he searched for a solution. He couldn’t chance waiting that long. Luckily, he was on rotation for a weekend pass that coming weekend and between now and then he would think of a way to make it work to his advantage.
He stared at the clock, willing it to read sixteen hundred. It was finally Friday and he had a forty-eight hour pass burning a hole in his pocket. The spasms had gotten so bad his right knee bounced like a nervous teenager at his first prom. ‘Click,’ the hour hand struck four p.m.
Simon shot out of his chair and almost ran for the door. He ’d researched the town for options. There was a massage parlor in the American section and that would be just the thing the doctor ordered. It only took thirty excruciating minutes to get to town and locate the parlor. He jumped from the Humvee. “I’ll meet up with you fellas in a few hours at the bar.”
“See you in a few,” they hollered as they roared away.
A tiny bell tinkled as he opened the door. Wow, they actually post their services on the wall like a fast food joint. Surprisingly, unlike the United States, here you could buy that happy ending right out in the open.
Up there . On the price menu. In black and white. He was reading the offered services and prices when an elderly woman came from the back room. Thankfully, she wore a nametag, Naba. Simon wasn’t here for sexual favors, he needed a set of hands on him for as long as he could get them. According to the list of options, massages were available by the half hour or hour. He glanced away from the wall to who he assumed was the manager. “Naba, how many hours of massage can I get immediately?”
She stared at him wide eyed for a moment. Aw, hell, I scared her. He quickly opened his wallet to show he had money. Held it towards her as a sign of good faith. The sight of his bulging wallet had her pulling her hand from the security alarm. Whew, that was close.
In broken English she said, “ Three hours all I have today.”
Simon grabbed the edge of the counter as his legs went weak. The thought of three solid hours of hand to skin contact had him trembling.
Naba yelled to the back room curtain. Within seconds, three frightened young women emerged. Speaking their language, she must have explained what he wanted. Their expressions turned to warm smiles and the closest took his arm.
He passed through the curtain to an inviting back room. Automatically he scanned the space for danger. Not a threat to be found. The soft candlelight and incense soothed his wolf almost as much as the hand on his arm.
Each of the lovely women gave him a one-hour massage. The oils used felt amazing on his skin. As he was leaving, Naba allowed him to purchase a small bottle of the oil, some candles and incense. He would find a way to use them and stay within his marine regulations.
Head held high, he heard the little bell tinkle again in farewell. The past three hours had been one long continuous massage. Simon was now the parlor ’s number one customer.
The next morning as soon as breakfast was over Simon excused himself and returned to the parlor for another long massage.
The ladies loved him. All he wanted from them was a good old-fashioned massage with no extras required . He was tucking his shirt in, as he emerged from behind the curtain. Every woman lined the reception area. The tallest woman, Mysha, approached him. “Mister Simon, please come back. We want to massage you everyday.”
“I would love to come here everyday, sadly I cannot. I can only promise to return as soon as I have another weekend pass.” With a warm smile, he touched each woman’s arm as he walked to the door.
Reluctantly he tossed hi s knapsac k into the back of the Humvee before he joined the squad returning to base. It was back to the grind for all of them.
Settled into his desk, he breathed in the aroma of his fresh cup of coffee. He hadn’t even gotten his first sip when Major Patterson called him to his