“Auralia, what a pleasing surprise,” I heard a familiar voice say. My eyes found Keaton as he strode closer, his eyes on my body. He reached for my waist as he came near, eyes still not on my face. “Damn, you look hot. I'd bend you over and fuck you senseless if you weren't veiled still.”“Would you now? You seem pretty sure I'd let you,” I replied, stepping a little closer to him anyway, letting his fingers settle just above my hips. Finally he drew his gaze up to my face. He had a smug grin.“Courtesans quickly learn not to say no to me.”“Oh, I bet they do. I look forward to the lesson.”“Not as much as I do, Courtesan. Not as much as I do.”Yaru coughed from nearby, making it obvious he was still there. Keaton glanced his way, a frown appearing.“Why don't you go have a drink at the bar?” Keaton said, his eyes back on me. “I'll keep Auralia company for a while.”Yaru looked to Edward.“If Auralia has no objection. But Edward will be nearby to ensure Auralia's honour remains intact.
I tried not to yawn as I walked into Daniel's office again. Yaru had left me at the door to the building once more, Edward only coming in a few metres with me, before one of the other guards asked for his help with something.The guards had become the least of my worries over the course of the evening as several different men had joined me and Yaru in our booth at the club. Keaton had come back, twice, each time Yaru stepping away to let the playboy do what he wanted to me unsupervised. I'd orgasmed more times than I could count, but I'd paid for each one in some way.Now I was exhausted, and I still needed to report to Daniel, and make it back to my room.When I arrived Daniel was alone, sitting at his desk, most of the boxes on the screen now empty. Only a few were green, most yellow or red.“You're back late,” he said, not looking up. “Was it a productive evening?”“Yaru took me to a club.”“I heard. And Keaton paid you a visit.”“Several.”“Good. That's very good.” Daniel put down
I yawned, movement from Mhairi waking me up. She was sat beside me on the bed, smiling. I grinned back before I noticed that the sun was far higher in the sky.“Shit,” I said. “We're going to be late.”“Nope,” she replied, chuckling. “Today is our day off. Well, for the most part. Rules state we're not allowed to be forced into working today. Although we can opt in to go away with companions for mini breaks and holidays or things like that if we want.”“Right,” I said, sitting back down on the edge of the bed. It was my sixth day since becoming a courtesan and I had no desire to object to having a break.The last two days had been particularly intense, Yaru taking me to both Tomichii and Kioshi's office, the club and the diner each day. My feet were killing me by the time I got back to the court, and Daniel never let me leave his office without using me in some way on top.I grinned at Mhairi once we were both dressed. Her in an outfit I'd seen her wear out before, covering almost all
“Are you sure you're all right?” Mhairi asked, sitting beside me on the small sofa. We each had a tablet in our hands, typing out messages, but I still shuddered every now and then, and I still had to summon up the courage to go back to Daniel and find out what he thought.“I think I'm just really tired,” I said, lying. “It's been a long week.”She nodded. “I can still remember my first few days. I was a mess. You're already doing way better. You've got this.”After giving her my best attempt at a grateful smile I heard the ding of my tablet getting another message.“Oooo, is that your first incoming message?” she asked. I pulled it open, not minding that she leant closer to read it over my shoulder. It was, but instead of it being from Tomichii, the only person I'd yet contacted through the system, it was from Benton.Hello, Auralia,I hope you liked the gift I sent you the other day. I remember you said they were a brand from your pre-resurrected days. I hope they help you feel more
“Daniel told me what happened. Are you okay? Did he manage to screw you?”“No,” I said, my body shivering harder, the memory enough to make my throat tighten. Wrapping his arms around me, Edward frowned. “He didn't hurt me at all. Just scared me. Wanted to look at me.”“I wish I could tell you it got better,” he said. “But it doesn't. There's always going to be men thinking they can have exactly what they want.”“And most of them will get it, won't they?”“Well, it's going to be my job to make sure none of them do you any major harm, but yes. If a man has paid for your time and you said yes to it, I'm not meant to intervene unless he's trying to do something really sinister like cut you up, or break bones or something.” His eyes were full of pity.“Would you? If I asked you to?”“Sorry, princess. It's not you who pays my bills. I'll step in before some of the guys here, but if it's considered an official fetish, I don't get to stop it.”I nodded my head, only feeling more sick. A depre
Frowning, I looked over my newest design on the virtual mannequin. Noticing my expression, Yaru held his hand out. I passed him the device.“You're getting better,” he said.I smiled and clutched the seat, the bubble car tilting to pass another. Yaru didn't even react.“Keep practising.” He gave me back the crystal. “But you'll have to use the two designs you already have and extra bits until your unveiling.”“Should we use one of the new designs for the unveiling ceremony?” I asked, already considering which of my newer designs I'd like to display most.“No. Everyone at the unveiling will already be more than happy to part with their credits. They won't need the extra enticement.”“They will already be pleased they're finally getting to screw me?”“Precisely.”We lapsed into silence, but I couldn't quite bring myself to draw any more right now. I had other thoughts on my mind. I knew how big my debt had been the moment Daniel had signed me into his care. I didn't know how much it had
For the first time since I'd woken up my heart felt light. Yaru and Edward were far enough away I didn't feel monitored by them, and Tomichii and Kioshi were fast becoming two of my favourite people. I couldn't be entirely open with them, but it was a start.“I think, Kioshi, you're very much in danger of charming your first courtesan,” Tomichii said, his eyes sparkling as he teased his friend. I blushed and looked away, no clue how to handle such a statement when it revealed my thoughts so completely.“We both know courtesans are more your diversion than mine,” Kioshi replied. “You charmed her on the very first day. We are just colleagues trying to help others.”“Oh, no... Well... I mean... yes, but...” I trailed off, my mind in a spin. I looked between them both, biting my lip as I tried to find the right words to say. How do I let two very different men know I like them both? Without sounding like any other courtesan who needed many clients.“Yes, Tomichii, right from the beginning
Shaking, I sat in Yaru's car, Edward by my side. Neither of us spoke. There was nothing to say. I waited For Yaru. For some understanding of what had just happened.Eventually Yaru appeared, hurrying from the building. Without a word, he got into the car and sat down. His face, normally completely impassive, was set, his eyes saddened by something.“What?” I croaked out, my voice able to manage nothing more.“You had a husband. In your profile. These things aren't normally made public unless a resurrected wishes them to be, but of course, given the involvement Tomichii and Kioshi had in your healing...”“They accessed her records?” Edward said, his anger evident.Yaru nodded.“So they know I'm not a virgin?” I asked. “Is that what this is all about?”“I'm afraid so, my dear.”“I haven't mentioned my husband to anyone. How could anyone have known to even look?”“Well,” Yaru paused. “I believe that might have been Bernice...”“But there's no way to confirm it.” I put my head in my hands.
Walking along in the garden almost at the top of Tomichii and Kioshi’s building, I sighed. I was done with my regular appointments for the day, and Edward had indulged me in a moment to walk among the plants and stars. I tried to calm myself. It had been a full-on day, and I’d just said goodbye to a man called Ferg, a businessman who was a good friend of Tomichii’s and now one of my regulars.Deciding to accept his request had been a hard thing to do. I didn’t doubt that Tomichii would realize I was sleeping with them both. And I knew it would hurt him a little, something I didn’t want to cause at all. Of all my companions, he was one of my favorites. But I’d not been able to afford to say no.I had several regular companions now. My schedule was almost full each day, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. The most frustrating thing, however, was how little financial progress I was making. Despite Daniel’s attempt to introduce me to wealthier men, and Mhairi’s help at her club, I had nee
The waiter pointed out the guests we wanted on one side of the room, standing in a circle by what looked like a fireplace except for the lack of heat one so large would create. Keaton then led me up to them.Heads turned as I noticed an interesting mix of people. Some of the women in the room were dressed more normally, almost conservatively, including two we were heading towards. But just over half of the women were clearly courtesans, although again, they were wearing more clothing and were more restrained. No one was having sex out in the open, or being anywhere near as lewd.I, on the other hand, was wearing nothing but paint. For a moment I wanted to run from the room and cover myself up, but then I reminded myself that Keaton had chosen me for this task. He wasn’t a fool. If I should have been dressed differently he’d have had me put something else on while in the car on the way here instead of screwing me as swiftly as possible.As we reached the circle of people, it opened natu
The following day seemed to arrive quickly, even Daniel wishing me luck as I headed to the club to join Keaton. Mhairi had helped me put on the design he’d requested, touching it up where it had stretched, chipped, or faded a bit, and then I’d grabbed breakfast on the way, too late to eat it before I left the court.I felt a little nervous as I went into the club and hurried across the dance floor. Giving out invitations seemed to be an important task and I wanted to get it right.“Don’t fret,” Edward said as he pulled the door to the stairs open for me. “He’ll make it clear how formal he wants you to be. And everyone loves you.”I sighed and tried to smile, but I don’t think I was very convincing, as Edward opened the final door for me too.“You’ll be perfect,” he whispered.“There you are,” Keaton said a fraction of a second later, drawing everyone’s attention to me.“Sorry I kept you waiting,” I replied, although I knew I wasn’t late. I thought I saw Erin smirk, however, as I came c
“Finally, the leash,” Dante said, pulling it out of his pocket and handing it to Keaton. As Keaton looked up, Dante stopped staring at me.I exhaled, trying not to show my instant fear at the idea of being on a leash of some kind. Was I truly going to be subjected to that? It was clear the answer was yes, as Keaton didn’t even hesitate to clip it to the ring on the back of my neck. He gave it a little tug, the movement tugging on my throat. I swallowed, feeling the tightness on my neck as I did.“There,” he said, stepping back but holding the loop on the other end of the leash in his hand. “Perfect.”Trying not to let any other emotion show, I smiled and waited for everyone to finish admiring me. While Eric and Trey wandered over to also get a closer look, all four men now ogling, I tried to remind myself that I was naked all the time. That these men had seen and touched it all before. Still, I felt self-conscious.“What do you think?” I asked as I slowly turned on the spot, genuinely
As I hurried out to my car, still munching on a piece of toast, Edward appeared.“Another day on the job, princess,” he replied, taking a bite out of the toast I still held. I frowned at him, trying to look annoyed, but I knew Edward would never let me go really hungry and would willingly return the favor later if he had something I was hungry for.“Yup, another day, another four hours with Keaton,” I replied. I tried to stifle a yawn. Two weeks had passed since I’d had an introduction meeting with many men at a racetrack and Mhairi had made me realize I wasn’t seeing all my messages. Now I spent a good chunk of my journey times, and a little more time in the evenings and on my day off, replying to messages.Lord Logan had finally sent me a message. He’d given me a set of shares in some kind of horse racing company. There had been some kind of dig at how I’d lost money to almost every horse, but Daniel had seemed pleased with it. I’d thanked the wealthy aristocrat but had no other mess
By the time I was let up off the floor and sofas, several hours had passed, some of the men had even left, and there was a large pile of credit tokens in my purse. I was a little sore, but I’d had a few orgasms of my own to take the edge off, some of the men genuinely enjoying giving me a little pleasure too. As I got up I noticed Lord Logan still staring, and I suspected he had been sitting alone at the bar by himself the whole time.Hoping I was doing the right thing, I walked slowly up to him, our gazes locked.“You’ve been very quiet and distant. Do you not want to come join in?” I asked.“I’m not particularly interested in exhibiting myself to a room full of men I only half like,” he replied, his accent Eastern European. I tried not to show my surprise, but came a little closer, to see if his body language would change.“Would you like to find somewhere quieter?”He chuckled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Have one of the richest men in the city become a regular schmuck, paying t
“I hope we haven’t kept you gentlemen waiting long,” I said when it was clear no one else was going to say anything and Daniel was already looking to me.“Only long enough for Quentin here to bore us with his opinions on the next thoroughbred I should buy,” the duke replied.“I’m afraid I know very little about horses,” I said. “Do you own many?”Lord Logan laughed but didn’t give me an answer.“He owns about twenty horses,” Sir McKythe said, his Scottish accent only faint; clearly not a place he spent much time. “And three racetracks. He also employs numerous jockeys.”“And I own three, and they do very badly, but I adore them and shan’t be buying any more,” the duke declared, lifting his glass.“To sentimental purchasing,” Sir McKythe declared, also lifting his drink. I raised mine as well, more than happy to bring sentimentality into it. It might just find me a regular.It was already clear Lord Logan wasn’t very impressed. As the duke congratulated me on my recent record-breaking u
I tried to take several deep breaths to keep calm as Daniel looked me over. On his instruction I was wearing my most elegant painted outfit, complete with an accessory he’d loaned me, a gorgeous necklace, anklet and bracelet set with gemstones that matched the color of the design so perfectly I was almost ready to ask if they’d been made for me.“There,” he said. “You look almost perfect. Now, come,” he said, taking my arm and placing it through his before he rested my lower arm on top and clasped my hand gently.It was purely for aesthetics, but he also seemed delighted to have me on his arm. Daniel himself was looking smarter than I’d ever seen him in a suit, the cut tailored to his body with perfection. My jaw had dropped when I’d seen him, but he’d ignored my reaction.“Where are we going?” I asked as he led me through the court’s corridors and down the front stairs. He grinned, but didn’t answer.We’d only reached the bottom when I saw a couple of other courtesans waiting there, a
Everything I tried showed this area of the city marked as separate for some reason or denied me the names and addresses of people nearby so I couldn’t even trick it into taking me somewhere only a few meters away.As the bubble car floated into an area that wasn’t separated out and was only a few blocks from Tomichii and Kioshi’s office, the options all appeared again. My fingers hovered over the stop button, but as I looked over the map to see if I could work out where to go back to help, I realized I’d been so focused on how I could stop the car to help that I’d neglected to pay attention to anything else.Feeling like I’d somehow entirely failed at a test in life to see what kind of person I was, but aware I had no idea what else I could have done, I sat where I was and let the car take me the rest of my journey. The last thing I’d seen filled my head, a frightened young woman accosted by two men.It only took a few more minutes and then I was standing in the elevator of Tomichii an