I trembled as I walked to Pete's apartment. Despite deciding to ignore Kendra'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 even 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 had been 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, but 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 the way to a new address, although Edward seemed familiar with it.

"What did you say you were allowed to intervene with?" I asked.

"If a companion is forcing himself on a courtesan he's not paid for, and if they're physically causing you great harm or something that doesn't count as a fetish."

"But if it's a fetish of some kind you don't intervene, even if it hurts and even if I don't like it."

"Correct. I only intervene if your life is in danger, if the companion is breaking the rules, or they're harming you above and beyond anything the board considers okay."

I nodded, trying to let that be all I asked. A part of me didn't want to tell Edward of my fears. He hadn't heard Kendra's words and had no reason to know why I was scared or worried.

"I'll be in the apartment with you this afternoon. It will be similar to Jack's hotel room, or Tomichii's private area within his office." Edward said, understanding my fear to be about my next companion even if he didn't understand exactly why it bothered me.

"Thank you," I said, trying to smile and encourage myself to be braver. I managed to suppress the butterflies and shakes for only a few seconds, but it was enough to step out of the car and look up at the block of apartments.

In the past a set of apartments this tall and full of this many people would have been a little less luxurious or pleasant looking from the outside, but Peter clearly lived in one of the best areas of the city.

"What do you know of Peter, and what he does?" I asked as we walked into the lobby and I looked for something that might indicate where to go to find his specific apartment.

As I turned the corner towards the elevators I saw a handy chart that told me his apartment was on the nineteenth floor.

"He's going to have a good view then," I said.

"One of the best," Edward replied, pressing the button inside the elevator so I didn't have to. We rode up in silence, and stayed that way as another sign told me to go right.

There only appeared to be four doors on this floor, each one in a different direction from the elevator shaft. Peter's was behind the elevator and back towards the front of the building.

As I knocked on the door, I heard a muffled voice try to reply something from the other side, but it wasn't clear what. Not long later I heard the sound of the lock in the door and it opened.

Peter was there, smiling at me. He wore an immaculate suit, his hair wet from a recent shower, and I only had to linger in front of him for a moment to detect his aftershave.

"Come in, come in, my sweet. I'm so glad you agreed to come visit me. I've put a casserole in the oven to eat a bit later. I hope that's not a problem."

"No," I replied, trying not to show both my shock and my relief. Food was a wonderful surprise. If he'd cooked then it was possible he was going to be far kinder than Kendra had said,

Unless it's also part of his plan to make you feel safe, my brain reminded me, but I pushed the thought away. There was no reason for him to go to such lengths unless he truly wanted to enjoy a meal with me.

There was an awkward moment as we stood just inside the apartment, the door shut and Edward not far behind me.

"Why don't you give me the tour?" I said, feeling like I was the potential buyer in a house viewing. The house was spotless, not a magazine, book, or knickknack out of place anywhere. There wasn't even an ounce of dust.

"The apartment isn't huge," Peter said as he led me through to one of the largest open plan living and dining areas I'd ever seen in an apartment. One entire wall was glass, giving a view out from the block towards the city and beyond. It wasn't too dissimilar to the view from Rick's tower, although a little lower down. I was drawn to it despite the familiarity.

"I often stand here too," Peter said, coming to my side.

"Sorry," I replied. "I just come from a place and time where the views weren't quite so wonderful."

"Don't apologise. As I said, I like it too. I'm not so keen to do anything else that I can't let you appreciate the beauty around you for a moment."

I smiled up at him as he finished speaking, once again finding myself wondering if this was just further niceness to lull me into a false sense of security, or if he was truly this genuine.

Wanting to give him the opportunity to show me either way I slipped my arm through his and leaned in closer.

"I feel like there's all sorts you could tell me about yourself. We didn't do a large amount of chatting the last time we were together," I said, finding myself blushing just a touch.

"No, I feel like a brute for using you as I did, but sometimes my need is just too great and it's been a while since I've had a spark with a courtesan that has led me to want something deeper. It's... Well, let us not speak of unhappy things. Come, sit on the sofa beside me for a bit and let's cuddle and chat.

I nodded, feeling the stress and fear wash off me at such a wholesome and sweet suggestion, until only a few minutes later he was sitting slightly sideways on the sofa, leaning against the back, tucking me up against him, my legs curled underneath my body.

This close I could smell his aftershave again, a slightly spicy aroma that made me think of winters spent curled up by a fire. I leaned in a little closer, before resting my head on his shoulder.

"You smell good," I said, deciding to be honest and see where it got me.

"Really, you think so?"

I nodded, inhaling his scent again.

"Good, I'm glad you like it. My last... not everyone does."

"I'm not everyone," I replied, smiling, as I caught the beat of his heart and realised it was racing faster than mine. Was he nervous too?

"Why don't you tell me what it is you do with your time?" I asked when he didn't reply and began to fidget with the hem of his shirt where a small part had come untucked.

"Oh, where do I begin. I've got a sister. She's a surgeon. Had to fight hard to get my parents to let her go to medical school instead of courtesan training. Meant they overlooked me and let me become a vet. Sookie, my cat should be around here somewhere."

" A vet? That's a wonderful job." And again my nerves calmed. I'd never met a person who wanted to care for sick animals who didn't have a warm heart. But inwardly a part of me seethed. Yet again a courtesan had cost me something out of spite. I made a mental note not to be so trusting towards them. It was clear that the culture in the courtesan world was toxic.

"It might have once been a wonderful job. Not many people keep pets now. Not since the... well... people blame all of them for what happened to us. But it's not their fault. It's not like they decided to carry the wrong gene at the wrong time."

I raised an eyebrow, wanting to ask more questions but aware now wasn't a good time to be asking him anything so drastic. I made a mental note to ask Mhairi what he meant when I next had a chance.

Leaning into him a little, I rested my head against his shoulder.

"It sounds like you're a wonderful man," I said. "Thank you for inviting me to spend some time with you."

"I don't know. I still feel a little guilty." He turned to look at me, almost forcing me back so he could stare at my face. "Some of the reason I want you here is to screw. I try not to just want that from someone. I know many only use a courtesan for that, but it's not like there's an alternative for a guy like me."

"I don't mind you wanting to screw me," I replied, finding the blunt conversation refreshing. "Why don't we go to the bedroom, take care of a few needs of yours, and then we can talk more, get to know each other better. I find everything is a lot more relaxed without the anticipation of will it or won't it go okay once we've both got our clothes off."

He laughed, letting me get up and take his hand. His cheeks flushed a little, but he didn't try to stop me or argue as I led him through to what I hoped would be his bedroom.

There was a large double bed there, immaculately made, a ginger cat sat right in the centre. It turned its head toward us and fixed us with a look that said everything. This was her bed right now.

"Oh, Sookie, you would choose to be in here," Pete said, hurrying forward to try and shoo her off.

It only made me chuckle, amused at the pet's antics when she just moved further over.

"There's enough room for us as well now," I said. "She's bound to make space once she realises what we're up to."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I had a cat of my own before I was frozen," I lied. My friend had one. It was close enough. As he came toward me again I tried not to show my own surprise at how effortlessly I'd lied to keep the whole thing going smoothly. Was I truly becoming so much a courtesan that I was embracing every element of the facade I created?

If I hadn't been standing only a few inches from a companion whose money I needed I'd have taken a moment to think about it. To decide if I truly wanted to become whatever I needed to, or if there were boundaries and rules I wasn't willing to cross. Instead I stepped closer and pressed my lips to Pete's.

The contact helped break the ice and before long he was tugging me towards the bed while I tugged off his pants. His boxers were last, my hands freeing him as I sat on the edge of the bed, my legs open, his body coming closer between them.

Already naked, he'd had nothing to do but focus on kissing me, his tongue in my mouth and his hands roaming all over my torso. As he came forward, I moved back, bringing him onto the bed with me, but he pulled me back towards the edge as soon as I was lying on my back, pressing his hardness against my exposed pussy.

"I'd like to be able to see you this time, if that's okay?" his eyes were wide, and his voice shook, as if he wasn't sure he should be allowed to make demands. I nodded, wondering what had made him so shy about his own needs.

Suddenly he was like an awkward teenager, looking at my body as if he didn't know what to do with it, where to touch me or, what went where.

I slowly eased back up a little, reaching for his hand.

"Touch me," I said. "I like having your hands on me."

"Where?" he asked a moment later, complying anyway and reaching for a breast.

"Wherever you'd like," I replied. I'll let you know if I need a little more help stoking the fire, but I know how to appreciate a good view, and well..." I trailed off as I looked at his hard cock and made it clear that's what I was doing. It wasn't the most special of manhood's, but it was impressive enough. I'd feel it, but I wasn't afraid of being torn in two.

Almost immediately he flushed and it drooped a little.

So self conscious, I thought. What made you like this? But I didn't voice the words, instead reaching for his hand again, bringing his attention back to me, at the same time it drew him towards me again, his firm cock pressing against me once more.

"That's better," I said. "Enjoy me."

He continued to be hesitant at first, until I grew wetter and decided to take matters a little further, heat and desire beginning to cloud my own actions.. Reaching down I ran my fingers down his length, Immediately he groaned. I was more than ready for him, so instead of letting him fumble any longer, I aimed him at my own opening and reached for his hip to try and pull him forward and into me.

Understanding what was happening, at least, he pushed and slid into me, moaning as he did.

"How does that feel?" he asked almost immediately, his eyes wide again for a moment.

"Good," I replied. "You're a good fit."

The words seemed to help calm him and he let nature take over, his body responding to the pressure on his cock and the desire he was hungry for.

It didn't take him long to orgasm, his need clearly greater than mine as he let out a deep groan and pushed hard into me.

"I'm sorry," he said as soon as he came down, pulling out of me.

"What for?" I asked. "That was fun."

"But you didn't orgasm," he replied.

"Not yet." I grinned as if I didn't mind. "Would you like me to?"

The question seemed to throw him, as if he hadn't expected my pleasure to be something he decided.

"I..." he stopped, clearly not sure what to say, but I smiled, reached for his hands and pulled him into the bed beside me and settled into his arms.

"I think you're not used to having a courtesan who is actually here to please you, are you?" I asked, going out on a limb.

He shook his head, making me wonder just who he had been regularly seeing.

"Well then, I want you to feel comfortable enjoying me. I won't deny, I'd really like to enjoy it too, but we can work up to that, can't we?"

"I want you to enjoy this as well," Pete replied, reaching for my face as his own cheeks went crimson. "I want to take you to heaven and go there with you."

Gently I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. Someone had made this man so insecure, so utterly ashamed of himself, he didn't know what to do to get what he wanted, and in that moment I wanted to be so angry at them. Especially as it sounded as if it had been another courtesan.

"That sounds perfect," I replied, instead, pressing my body against him as I tried to work out how to get him there. How to begin making him whole again.