Page 17 of Their Courtesan
He barely listened to Monica’s introduction to the Château and what they offered. She never once brought up sex, although everyone and their in-heat dogs knew that this was the place to come if a millionaire wanted to, well,come.With great fanfare, anyway. It wasn’t that Seth couldn’t afford any of the “services,” as Monica kept calling them, but he was not the type of man to throw money at a woman unless she was his girlfriend. Even then… well, his last serious girlfriend made sure to call him a cheapskate when she broke up with him.How did she think I stay so rich?She never complained about the sex, though…
“For your first visit, we usually introduce you to all the available girls. After that, if you would like to see a certain woman, you should make an appointment at least two days in advance. Otherwise you will have the choice of who is available, although we usually discourage men enjoying the services of more than two or three women. Politics, you know.”
“Naturally!” Zack was on his second glass of bourbon. Seth had barely touched his. “Since we’re new here, I’m sure you’ll understand if we’re a bit green to the whole system. Also, forgive us if we’rebothnot necessarily interested in the full breadth of services.”
“Of course. It’s not required. Many of our regular clients come here to drink and talk in a comfortable environment. There are no expectations.”Except spending a certain amount of money somehow, I’m sure.
Monica took them on tour next, showing the various activity rooms – which were not as scandalous as Zack hoped they would be, minus the Dungeon – and even the dining quarters which hosted weekend banquets for clients. Seth was only vaguely interested. He was much more fascinated with the subtle architecture, the views of the gardens and labyrinth hedges out back, and the paintings hanging on walls.So much Leon K. Kim.Kim was infamous for his portrayals of sensuality, which usually included a healthy dose of fornication. When Seth was caught staring at a portrait of a woman getting fucked doggy-style by a wolf-headed spirit, he swore he was caught up in the swirls of the brushstrokes.I’m not lying.He could stare at the Mona Lisa for hours.
He could also stare out the upstairs balcony doors for a long, long time.
Seth wasn’t sure why he was so taken with the view at first. Monica conversed with Zack about the landscaping and the inspiration therein, but Seth was more interested in the blond beauty sitting in a lounge chair on the balcony. She wore a sleek black dress, strappy heels off and resting on the ground as she drew up one slender leg and let the other drape over the other side of the chair.Who is that? Does she work here?Seth knew the women here were beautiful, whether they were supermodel thin or technically plus size, but he wasn’t expecting to see a woman who actually… made him… stare. And not because she was pregnant and he was trying to gauge how many weeks along she was… without asking.Damnit, Mrs. Warren, you’re baffling me with that bulge.Twenty weeks? Twenty-five?
Right, the vixen.
Seth turned his whole body toward the glass door, drinking in the sight of the tall woman soaking up some afternoon rays. Gucci sunglasses graced her stoic face as she twirled some blond hair on one finger. Her breasts – good God, those breasts! – moved up and down in her dress with every deep breath. Occasionally she pushed a mint out of her mouth before sucking it back in. Her lips… were they rose-colored? Luscious pink? If Seth broke out his oil palette right now, would he even know where to begin picking a shade for her lips?
Her. I want to paint her.His breath was fogging up the glass. It only annoyed him because it obscured his view of the woman scratching her outer thigh with manicured nails. One nail snagged on the hem of her dress, pulling it up far enough for Seth to get a brief view of her ass. Something stirred. In his pants.
Shit. Seth Christens was a logical man. Sure, he got hard, and was no stranger to the ol’ orgasm in the shower, but he waslogical.He knew why his body did what it did and what it meant in the grand scheme of reproductive means. Deep inside, he was a base creature, but evolution had given him the ability to control himself and think beyondsex sex sex.He was discerning. He didn’t go home with just anyone, and he definitely did not purchase the sexual services of a woman who couldn’t care what his name was.
So why the fuck was his cock screaming at him tomate mate mate?
Seth didn’t have a type. He enjoyed looking at beautiful women, even fantasizing about them… and definitely sleeping with them. But when pressed by friends and even his father to pick a type of woman he would want to pursue should he meet her, he could never answer. Sometimes he lusted after a blonde. Other times a brunette. A curvy girl with beautiful skin. A thin girl with barely-there breasts. Personality had always mattered more to Seth, but when it came to on-the-spot attraction, he was at a loss for words.
Until now.
If someone asked him what kind of woman he wanted to run up and conquer?Her.Whoever she was. A goddess, for all he fucking knew.
“Hey, Seth.”
He turned away, catching Zack’s grin a few feet before him. “Huh?”
Monica repeated whatever she had said. “I’m afraid I must retire for a while, Dr. Christens. The fatigue is too great right now.” She put a hand on her stomach. “I hope you understand.”
“If anyone understands pregnant women, it’s our friendly neighborhood obstetrician.”
The others ignored him. “I will fetch my number two woman for you to finish the tour with. She seems currently available.” Monica sauntered by, opening the glass balcony door and throwing her voice into the wind. “Judith! Would you mind finishing this tour for me, please? I need to rest.”
Seth’s heart palpitated watching that beauty swing both legs over the lounge chair and sit up. Her glasses popped up her head. His keen eyes caught a delightful shade of hazel from far away.
“Gentlemen,” Monica said, gesturing to the tall woman gliding across the balcony and into the hallway, “this is Judith. She is one of our best ladies, and will probably stage a hostile takeover one of these days.”
“Please.” The woman twiddled her fingers, sizing them up. Okay, sizingZackup. Her eyes were instantly drawn to him, which wasn’t unusual. While Seth was fine to look at, Zack exuded that extrovert’s charisma that made everyone in the room flock to him first. He screamed alpha male. Seth was more likely to write it in a letter and hope his intended got the message within a week. If she didn’t? No skin off his back. There were other opportunities.
Except for maybe this woman. The fact she shook Zack’s hand first and gave him the biggest smile sent an unfamiliar sensation through Seth.
Jealousy. Bitter, wild jealousy.
“Seth Christens.” He was prompted to introduce himself while the others stared at him, waiting. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Judith.”Judith.There was a strong, traditional name a man didn’t hear much anymore. Let alone on a beautiful woman as young as Judith.Twenty-five? Thirty?Her age was as elusive as the length of Monica’s pregnancy. She looked young at first glance, but there was knowledge in those eyes.Thirty. I will bet thirty.A grand age. Seth always preferred women closer to his age than much younger or older.
“Don’t be so humble!” Zack clapped him on the back. “Our man Seth here is a doctor! One of the best you could ever know!”
“That so?” Her voice was sweet, if not a bit played up for her job.She is a courtesan, after all.
“I’m retired. I’m an artist now.”
“Oh?” both Judith and Monica said. “That’s lovely.” They exchanged a look. Was that good or bad?
