s called what now?” Harry barks.

“Cupping. It’s an ancient healing treatment, supposed to be relaxing and really good for you. Me and Ali had it done once.”

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