By the time no more men entered the booth I sat in I was exhausted and about ready to cry. I'd lost count of the number of men, but a collection of names had been added to my database and beside my purse sat a small pile of tokens. every man had tipped me and some of them had tipped me well. It was one of the few things I could be truly grateful for.

For a moment I sat on the edge of the cushioned table, sore, achy and so tired my limbs felt impossibly heavy. I didn't want to move, but a small amount of curiosity got me to do so. I reached for the device in my purse and checked my earnings. Five men had paid me almost seven hundred credits. I had made the money I needed and some. If I wanted I could go home.

But I still hadn't seen Tomichii. Or Kioshi.

After checking my appearance and tucking the hundred credits I also had in tokens away, I got to my feet and pulled back the curtain. The room was busier than I'd expected, the night feeling later than it clearly was. Edward appeared by my side a moment later.

"I've ordered you some food," he said. "Hope that's okay. Figured you'd need it by now."

I nodded, so grateful I almost cried at him. Instead I let him lead me to a small table off to one side. I was more than happy to eat alone, but I didn't get the opportunity. No sooner had a plate of food been placed in front of me than the waiter brought a second plate and placed it opposite me, along with a large pot of green tea.

I raised my eyebrows, opening my mouth to try and find out who it was for when Kioshi sat down.

"Don't worry, I won't take up any of your time, or expect you to stick around to talk to me," he said, barely even looking at me as he added a little salt to his meal and picked up his knife and fork. "Thought you wouldn't object to me eating dinner at your table though."

"Oh, not at all," I said, instantly feeling happier than I had for most of the day. "I will always welcome your company."

He looked up at my finally meeting my gaze and smiling.

"It's rare to have a companion to eat for a bit," he said. "Most of the men here are just after one thing. But I don't want to put other men off you if you would prefer having a potential customer here."

I shook my head. "I hope I always have time for you. If I didn't, there would only ever be one reason."

"Money," he said for me, pulling an almost disgusted face. I feared it was at me, but he shook the expression away and we ate in silence for a bit. When I was close to finishing, Kioshi clearly taking his time, I asked about his research.

The question seemed to bring him alive and in seconds he was telling me everything that had been happening in the research labs.

"We need more money though," Kioshi said when he was placing his knife and fork together and leaning back. "We had one of our bigger investors pull out. Business was hit hard by some problems out in one of the colonies. A set back for them and a blow for us."

"I'm sorry. I truly am," I said, reaching out to place my hand on his briefly. "I wish I could do more to help."

Kioshi didn't respond, his eyes fixing on my face as he studied me. I tried not to blush under the scrutiny, not sure what was making him so intense suddenly. Before either of us could move the conversation on, however. Tomichii appeared.

"Ahh, two of my favourite people. And a late dinner. I hope I'm not interrupting," he said.

"No," Kioshi replied. "Auralia was kindly listening to me while I enthused about our progress and lamented the lack of investment. Our angel of a courtesan said she wished she could help, and then you appeared."

"Would you truly wish to help?" Tomichii asked, also looking at me intently. A knowing glance then seemed to pass between the two men.

"What is it?" I asked. "Name it. I'd do anything for you both if it is within my abilities and power."

"It's distasteful at best," Kioshi replied. "I will never ask it of you."

"Then I suppose I must. We have four investors coming for dinner tomorrow, and I know it would go more smoothly if you were there. I will of course pay you for your time at a rate normal for these sorts of events. one and a half times your normal hourly rate."

I looked between the two men. I still didn't know exactly what my hourly rate but I had an idea how many hours something like that would go on. During my few weeks in training I had attended another investment meeting, although a much larger one where I hadn't been the sole courtesan. It was something that started with dinner and ended with everyone leaving very drunk and very high on orgys.

As I thought about the last part I gulped, but only Kioshi seemed to notice.

"It's as tasteless as it sounds," he said. "There will be six of us in the room and you'll be the..."

As his voice cut out, I fixed a smile on my face.

"I'd love to aid you in this way. Of course I'll be at your investors meeting. And I'll do everything I can to persuade them to invest in you both."

"Thank you, my sweet," Tomichii said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. Kioshi got up, clearly as uncomfortable with all this as he'd ever been.

Kioshi was one of my favourite people in this time, but he would never be a companion of mine, that I was sure of. The whole system was something he despised. And although I'd thought him charmed enough at one point to want to come to my unveiling. When he had learned my secret he had bowed out, leaving me to have to replace him and find others willing to pay to sleep with me.

"I won't deny that we need it, but I won't ask for anything myself. I must continue on now. There is no rest for those doing important work."

I tried to smile at him and see if he was truly all right, but Tomichii still held one hand and I didn't dare take it from him.

"One of these days Kioshi will realise that he likes you too much to care about the courtesan and companion boundaries and he will gladly hand over credits to spend time with you."

"Then I might not like Kioshi. It is precisely because he's one of the few, along with yourself, who make me feel like more than a courtesan, that I adore him so much," I replied, hoping he would take my words and actions in the spirit intended.

Tomichii smiled at me and pulled me into a hug, his eyes studying me.

"Are you going soon? I have my painting courtesan here. I'd like her to begin my commission." Tomichii looked towards one of the small booths nearby.

"I can stay a little longer," I replied, not sure if it should be something I charged him for or not.

"Wonderful." Before I could wonder any longer he had my purse open, my device in his hands and had paid me my average for the next couple of hours.

It made me feel more than a little thrilled. Today I had definitely earned enough to go home with my head held high and I could finish the day by sitting still and listening to Tomichii while someone painted me. That was a definite improvement.

With my hand still in his he led me off and called for someone else. Almost immediately a male showed up, looking to be in his early twenties. I tried to hide my shock, having expected a woman for some reason. Of course, the society had far less woman so in a lot of ways I must have made the wrong assumption, but they were quick to set up a canvas on an a shaped painting frame and then sit down.

I was invited to lie seductively across a small, low couch, Tomichii arranging my every limb. Feeling more than a little self conscious, I tried to comply but it took him several minutes before he was happy.

To help myself feel more natural and calm, I pictured being in his private chambers the day before and how lovingly we'd spent our few hours. Almost instantly I relaxed, focusing on him as he positioned a hand for me.

"Much better," he said a moment later, stepping back to get a more wide view of my arranged body. I felt my cheeks flush a little under his gaze, my body very exposed, but equally shown off. It was clear Tomichii had an eye for how a woman might show herself to her best advantage.

"Should I begin?" The painter asked, looking to Tomichii an equally bright flush on his cheeks.

"Yes. I know you will do a good job. Please do as you see fit." Tomichii gave me a smile as he spoke before hurrying away.

At first I didn't know what to do, having also assumed that he would stay and I'd have been able to talk to him, but he was gone before I could even ask him to stay.

My painter didn't say a word as he began what looked like a sketch of my general outline, not that I could see the canvas to be sure.

"Have you been painting long?" I asked, not sure what else to say and falling back on small talk from the era I'd grown up in, instead.

"Only eleven years. I'm no way near as good as some of the greats," the boy replied.

"Eleven years?" I asked. " That's a huge amount of time. You must be a pro by now."

"No. I still have a long way to go before I'm as good as some of the masters, but this will be good practice. I'm sure Tomichii will be pleased."

It was all I could get out of the kid. Everything else was merely comments on things like asking me to keep a part of my body especially still.

Over an hour had passed when Tomichi returned. He immediately smiled and went over to the painter to see what had been produced so far. The two of them talked about things in hushed voices before Tomichii smiled and began coming over to me.

"Thank you, Markus. If you could return in four days time, we will continue it further then." Markus nodded and left as Tomichii reached for my hand and lifted me to my feet.

"I think there's still some of your time left," I said, realising it sounded a lot more crass when I said it than it had in my head.

Tomichii pulled me into his arms. not responding except to bring me in close and gaze at me. Before he could object, I lifted onto the tips of my toes and planted a kiss on his mouth.

As I did, his hand snaked around me and pulled me up against him. His erection was clear, but as he pulled back from me and frowned, it was also clear he didn't want to just screw me.

"It feels wrong for anything between us to be only a quick attempt to meet a need."

"I'd rather be here with you, enjoying the feel of your skin on mine than anywhere else," I replied. It wasn't entirely true, but it was true enough.

With a small moan. he kissed me again, this time his mouth more firm and his need and desire pouring through the kiss and the way his hands began to roam.

The passion helped fan the heat inside me until I was wet. Almost as if he sensed it, he quickly pushed me back down onto the sofa and together we freed him.

Within seconds he was thrusting deep into me, moaning as he made me feel more and more full. For a moment he stilled, our eyes meeting, and then he kissed me again and began to thrust. He set an almost frantic rhythm, his need setting the pace, but my body more than willing to give him anything.

I thought he would quickly orgasm, but he seemed to have a stronger capacity than I'd expected and he kept up the relentless drive deep into me for some time. The change was subtle at first, but soon he began to pant a little more, the muscles across his back tightening, until he tipped his head back and cried out, one last thrust of his hips, pinning me beneath him while he pumped me full of his cum.

Slowly he came back down to earth, still inside me and on top of me. I held him against me until we were both calm, aware of my lack of satisfaction, but unsure what to do about it. If Tomichii realised I'd not orgasmed as well, he made no mention of it. Instead he got up off me, tipping me as another companion might and then taking my hand to lead me back outside.

The rest room really was almost empty this time, many having gone back towards their homes, or wherever it was they slept.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Tomichii said.

I nodded, and pulled away, feeling the tiredness creep over me. As soon as Tomichii was gone, Edward was by my side, letting me lean on him to walk and go back to the car.

Too tired to think straight now, I barely spoke while heading back, Edward only making some observation on how much I'd earned and how pleased Daniel would be for a second before silence wrapped itself around us.

After kissing him goodnight I hurried towards Daniel's office. Most of the court was quiet too, the hour late enough some of the other courtesans were also already in bed.

I found Daniel alone and instantly a ripple of nerves ran through me. This was the man who owned me. I couldn't stop him doing anything he wanted. At least not truly. Not if I ever wanted my freedom, but for a moment I was stunned by his appearance.

He was sitting back in one of his chairs, a tight pair of pants on his legs, and an open collared shirt that showed just the right amount of his chest. With his thick black hair swept back and his intense but almost moody eyes, he was exactly the sort of bad boy heart throb I'd have liked pre being frozen.

I felt the unsatisfied heat return as I stared at him for a moment from the doorway. Sat in the chair, he was checking the figures for the day, making sure that they all truly covered costs and everyone had earned to his satisfaction.

My box was still there, the only courtesan who hadn't checked in with him yet. I coughed from the doorway, sweeping in as I did.

"Good evening," I said. "I see you're already aware of me earning enough to cover my debt for the day."

"Yes, although I noticed you didn't get more out of Keaton." Daniel got up and quickly strode over to me. Before I could react, he'd overpowered me, lifting both hands above my head as he used his body to pin me to the wall. Shocked at the sudden aggressiveness I blinked, unable to speak.

"Did you even try and get that waste of space to pay you more?"

"Of course, but I could only push so hard for something that wasn't his intention. He said no. But he also promised me that it was only a temporary problem. He's paying me loads to handle his investment party."

"They always do. Or they try and tie it to some kind of performance. I don't trust him not to screw you over."

"I'm aware," I replied. "But I have no better option. Not yet. But I want to know more about this Dante. I think he's worth more. And he's begun to show an interest."

Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Dante is interested in you?"

"Yes," I was hesitant about my words now, aware I'd just spurted out the previous sentence. I didn't want to fight with Daniel over this.

"Something happened to give you the impression he's thinking of screwing you?"

"Oh, yeah."

"That's something at least."

"If I've not managed to bed him and have him pay me for it by the end of the launch party for Keaton, I'll move on from both of them and find more regulars. But until then, I'll keep going back to Keaton's breakfast club."

Daniel seemed to finally be satisfied, he lifted off me a little, one hand staying locked around my wrist, however.

"Come on, then, resurrected. Let's find out if it's as good fucking you as everyone seems to think." He pulled me over towards the cushioned area, his other hand going to his pants and beginning to undo them.

"Nice smooth seduction technique," I said, not sure I wanted him in me, but feeling a wave of heat at the thought of it nonetheless. Was I becoming a proper whore. Someone who enjoyed being screwed again and again?

"You planning on saying no?" he asked in retaliation.

I considered it, stopping beside the nearest cushion, looking at him. He put his hand straight between my legs, making me gasp in surprise as he probed. When he pulled back the tips of his fingers were slick my my own wetness. He laughed.

"Seems you want this too. At least on some level."

Pulling me down, Daniel put the hand back against my crotch and shoved his fingers deeper this time. I moaned unable to help it.

I reached for him then, helping pull all his clothes off before we sank into the cushions, our bodies naturally entwining. It was the first time he'd not been commanding with me and not pinned me down and just taken what he wanted and I made use of the difference, letting my hands and mouth wander, exploring, tasting.

I lost all sense of time as we joined together, his body seeming to fit perfectly inside mine until we were moving as one, pleasuring each other. It didn't take long for either of us to orgasm, and then slowly we came back down, our arms wrapped around each other, my head on his shoulder.

Once we were both breathing normally, I went to get up and go to my room, but he didn't let go of me, his fingers seeking mine and entwining.

"Stay," he said, his voice coming out husky, his eyes searching my face. "I want you to stay."

I blinked, hoping it was the only part of me that showed my surprise and settled back down with him, putting my head on his shoulder again. He seemed to sigh and relax as I wondered what the request might mean. It hadn't sounded like the usual commands, but a simple request. Several times I opened my mouth to ask if he was asking, or commanding me. If I'd regret leaving. But I closed my mouth every time. I didn't want him to think I wanted to leave, not if this wasn't a command.

Instead, his hands began to wander again, fingers tugging at my nipples until they were tight pink buds. With a flick, he rolled my over onto my back and pushed my legs apart, somehow both rough and quick, yet making me feel like I was being touched with complete respect for how it felt to me.

We made love again, this time dragging it out, pushing both of us on to higher peaks before either of us could top over into oblivion.

At some point on the way back down we fell asleep, wrapped in each others arms.