Walking along in the garden almost at the top of Tomichii and Kioshi's building, I sighed. I was done with my regular appointments for the day, and Edward had indulged me in a moment to walk among the plants and stars. I tried to calm myself. It had been a full on day and I'd just said goodbye to a man called Ferg, a businessman who was a good friend of Tomichii's and now one of my regulars.

Deciding to accept his request had been a hard hard thing to do. I didn't doubt that Tomichii would realise I was sleeping with them both. And I knew it would hurt him a little, something I didn't want at all. Of all my companions he was one of my favourites. But I'd not been able to afford to say no.

I had many regular companions now. My schedule was almost full each day, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. The most frustrating thing, however, was how little financial progress I was making. Despite Daniel's attempt to introduce me to wealthier men, and Mhairi's help at her club. I had needed to rely on contacts I'd formed myself. It seemed there just weren't that many people in this city willing to pay the amount I needed to charge.

Admittedly, I'd just had my best ever day and made over two thousand credits. But I'd had to spend several hours in a booth at the club on my back while complete strangers shoved their cocks in me however they wanted. It was the worst thing about being a courtesan by far, but I couldn't deny it could boost the income on a bad day.

I was in the quieter part of the garden, finally walking back towards the exit and ready to head home when I heard the sound of voices. Both were familiar, but I could only place Kioshi's at first. Unable to avoid meeting the two men I had nowhere to go but towards them or to turn and have them realise I'd tried to avoid them.

Glancing back to check Edward was nearby, I walked around a bush. Immediately I came upon Kioshi and Dante, the two of them discussing money.

"So you see, it must be done that way," Dante said. "It's the only way that makes sense."

Kioshi sighed as he noticed me. I smiled, but hung back, making it clear I didn't want to interrupt. His single glance was enough to make Dante look, however and I soon had the attention of both of them.

"All right," Kioshi said. "We'll do it your way."

The well dressed businessman, then closed the distance between me and him and kissed the back of my hand.

"Forgive me Auralia for not sticking around to say more. I have some work that must be finished tonight. I hope I can explain more in a few days."

"I look forward to it, and please, forgive my intrusion."

"As always when you're around there's nothing to forgive," Kioshi replied before he relinquished my hand and hurried off. I turned slightly to watch him go, surprised by both the good mood and the compliment.

"Are you heading back to your court?" Dante asked a moment later.

I nodded without thinking.

"Good, I'm about to head home. Let me escort you to your car." He offered me his arm, a strange light in his eyes. For a moment I considered refusing to take it, but he was one of the few men in the city who could solve my financial dilemmas.

"You both appear to be in very good moods," I said when a silence fell between us. "I hope that means things are going well."

"Well enough. Financial gains make anyone happy. I understand you've had a similarly good day."

"What makes you say that?" I asked, surprised. I'd not seen him since that morning at the club and Keaton's usual gathering and he'd been his typical surly self.

"You spent four hours almost in a booth at the club. How many men paid well to fuck you? seven, eight? Tell me, did you enjoy being used so many times?"

My mouth fell open, and I wasn't sure what to say. Had he been watching me?

"Answer my question, Auralia, did you enjoy being so relentlessly fucked?"

"I..." I stopped walking, staring at him, not entirely sure if I understood his question correctly. "What do you mean by your question. Are you asking if I enjoy being a courtesan, or if I enjoyed the sex in particular?"

"Both."

I frowned, surprised by the boldness and aggression behind his words. For a moment I almost felt frightened, but I knew I couldn't let fear dictate my options. It was also clear I didn't understand Dante, or why he'd be asking something so blunt and private.

"Well?"

"Some aspects of being a courtesan I don't like. I don't like having such a large debt to pay back, and to feel like I can't say no to anyone who wants me because of it. But is all of being a courtesan detestable? No. I'm getting to explore my sexuality. And some of my companions are wonderful men."

"And today, in the booth. Did you enjoy so many strangers claiming your cunt and paying you for the privilege?"

I glanced at Edward, checking he was still following as we walked through the garden. This conversation was going in such an unexpected direction, I wanted to make sure my bodyguard was nearby.

Dante stopped, locking my arm against his torso, his movement so quick he'd pinned me before I could think about defending myself. His eyes locked onto my face before he slowly lowered his mouth to my ear.

"Send your bodyguard to the edge of the garden. Let us not have an audience," Dante whispered.

"No," I replied, firmly but equally quietly. "I'll answer your question and then I should go and rest."

"You're willing to defy me?" he asked.

"I don't want to, but I can feel your erection. I don't trust you not to use me. And I can't afford to let you when you haven't paid. Even if I might want to."

"You want me?" he asked.

"You're an attractive man, and you have a presence about you that draws me in. I'm curious about the possibility of something between us, but not so much I'll let you take advantage of me." I decided to be honest, and I hoped my reaction would appease him.

"Then answer my question."

"I enjoyed it to a degree, but they took their pleasure and did little to give me any."

"Did you orgasm?" he asked, anger growing on his face.

"Twice."

"Yet they filled you full of their cum for several hours." Dante shook his head as if my answer was disappointing.

"That's what they paid me to do," I replied, pulling back, anger growing in me. It was getting later and Daniel would be wondering where I was.

"Would you enjoy having me inside you?" he asked. "Would you enjoy the feel of my hands. Do you like the idea of giving me control?"

I was lost for words once again. How did I answer that?

"I don't know," I replied as he tried to pull me closer again, his grip now painful. "You've only ever been angry with me or assaulted me. You talk of being passionate and the things I want in a man, but you ignore me or deliberately try to break the rules. If I'm to submit to a companion like you, I would need to feel safer, more cared for. Or I'd be selling you my body out of need for your money only."

This finally made him relent a little, he eased off his grip, looking as shocked as if I'd slapped him.

"You speak your mind truthfully and few courtesans do, Auralia. Don't lose that." As he spoke, he reached for my cheek and stroked it. "And you're right, I've been... demanding and expected trust I haven't earned."

"I like something about you, Dante," I said, feeling him continue to calm. "But you confuse me."

"Yes, I confuse myself sometimes. I'd like a moment alone with you, however. I promise it will be to your benefit."

"And I cannot give you time alone without being paid to do so. My benefactor would never allow it. Already he'll be wondering where I am." I pulled back, feeling his grip relent, but he grabbed my arm again.

"Then pay you I shall, but only for half an hour, and only at your average rate."

I stopped, too surprised by hearing those words at first to remember that I was meant to be doing something. A prompt from Dante made me reach for my purse. Dante soon took my scheduler off me and inputted his data and scanned his chip. A moment later there was a proposal on it and he handed it back. I didn't accept it right away, but looked up at Dante.

He'd placed both arms around my waist and was gazing down at me with a gentle sort of protectiveness I hadn't expected. As his mouth came down to claim mine I accepted. Dante didn't even wait to check before he pulled me over to a nearby bench. I'd expected him to want me to sit on it, but he encouraged me to kneel in front instead and bend over.

Deftly, but still gentle, Dante slid his hand between my legs from behind. I moaned as his fingers brushed across my pussy and clit, teasing them. He continued to rub slow circles, sending spirals of heat flowing outwards into my body until I was wet. Almost as if he sensed my readiness, he slid his fingers into me.

I'd expected him to check I was ready for his cock and then sate his erection inside me as most men did these days, but instead he moved his fingers in and out while he stroked my clit and got me hotter and hotter. As I reached a peak he slowed, denying me some of the contact to keep me from orgasming too soon.

Again I expected him to remove his hand so he could impale me, but he didn't, continuing to get me hotter and hotter and needier and needier for the approaching orgasm.

As I thought I was about to orgasm, I finally felt his erection, suddenly aware his other hand was giving himself pleasure while he pleasured me with the first.

Before I could open my mouth to offer to take him inside me, he let out a loud groan and I felt the heat of his cum as he spilled it all over my lower back.

A moment later his efforts to please me seemed to double and I too orgasmed with a deep groan. I shuddered for a moment, not sure what to do or say next. Dante didn't miss a beat, however, cleaning me up with a cloth he seemed to pull from nowhere before helping me back to my feet.

Once more I found myself in his arms, but this time the mood between us was very different.

"There," he said. "Now you know I'm not like other men. I won't judge you for what you do with others, but I will judge them. And so few have enough respect for a courtesan to ensure she enjoys being screwed. But if you submit to me and do as I ask, I'll always make sure you enjoy your time with me. Does this help you trust me?"

I nodded, not trusting my words.

"Good," he whispered before letting me go. "I'll see you at Keaton's party."

As Dante walked off, I stood stunned in place. Of all the end results to the argument I'd been having with Dante I hadn't expected it to be for him to give us both orgasms as if it was some kind of reward for me.

While I tried to gather my thoughts and emotions Edward came closer.

"Come on, princess. Let's get you back to the court before you turn into a pumpkin. Daniel will want to see you after your income today too."

I let my bodyguard take my arm and leaned into him while we walked. With the relentless days and no day reserved entirely for me to rest, I often got to this part of the day and needed his support, but he seemed to understand.

"You know, when Daniel first brought you back to the court and you sat down with Yaru and talked of your options I feared you were going to be the courtesan who never quite got over the unfairness of being woken up in a world like this. Thought you'd become bitter and angry and either get yourself into trouble or learn the hard way that those who can't pay back debts fall even further, but you've got something stronger inside you."

"Thank you," I said when Edward paused, not sure how to take everything he said.

"I mean it. Like Dante said. There's something different about you. Something that makes you worth paying for to all these men. Don't lose it. Don't let this world take it away from you."

"I'm not even entirely sure what it is you and him mean, but I'm going to make the best of a crap situation. Who knows, maybe in a bunch of years, however long it takes to clear my debt, I'll be free and living my almost immortal life like some of the women we saw while giving out Keaton's invites."

"You'll get there someday," Edward replied. "And that's exactly what we're talking about. Some day everyone is going to know who you are, and you'll show other courtesans that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It's like you're hope wrapped in a woman's skin, and everywhere you go the world is a little brighter."

I wasn't sure I agreed, knowing I often felt very hopeless, but we reached our car and I ran out of the energy to argue.

Edward helped me into the court and said goodbye to me at the door again, kissing my forehead. I turned to go to Daniel's office and saw Mhairi standing there. She rushed up and hugged me.

"I saw your total when I went into Daniel's office to report. Did you make two thousand?" she asked.

"Two thousand one hundred and something," I replied. Instantly her eyes lit up and she gave me another hug, but I wasn't sure what was so special about it.

"I knew you could do it."

Before I could ask what she meant she walked away, heading back to our room in the courtesan's personal area of the court. I sighed and made my way to Daniel's office as we all did when we returned.

Although I knew he'd be happy when I got there, I was also exhausted. The days were becoming a blur, and I even struggled to keep the companions straight in my head. Knowing who they all were and remembering what they told you was important, but I was stretched to my limit.

I desperately needed some more companions who could pay for larger single chunks of my time. Companions who had a lot more money and loved my company. Could Dante be one of those?

As I walked into Daniel's office he was pouring a bottle of champagne into two glasses. I lifted an eyebrow as he picked them up and brought one over to me, a smile on his face.

"Well done," he said. "Your first two thousand day. Do you have any idea how few courtesans can boast such an income, especially so soon in their careers?"

I shook my head, but I sipped the champagne anyway. A little alcohol before bed would help me unwind.

"I look forward to many more days like it."

"I'm not sure I can keep it up. I spent far longer in a booth than I can handle every day," I replied.

"But that's one of the reasons you're going to succeed. You are doing what's necessary. And I see you even managed to get Dante to finally take a bite."

"I did, but I've had no promise there will be anymore." It was a slight lie. He'd made it clear that he had an interest in having me submit to him, but I suspected he'd wait until after Keaton's party. Thankfully it was only a few days away.

He grinned as he came closer and wrapped an arm around me. Pulling my body close to his I could feel his erection.

"I'm tired," I said, as I tried to pull away. "Thank you for the champagne."

But Daniel didn't let go, and if anything he pulled me closer. A part of me wanted to get cross at his antics, but as I remembered some of our more recent sex, Daniel often tying me up, blindfolding me and then very expertly giving us both a good time, I couldn't help but warm up.

"Relax," he said. "And stay. I know you'll enjoy it too."

I sighed and frowned, but he put down his champagne and grabbed my pussy with the other hand. He chuckled, finding the evidence he sought and I could have sworn at my body betraying me. Being a courtesan for so long was teaching my body to respond to even the suggestion of more sex, and I was sure Daniel knew that.

It was clear, however, he was determined to take advantage of it.

"Submit to me," he whispered in my ear. "Submit to me the way you want to submit to Dante."

I gasped, as he chuckled again. Had it been that obvious I was curious about Dante and what he could do to me? I didn't know, but it removed what fight I had and I gave in, letting him lead me into his bed.

Quickly he tied my hands above my head, but he didn't blindfold me this time. Whether he was too eager or realised I didn't have as much energy I couldn't say, but he wasted no time impaling me, finding me wet enough to take him easily.

His thrusts were hard and fast his eyes locked on mine as he clearly took me and enjoyed doing it. I brought my knees up automatically, helping him drive deeper as I did with any companion and tried to enjoy myself too.

Too exhausted, I was no way near my own orgasm when Daniel let out a yell and drove inside me for the last time. Slowly he stilled, and then he looked at me.

"I knew you were going to be the perfect courtesan," he said. "I knew you'd make me rich and I'd get to fuck you as much as I wanted as well. Buying your cunt was the best decision I ever made."