Peak of Desire Ch. 06

She was quite curious about him, and was eager to find out what type of a person he was. Her inquisitiveness far outweighed her uncertainty, and while she didn't usually meet a client without first speaking to them, she supposed it wouldn't hurt if she made an exception this one time.

After closing and locking the door behind her, she made her way to her Toyota. Erica had a feeling that there was something different about this new client of hers, but just what it was, she couldn't be sure of. She could already tell that the day ahead would prove to be interesting, but what she didn't know was that in the next few hours, she would receive quite an unexpected surprise.

* * * *

Oak and sycamore trees canopied the road Erica was driving along, and rays from the sun filtered through the leaves on the branches, throwing patterns against the pavement. The hill she was navigating was steep and narrow, and it seemed that the higher up she traveled, the more fabulously extravagant the houses became. Chandler Hills was a quiet, peaceful neighborhood located high above the city.

Tucked away in the mountainous terrain of the Hollywood Hills, it's blissfully pristine surroundings made it a very attractive place to live, and since it was so private and low key, it attracted a great deal of celebrities, and well as other types of wealthy people who could afford to splurge on million dollar homes.

As she continued to drive along the steep, winding hills, she found herself charmed by the woody surroundings, and cast several admiring gazes at the variety of beautiful homes-which ranged from funkily designed bungalows, to boxy, ultra modern houses.

The neighborhood was so pleasant to drive through, that she felt a bit disappointed when the GPS system alerted her that she'd reached her destination. After pulling up next to the curb, she put her car in park, then exited the vehicle. She retrieved her massage table from the backseat of the car, and then headed for a flight of stone stairs that led up to the house, which was situated on a hillside bluff.

In addition to the steps, there was also a winding driveway which provided easier access to the house, but during her conversation with the maid, Erica had been told not to access the residence from the driveway. Instead, she'd been instructed to park at the bottom of the hill, then climb the flight of steps to the top.

She didn't understand know why she wasn't allowed to access the house from the driveway, but if she had to guess, she'd say that her client was one of those spoiled rich people who believed that hired help were beneath them, and therefore not allowed preferential treatment.

As she reached the steps, she halted, gathering her strength before she began her ascension. Fashioned from sandstone, the stairs were steep and narrow. She estimated that it was at least thirty steps to reach the top, and since she was carrying her massage table with her, there wasn't a doubt in her mind that the climb to the top would prove to be taxing.

Erica exhaled a little sigh of displeasure, then began her journey upward. By the time she finally made it to the top, she found herself short of breath and feeling hot. Needing to take a moment to catch her breath, she staggered towards a eucalyptus tree, and leaned against the trunk of it.

The camphor-like scent of it wafted into her nostrils, and she took a few deep breaths, enjoying the strong fragrance. Once she'd regained her energy, she continued along her away, heading down a stone pathway that led to the residence.

Casting an admiring gaze at the tri-level house, she saw that it was contemporary style, with a cube shaped façade. Panoramic windows gave it a sleek look, and plenty of oak trees surrounded the residence, giving it a woodsy feel.

Erica approached the double entry doors, which were crafted from frosted glass, and as she rang the doorbell, she heard a melodious chime emit from within. She heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door, then there was the click of the lock as it was released.

The door swung back to reveal a tall, voluptuous woman with striking blue eyes and pale skin. She appeared to be in her mid thirties, and was clad in a black dress with a white peter pan collar and cuffs around the sleeves. She wore a white bib apron over the dress, and her hair was styled in a tight bun, with bluntly cut bangs.

"Ms. Collins?" The maid said in thick, Slavic accent.

Erica offered her a friendly smile. "Yes, hello. I hope it's okay that I showed up early."

"Of course. It's fine." Opening the door wider, she gestured for Erica to enter. "Please, come in."

After closing the door behind them, the Slavic woman said, "I'm Aksinya." She offered her hand for Erica to shake it.

"It's lovely to meet you." She clasped hands with her.

"Yes, likewise." Directing her gaze downward, Aksinya pointed to her shoes. "You must take them off."

"Oh sure, no problem." She slipped out of her sneakers, and as her eyes drifted to the other woman's feet, Erica couldn't help noticing that the maid had on a pair of black, low heeled pumps.

Noticing where her gaze was planted, she offered an explanation. "These are inside shoes only. That's why I have them on." She offered a little smile, then said, "Mr. Stevens has been eager for you to arrive. I'll take you to him."

Allowing Aksinya to lead the way, Erica followed behind her. She could feel the coolness of the marble floors through her socks, and as they headed further into the house, Erica curiously eyed the ultra modern surroundings. As they passed by the living room, the first thing she noticed was that one of the walls was made entirely of glass, allowing for a breathtaking view of the lush vegetation beyond.

A black, curved sectional sofa was located in front of the floor to ceiling window, and black and white paintings which featured blocky shapes graced the walls. A white, rectangular coffee table with a lacquered surface was placed in front of the couch, and a large flat screen TV was mounted on the wall, flanked by slim, rectangular speakers.

As she passed by the kitchen, Erica saw that it shared the same black and white color scheme as the living room, and as they reached a flight of black stairs, she found herself actively searching for color. As they approached a black staircase, she began to wonder if this client of hers had some sort of aversion to brighter colors, and was eager to find out what type of a person he was.

Judging from the interior of their house, she'd have to guess that they liked things simple and neat. She was hoping to spot some personal artifacts or unique objects which would tell her more about the client, but every room she passed seemed to be devoid of any personal articles. It was a magazine house-too perfect, immaculately clean, and vacant of a comforting, lived-in feeling.

The house was a work of art, to say the least, and the contemporary style furniture was stunning to look at, but the overall vibe of the place was cold and stark. There was no sense of coziness, and she found herself wondering how anyone could feel comfortable living in such a highly stylized residence.

The maid continued to lead the way, and as they reached a black flight of stairs, they made their way upward. Once they reached they second floor, they walked toward a set of black double doors. As they reached them, the maid pressed down on the handles, and then swung open the doors.

Stretching her arm out, the maid gestured for Erica to enter the spacious room. Then she said, "Mr. Stevens is in the shower, but he'll be right with you."

"No problem. Is there any particular area in the room that he prefers me to set up the table?"

"No, he didn't mention it. So you're free to set up anywhere you like."

"Great."

"Well then, I guess I'll be leaving you here." She gave her a little smile, then turned on her heel to leave the room.

Aksinya shut the doors behind her, then there was the sound of her heels clicking against the floor as she retreated down the hall. Now alone in the bedroom, Erica was free to visually explore her surroundings.

The expansive room measured eighteen feet, and had panoramic windows which let in a flood of sunlight. There was a platform bed with a black lacquered headboard to her left, and a white, cube shaped nightstand table which sat adjacent to it. An attached bathroom was located to the far right of her, and she could hear the sound of the shower running from beyond the door.

Just like the rest of house, the bedroom had a black and white theme, but she did manage to spot at least a few splashes of color. There was an abstract painting on the wall over the bed that had spatters of silver and gold in it, and there was a ceramic vase with yellow tulips on the dresser. Attracted to the bright color of the flowers, she walked over to get a closer look at them, then bent down to inhale the fresh, clean scent.

Her eyes were drawn to the panoramic windows, so she walked over to glance out at the view beyond. Houses were scattered along the hilly terrain, and as she looked further ahead, she realized she could see downtown Los Angeles in the distance. Although a layer of smog partially obstructed her view, it was still a beautiful sight, and she could only imagine how amazing it looked at night, with the city all lit up and shining.

Deciding to set up next to the window, she unfolded her massage table, then set it on its legs and covered the surface of it with a cushiony pad. Once that was done, she retrieved a massage cream from a black tote bag she'd brought along, then placed it on a little shelf that was located beneath the table. Everything was now set up and she was ready to begin, so the only thing left to do was wait for the client to come out of the bathroom.

Spotting an s-shaped lounge chair with a stainless steel frame, she walked over to it and took a seat, testing it out to see how it felt. As she'd expected, it was quite uncomfortable to lounge on, and she realized it was one of those pieces of furniture that was more for style, rather than functionality.

As the sound of running water in the bathroom finally came to a stop, she rose up from the seat, then headed back to the massage table. Directing her attention to the bathroom door, she watched in curiosity as it pulled open, and as her client came into view, she found herself staring in amazement at the man who was sauntering toward her. As her brown eyes met his stunning green ones, she saw his lips curve into a smile.

"Jacob?"

"Hello, Erica."

The last time she'd seen her massage school classmate was four months ago, and she never would have imagined that he'd reside in such a luxurious residence. Her eyes roved across his features, and she was surprised to find that his presence still managed to ignite a spark of attraction within her.

Her gaze drifted to his shiny midnight black hair, which was wet and slicked back from the shower, and then her attention moved downward to catch a brief glimpse at his form.

He had a swimmer's body-muscular but lean, with a v-shaped torso. There were ripples of muscle beneath the tan skin of his abdominals, and as her eyes met with his towel clad waist, her gaze suddenly halted.

She lifted her eyes to once again meet with his, and as their gazes met, she saw that he was giving her a full blown smile. Erica suddenly realized that she'd just openly gazed in admiration of his body, and a flush of embarrassment heated her cheeks. Clearly pleased by the desire in her eyes, Jacob's smile had transformed into a grin.

"You seem surprised to see me," he said.

"Of course. The last thing I expected, was for you to be my client."

She was trying to keep her eyes planted on his face, but it seemed as if they were intent on drifting back downward. He was certainly easy on the eyes, and his nearly nude, wet body only made him all the more enjoyable to look at. It also didn't hurt that he had a striking resemblance to a young William Baldwin, and she supposed that was the reason why she'd always found herself so attracted to him.

Yet as handsome as he was, he still wasn't nearly as alluring as Cody, who was the ultimate man of her dreams. And besides, she'd come here to do a job, and was committed to remaining professional. There were tons of questions that she wished to ask him, but there was one thing in particular that she was itching to know.

"Why didn't you just contact me directly, instead of having your maid do it?"

"I've been trying to call you for weeks now, but your voicemail always picks up. It seemed like you were ignoring me, so I figured the only chance I'd have of seeing you again, was to book an appointment."

"I wasn't ignoring you."

"So why weren't you taking my calls?"

"I've been pretty busy lately. It's nothing personal."

"Oh, okay. I guess that means you're seeing someone."

She nodded. "I have a boyfriend."

His face fell. "Yeah, I kind of figured that." He gave a short pause, then said, "Well as long as you're happy, that's good. Can't say I'm not disappointed, though."

She gave him a little smile. "You live here alone?" Her eyes roved around the room, taking in the affluent surroundings.

"Yes, why?"

"Just curious. Seems like a big house for one person to live in."

"I like having plenty of space around me."

"Weren't you living in an apartment just three months ago?"

"Yep."

"Wow, talk about an upgrade." Her eyebrows rose in appreciation of the extravagantly decorated room. Suddenly realizing that he might take her statement the wrong way, she said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it that way."

"It's fine, you don't have to apologize. That dinky little box I used to live in could hardly be called an apartment."

"It wasn't that bad."

"But it wasn't that great, either, was it?"

"I thought it was just fine."

"That's kind of you to say. You always were polite, not to mention beautiful."

Her cheeks heated up from his compliment. "Thank you." Eager to switch the subject back to his new digs, she asked, "So what changed since three months ago?"

His lips pulled into a crooked smile. "You're wondering how I can afford a place this. That's what you really want to ask, right?"

"I know it's none of my business, so if you don't want to discuss it with me, it's okay."

"Actually, I don't mind at all. Why don't we get started first, and I'll tell you as you massage me?"

"Okay, sounds good."

"Let me just put some music on first." He headed over to a floating wall shelf that held an expensive looking radio, then turned it on and slipped in a CD of gentle, ambient music. With the mood now set, he approached the massage table, coming to a stop a few inches away from it.

As he positioned his hands against the towel around his waist, she turned her back to him so he would have privacy to disrobe. There was a soft swishing noise as he removed the towel and allowed it to fall to the floor, then she heard the creaking of the table as he climbed up onto it.

"Okay, I'm all set." He called out to her.

Erica turned to face him, and saw he was lying face down on the massage table. She draped a lavender scented sheet over the lower half of his body, then grabbed a container of massage cream from the shelf beneath the table and unscrewed the top. "Are there any problem areas that need special attention?"

"I've been really sore around my shoulders and the back of my neck, so if you could really work on those spots, that'd be great."

"Sure thing, I can loosen those muscles right up for you."

She dipped her fingers into the jar of cream and retrieved a generous glob. After setting the container back down, she went to work at massaging his shoulders. The first touch of her hands against his skin released a sound of deep contentment from his lips, then she heard him release a little sigh.

"It's been way too long since I last had a massage from you. Your hands are just as amazing as I'd remembered them." His voice came out sounding muffled, due to the fact that his face was pressed into the donut shaped hole of the massage table.

"Glad to hear you're enjoying."

Her fingers slowly worked over his shoulder blades, expertly kneading out the kinks. Jacob emitted a sigh of pleasure as her fingers did their work, and as her digits pressed against the area between his shoulder blades, she heard him emit a noise which was seemed to be a mixture of pain and pleasure.

"I'm guessing I just hit a sore spot," she said.

"Yeah, It's been bothering me for days. Feels wonderful, though. Don't stop. "

"Do you know what caused it?"

"I've been doing a lot of swimming lately, so I'm thinking I just overexerted my muscles."

Her fingers continued to manipulate him, and after ten minutes of massaging his shoulders and the back of his neck, she moved her hands downward and began to work on the muscles of his back.

"So aren't you curious?" He asked.

"Curious about what?"

"My sudden windfall of money."

"Of course I am, but I didn't want to come across as nosy, so that's why I didn't ask."

"It's cool, I don't mind sharing."

"Okay, so tell me."

"Remember that screenplay I was working on? The one that kept getting rejected?"

"Sure, I remember. It was called Blind Aces, right?"

"Yep. Well, I finally sold it to a production company, and they've agreed to turn it into a big budget movie."

"Jacob, that's incredible! Congratulations!" She momentarily paused the massage to give him an affectionate rub on the shoulder. "I'd give you a hug if I could, but...well, you know." A smile tugged at her lips.

He lifted his head up so he could make eye contact with her, then clasped her hand in his large one and said, "I want to thank you."

"For what?"

"You were always so supportive of me. I threw that screenplay in the trash once, remember that?"

She nodded. "Sure do. I fished it out, and told you to keep trying."

"And that's what I did. If you hadn't pushed me, I never would have found success."

"Of course you would. It might have been with a different script, but it was bound to happen, sooner or later."

"Maybe so, but you played a key part in all this."

"You're giving me way too much credit."

"No, I'm not." His sea colored eyes stared intently into hers, and he lightly stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

"It's no big deal. That's what friends are for, right?" She broke her gaze from Jacob's, then withdrew her hand from his.

Once he was lying back down, she resumed the massage. Placing her palms against his back, she began making small circles up and down on one side of his spine. As her hands slid over a knotty band of muscle, a deep grunt came from Jacob's mouth.

She recognized what that sound meant- it was "good pain." Having massaged him countless times before, she knew the spots where he most needed the tension released, and was pleased to know she was doing her job well. "

Sounds like I found one of your trigger points," she said.

"Oh yeah, right there." He released a heavy sigh. "Keep going. You're hitting all the right spots."

"Good. That's what I'm here to do." Her hands continued to expertly knead his flesh. "You have a lot of knots in your back. Still keeping up with those swim routines?"

"Yep, everyday. I have a great pool out back. You should come over for a swim, sometime."

"Maybe I will."

A light chuckle fled his lips. "Don't sound so enthused." A moment of silence passed before he once again spoke. "So this guy you're seeing. What kind of a personality does he have?"

"He's chill, laid back...loves to do stuff outdoors."

"What's he do for a living?"

"He's a high rise window washer. Why?"

"Just curious." A few moments passed before he spoke again. "So what's he think about you being a masseuse?"