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 who I'd helped with some kind of problem.

"Yes, I'm Richard. I think I owe you an apology, Auralia. I freaked out over a few rumours. Took a friend pointing out that jealous courtesans can make them and spread them for me to realise 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 honour of letting me buy you a drink?" he asked a moment later.

"The honour would be mine," I replied, both grateful and stunned that this was happening. Maybe someone was beginning to look out for me after all.

Richard sat down and tapped away at the table until he's ordered us both something. I smiled at him and thanked him as the waiter brought us both glasses of champagne.

"Are we celebrating something?" I asked, not taking even a sip until I had an answer. I also wanted to be careful how much I drank. I knew I had Tomichii and Kioshi's investment party to go to and I knew there would at least be a little drinking involved. I wanted to stay fairly sober or I might say something I later regretted.

"Sort of. I've had a slight promotion at work. It means more credits and more responsibilities. It also means a little more time in this beautiful place, but mostly, I'd like to celebrate forgiveness."

"To forgiveness then," I replied, lifting my glass and toasting. He did the same, but as soon as he was done he looked more serious again.

"I'm not the kind of man who finds the dynamic of being a companion to a courtesan easy," he said, almost as if he was still trying to explain himself.

"You could have fooled me," I replied. He smiled, but the moment was brief, and then he was soon looking at the glass in his hands again, I deliberately sat back and made it clear I was listening. Who knew, maybe having someone else talk about their world would help me forget how difficult mine was for a while.

"I feel like we naturally clicked. Like you understood me and the work I do far more than most. I've tried to talk about what interests me with other courtesans before. They always get a... glazed look after a while. But you didn't just have an interest, you understood enough to correct a mistake of mine."

"I'm sure it was just a mistype," I said, smiling again. The reassurance seemed to help settle him and he relaxed a little.

"Whatever it was, I'm glad you spotted it, and I truly am sorry I judged you based on rumours."

"Already forgiven," I said, raising my glass again as if to make the point.

"Right, I know this might seem very forward of me, given we've only just met, but I feel like there's a connection and I would love to have you come to my room. I've got a meeting later tonight, but I'm free for the next few hours."

"I've no engagements currently," I replied, already wondering what he'd want me to do for him, and equally grateful he'd probably be saving me from needing a booth and letting yet another stranger use me.

"Brilliant. I mean... I can pay. Whatever you think is fair," Richard said as he tried to put his drink down so he could reach for his wallet, but he stopped part way realising he needed my schedule instead.

I pulled it out of my purse and he reached for it, almost knocking over his champagne. A flush crept onto his cheeks and I understood why he thought he wasn't great with courtesans. It was clear his nerves were getting the better of him.

Wanting to help him feel calmer, I scooted around the seat and instead of handing him the device, held it where we could both see. I then pulled up the diary, each hour of the day a segment of a larger slice. My investment party was already blocked off, but it showed just over 4 hours until then.

"How long would you like me to spend exclusively with you?" I asked, remembering Mhairi had said it a similar way. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. As I looked up at him I deliberately leaned in a little closer, and smiled.

"Would three hours be okay? Is that too much?"

"No, not at all," I replied. "That would be wonderful."

Before anything else could be said or the moment could get any more awkward, I selected the next three hours as a block and continued the process of bringing up the amount. On this screen I hesitated. I had no idea how much was fair. None of the other companions had asked for me to go to a private room with them except for Tomichii and he always took charge and paid me what he thought was right.

As I thought back to that moment I tried to think of what he'd offered me. It had been more than my average, but Tomichii always paid more than my average. Was that because he cared so much or because of what he was asking me to do? I had no idea.

I tapped the up arrow in the percentage a few times anyway, putting it to five percent extra, and then paused. Thankfully Richard seemed to have grown bolder and he pushed it up another five percent.

Smiling, but not sure what to say, I accepted the offer and scanned the chip in his wrist to make it official.

"Perfect," Richard said, taking my hand once I'd put the device back in my purse. "Let us finish our drinks and then I'll escort you to my room. It's in the hotel attached. It's also a little nicer than the room I had the last time I was here."

"An upgrade?" I asked, but he shook his head.

"The promotion and higher rank means I get a nicer room when I travel."

"Ahh, so a job perk." I sipped some more of the champagne, noticing he took a large gulp. Did I rush to finish mine? I didn't want it to go to my head, but equally I knew I couldn't hold him up. He'd paid to take me to his room, and I'd agreed.

I quickly opted to drink just a little slower than he was, taking half a mouthful every time he gulped and little sips the rest of the time, mostly in between things we said to each other.

Within five minutes both drinks were gone. Immediately I looked to him, expecting him to get up and lead me off somewhere, but he didn't his eyes studying my face, and then my hair as he ran a finger down past the edge of my fringe and down my cheek where some had gathered.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured a moment later. "I still don't understand how I had the good fortune to meet you."

"It was that little mistake, remember?" I teased.

He laughed and finally slid out of the booth. I followed, looking for Edward for only a second, to catch his eye and make sure my bodyguard knew I wasn't staying where I had been.

My protector followed us at a safe distance, with one exception, he slid into the elevator with us, as Richard sent it all the way up to the penultimate floor.

We rode in the quiet, my hand fast in Richards, and then the ping let us know the doors were about to open and admit us.

His room wasn't far down the next set of corridors, but instead of stopping and waiting outside of it, as I'd expected Edward to do. He followed us into the hotel room.

For a moment Richard looked as if he might say something, but Edward stayed by the door, and a small wall kept him out of our sight once we were full in the small sitting room.

Not stopping there, Richard led me through to the bedroom. The bed had been made in a hurry, but it was tidy enough, and I was grateful that there wasn't anything embarrassing like old underwear. For a moment I felt almost like a naughty teenager, sneaking into the parents room at a house party for a quick feel and some serious kissing, but this was two adults and something normal for this time and people in our situations.

Not sure what else to do but let Richard take control if he wanted, I slid into his arms and looked up at him.

"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 up 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 hands, pulling me closer until I could feel his erection against me.

While we kissed and I allowed him a moment to get used to me being there, I made a mental note to do something silly or make a small mistake with others who were nervous in the future. It had done what my words couldn't, reassured him and took the focus off what he needed to do or say.

I deliberately kept the pace slow, only beginning to touch him back after a few minutes, and letting him feel a little more in control than me while still encouraging him on. My body was already flushed with heat and more than wet enough to take him whenever he wanted. It surprised me at first but it seemed I was getting used to all the sexual encounters and my body was learning to roll with it and expect it all to lead to sex.

But we seemed to stall there, like he didn't know if he could go any further, or how to make it lead there naturally. Once more guiding what was happening, I eased him over me, his hand finding my breast and cupping it while he leaned on the other.

Sliding my hand down his chest and stomach I reached for his erection, stroking down the length while he moaned into our lingering kiss. The action seemed to switch some primal need inside him and with almost no more delay he was positioning himself over me, pushing inside.

I tilted my head back and moaned, finding him larger than I'd expected. This was all the encouragement he needed to begin thrusting. After another awkward moment where the pacing was off between us, we fell into a rhythm and with very little effort on my part we both orgasmed, moaning into each other.

Almost immediately he stilled and let out a satisfied sigh. I took his weight, letting him lie his head down on my shoulder and regain his breath.

Neither of us spoke, our bodies still intertwined, and for a moment I felt normal, like I was with any normal lover. Well that was what he wanted, I thought, sighing as well.

"Thank you," he said, his voice calm, gentle. "That was perfect."

"It was natural," I replied, not sure it was quite what I meant, but wanting to let him know it had been what I needed as well. "It feels right being with you."

"Truly?" he asked, his eyes looking up at me almost like a puppy might their owner when they'd praised them. I smiled and nodded, feeling a sudden rush of warmth to the unmasked need for connection and affection he was showing me.

"Like you said, the very first conversation between us was something right, something natural. For it to lead here is also right." I wrapped my arms around him as I spoke, hearing him sigh again.

"I wish you lived in another city, so I could see you all the time."

"Alas, my court is here, but I can be a home away from home, and I'd love to hear from you when you're not here," I replied, finding the offer genuine. "You can get me to check your maths for you before you submit stuff."

Letting out a laugh he nodded and slid to the side of me, his arm over my stomach. "All right. I'll message you when I'm not here. As long as you don't mind me talking about random things. I'm not sure what I'd say all the time. There's not much in my life but work."

"Then why don't you tell me what you do?" I snuggled into him also turning onto my side, looking up at him so he'd know I was genuinely interested. As he spoke, I listened, occasionally asking him questions if I didn't understand something, but mostly just letting him tell me what mattered to him.

Before I knew it, we were laughing and chatting about all sorts, until we suddenly ran out of things to say, our eyes on each other's smiling faces. There was a heavy pause and then his mouth descended on mine. The passion that poured out of it almost took me by surprise but there was still a tenderness to it, even if his intentions were clear. He was going to screw me yet again.

This time his hands moved with a lot more confidence, bringing me back underneath him and touching me wherever he wanted. I kept my arms up around his neck, giving him the freedom to roam. His hand slid down between my legs, making me moan as he pressed the tips of his fingers against my opening, gentle in my only semi-aroused state.

His mouth broke with mine, trailing kisses across my cheek and then down my neck all while his fingers slowly worked into me. Heat broke over me flushing quickly from my depths, wetness coming with it until he had two fingers deep inside me and my senses were suddenly reeling. I let out the first genuine moan I'd done all day as he began to press against my gspot.

I had no idea if he'd just got lucky finding it or he knew what he was doing, but he knew enough to keep going. Within minutes I was a hot, sweaty mess, clinging to him as he brought me closer and closer to some kind of heaven. Before I could tip over, however, he quickly pulled his fingers out of me. My eyes went wide, my mouth opening to beg him to carry on, but he clearly had other plans.

Pushing my legs further apart he brought himself up to my entrance and as he crushed my mouth and my surprise under his lips he impaled me. I aprted easily for him, the sudden fullness enough to send my flying into the grips of another orgasm. With each wave that broke over me he thrust deeper and deeper, seeking his own end while I was lost in ecstacy.

Just as I was returning to earth, my senses recovering, he groaned and thrust harder than ever. Deep inside me he pumped his seed, making me aware of a soreness I'd not noticed the rest of the time. But it was somehow a sweet sort of pain, a reminder of all the pleasure I'd been given and how well I'd been used.

I wrapped my arms around him again, not wanting our time together to end, but knowing it would soon.

Eventually he stirred.

"As much as I would like to keep you here," he said. "Our time is already up. And I know you have to be somewhere else."

I sighed, not wanting the moment to end, but he got up and pulled me to my feet.

"Thank you," he whispered again as he held me in a hug.

"Please tell me it won't be long until your next in town," I said, not sure how else to phrase it. I knew I needed his money, but I knew I also needed a connection like this. Someone who wanted more than just sex. Someone who wanted to talk and be known as well as know me.

"I'll come back as soon as I can. And I'll message."

"Good," I replied, kissing him.

Only as he walked away did I look at the time. I had half an hour to clean up, grab something to eat and get to Tomichii and Kioshi's building.

Crap.

It wasn't until I walked to the door as composed as possible that I remembered Edward was there. He smirked as soon as he saw me, but opened the door. When we were on the other side he reached for my hair to help neaten it and then hurried with me to the elevator.

"Must admit, I didn't expect a guy like him to know what to do with a girl like you," Edward said as we rode down alone. I blushed only now realising he'd heard everything which only made him laugh.

"I'm used to it, princess. Why do you think I decided to be your guy out of all the security. I knew Daniel was likely to assign me to you. Figured I might as well listen to men screw you knowing I at least get to do it too."

I raised my eyebrows as we walked out of the elevator, opening my mouth to respond until a waiter appeared a large takeaway bag of food in his hands.

"Two of the everything burgers and shakes to go," the waiter said as Edward took it."

"Perfect, Thanks Walt, you've saved us some time. I'll put in a good word with Bernice for you."

The waiter grinned before scurrying away.

"Here, some grub," Edward said. "Figured we'd both be eating on the fly."

I grinned and took my share of the offered food while we hurried to the car and got inside.

He might be happily using me, but at least he's taking care of me in more than one way, I thought before tucking into the heavenly smelling food. Yup, I knew I wanted Edward by my side through all this.