My body weary and my legs more than a little tired of holding me up, I arrived back at the court. Edward helped me up the last few steps, supporting my arm and leaning me into him.“You did well today,” Edward said. “You should be proud of yourself. Got through your first week.”“Thanks,” I said, remembering how many times he’d made it harder by demanding sex of me too, but also all the times he’d been there for me. There had definitely been more of the latter. “Do you want to have a little fun time tomorrow?”He chuckled, but shook his head.“As much as I’d love to. You’re tired and it’s a day off for both of us,” he replied.I frowned, not expecting that. I still had Keaton in my schedule. He’d insisted he was going to see me every single day in the run up to the party and him leaving. And I’d added Jack at the very end of the day, the talent scout still in the city despite signing James. If Edward didn’t take me tomorrow, then who would?I voiced as much a moment later.“Sorry, prin
“I’ll stay,” I replied, realizing that Daniel was the closest thing I had to an ally, even if he was also the person who owned me. He was the only other person in this world who needed me to be successful. The only other person who couldn’t afford for me to get this wrong.Immediately, Daniel pulled me close, smiling as he wrapped his arms around me.“You know, you really are beautiful. You knew what you were doing when you asked to be painted up like this. It looks amazing on you.”“Wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t agreed to pay for it.”“Your unveiling income more than made it back.”“Yeah, but that whole thing is so messed up,” I said, wanting to see how honest I could be.“Completely, but something has to begin a courtesan’s career.” He exhaled, almost sighing, but tugging me towards the cushions at the back of the room.I slipped into his embrace, willing to forget this crazy world for a while and think of nothing but screwing the man before me. Daniel seemed to understand how
“Come on, Courtesan,” Keaton said as our morning session together neared its end. He took my hand and led me away from the table where he and his mates had been drinking and talking. As he did, Dante appeared, coming into the room with his usual dark brooding look and swagger. Today, however, he wore a shirt that seemed to make his deep blue eyes pop, and it did plenty to show off Dante’s muscular, smooth chest as well.For a moment I couldn’t do anything but stare.“Sorry, Dante. You’re a little late to the party,” Keaton said. Feel free to enjoy one of the other courtesans and grab a drink, order some food. I want some time with Auralia.”I felt Keaton’s eyes on me and had to tear my gaze away from Dante as Keaton continued to pull me over to a booth. He didn’t draw the curtain to shield us from watching eyes, but he pulled me around so my back was to the room.I bit my lip, and hesitated like I was being shy about something, looking up at him through my eyelashes.“What is it?” Keat
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
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
“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
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
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