“Well, that’s got to be the best quickie I’ve had in a few centuries,” I whispered as he began to pull back.“There’s plenty more where that comes from,” he replied, his mouth close to my ear as he gently helped me back onto my feet. “But the other men will never forgive me if we go for round two right away. Don’t leave without me getting another taste of you.”“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said as he began to walk away.No sooner was he out of my arms than another man walked up, coming past Mhairi as she rode someone in a chair. He had my tablet in his hands already and held it up with an offer on it. I pressed confirm and glanced at the name. Link. Unusual name.Link didn’t waste any more time leading me over to a long chair and encouraging me down onto it. Thankfully he was gentle, but the sex became a bit of a blur, several men only waiting for the previous man to get up before they came to use me too. An audience quickly grew as well, many men coming to watch, and Mhairi meeting any
As I stepped onto the steps in front of the court, I sighed, suddenly feeling every inch of the exhaustion that had snuck up on me over the day. Edward took my arm and helped me inside.“That’s got to be your best day yet,” he said, his voice gentle, as if he didn’t want to make me feel any worse.“Apparently.”“You’re getting there,” he added. “Another week or so and you won’t know any differently. It will feel almost comfortable, and predictable.”I didn’t reply, not sure how I felt about his words. And I didn’t get long to think about them. The sound of men shouting came drifting through the court door as Edward opened it. We both hurried through. Despite the late hour, everyone seemed to still be up, the commotion coming from within the courtesans’ own relaxation area.“What the—?” I said, hurrying forward, aware Edward hadn’t left my side as he normally did when we got back.I spotted the problem immediately. Two of the guards had Belle between them again. The same two who frequen
“Anyway, enough of these deep discussions. I’ve had a long day and I’ve been looking forward to having you back for hours,” Daniel said as he put his arms around me.His erection was apparent against my lower abdomen. It took all my self-control not to roll my eyes. For a planet with few women where the men couldn’t get sex as much, they were all so turned on all the time.But I also felt a slight thrill of smugness. Daniel had been waiting for me. Out of all his courtesans, it seemed he wanted me the most. And I knew that gave me an edge that none of the others had. It had perhaps already helped me protect Belle.Deciding one last fuck wouldn’t be so bad, I kissed him passionately and reached for his pants to free him myself. The idea of me holding some sway over Daniel pleased me, but I knew if I did, I’d have to use it wisely. Making us all a little safer was a good idea. It could help me in the future too. But I didn’t know how far I could push it.One thing I did know for sure, ho
“Damn,” I said as I rushed towards the car with Edward just ahead. I was late to get to Keaton’s. I’d overslept. All the excitement of the day before had taken a toll, and so many days in a row spent out in the city letting men use me was something that was leaving me feeling more and more tired. But I hadn’t even completed my very first week as a full courtesan yet.I hurried into the club but I didn’t find the normal people there, just Keaton, Eric, Dante and a friend of Keaton’s I couldn’t remember.“Are you late?” Keaton asked as soon as I walked in, looking up from a tablet set on a table between him and the others.“About ten minutes,” I replied, hoping he was in a good mood. “I can stay ten minutes later if you’d like.”He frowned and stared at me as I rushed over, but he went back to the tablet and just wrapped an arm around my waist.“No. I’ve got to go organize some more details for the party. We’re trying to decide on the theme so we can order anything else we need before it
Keaton immediately sat down and pulled me onto his lap. I put my arms around him and leaned in, hoping my emotions came across as sad and not exposing the fear I felt about my loss of income.“I’m sorry. I should have told you before now. I only found out a few days ago. Right before we planned the food.”“That explains why you were so grumpy,” I replied, giving him a quick kiss.“Yeah. I don’t want to leave, Auralia. I like it here. I like having the world’s most successful courtesan to play with.”“But your father is insisting.” I sighed, not sure what else to say. Already I was painfully aware that I was going to have to find someone else or my income was going to take a huge hit. Was this what had been worrying Daniel the evening before? Had he known I was going to lose Keaton’s regular daily amount soon? It would drop me into losing money each day if I couldn’t replace him.“I know you’ve given me a lot of time, and I still want you here every day before the party. It might be sel
As my time with Keaton finished, he slipped me a fifty credit token and gave me another kiss.“Don’t think I’ll let you off easy tomorrow,” he whispered. “I’m going to tie you to a table with your legs open and we’re all going to ride you hard. It’ll be a trial run for the kinds of things the guests and investors will do to you at the party.”I nodded, not sure if I should appear pleased or take it as the warning it was sounding like.Thankfully Keaton walked away before I was expected to do anything else.Sighing at the weight it added to my stomach, I made for the door. I’d only managed to get to the bottom of the stairs and the door to the rest of the club when someone hurried down after me. Turning, I saw Eric appear.“Auralia. Are you busy for the next couple of hours?” he asked.I shook my head, knowing my schedule was clear until seeing Tomichii much later.“Would you take a booth with me? All that bondage talk with Dante has... Well... Normally Keaton shares and...” Eric’s chee
“Why don’t you tell me what you do for money,” I said, also curious and hoping a change in subject would help him open up. “There must be so many different ways now.”“I don’t do a lot of work. Don’t have to. I inherited a nest egg from an elderly uncle I used to go see. Before we could all get these cell shots that keep us so much younger. It was too late for him, and it didn’t work so well on the older generations anyway. I invested a lot of what he left me in the cell shots, felt it was only right to see it made cheaper for everyone to have, but we’re not all the way there yet.”“Oh, not everyone stays young for ages then?”“No.” Eric shook his head. “It’s not cheap. And it only works so well, you know. There’s still a few things it can’t work against. The humans who work in the mines still slowly deteriorate. Although it can slow even that. I’m working on making it cheaper, and more effective, but... Not everyone agrees it should even exist.”“Well, I’m grateful it does,” I replied
I sighed, sat in a booth at the restaurant alone. James and Jack were both gone, my time once more free, and my stomach full of food. I’d enjoyed every moment I got to spend with James, but he’d made it clear he wasn’t going to let his guard down and let me back in while I couldn’t be his alone, or at least regularly. And he was leaving.Having just heard today that Keaton was also leaving the only city I knew of this strange modern world, I was left reeling. Lost.I felt like yet again the rug had been pulled out from underneath my feet, even if James had never shown me any interest since my unveiling. I’d worked hard to entice the men to come to my unveiling, and then so many of them had effectively disappeared or were disappearing.Once again I’d been reminded of all the various people who had warned me not to fall in love. Was this why? Because the men moved on and left us behind? I didn’t know the answer but I’d done my best to pull myself together and move on.After that, I’d tri