Not sure entirely what to expect, I walked into the restaurant again. This time, rather than seeking out a companion, I found a table and ordered a drink and a small snack. It cost me a few credits, but less than I’d been tipped already that day. Before I could decide on a person to approach, a familiar face came to me.“Richard, isn’t it?” I asked, vaguely placing him as a business trip person whom I’d helped with some kind of math problem while at a bar.“Yes, I’m Richard. I think I owe you an apology, Auralia. I freaked out over a few rumors. Took a friend pointing out that jealous courtesans can make them and spread them faster than most of us men can keep up for me to realize you were probably innocent in all this.”For a moment I sat in a stunned silence, unable to process what he’d just said.“Would you do me the honor of letting me buy you a drink?” he asked a moment later.“The honor would be mine,” I replied, both grateful and stunned that this was happening. Maybe someone wa
“Is there anything in particular that you’d like me to do for you?” I asked. Almost immediately he frowned.“I don’t want this to be... like other courtesan and companion moments,” he said. “I’d like this to be more like lovers. I want this to satisfy us both, and for you to enjoy this and get what you want too.”“That’s very sweet of you,” I replied. “Shall we take some of these clothes off so we’re a little more equally attired and snuggle up under the duvet?”I felt him relax against me as he nodded and my hands found his trousers. Quickly, and almost as if I was an expert, I had him in nothing but his boxers and I was pulling back the covers.As I tried to get into the low bed beside him, I caught my foot and tumbled slightly. I blushed and laughed but felt him relax near me as he chuckled, and then I was in his arms, our mouths pressing together.My slight mistake and the laughter that had followed had broken the ice and he finally felt confident enough to explore my body with his
“There she is,” Tomichii said as I walked into the room, trying not to look as flustered as I felt.I smiled and slipped into the offered arm, letting him pull me into a hug while I smiled at the room of people. There were four investors, as Tomichii and Kioshi had promised, but no sign of Kioshi himself.Tomichii introduced all the men, although I recognised a couple of them from a previous party I’d been at. One where Bernice had done her best to embarrass me before I was unveiled.This time all the eyes were on me and I was the only courtesan in the room. I tried to smile and asked the two I recognised if they were doing well, wracking my brains for something they might have said the last time so I could ask them about it again. This seemed to do the trick and immediately I was surrounded by the four men.I was offered drinks, small items of food and generally conversed with for the next few minutes, everyone making it clear they were only there for me. I used the opportunity to pra
I slowly walked towards the door, my legs growing stronger as I moved and tested them. Apparently, even after all that, I had some capacity left.But I found my feet taking me in only one direction, towards the garden. I didn’t fight my instincts, knowing I’d appreciate the moment to clear my head before I had to return to the court and Daniel.It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders as I walked into the garden. The stars were out and more than easily viewable despite the city surroundings, and the lights had been dimmed to make viewing them easier while still being able to see to explore the gardens. I wandered towards my favourite spot, a view that continued to make me stop and think.Before I could get there, one of the men I recognised from the first investor meeting I’d been to stepped into view. He’d been sitting on the bench, a drink in one hand, until he’d clearly spotted me.He held up two tokens. Another one hundred.“I’ve been hankering to taste you since Tomichii let y
Groaning, I stretched and woke Mhairi beside me. It was the beginning of yet another day. I sighed, and tried to think of something to look forward to.“Another day?” she asked. I nodded.“Afraid so. Another day, and yet another attempt to earn enough money.”“You’ve not been doing badly so far,” Mhairi replied as we both began getting up, already a sort of routine between us. “You’ve got two companions who see you daily. That’s huge for a courtesan this early on.”“Only one,” I said as I sighed and began looking over the body paints. I didn’t have much left, and knew I couldn’t afford any more right now, but there was only one design I’d not worn in public yet; the one from my unveiling ceremony. “Tomichii doesn’t want me today. I’ve just got Keaton and then Rick until the very last hour of the day.”“Oh.” Mhairi came to my side and took one of my oldest designs out of my hands, mixing parts with the new design until she was satisfied. “Why don’t you come to a few places with me?” The
As I came out of Rick’s building, I sighed. I was exhausted, and only halfway through the day. Rick had put me through my paces with the martial arts just as he’d done two days earlier and then quickly screwed me at the end, a little more business than he’d been the last time I’d paid him a visit. He’d also had the same person there for a lesson before, someone I’d enjoyed watching him spar with for a moment.But after so many days of giving my body to men and traipsing from one place to another, I was tired of it.I’d also messaged Mhairi about meeting up, letting her know I was free, but I’d got no reply, and Edward had simply shrugged it off when I’d brought it up. I was a little concerned about her, but my bodyguards lack of fear or anxiety made me push it aside for now.“Lunch and then Mhairi’s usual club,” Edward said, offering me an alternative to the plan I’d made earlier in the day.“Somewhere new for lunch as well, then,” I said, the words out before I knew where they’d come
“So, are you going to introduce us?” a guy said, coming up to the table between Edward and me, looking at me although he seemed to be addressing my bodyguard.“She can introduce herself if she wants to. I don’t own her,” Edward replied. “I just keep her safe and make sure anyone she doesn’t want near her gets the message.” Edward’s eyes were also on me, just a little extra emphasis on the words that mattered.I smiled.“I’m Auralia,” I said, trying to be polite.“Logan,” he replied, his eyes sticking to my face in a way that seemed more than a little refreshing. “Used to hang out with Ed here when he was a teenager. Before he got a big bodyguard job at one of those fancy courts. I can see he’s still doing the hard job.”“It’s harder than it looks,” I replied, feeling defensive of him. “We’re an interesting bunch to look after. But the job has its perks.”Logan laughed, his eyes lighting up.“I bet it does. We’ve been hearing rumors that there’s a new courtesan shaking things up. I gues
“Oh, come on, Mhairi,” I said under my breath, still sat in my car as the minutes ticked by, minutes I wasn’t earning any money. Edward wouldn’t let me out of the bubble and I was more than a little grateful that the glass was tinted and I couldn’t be seen from the outside.I reached for the door for a third time, Edward putting out a hand to stop me yet again, when Mhairi finally appeared, coming out of the front door of the club, a man on her arm. He kissed her cheek as she smiled and laughed, and wished him a good rest of the day.“Now you can get out,” Edward said, opening the door for me.“Auralia!” Mhairi said excitedly, the smile on her face broadening into a grin. “I hope I’ve not kept you waiting long. I’ve had a lovely companion keep my attention for the last little while and I couldn’t possibly deny him a thing.”I didn’t know how to reply to such a statement, so I didn’t, instead looking towards the club. It didn’t look massively different to the one Keaton had me in most m