Chapter 12: Treating Aria

The moment they stepped into the private room, Santino had Aria lie back on the sofa. He lifted her top, baring the smooth, tempting plane of her belly and the proud swell of her breasts. She looked sexy as hell. He did not linger to admire the view. He took out his silver needles and, infusing the needles with his Mystic Technique, worked them swiftly along her fair skin. In an instant, the pallor left Aria's face, and a touch of color returned. Seeing her improve, Santino felt the tightness in his chest ease. He ran his energy across her abdomen to reinforce the treatment. A few minutes later, Aria pulled her clothes back on. The pain in her stomach seemed to have vanished. Surprise lit her eyes, and she could not help blurting, "Santino, you're incredible!" At the compliment, Santino gave a calm smile, though his thoughts raced. He had not expected that infusing the needles with his Mystic Technique would be so effective. "Thank you, Santino. I'll arrange for someone to pay you for the treatment. How much do I owe you?" Aria asked, looking at him. "No need, Aria. You already treated me to dinner and drinks. If I ask you for money, what kind of man would I be?" Santino said quickly. "No. I insist." She raised her voice. "Hey, Randy, go to the front desk and get five thousand dollars for him." "Got it, Boss," came Randy's voice from the hall outside. Hearing the exchange, Santino knew he wasn't going to win that one. "Aria, I can take the money, but not that much. Give me one thousand, that's enough." "No way. I'm not short on cash. Just take it." "Five thousand is really too much. You don't have it easy either." Seeing how firm he was, Aria relented. "Then two thousand. And if you keep being polite, I'll get mad." At that, Santino did not dare argue further. He nodded and agreed. Aria studied him. He knew martial arts, and his medical skills seemed almost miraculous. That long-dormant desire in her heart flared to life.  She stared at his face, not conventionally handsome, yet with masculine charm. Her gaze turned hazy. She slipped her arms around his shoulders from behind, laid her head against him, and closed her eyes halfway, as if she might drift to sleep. Feeling the press on his shoulder, Santino turned his head and realized Aria was holding him. Her breasts, pressed together, looked even more generous, and the deep line of her cleavage was impossible to ignore. He slid an arm around her shoulders and rested his cheek in her silken hair. He breathed in. The scent of her hair made him a little lightheaded. Watching him sink into it, Aria flushed and leaned in for a kiss. She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. A lipstick mark bloomed on his cheek. Seeing the longing in her face, Santino could not hold back another second. He pressed his mouth to hers in a fierce kiss. Just as they were losing themselves in that kiss, a knock sounded at the door. "Boss, I've got Mr. Simmons's cash ready," Randy called from outside. "Yeah, I know. Leave it on the stool by the door," Aria said, flustered, straightening her rumpled clothes in a hurry. Her flushed cheeks and the way she fumbled with her clothes made her look both sexy and adorable.  Santino could not help himself. His hand slid to her breast, and he kneaded gently. The sudden assault on her chest sent a shiver through her. She batted his mischievous hands away, cheeks burning. "Cut it out. Someone could see us." "What's there to be afraid of? Worst case, someone sees, and I'll marry you," he said lightly. At his words, sweetness filled Aria's heart like honey. She gazed at him with a softer light. "I'm already old." "Not old at all, Aria. You're more alluring than those young girls," Santino said at once. Blushing at his sweet talk, she murmured, "Really? My breasts have started to sag. I'm nothing like those young girls." "How could that be? If you trust me, I can use my family's Mystic Technique to lift and firm them," Santino said quickly. Aria's eyes sparked with delight. "You can do that, too? Is it really that magical?" "Of course. Come on, this is me we're talking about." He thumped his chest, a touch proud. "Aria, lie down on the sofa. I'll give you a massage. I guarantee you'll feel eighteen again." He eased Aria back onto the sofa. Her body trembled, whether from excitement or shyness, he could not tell. "Relax, Aria. I'll be quick," he whispered. She slid off her top, revealing a leopard-print bra edged in lace. Against it, her smooth, pale breasts looked impossibly seductive. He swallowed hard. "You'll need to take your bra off. Is that okay?" Her pretty face flared scarlet. "Oh... okay." She unhooked it, and her breasts sprang free, her skin catching the light. Fighting his own urge, Santino set his trembling hands on her breasts. Under his touch, her breasts changed shape. "Santino, is it done yet? I feel so uncomfortable," Aria said from the sofa, her face crimson. "Almost there, Aria. Bear with it a little." He quickened his movements, tapping several key acupoints around Aria's breasts in fast succession. Then he drew out the silver needles he always carried. Guiding the needles with his inner energy, he placed eight into the chest acupoints. The continuous flow of energy drained him, and sweat beaded across his forehead. "Santino, I never realized how manly you are," Aria said from the sofa. Getting a compliment from a beauty like her made his heart race. He chuckled. "Aria, don't flatter me. I'm just a broke loser from Breeze Village."