"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 organise some more details for the party. We're trying to decide on the theme so we can order anything else we need before it would be too late."

"What ideas do you have so far?" I asked, wondering if I'd be enlisted to help.

Eric chuckled, and pushed the tablet a little closer. There were only three suggestions. Bondage, Romans and Oriental.

"That's all we could agree on," Eric said. "Keaton here is being stubborn. We suggested all sorts of things. He said no to all of them."

"Because they're the sorts of parties everyone does. I don't want to be like everyone else." Keaton sighed and looked like he might hurl the tablet in front of us.

"Romans and oriental are on there because they're the only idea Keaton didn't immediately reject, and he suggested bondage," Eric continued.

"No doubt for my sake," Dante added, his eyes fixed entirely on me, the hint of a smirk on his face. I fought to keep my features normal as if this wasn't a confirmation of Mhairi's news about him the previous day. It seemed it was common knowledge among the men at least that Dante liked bondage.

"I'd be interested in a bondage party. I just understand it's hard to do it properly." Keaton said, almost pouting.

Aware I needed to keep him from getting too upset, I opened my mouth and said the only thing I could think of, "I think I could help."

All three men looked to me as if I'd grown three heads.

"Sweet, innocent Auralia who was curious about what it was to be submissive, and clearly isn't as submissive as she seems, thinks she can handle a tasteful bondage party?" Keaton asked, the disbelief clear in his voice.

"I know more about it than you think," I replied, mock pouting back at him. "I had a friend who was that way inclined when I was at college. She told me all about it and what everything meant. I assume a few things will have changed, but the general idea must be the same."

"You'd have to ask Dante, but don't give him the wrong idea. I don't want him stealing my submissive off me before I've had a chance to tame her properly," Keaton directed his words directly at Dante, and the testosterone was thick in the air as he didn't reply, but merely stared back. I looked to Eric who was also clearly growing uncomfortable.

"Well, I don't recommend romans if you don't want tacky," I said. "Togas aren't anyway near as attractive as you think they'll be. People can only look so good dressed in bedsheets after a few drinks and a little fun."

Eric snorted, and even Keaton smiled briefly. It broke the interesting stalemate between the two men, which is what I'd needed it to do.

"And Tomichii and his relaxation rooms and courtesans have oriental down to a fine art, if people want that, they can go there," Dante replied. Keaton opened his mouth a moment, but snapped it shut only a fraction later.

"Then bondage I guess it is," Eric replied. "Unless you want to suggest something else, boss?"

"No," Keaton replied, "Bondage it is. I'm sure Dante can help us make the decorations tactful, and I can pick something our for all my courtesans to wear. Perhaps I can even have you all do a test run of your possible outfits. A little catwalk and fashion show for me and some of the lads."

"I'd be delighted to, if it would please you," I said, deliberately lowering my gaze a little and leaning into him.

Keaton laughed. "And now she tries to be submissive."

"It sounds like I should be careful, or you might let Dante here teach you ideas of what to do with a courtesan in bondage gear after the party."

"Don't worry, Auralia," Eric, said, before shorting with laughter. "Nothing to fear there, Keaton's got to get on a flight right after the party. No time for anything but a quick cuddle goodbye.

I swallowed, unable to speak as Keaton glared at Eric.

"What do you mean, you have to get on a flight?" I asked, hearing the higher pitch to my voice and knowing I'd not come off calm and collected.

"I hadn't had a chance to tell you yet," Keaton replied, his voice clipped still glaring at Eric. Eric winced.

"Sorry, man, I thought she knew you were leaving."

No. No I didn't.

I looked to Keaton feeling the floor fall out of my stomach. I may have struggled to adjust to being a screw toy for Keaton and his friends while I was at the club, but he was my richest companion by a long way and he'd informed me earlier in the week that I wasn't being paid as much as I'd needed because he was getting a business up and running.

"What about the business?" I asked. "You've worked so hard."

"That will carry on. I don't technically have to be here to keep it running, just to get it started. Father has insisted that he doesn't want me to spoil it by staying here and squandering its profits. He wants me on the Kiplar space station where he can keep an eye on me."

I blinked a few times, trying to process all the parts of the information.

"Now, guys, why don't you go make some plans while I assure my courtesan I'm not cutting her loose," Keaton said. Instantly both men got up and hurried away, taking the tablet with them.

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 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 selfish of me, but I want you every moment I can until I can't. I'll be able to give you a good pay for the party itself. Should keep you going for a week or two if you can't find someone else who suits you well after I go."

"Oh, please, don't talk like that," I said, although it took a weight off my mind to hear his words. It wouldn't be so bad if he did give me one last big payment, but he'd not said how much, and I knew I couldn't ask.

"You're mine until I go, right?"

"Of course," I said, meaning it. I'd given him my word that I'd be at his every day until the party. Just because he had to leave I wasn't going to break my word. I had a feeling that although running out on him and finding someone else might be a good idea short term that long term my reputation was important.

"Good." Keaton sighed and held me close a moment. "I'm going to hate it on that stupid space station, but father might be right. It will stop me spending so much money. There won't be anything to spend it on. I'm not sure there are even decent courtesans. Not ones worth having anyway. Definitely none that sway and walk the way you do while wearing nothing but paint."

I blushed, as Keaton gazed at me.

"I could always come visit sometime," I replied when I'd composed myself a little. Maybe for a long weekend or something once your business is doing so well your father can't stop you?"

"You think it will?"

"I don't know a lot about business, but I do know you. I think you'll see it grow enough, even if we have to wait a little while. And I can send you messages in the meantime."

"You'd do that for me?" he asked, giving me another kiss.

I nodded, trying to gaze affectionately at him the way I imagined a lover might who was trying to comfort her man when he'd been called up to war. It was the best I could do, and it seemed to work.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go see what Dante and Eric have come up with and make sure they're not going to cause utter chaos.

I laughed, not surprised that Keaton didn't want to dwell any longer on needing to leave. He might be one of the world's worst playboys but he clearly liked being on earth and among his friends. Or at least able to screw whichever courtesans he wanted. For him this was his world and it was being taken away from him.

The two men were making lists, Eric even using some kind of design tool to put together a room layout. Immediately Keaton began approving and disapproving of elements, but Dante defended more than a few of the decisions. It was clear he had experience of a real bondage dungeon.

While they talked I sat back, studying all three men and offering an opinion only when it appeared arguments might ensue if I didn't. More than once Eric added his words behind mine, flicking me a wink when we managed to stop Dante and Keaton arguing over how many whips and chains should hang from the walls.

"Urgh, enough," Keaton said near the end. "I can't look at this any longer. You can finish it off, Eric."

Standing up, Keaton took my hand and led me away. We both knew what he wanted, and it was clear I wasn't being shared when Keaton pulled the booth curtain over and shut us out from their eyes.

Quickly he sat me on the soft table and pulled me into his arms.

"We'll be back to normal again tomorrow. Everyone will be back and ready to screw the courtesans solid, but I want to have you to myself today."

"I won't deny I like the change," I replied, smiling up at him before we kissed. I tried to infuse some passion into it, but he pulled back.

"Do you like Dante?" he asked.

I frowned, the question feeling like it came out of the blue.

"I don't know," I replied. "I've not thought about it. I..."

"That's a crap answer. Think about it. Do you like him."

I paused, took a deep breath and tried to do exactly what Keaton was suggesting, think about it.

"He's very reserved so I wouldn't say I know him well enough to be sure yet, but I don't dislike him," I said eventually. It was clear from Keaton's face this was the wrong sort of answer, however, so I carried on talking, hoping to put his mind at ease while being honest. "He seems as kind as you and has good taste, not bad to look at, but he's not taken an interest in me as far as I can tell, so I guess I like him, but my opinion could easily change if I knew him better and I don't know for sure which way it would go."

I shrugged.

Still Keaton didn't speak.

"I like most people unless they're complete asshats, but... I don't think I'd want to do this with someone I didn't really like."

"So you like me?"

"Of course," I replied realising where Keaton was going with this. He wanted to know I cared about him. Not surprising given he was leaving. I could have hit myself for not seeing it coming.

"And not just my money? Do you just want that from me, or other stuff as well?"

"I won't deny I need some of your money, but you've already given me everything I needed money wise. You made my unveiling the most successful ever and even helped bring enough credits in so my average money in can cover my debts, but you'll always be special to me for other reasons. You were my first. You'll always be my first."

As I said the last bit he seemed to smile, and kissed me again.

"I very much enjoyed that."

The smile went away as quickly as it came, but he pulled me into his arms.

"I guess I'm just not in the mood today."

"You know, I'm here for more than just sex," I replied and squeezed him a little tighter. "Is there anything else I could do to help you feel better?"

"I think you're already doing all you can," he said, sighing.

"I wish I could do more," I whispered as we continued hugging, holding each other close and safe. I knew this was our goodbye. There wouldn't be another moment where he'd let his guard down like this. Not if the others were back after this. And I cherished it. It seemed Keaton was very human after all.