My body weary and my legs more than a little tired of holding me up, I arrived back at the court, Edward helping me up the last few steps.

"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, princess, I'm not allowed anywhere near you tomorrow, and as much as I don't mind being with you most days. I have other stuff to do, and I need some time when I'm not watching for trouble or listening to men enjoy sticking their cocks in you somewhere."

I blinked as he went to get his coat and headed back towards the main entrance of the court.

"Go on, go see Daniel. If it bothers you, tell him. He'll assign you one of the others. Best you'll get."

I nodded, but still didn't move. Instead I watched Edward leave, feeling more than a little abandoned. Edward had been one of the few constants in my world since I'd woken up. An ally. He'd even saved me from the desires of the other guards. More than once. And he'd been the first person I'd chosen to please sexually who hadn't asked or demanded it of me first. It felt wrong for him not to be there when I left the court.

Sighing and feeling even more weary, I made my way slowly up to the back top of the court building, knowing Daniel would be in his office and no doubt I'd be one of the last courtesans back. At least I'm in the green again, I thought.

Just as I'd expected Daniel was in the office, but he wasn't looking at the usual screen of active courtesans, instead he was looking through a calendar. Only as I stepped into the room did I realise it was my calendar.

"You gained a new regular," he said, his voice emotionless, no hint of pleasure at me doing as he asked.

"I did. Pete. Apparently he was on the market for a new regular. Seems he'd fallen out with his old one and I'm pretty sure I've got him smitten," I said, sauntering closer to the desk. Still Daniel didn't look up.

"Not exactly hard. Kendra is no way near your league. And I don't doubt she blew it with Pete. She blows it with most of her regulars eventually. She's too hot headed and sharp tongued."

I stopped, blinking at the name Daniel had mentioned. That explained a thing or two. And it made me dislike the courtesan even more.

Still Daniel didn't give me his attention, however.

"What are you looking for?" I asked. sitting on the edge of the desk, my thigh not even an inch from his hand. This time he glanced at me, but he still went back to the calendar again.

"I'm trying to work out why you're not picking up regulars as quickly as my normal courtesans do," he eventually replied. "Everyone rates you highly, pays you well and as many as can be expected who encounter you are coming back for more, but you still have huge gaps in your schedule. You're at the end of week one and most will have expected you to have a full schedule."

I shrugged, not sure I could shed any more light on it if he couldn't.

"I was never introduced to that many people and only have a few places to go," I said eventually. "Are there many more rich people in the city?"

Daniel sat back, finally looking at me.

"Also, I don't have a bodyguard for tomorrow but Keaton wants me back."

"And you have an appointment at the end of the night again," Daniel replied. "I saw."

"How does that normally work?"

"If you're only planning to go places you trust with companions you trust you can go without a bodyguard. Some courtesans do that to keep their costs lower, but companions can push their luck when bodyguards aren't around."

Some seem to push their luck even when the bodyguards are there, I thought but didn't say, thinking of Dante's recent behaviour.

"Then I'll go without," I replied, aware I would almost earn enough to pay for the day with just Keaton, Jack and Tomichii in my schedule if I wasn't paying for my own bodyguard.

"All right. If you get into trouble, then use your scheduler to let me know. I'll send someone as soon as I can."

"Got it," I replied.

Daniel nodded, going back to my calendar. I had a feeling that he wasn't going to drop the subject until we'd tried to solve his problem, but he didn't seem to want to answer my question about rich people and he didn't appear to want to suggest anyone else.

"I think the problem, is that other than Tomichii and Keaton, none of your regulars see you often, and Keaton isn't paying enough anymore."

"Not to mention they're at awkward times."

"They've taken the best times between them," Daniel replied. "First thing, when companions might offer to spend a whole day with you, or at least plan activities with you. And then last thing when a companion might reach out because they're lonely and can't sleep."

"None of them can afford to pay me more or have me more often," I replied.

"Because you're already incredibly expensive compared to a lot of other companions."

"That's not my fault," I snapped. "I didn't ask to be healed at such a high cost."

"No, but you did pay to be frozen knowing this world would be different and someone might take on debt to keep you alive."

I nodded. It was true, but it wasn't going to make me regret my decision. This was a shit way to live compared to the life I'd had before, but now I was getting used to being a courtesan, and making friends, lovers even, I wasn't wishing I was still frozen anymore.

"We'll change strategy," Daniel said. "I'll come up with something. In the meantime. Leave this time for me to use. I'll make sure you earn for it, or you are credited with the average hourly rate of the rest of your work."

As Daniel spoke he blocked off a five hour chunk in my schedule for the day after next and then finally exited the program. I nodded and yawned, intending to head to bed now he was done, but he caught my hand as I went to walk past.

"Stay," he said. "I'd appreciate your company a little longer."

"My pussy you mean," I replied, rolling my eyes. "I'm exhausted."

"I know. The first week is always the hardest. Until you've raised your stamina. But it may surprise you, but I also like being with you. Talking to you. Most courtesans are telling me I'm the devil himself a week into their careers. You're asking how best to handle not having a day off and working with me to get you more regulars. I mean it when I say I think you were born for this."

"Born to let hundreds of men a month fuck me senseless."

"No, born to make a thousand men fall more and more in love with something on the inside of you. A part of you that seems to understand and empathise with all of our messed up men in all the different ways we're messed up. You're going to make this world a better place. And you're going to make everyone love you for it."

I blinked, the words seeming so sincere I wanted to believe them. But a part of me didn't. A part of me couldn't. He needed me to be okay with this. Because if I failed spectacularly, not only did I get sent somewhere awful, but he'd lose millions. And neither of us could afford for that to happen.

"I'll stay," I replied, realising that Daniel was the closest thing I had to an ally, even if he was also the person who owned me. He was the only other person in this world who needed me to be successful. The only other person who couldn't afford for me to get this wrong.

Immediately, Daniel pulled me close, smiling as he wrapped his arms around me.

"You know, you really are beautiful. You knew what you were doing when you asked to be painted up like this. It looks amazing on you."

"Wouldn't have happened if you hadn't agreed to pay for it."

"Your unveiling income more than made it back."

"Yeah, but that whole thing is so messed up," I said, wanting to see how honest I could be.

"Completely, but something has to begin a courtesan's career." He exhaled, almost sighing, but tugging me towards the cushions at the back of the room.

I slipped into his embrace, willing to forget this crazy world for a while and think of nothing but screwing the man before me. Daniel seemed to understand how tired I truly was. however, and he laid me back on the cushions, holding himself over me, exploring my body with both his hands and mouth until I was more than ready to be impaled.

For someone who spent most of his time doing as he pleased and demanding pleasure from the women he practically owned, Daniel knew how to pleasure them as well.

An orgasm washed over me, making me moan and shudder before Daniel even entered me, but he didn't follow long after, reminding me he was very much in control as I came back down.

Taking his time, Daniel eased in and out, setting the pace and making sure he was as deep as he could get. Despite how tired I was I thrust back, letting him know I also wanted this and was willing to work for it to be fun for both of us.

Before long we were a hot sweaty mess, both of us moaning against each other, spent and wrapped around each other.

Despite being tired, as he settled down next to me, he admired the paintwork on my skin again. I tried to settle down and close my eyes, but as soon as I did, a thousand thoughts came rushing into my head. There were so many things to worry about. Whether Kendra or Pete was lying to me, although it seemed the former. What I was going to do when Keaton left. If I could entice Dante.

And Daniel had unknowingly heaped another problem on my head. Were there enough rich men in the city for me to actually make enough money with mostly regular people? Or was I going to forever be searching for others? Mhairi had talked of spending a lot of her time with the same single person. Was that more normal? Because with the right person that wouldn't be so bad. Could that be Dante?

I sighed, as I tried to push the thoughts away, but they wouldn't go and even Daniel picked up on my restlessness.

"Talk," Daniel said as he got up and poured us both a cup of water. I opened my mouth to protest, but he pushed the cup into my hand and sat back down beside me, getting comfortable again.

"You've sighed four times and you keep twitching. Normally you're asleep in an instant. What's keeping you from slumber?"

"Everything with Keaton and Dante," I replied, not sure it was all the problems but knowing it was enough of them between just those two that the rest wouldn't keep me up alone.

"Keaton is definitely a problem. You don't expect your first high paying regular to leave only a month after a courtesan, but Dante would be a more than suitable replacement. Are you not sure he likes you?"

I shook my head, thinking of the passion he'd poured into our last kiss and the way he'd dragged me into the elevator.

"He likes me. I think I can make him mine. If he'll wait until after Keaton's party."

"I wouldn't make him wait." Daniel growled. "Keaton is leaving."

"Neither of them will upset the status quo and I only ever see Dante and Keaton's." It was a slight lie, but I wasn't telling Daniel about the lift.

He narrowed his eyes, however, and reached out to pinch a nipple.

"Edward told you, didn't he?" I asked, and Daniel nodded, his jaw set and his body tense, clearly angry that I'd lied.

"Dante is more than ready to seduce."

"I don't think he'll actually employ me. Not officially. Not while Keaton is still here and claiming me regularly."

"Then keep making sure those moments in the elevator happen. Don't let him orgasm, but let him stick his fingers wherever he wants."

I frowned, not sure I liked the sound of that. While I was flattered by Dante's attentions and his seeming overwhelming desire to screw me, I didn't want to let someone do as they pleased with my body in quite that way. But was that just it?

"Spit it out," Daniel said as he kissed my neck and lay himself down beside me again.

"I've heard Dante is into proper bondage. That he used to do all sorts to his last courtesan. While he's an attractive man and clearly wants me. I'm not sure I can give him the exact fantasy he'll want."

"Have you ever been the submissive to a dominant in a bondage situation?"

"No," I replied, exhaling as I thought about my past. I'd come close, and I was curious, but curiosity and confidence were a long way apart."

"Then lie still," Daniel said, getting up again.

I watched with wide eyes as he went to one of the cabinets on the far side of the room and pulled out what looked like a sort of harness as well as blindfold.

"I'm pretty sure Dante is most focused on being in control. On getting obedience and doing as he pleases," Daniel said, coming over to me with the harness, undoing the first wrist restraint as he did.

I exhaled and nodded. That sounded like Dante.

"Good, then let's give you some experience so you know what he'll expect you to at least pretend to like. Ideally we'll make you enjoy it too. Always better not to be faking it, but I've got a lot of faith in you."

I opened my mouth to protest, not sure I wanted Daniel to do this to me at the end of a long day, but he took the opportunity to push a ball gag into my jaw, and then he deftly rolled me over and tied the first wrist strap on.

For a moment I felt frozen, aware I'd not entirely consented to this but it was going to happen now anyway. Was this what my relationship with Daniel would always be like. Him acting as if my body was literally there for him to do as he pleased with. As if I belonged to him. But I knew the answer to that. I did.