by Michelle Fox
“Yes, really divine.” Savon nodded in agreement.
I blushed and looked at my feet. She had to be joking. I doubted I looked as gorgeous as Madame.
“Are you unconvinced?” Madame Rouge stood up and pulled out a floor length mirror hidden in a clever compartment behind the bookcase on the side wall.
The woman who looked back at me was tall and model pretty. My eyelashes were almost as long as Madame’s now and there was a pink glow to my skin. You would never know I had fat pants at home. Or that my idea of dressing up was wearing clean jeans with a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from my senior year trip to London.
Somehow I’d been transformed into the supermodel fantasy version of myself. I had thought that would take plastic surgery, but really all I ever needed was the right dress and make-up. Huh. Go figure.
“Thank you, Savon. I love what you did with my hair.” I put a hand to my head in wonder. He’d artfully tousled my locks into a sexy bed head.
“It’s easy to make good hair look great,” he said with a smile and giving a little bow. “Now, Madame, if you are done with me, I will go, oui?”
“Mais oui. Merci, monsieur.” She gave him a distracted wave as he left. Then, pulling a camera out of a desk drawer she said, “We need to take a picture for Kristos’ approval.”
I put a hand to my head. This was all going so fast. I couldn’t keep up.“Who is Kristos?”
“Your trainer and first client. He’s an affluent man and he loves girls like you, elegant yet passionate. Plus, the fresher the better. Maybe you didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, but it wasn’t that long ago either.” She led me to an empty spot along the wall of her office. “Why don’t you give me a few different poses?”
I smiled and clasped my hands behind my back.
She lowered the camera, shaking her head. “This is not a school picture, my dear. Remember your brand.”
My brand. Right. The virgin pretending she knew something. I slipped one leg in front of the other, stuck my chest out and tried to pout like Marilyn Monroe.
She sighed and lowered the camera. “You look constipated.”
“Sorry. I don’t really know what I’m doing.” I could feel the hot flush of bewildered embarrassment creeping up my neck.
“Yes, I can tell.” She walked over to me and pulled my arm overhead. “Put your arm up like this and look at it as if you are reaching for the most delicious chocolate. The leg should stay in front like you have it and then let your other hand trail down your neck between your breasts. Okay? Now, don’t move.”
She snapped several pictures like that and then asked me to turn around and look over my shoulder. “That will work, I think. Let me just email these to Kristos for his approval.”
She inserted the memory card into the computer and downloaded the pictures, quickly selecting the two best ones to attach to an email she had already written. I read over her shoulder as she worked.
Kristos:
I have a fresh one for you. Experienced, but barely. Never been blooded and very sweet. She blushes easily. I would guess she would go well with a Bordeaux or port brandy, but would like your thoughts on that once you’ve had a taste. As always, I trust you will go gently with her audition.
Send a car if she meets your approval. She’s here in my office waiting.
Regards,
Madame Rouge
Once the email had been sent, Madame Rouge turned to me, her gaze settling on me with palpable weight. “So, let’s discuss the rules. Your job is to please the client. You back sell behind my back and you’ll be out of a job.”
I blinked in confusion. “Back sell?”
“Try to negotiate your services directly. Going out on your own is more dangerous than you know.” She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “I offer a certain level of protection to my girls. Our clients pay a membership fee and they know to behave if they want to stay in my good graces. You go it alone and there’s nothing to stop them.”
I put a hand to my throat. “Are vampires that dangerous?” Had I just made a mistake? We knew so little beyond the fact that they existed. They lived hidden, shadowed lives and humans seemed content to keep it that way.
She watched my hand, eyes gleaming with what appeared to be amusement. “Not generally, but living as long as they have sometimes changes them in a bad way. Or their original time period may have engaged in practices we no longer find acceptable today. I spend a lot of time ensuring clients can be trusted and that they understand the terms of service. When you work with me, you know you’ll come home safe.”
I cleared my throat as I processed everything she’d just explained. “So you said I am to please the client, what does that mean? Can I say no to anything?”
“You can say no, but I would not make a habit of it if you want to make money. This is no job for prudes. Kristos will be a good introduction to what this work entails. You’ll know after tonight if this is for you.”
Her computer gave a soft ding signaling that a new email had arrived. She checked it and nodded in satisfaction. “Kristos approves. He’s sending a car.”
At that, my heart began to race as I realized this was really happening. Madame Rouge either didn’t notice or overlooked my shell-shocked reaction and handed me a stack of papers.
“This is your contract. It includes a non-disclosure agreement and outlines payment terms. Also, you’ll see that, if your trainer’s evaluation is poor, we reserve the right to dissolve our relationship with you.” She flipped through the pages, marking an X where I needed to sign. “In other words, do what Kristos says. He’s trained other girls and he knows what he’s doing. Impress him and you impress me, which means more clients for you. Understood?” She gave me an expectant look.
I managed a nod as she handed the contract over to me. I tried to read the twisted legalese as I signed, but lacked the mental clarity to focus on the words. Images of what Kristos might look like and what it would be like to let him feed on me consumed my mind. My nerves were on high alert and my hands shook as I made my way through the pages, signing and initialing where she indicated.
When I finally finished, Madame Rouge gave me a bright smile. “Congratulations. You are officially a blood courtesan.”
Chapter Two
On the limo ride to meet Kristos, I sent a quick text to my mom letting her know I would be in the city at least overnight, if not for a few more days. My dad had ditched us both long before I was born and the abandonment made my mom and I close. I knew she’d worry if I didn’t check in. I’d told her I had a job interview, which was mostly true, although I’d led her to believe it was for a corporate internship that would look good on my graduate school application.
She was just recovering from her last chemo treatment and didn’t need any extra stress. Not that I would, in a million years, tell her about what I was doing. No point in saving her from cancer only to kill her with my loose morals. As far as I was concerned, what happened in New York was going to stay there.
It only took a minute to check in with mom and I was left with way too much time to think. First, about my Dad. Would things be different if he was around? I’d learned early on to push him to the back of my mind because I didn’t believe in dwelling on things that couldn’t be changed. With mom so sick, though, I felt his abandonment of us as a new loss.
Then I thought about sex. About vampires. About how the hell I was going to pull this blood courtesan thing off. I was so out of my league I was on another planet.
I’d never met a vampire. Sure, maybe seen one or two from afar, but that was it. Our society had transferred the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy from gays to supernaturals. We didn’t know what was out there and we were good with it. If we had to know, fine. Like the time there had been a vampire serial killer. Or when another one set up a big philanthropic foundation for his descendants. Beyond those news bites, I went through my life as if everyone around me was human and so did everybody else.
&nbs
p; These were the things I did know: Vampires liked blushing and there was some kind of alcohol connection. Oh and I was about to allow them to suck my blood during sex. That was already too much information.
Fear of the unknown overwhelmed me, and by the time the limo dropped me off at a swanky restaurant named Taos, I was about ready to bolt. I never had the chance though, because a cadre of muscle-bound guards swarmed me, their expressions grim. It was early fall and still warm, but a chill went through me. This was the point of no return. There was no going back. I hugged myself, wishing I’d thought to ask for a wrap.
“Miss Danson?” asked a blond man with a buzz cut and a broken-one-time-too-many nose. Sunglasses hid his eyes and his black suit was identical to the rest of his group.
At my nod, the men closed rank around me and hustled me toward my fate. One of them even shoved me along when I paused to pull the hem of my dress off my heel.
“Is that really necessary?” I asked, stumbling. The gown was just a little too long or my heels were just a little too short. Either way, the result was the same; the mere act of walking was complicated. Worse, a game of crotch peek-a-boo threatened to break out at any second and I had to pay close attention to how I moved in order to keep the goods under wraps.
“Standard security precautions, Miss Danson.”
“Well, can we go a little slower? I’m wearing heels you know,” I snapped.
They slowed for about two seconds, whisking me through the entrance and to the dining room. The restaurant was dimly lit with candles on every table and a Zen-like minimalist decor in a mix of beige and black tones. A tuxedo clad maître d’ stood behind a marble-topped bar at the entrance. He glanced up as we crossed the threshold. In fact, judging from the abrupt silence that met my arrival, everyone noticed our appearance. How could they miss it? I was a woman in a very fancy dress surrounded by what looked like a Navy Seal special ops team.
Hoping to spot Kristos before he saw me, I scanned the dining room as we passed through the entry way and into the large dining room. I wanted to give myself some time to prepare mentally. The restaurant was full of couples and double dates. Everyone appeared to be matched with a partner. Aside from curious stares and speculative gawking, no one seemed to be looking for me specifically.
By then the security detail had sped up again, herding me through the restaurant like an errant lamb. I struggled not to trip as my dress twined around my legs and under my heels. Stupid slit.
“There he is. Nine o’clock,” said one of the guards to the others.
I turned to look and saw him. Kristos the vampire took my breath away. In a room full of noise and movement, he was motionless. His absolute stillness made him stand out in sharp relief, timeless as ancient statue. I studied his features, noting the hooked nose and square jaw. His shoulders were broad and his suit followed the trim muscle of his physique. As far as I knew it was the first time I’d ever seen a vampire up close and personal, and he was much better looking than I had anticipated.
For some unknown reason, I was instantly attracted to him, and the moment I had that insight he moved, turning his head to focus on me. For a long second, everything and everyone around me ceased to exist, it was just me and Kristos. My pulse quickened and my breathing came fast. I felt like I was falling into his gaze, as if his eyes were swallowing me whole and then....and then I was on the floor, my dress finally bringing me down.
With a loud ‘oof’ I slammed to the ground, trying to land on my side to avoid face planting. The momentum rolled me onto my back, whipping my legs apart, which displayed my lack of underwear for all to see.
There was a moment of silence before a sonic wave of gasps and titters crashed down on me, bringing my humiliation to the fore. The security guys just stood there, apparently just as shocked as everyone else that I had a real live vagina under my dress.
Burning with mortification, I quickly pulled the gown over my naked bits and tried to stand up, but the heels caught in the hem again.
Damn it.
The guards still hadn’t moved either. Not one of them lifted a finger to help me. Useless bastard Navy Seal poseurs.
So I crawled. Kristos’ table wasn’t that far away and it was a large round with a long table cloth. My goal was to get under there and hide until I was dead and mummified beyond recognition.
People murmured as I passed their tables, but I ignored it, focusing with tunnel vision on just getting to Kristos’ table without flashing anyone else.
Once I was there, I bolted into my hidey-hole, huddling with my knees pulled up to my chest and my skirt wrapped around me like a cocoon. Sniffing back tears, I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to pretend none of this was happening.
Oh, how far the fantasy supermodel version of me had fallen. Right into hell.
“Miss Danson?” Kristos ducked under the table to peer at me, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. Now that we were face-to-face I could see they were light aquamarine blue.
“Go away,” I sniffed.
“After that entrance, I can’t possibly leave you alone.” He slipped under the table with me, which just made me cry harder. “Are you all right? I mean, physically as your emotional distress is obvious.” He laid a gentle hand on my shoulder.
I nodded. “I’m fine. It’s just these damn shoes. They kept tripping me up and your guards wouldn’t slow down.” I kicked off the shoes in question. I never wanted to wear them again.
“Excuse me a moment,” Kristos said. “I’ll be right back.”
The tears welled up in my eyes again. He was probably calling Madame Rouge and telling her to fire me. My courtesan career would end before it even started. Without that money, cancer would kill my mom. I stifled a loud sob at the thought.
Beyond the table, I heard deep voices muttering. One of them sounded very upset, going deeper and louder than the others.
Then Kristos was back, this time with a bottle of wine and a cheese plate. “Would you like something to drink or eat?” Concern for me shone in his eyes. I had mostly stopped crying by then, but his pity started me up again.
I sniffed. “Wine sounds good.” Maybe if I got drunk things would improve.
He handed me a glass and I drained it, not even tasting the wine. When I held up my glass for more, he shook his head. “I don’t want you drinking recklessly. How about some cheese so the wine doesn’t go to your head?”
I frowned and snatched the bottle from his hand. “Listen, more people just saw my vagina than I’ve slept with in my whole life. I royally flubbed my first night at a new job. I think I’m entitled to a little reckless drinking thank-you-very-much.” With that, I chugged directly from the bottle, greedy for oblivion.
Kristos pulled the bottle from my hands with a ‘tsk’ of disapproval. “I realize the night has not gone as planned, but I would prefer not to let one minor incident ruin the whole evening. Why don’t we sit at the table and start over?”
With all those people out there that had seen my va-jay-jay? Humiliation burned through me again. I couldn’t face it. “I thought I would stay here for a while, until—”
Kristos interrupted and said, “Everyone was gone?” He smiled and I stopped breathing because, even through my haze of mortification, I could appreciate that he was beautiful. “They are already gone. I had them escorted out.”
I gaped at him. So that was what money and power was good for. Clearing out restaurants just on your say so. “They let you do that?”
He shrugged. “Of course. I own the restaurant.”
I poked my head out from under the table and indeed the restaurant was empty, except for the security detail, which congregated in the small foyer at the front of the restaurant. They weren’t even looking my way. Most of them were preoccupied with their smart phones while two of them watched the front door, their backs to me.
Well, then. This I can handle.
We sat at the table and I placed my napkin in my lap, grateful for the impromptu loin cloth. Next time I pick
ed out a swanky dress I would have underwear or select one that wouldn’t cause me to flash everyone the room. Live and learn, right?
“Let’s start over, shall we?” Kristos offered me his hand. “I’m Kristos.”
I took his hand with a shy smile. Oh, what he must think of me. Horrible things I was sure. He was just being nice given that I was new. Most people cut someone slack if it was their first day on the job. “Hi, I’m Myra and I’m not wearing any panties.”
He laughed at that. “I saw. It was a nice view.”
I blushed.
He watched, transfixed as it flamed over my cheeks and down my neck. I peeked down to see that, yep, my chest was overly pink too.
“Lovely,” he breathed, reaching out to trace my collar bone with his finger. There was a hunger in his eyes that warned me to be still and not make any sudden movements.
A waiter cleared his throat as he set plates of food in front of me. “Your order, miss.”
Kristos leaned back in his chair, the intensity between us dissipating as he did so.
“This is a lot of food,” I said, wondering how I would eat it all. There was a plate of pasta with marinara and a surf n’ turf platter with one of the largest lobster tails I’d ever seen. In addition, the waiter set down three different appetizers and a salad of mixed greens.
“I asked the kitchen to make up a few different plates using what they already had in process. You don’t mind?”
I shook my head. “No, not as long as you don’t expect me to eat it all. I mean, it looks delicious, but my stomach is only so big, you know?”
He nodded. “Pick what pleases you most.”
I pulled the lobster toward me, moving the other plates out of the way. My stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten in a very long time.
“Has Madame Rouge been starving you?” he asked as my stomach broadcasted its status.
Embarrassment burned my cheeks. “It’s just been a very busy day.”
His eyes were riveted on my skin, watching the progression of my blush. “I understand she hired you just today.”