Their Courtesan: Billionaire Menage Romance

by Cynthia Dane

  Later that night, when Judith had showered and Seth had deduced that there was nothing on TV to watch, they ordered some room service and went over the following day’s itinerary. He was treating Judith to a mini-shopping spree and day at a fabulous hair and makeup salon to get her ready for her re-debut as a model. He, meanwhile, would be spending most of his day at the gallery, helping Joy finish setting up and practicing his opening speech.

  “Fun fact,” Judith said as Seth put his binder away. “You were the last man I had sex with. At the wedding.” So, she was going to bring it up? “It’s been a whole week since I last had sex of any kind. I haven’t gone this long since I had pneumonia in 2012.” She put her finger on his nose. “Don’t worry. I’m not contagious anymore.”

  “Well… that’s good.”

  “So what should we do tonight?” Judith climbed up on the bed, revealing that she wore nothing but her own skin beneath her hotel bathrobe. “I could blow you. Or I could let you blow me. How about you lay back, relax, and let me do every bit of work? You’re a hardworking guy, Seth…” Her finger dropped down and grazed his chest. “You need someone to help you stay relaxed.”

  He looked askance at her. This was the first time in weeks she had been so candid about their arrangement. Usually they started having sex and he was subsequently charged for whatever Judith felt like charging him for. Sometimes she charged for everything. Other times she let certain things slide, like head or a second round of sex.

  Tonight was different. Everything was different since the wedding.

  “You should probably pace yourself this weekend, though. Otherwise you’ll blow all your cash on me before you can replenish it. Give me a monetary cap for each night we’re together. Or don’t. That works out better for me, I’m sure.”

  Seth had no idea what to say. He couldn’t put a cap on being with Judith anymore. He would empty his bank account if she asked him to! “I want to be with you, Judith. Assuming you’ll have me.”

  “Honey, I’ll have you every which way to Thursday if that’s what you want. Pegging costs five grand, though. Just so you know.”

  “That’s not what I had in mind.”

  “Need some direction?” She opened her robe. Yup. Totally naked. “How about this: we start with me blowing your little friend until he pops in my throat. Then, if you still feel like going, you do whatever you want to get me wet and we have sex in whatever position strikes your fancy. I’ll charge you the same regardless. So, all that will run you about ten grand. I’m giving you a discount because you’re a friend. Think of it as a Benefits Package.”

  “I was going to say… that’s not how much you usually charge me for all of that.”

  “Because, like I said,” Judith pushed him down on the bed, “I like you and intend to keep you around. Don’t be a dick to me and my other clients and I’ll be a loyal girl.”

  It was far from the romance Seth wanted that weekend, but he would take it. Anything was better than no Judith at all.

  ***

  While this wasn’t Seth’s first ever gallery showing, it was the biggest, most advertised one in his art career. From the moment he arrived early in the morning, he struggled to get into the mindset of the artist about to show off his work. Usually, when he came this early to help set things up, he was helping someone else, like Zack.

  This time, the shoe was on the other foot.

  “I’ve got to hand it to you,” Zack said, watching Joy tear into an intern in Cantonese because the chun ah kept dropping equipment, “you’re really making it if you’ve got a fancy show in New York.”

  “Old hat for you, I know.” How many New York shows of Zack’s had Seth been to?

  “Nah, man, this is really something. You should be proud of yourself.” The first painting came out of its crate. There was Judith, bright in her ivory and golden colors. Seth’s breath caught in his throat. “You’re going to slay them all tonight.”

  “God willing.” Seth stepped forward. “That one gets a green tag!”

  Green tag meant he was willing to sell a piece for the right price. Purple meant they were not available, either because they already sold or because he was simply keeping them. Most of the pieces were purple. I’m not ready to part with most of these pieces yet. He was still reeling from seeing them all together in their golden frames on a fancy gallery wall.

  Most of the day was spent unboxing and hanging up the pieces (and their placards) in Seth’s desired arrangement. Gallery personnel assisted with this and prepared for that night’s party as well. Seth overheard Joy repeating a sizable number to someone else. “That many people are expected to come? Really? That’s great!”

  Seth wasn’t going to get his hopes up too much. That way led to madness, and Joy coming up halfway through the afternoon to ask if the model was still expected to come didn’t help matters. Not with Zack, anyway.

  “Yes, she’s coming. She’s getting ready right now.” Or at least this was her appointment time to get her hair and nails done. “If she doesn’t show up, then it’s a great shock to me as well.”

  As soon as Joy left to coordinate something with one of the interns, Zack sent his best friend an exasperated look. “I was afraid to ask about that. Thought maybe she had dumped you after that kerfuffle at the wedding.”

  Seth didn’t respond.

  “So… what’s going on there?”

  Turning away, Seth said, “Same as always. I lost the silent auction, so I’m a regular client of hers.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Is that a problem?”

  Zack held up his hands. “Of course not. Man, I was the one who took you there to begin with! Why would it be a problem?”

  “I know you don’t really approve.”

  “Why would I not approve of a place like that?”

  “It’s not that, Zack, and you know it.” Seth turned again. “You don’t approve of me getting involved. Me. Personally.” Before Zack could reply, Seth continued, “That’s fine. Good thing I’m a grown adult who doesn’t need your approval for such things.”

  “You know, saying that makes you sound immature.”

  “Undoubtedly. Let’s change the subject.”

  “Yes, let’s.”

  By dinner time, the exhibit was ready. Zack and Seth went back to the latter’s hotel room to eat Chinese take-out and get ready for the main event. Judith arrived ten minutes after they settled down with greasy food and chopsticks.

  “Wow,” Zack said, greeting Judith with a mouth full of fried rice. “Helloooo.”

  Judith barely looked at him before smiling at Seth. “What do you think?” She gestured to her outfit, which Seth had been staring at from the moment she walked through the door. “Thanks again for arranging that for me.”

  “You are… absolutely stunning.” Stunning didn’t really cut it. Judith worked that conservative – and yet so damn sexual – charcoal cashmere sweater dress as if it would be the last thing she ever wore. A gold and leather belt created a waist around her midsection. Gold earrings dangled from her ears, with the edges of her blond hair pulled back in a dainty French braid. When she twirled for them, the first thing Seth noticed was a nest of diamonds in the braid. How much did this cost me? Not enough. He couldn’t even bother to look at her shoes. Probably black and leather. Who cared? Shoes were shoes.

  “Thank you.” Judith kissed him on the cheek. At least kisses were free. Not that Zack would get any.

  “So. What do I get for dinner?” Judith eyed Seth’s box of orange chicken.

  “This, apparently.” Seth pushed it toward her, complete with extra pair of chopsticks. “I thought you would have already dined.”

  “And miss out on the way your friend checks out my tits?” Zack looked away, blushing. “I wouldn’t miss that for the world. Remember, I charge triple my usual rate for a threesome.”

  “Oh, boy.” Zack excused himself to go to the restroom.

  “You scared him off. Was that your goal?”

  Judith bent down
and kissed one of her favorite clients. She could be bullshitting me about that. I don’t think she is. “I wanted to see how you reacted to the word threesome.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because that’s never going to happen. With me involved, anyway.” He looped his arm around her waist. “I’m too possessive in bed to ever let that happen.”

  “Keep talking dirty to me.”

  “Can’t. Need to eat up and get the hell out of here.”

  Seth hurried through his dinner and changed into his evening wear. He had two outfit choices, and after seeing how Judith dressed, decided to coordinate with an off-white turtleneck – yes, in New York in July – and a gold watch.

  “Do I look too pretentious artist to you two?” he asked his guests.

  “Only if you added glasses. Then I’d have to kill you,” Zack said.

  “Duly noted.”

  Once perfume had been applied and shoes were shined, Seth took Judith by the arm and let Zack trail behind them as they headed to the gallery down the street.

  Things had changed… rather drastically since they were last there.

  Gone were the crates, the papers, and the tools necessary to put a whole exhibit together. Interns and personnel alike were dressed in their best clothing. The lighting was mellow and subdued. The gallery owner appeared with a member of the press, introducing him to both Seth and his beautiful muse. Zack hung out but didn’t interfere.

  Slowly, people began to arrive. For a function that wasn’t set to start until eight, the place was already packed at 7:45. The real horror? Seth actually recognized a lot of these people. New York’s richest art collectors. Celebrities looking for something to do on a Sunday night. Men speaking Italian and women talking about their summers in Sweden.

  Every person Seth shook hands with commended him for his paintings. “Simply exquisite. I really must know how you capture this woman’s beauty so well.” “Tell me, darling, is it true what they say about you? Really! Every word? Fascinating.” “I can see why you retired from the medical field when you have this level of artistic talent. Anyone can be a doctor, but it takes a special something to be an artist.” “If you would let me, I’d buy half the paintings in this room. We’ve been wanting to renovate with a tastefully erotic theme anyway.” “Is that what I think it is on her leg in this painting? Good God, man! That’s bold!”

  Seth both drank it up and wanted to depart for the exit. He had never been good with this level of attention, and yet he had signed up for it. Besides, with Judith at his side, charming every artistically-minded person who came their way, it was impossible for people to not come to his way of thinking and realize that he was another guy who happened to paint some pretty portraits of a beautiful woman.

  At 7:30, Seth was expected to be at the front of the room giving a speech. Oration was never a strong suit of his either, but he didn’t necessarily have stage fright. Before tonight, I never had a reason to be excited about something. That had changed when he met Judith months ago. His lover. His muse.

  The love of his life.

  He thought those words as he gazed upon her standing at the front of the audience. “I’ve been playing at being an artist for years now,” he told the crowd, “but nothing I painted was truly good enough for the world. I hid those paintings away or simply wrote them off as a learning experience. Once I met Judith, though, everything changed. I had that artistic epiphany you always hear snots going on about. I truly realized why I had chosen this kind of life for myself. Never before had I been so happy to lock myself in my studio and paint whole nights away. Every time I sat down to sketch this gorgeous woman, I considered myself one of the luckiest men alive.”

  Some members of the audience chuckled. They must have seen the pictures… Luckily, there were no indecent ones of Seth like there had been of Miguel. That didn’t mean people couldn’t add it together.

  “I welcome anyone to indulge in my slice of paradise here. Thank you for your support, and I hope to see you again.” Seth held up his glass of champagne in salutations. The first person to hold one up in return was Judith, smiling as if she was truly happy to be there as well.

  Maybe she is. Seth reminded himself that it was a part of her illusion… even if she claimed to love him as well. I can bear it.

  What he couldn’t bear was the face he saw far, far back in the crowd.

  Chapter 34

  MIGUEL

  Miguel had tried to talk himself out of coming multiple times. He had no other reason to be in New York. There was work to do at home. American Independence Day didn’t mean anything to him. Netflix called and said he still had yet to watch the new season of House of Cards. Yet no matter how many excuses he came up with to stay where he belonged in America, he still booked the first flight to JFK he could find.

  He had to know.

  For the past week Miguel had been driving himself crazy, not only with thoughts of Judith and where he stood with her, but what he really wanted from her. Of course he wanted the sex and fun and passion. Of course he claimed, both to himself and to her, that he loved her more than he had loved any other woman – even more than Rosa! Yet there was no denying that he spent much of his time sitting with a bottle of whatever, playing whatever Spotify deemed good enough while he stared at his ceiling and wondered what he should do about Judith… and Seth.

  I never expected a guy like this to throw the first punch.

  Right after Seth finished his speech of gratitude, he met Miguel’s eyes in the back row of the crowd. Miguel turned away and pretended to be fascinated with a woman’s intricate French twist laden with a thin veil of sapphires. What he really wanted to do was stare at Judith. Then again, that’s what everyone there wanted to do. Nobody could take their eyes off her once it was revealed she was the model in these paintings.

  The damned paintings. Miguel had only glanced at them on his way in. Once he spotted Judith hanging around Seth, he couldn’t look at anything else.

  They looked good together. They were even somewhat coordinated, and people commented on this as if they had planned it. The way Judith brushed her hand against the painter’s arm was not the practiced movement of a professional trying to squeeze more money out of him. It was a genuine touch of affection.

  Fuck off with that.

  “Oh my God,” Judith gasped ten minutes later, when she was sent to mingle with the crowd. Seth was in another corner with an Asian woman… probably his agent. They were shaking hands with an older man and his younger wife. “Miguel? What are you doing here?”

  He forced a smile. Well, “forced” wasn’t how he would put it. I can’t force anything around her. She’s the light of my life. How corny. Yet it didn’t sound corny at all in his head. “How could I miss this? Don’t worry. I won’t bother the man you are with. I wanted to see how it was going.”

  Judith, torn between glaring and smiling, gave his arm the same touch she bestowed upon Seth earlier. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you.”

  “That said…” Miguel sent a warning stare to a man trying to approach Judith. The guy shuffled off. “Could we speak in private for a moment? There’s something I want to ask you.”

  When Judith was satisfied that nobody else wanted her attention – least of all Seth – she finally agreed to go with Miguel. As long as he made it quick. There was only one place for them to talk privately in that large, broad room. Although partitioned off with many cream-colored walls, there were not many nooks and crannies not already occupied by someone. This left a small alcove in the far back of the gallery, beyond the paintings, the lights, and even the closets. Miguel kept an eye out for anyone following them. So far, so good.

  “What is this about?” Judith stood up straight against a dark wall. It didn’t matter how little light there was in there. Miguel could still see the warm dark gray of her sweater dress and every golden part of her illuminated in the shadows. I love this woman so much all I want to do is… No. He wouldn�
�t. First things were first. Besides, did he really want to pull what Seth did when Judith was supposed to be on a date with Miguel? “It must be important, if you can’t wait another week.”

  Her words were harsh, but her tone soft. Miguel didn’t mind if she was brusque with him as long as she used that tone. True definition of love.

  At any rate, next weekend was when they were supposed to formally start their new business relationship. Monica was going to send over Miguel’s copy of the contract as soon as the holiday weekend finished. That wasn’t what Miguel wanted to talk about.

  “Like I said, I wanted to come see what kind of paintings this man has done of you. The one in your bedroom isn’t good enough, mi amour. I wanted to see if he really loves you as much as I do.”

  “Well?” Judith put both hands on her hips. “Does he?”

  “It certainly seems like he cares for you.”

  “Hmph.” Now her arms crossed. “You do love to say how much you love me, Miguel. Yet so does he. You get used to such things in this business.”

  Miguel finally said what he intended all along. “Do you love me, Judith? Will you really tell me that after everything… you don’t love me back?” He had heard her at the wedding, but who knew what she meant by that. Besides, he was in a bit of a daze from Seth’s fierce right swing. The man works out more than it looks.

  For the first time since he met her, Judith looked… scared. Frightened. Maligned. She refused to meet Miguel’s eyes as she bit her lip and stared at the floor. “I care for you very much,” she finally relented. “You’re one of the best clients I’ve ever had. I think you’re going to be the best patron a girl like me could ever ask for.”

  “Forget that shit for one minute!” Miguel had caught her anxious eyes by surprise. “I’m not asking you about our work relationship. I’m asking you about our personal relationship. I know you pride yourself in being able to separate the two facets of sex and all that… but are you really that divided?”