by Dyan Chick
It seemed, that even when it came to someone they were not going to tumble in bed with, the Fae were not shy about their bodies. At least Lainey wasn't. And she had no reason to be. Her skin was smooth and flawless. And like the male Fae princes it had that same slightly iridescent sheen to it. She was about my height, with a similar slender build, though her hips and breasts had a bit more of a curve to them than mine ever had.
Lainey stopped digging through the closet and turned to glance at me. "Like what you see? It's all right, lots of the girls here like both males and females. Sometimes, you just need to be with someone who's soft and sweet and understands where we like to be touched." She winked at me then turned her attention back to the closet and selected a dress.
Face heating, I turned away from her. I was sure getting an education in the ways of Fae sexuality today. Hesitantly, I dropped the robe I had been clinging to and slipped the blue dress over my head as quickly as possible.
When I turned back around, Lainey was watching me. "I can see why he chose you. You're just as beautiful as he is."
"Thank you," I said, "And thank you for the dress."
She smiled, then walked back over to the cushions and plopped down on the floor. I joined her, settling in nearby.
"Sometimes I think it would be nice to find a male to keep me as his personal courtesan, but I do enjoy meeting new guests. I worry I'd get bored if I stayed with one. Does he ever share you?" she asked.
My mind flashed back to my tumble with Dane this morning. "I guess so."
"That's kind of him. I imagine it makes it more fun," she said. "I have a few regulars, but sometimes you need a change, you know?"
"What about love?" I asked. "Don't you ever wonder about it?"
"You mean mating?" She shrugged. "I heard a story once, of a working girl at a place like this who grew so close to one of her clients, she thought it might be a mating bond. So she went to visit him in town only to discover he was already married. He agreed it was likely they shared the bond, but he wasn't interested in having more than one wife. She was so heartbroken that she jumped into the lake and never swam back to shore."
"That's a terrible story," I said.
"I know," Lainey said. "Some of the girls here didn't have the resources, you know?"
I nodded, feeling like I was starting to understand Lainey and the other girls who worked here. "How long have you been here?"
"Here in the House of the Moon? Or here in the business?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Both," I said.
"Seven years at the House of the Moon, twenty-two years in the business," she smiled, "I figure five or ten more and I can retire. Maybe I'll find that mate. You never know."
Immortality really changed things. Where I came from, the girls who worked in the pleasure houses often didn't live long enough to see life outside them. I wondered if given the opportunity, if I'd have chosen a life like this over being married to the Baron. The thought never crossed my mind. I wasn't sure I was strong enough to ever do what Lainey did.
A dragging sound from outside the door made me turn away from Lainey. Instantly on alert I jumped to my feet ready to run or fight if someone was trying to attack again.
"Sounds like the guards are here to move the bodies," Lainey said. "You're safe."
I watched the door for a few more seconds to make sure it didn't open. Once I was satisfied the sounds in the hallway were staying in the hallway, I sat back down.
"Why are there royal guards here? Why do they seem to work for Tristan?" I asked.
Lainey’s eyebrows rose and she stared at me as if in disbelief. "Tristan? Do you mean the Prince? I've never heard anyone use his first name before. So is that who you really belong to? Are you sneaking off with one of his men? Oh, Cassia, that's dangerous. Please tell me you're not going behind his back."
"No, no. I don't belong to Prince Tristan, I mean, His Grace. I don't belong to anybody," I said.
"Of course not, neither do I," she said. "But you have a master, same as me. And I get it if you don't want to admit it, but please, be smart."
"I'm not his," I said. "He's helping me with something."
Lainey narrowed her eyes. "The Winter Prince isn't the helping type. Be careful with him. I've heard enough stories to know he's not someone you want to cross."
"Like what?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I can't. It's not allowed."
"I understand." I didn't want her to get in trouble, so I didn't press. But I had to admit, I wanted to know more about the things she knew.
"But to answer your question, the Royal Guard is stationed here because this used to be one of the grand palaces of the Winter Court. The King converted it into his own personal brothel a few hundred years ago, and stationed his own personal guards to keep all of his women safe. Eventually, he let some of his friends visit from time to time and it became a place for dignitaries and high rollers from all over Faerie.
“The place developed a reputation and eventually the King lost interest, but the high-end clientele continued to come. After the war, I suppose they had to get less picky with who they took as clients since they couldn't open it up to all the Courts. It must've been glorious in its heyday, only the most elite Fae from every Court. They come here from far and wide just to spend an evening with one of the girls at the House of the Moon. Now, we still have protection from the Royal Guard, but we'll take almost anyone who can pay and has a decent reputation. Clearly, someone made a mistake letting in that Orc."
"What about the Winter Prince? Does he visit often?" I held my breath as I waited for her answer, unsure if she'd consider this too risky to discuss.
She leaned in, moving her face closer to mine. Her green eyes seemed to be looking internally, trying to read me. I fought the urge to blink and stared back at her not wanting to give anything away. She leaned back, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "No. You don't need to be jealous. He hasn't visited since his wife died."
"Do you think he loved her?" I asked.
"It was an arranged marriage, but I think they were meant to be. I hate that the other girls talk about her sometimes. She visited with him, apparently they shared everything. But none of the other participants fully felt like they were included in activities. They said they could hardly ever get in between the two of them because despite the large group, he only had eyes for her. As far as a brothel love story goes, it's probably one of the most romantic ones I've ever heard."
"He still doesn't seem like he's over her," I said without really thinking.
"Have you told him how you feel?" she asked. "I mean, at first I thought you might belong to him and that maybe you were sneaking around behind his back. But now, I think you belong to the one I met in the hall, but you don't want to."
I turned and looked at her and tried to mask my shocked expression with a laugh. "I don't have feelings for him. That's ridiculous. I never could. And I'm perfectly happy with Ethan."
"Of course you are. Of course you don't have feelings for anyone else," Lainey said. "Don't worry, I won't tell your master." She reached out and grabbed my hands closing hers around mine. "You might not be one of the girls who works here, but you're one of us. We're a sisterhood. What we say privately to each other, never reaches any others’ ears but our own."
"I'm not exactly the same," I said. Ethan seemed to want me to pretend I was his courtesan, but Lainey was so sweet and so open that I felt bad lying to her.
"That's not important. Titles aren't important between us. What is important is how we treat each other and how we stand together when we know one of us is in pain. I don't know you, I can tell you’ve been through a lot. And I can tell you still have a long way to go before you feel at peace."
Laney's words rang of truth and they stung to hear. She was right, I had a long way to go, even if I had no idea what was ahead of me. I squeezed her hands back. "Thank you. Hopefully one day I can return the favor."
Dropping my hands, Lainey stoo
d. "No need. Sometimes we meet the right Fae at the right time. I'm glad if I could be of some help. Now let's get you back before supper. We wouldn't want your master to think I stole you away."
Chapter Twelve
This time, when I walked down the hall and past the blood stains on the ground, I heard whispers and giggles behind the closed doors. I wondered how many girls worked and lived there and how man clients they each saw. Lainey's life seemed so interesting and terrifying at the same time.
She led me down a set of stairs and down another hall lined with closed doors. None of the doors in either hall had been marked but I saw an occasional note or scroll stuck in the seam, waiting for someone to open the door and find the message.
At the end of the second hall, we reached another stairwell. This one was dark and the walls were black rock. We were heading into a basement. "Down here, really?"
She nodded. "The suites for dignitaries were added later. Most of our visitors stay with one of the girls when they stay the night. But over the years, I guess there were enough long term stays to warrant the addition of some private suites. They're nice. I've done a few private parties in them for some of the high rollers."
I wondered if that was what Tristan and his wife did when they came here. A flash of skin on skin passed before my vision and even though the moment was over nearly as quick as it arrived, I knew it had been of Tristan with me. The scent of him lingered around me as if he'd been standing right next to me. A shudder through my core went right down between my legs and I clenched my thighs against the unexpected arousal. I needed to stop thinking about Tristan like that.
By the time we stopped in front of a black door with a painting of a crescent moon on the front of it, the sensitive area between my legs was tingling. It seemed all this discussion of sex had woken the part of me that longed to be touched and no amount of inner chiding was sending the sensation away.
"You know, we're always looking for new girls of quality," Lainey said, fist floating above the door, ready to knock. "Just in case you ever want a change of scenery. I'm sure a recommendation from His Grace would be enough to get you one of the best rooms in the house."
"Thank you, that's exceptionally sweet," I said.
"I get it," Lainey said. "I don't think I could walk away from an exclusive contract, either. Even if I was in love with someone else."
"I'm not," I said, denying her words again. "I might even be in love with Ethan for all I know."
Of course, that was when the door opened. Ethan stared at me, one eyebrow raised. Lainey stood frozen, her fist still hanging in midair. She dropped her hand and curtseyed while stifling a giggle.
I felt my face heat and I knew I was bright red. There was nothing I would be able to say or do to get out of this one.
Lainey leaned closer to me and pressed her lips against my ear. "Sounds like things are complicated. If you need a friend, you know where to find me."
"Thank you," I said, quietly.
She took a step away from me and inclined her head before turning to walk away, leaving me alone with Ethan.
"So," Ethan said, moving to the side so I could enter the room.
I took a deep breath, still feeling the burn of my cheeks, and walked into the room.
Ethan closed the door behind us and walked over to where I was standing in the center of the large suite. Lainey was right, I had my doubts that a basement room would impress, but this was a room fit for royalty. And I knew because I'd spent the last several days staying with four princes. A roaring fire burned in the corner, a large rug spread in front of it. Two couches faced each other on either side of the rug with little end tables on each end. A high four-poster bed was on the wall opposite the fireplace and unlike Lainey's room, there was plenty of extra space to walk around or fit extra people.
Ethan waited quietly nearby, his hands clasped in front of him. Being the gentleman that he was, he seemed to be waiting for me to decide if I wanted to acknowledge what I'd said. I considered ignoring the words, but I knew they were out there. "Ethan, I..."
He moved closer to me, his expression sympathetic, but he didn't touch me.
Swallowing hard, I looked down at my feet, then back up at him. "Ethan, I think I might be falling for you. But..."
He waited patiently, silently urging me to continue.
"It's not just you," I finished.
"I know," he said, closing the gap between us.
He was close enough now that if I leaned in just a little, I'd be touching him. My body responded to his closeness, my thighs aching to wrap themselves around him. I needed him the way I needed to breathe.
As if he could feel my yearning, he slid his fingers through my hair, stopping when his large hand was cradling the back of my head. When I didn't resist, he gently urged me closer. I moved with him, my lips felt like they were swelling in anticipation of the kiss.
When he pressed his lips to mine, I felt a wave of calm rush though me as the heat rose between my thighs. I'd lost my undergarments after I'd left the scene of the attack and now wetness began to slide down my thigh as Ethan wrapped his other arm around me, pulling my body against his. I could feel the bulge of his erection pressing into my thigh, making my breathing even more shallow than it already was. I wanted him. I needed him.
He kissed me hungrily, more forcefully than he had last time we were together. It was as if he needed me just as much as I needed him. His hands dropped to my hips and I felt him bunching up my dress as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. My tongue met his in a playful flicker before I bit down on his lower lip. He moaned into my mouth then broke away from the kiss.
With a growl, Ethan lifted the dress over my head. Then, he pulled his tunic off and stripped his trousers off faster than I thought possible. I stared at him for a moment, my breathing heavy as I drank in every inch of his bare skin. His sculpted chest moved up and down as he breathed, but I dropped my eyes lower, not lingering there. Past his rippling stomach, past the cut V of his hips, down to where his erection was already alert and ready for me.
My skin felt like it was on fire. I wanted to jump on him, throw him on the bed, keep him pinned down until I made him groan in ecstasy. But something told me that wasn't the way he wanted to bed me. I waited to see what Ethan had in mind. He wasn't as intense as Dane. He was gentle and sweet our first time- my first time.
Ethan moved toward me slowly. Each step he took seemed to make my heart beat faster in anticipation. Finally, he was directly in front of me again and I leaned in to him, eager to feel his touch.
He dragged his fingertips up my arm, sending a trail of goosebumps in their wake. His touch made my legs tremble. When his fingers reached my neck, he slid his hand around the back of my head and guided me to him. My breasts pressed into his chest, his erection pressed into my thigh. I thought he was going to kiss me again, but he turned my head and instead of placing his lips on mine, he gently traced his tongue along my ear. I shivered, letting out a moan.
With a playful smile on his lips, he pulled away from me then took my hand in his. Silently, he led me to the bed. Like the gentleman he was, he pulled the covers down for us and guided me down into the center of the soft bed.
He was on top of me now, staring into my eyes with a hungry expression that would have looked at home on a wild animal. He grinned, showing his sharp canines. "What is it about you, Cassia?"
I reached for his face and stroked his cheek. "What is it about you?"
He buried his face in my neck, kissing and sucking on the sensitive skin. I moaned again, surprised by how much his touch sent waves of pleasure through me. I wasn't going to be able to hold off much longer. The wetness between my thighs grew with each nip of his teeth against my skin. The whole lower part of my body ached for relief. "Please," I whispered.
Ethan didn't hesitate. Knowing exactly what I wanted, he slid inside me in one fluid stroke. We both gasped in unison, satisfied relief coupled with pure bliss as he thrust inside me.
&
nbsp; He pulled me closer, our bodies working together in a perfect rhythm. Ethan's movements were tender, his touches gentle. And with each passing second, I felt my attachment to him grow. How could I doubt my feelings for him? We had a connection I couldn't deny.
Ethan pressed his lips to mine and wrapped his arms around me, rolling me on top of him. When he was on his back, he broke free of the kiss. I sat above him, looking down at his beautiful face. "I think I'm in love with you."
He took my hands, our fingers interlaced together. "I love you, too."
Chapter Thirteen
As I laid in Ethan's arms listening to his breathing, I let my mind replay the events of the evening. Someone had broken into the room I was alone in. While I had no proof the assassin was there for me, it sure seemed like too much of a coincidence to not be connected to me. Then, there was the Orc going crazy and threatening Lainey. I never did ask her what it was she refused to do. I wondered what a courtesan would say no to when it came to an Orc client. I liked Lainey, though, and it seemed inappropriate to ask. Not that it mattered anymore anyway, the Orc was dead. At Ethan's hands. Which was something I never expected to see.
I looked over at the sleeping Spring Prince. He looked so peaceful while he slept. Like a work of art; perfectly sculpted and proportioned. I tried to settle into his arms while telling myself that I shouldn't worry about things I couldn't control. But that wasn't possible. I needed to know what was happening.
Quietly, I lifted Ethan's arm from my waist and shimmied off the bed to avoid disturbing him. On the floor, I found the borrowed blue dress and pulled it over my head. I was sure my blonde curls were a mess, but there wasn't much I could do about that right then. So I tied them in a knot in the back of my head as best I could. Then, I tiptoed to the door and glanced back at Ethan. His breathing was still steady and even. Holding my breath, I turned the doorknob, hoping it wouldn't make too much noise. The door was well oiled and opened without a sound. I wondered if that was typical maintenance in a brothel. Having discretion was probably a major selling point.