“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

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

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

I trembled as I walked to Pete’s apartment. Despite deciding to ignore Katrina’s warning and some reassurance from Daniel the night before that he didn’t know of a courtesan who had complained, I was worried something awful was going to happen.That morning I’d even woken early, but Keaton hadn’t noticed I’d arrived early enough to make up the time he’d not had me the day before. Everything with Keaton and his friends was back to normal, as he’d said it would be, and no one had made any mention of Keaton leaving in only a few weeks.I’d also noticed Dante was absent, and I’d wondered if it was a direct result of our little spat. If it was, there was no one to ask. Keaton had already displayed enough jealousy of Dante that I didn’t dare even mention his name.I’d then been to see Rick, and taken great solace in the lesson as well as his continued sweetness. Already seeing his face was making me feel safe, but that feeling had lasted only as long as I’d been in the building. Now I was on

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