More parts ahead! Enjoy!
The room was softly lit and scented with hyacinth. Aurelia lay on the bed waiting for her Erotic Instructor. His name was Bastian Orsino. Aurelia had heard about him from the older girls. He had deep chocolate skin with sinewy muscles that could lift anything. Aurelia’s heart beat irregularly every few minutes as she picked whatever imaginary dirt was underneath her fingernails. It was all she could do to stop herself from scratching at her scars. She wondered what Constance was doing and how her Instructor would be admiring her perfect porcelain skin and those emerald eyes that even the stern Matron Euphemia couldn’t help but extoll. Maybe Bastian will trade with another instructor. It’s been known to happen.
Just as Aurelia’s thoughts were running wild the door opened and there he was… Aurelia sat up quickly, her face flushed as Bastian smiled at her.
“Evening, my lady,” he said. His voice was a smooth baritone that made Aurelia’s insides melt. He couldn’t have been more than 30 or so. Bastian stood before her just smiling, his dark eyes sparkling in the soft lighting. They stared at each other in silence. Aurelia was unsure of what to do. Bastian just stood patiently watching her.
“Do you… want to sit?” Aurelia finally asked.
“Only if you want me to,” Bastian smiled. “You’re in control here.” Bastian sat on the bed still a safe distance from his trembling student. Aurelia hugged her knees still clinging to her robe.
“First thing you learn in being a courtesan is that you’re always in control,” Bastian continued gently. “Even when it seems you’re on the bottom, you’re the real power.”
Aurelia just sat in silence. Her eyes wandered over Bastian’s body, having to fight the urge to jump him. His cotton shirt stretched the limits of his sinewy muscles. His skin was dark in contrast with her scarred white flesh.
“Don’t talk much do you?” Bastian spoke more in jest but Aurelia still turned away embarrassed. “That’s good. It makes you mysterious. Guys like mystery.”
Aurelia tucked her corn wheat hair behind her ear and smiled a little. She felt a burning in her cheeks and her blood begin to race at the idea that Bastian found her mysterious.
“But don’t be too mysterious,” Bastian laughed.
“I’m…,” Aurelia started but she couldn’t find anything witty to say. She wasn’t Constance. Bastian looked at her kindly then said, “Don’t worry too much about what to say the first time. I know this is supposed to be a physical instruction given that you’ve been taught how to act emotionally and mentally but…” Bastian leaned in, “the first time is still difficult.” Bastian reached for Aurelia, touching her cheek with his smooth fingers that sent small ripples of joy through her. “It takes time to get below the surface of someone to truly know them.” Bastian lifted Aurelia’s chin and noticed her one small scar on her shoulder blade.
Aurelia quickly backed away and covered herself. Her walls were back up again. Instead of being disappointed or even mortified Bastian maintained his gentle smile.
“You’re not the first Covenant girl I’ve been with just so you know,” Bastian soothed. “I’ve seen worse trust me.”
“Not many people… understand the Covenant Church’s methods of penance,” Aurelia spoke in a hard tone. Bastian lifted his hands in surrender, “I know the feeling. Not many people understand the Ashoka either.”
“You’re Ashoka?” She should have guessed given his body seemed so perfect.
“I was raised in a temple with nuns and monks,” Bastian explained. “One of those integrated temples. I was supposed to be a monk too you know.”
“Really?” Aurelia’s body relaxed a little as she leaned in with interest. “My father is a priest and my mother is a nun.” She smoothed over the other places where her scars were. She could still feel the itch.
“Yeah but living a celibate life… let’s just say it wasn’t the life for me,” Bastian laughed. Aurelia smiled despite herself.
“There’s that smile,” Bastian grinned. “You’re prettier when you smile. Your eyes seem to shine.”
“I’m sure you tell that to a lot of girls,” Aurelia rolled her eyes but her smile remained.
“In this case I mean it,” he said. They sat in silence looking at each other with smiling faces. Aurelia felt her walls come down at each minute. Her mind went numb as her body took control. Aurelia crawled over to Bastian and kissed him. Innocently, close-mouthed but the kiss had a spark that made Aurelia feel alive.
“We can take this as slow as you want to,” Bastian assured her.
“Sorry, I just had to do that for some reason,” Aurelia’s heart thumped in her chest. Bastian grinned, his stunning ivory smile bringing more light into the room somehow.
“You’re the master here,” Bastian insisted.
* * * *
“You seem to forget who you’re dealing with,” Magistrate Gilroy fumed.
“And you seem to forget who my Master is,” said Sulla with contempt.
The tall thin Magistrate Leonard Gilroy’s high cheek bones reddened as the nostrils of his aquiline nose flared.
“You will regret this,” Gilroy finally said. Then he stormed off leaving Sulla with his glass of fine wine. A few minutes later the Viceroy Victor Seneca himself entered Sulla’s small office. He came in a secret passage way that lead to his bigger office.
“Gilroy is as pleasant as ever I see,” Seneca grinned.
“He’s an intelligent man but not a clever one,” Sulla mourned as he sipped the dark wine, savoring it’s fine taste. It was a good way to end a hard day.
“What was Gilroy whining about now?” Seneca asked as he helped himself to Sulla’s wine bottle and poured himself a glass.
“I passed on that you wanted the Legion agents who were being tried in his court to be released,” Sulla explained. “Though even I have to pause and wonder why you would do that?”
“Because making martyrs of members hasn’t helped us,” Seneca spoke frankly. “But their families are another story.”
“You rounded up their families?”
“And the people who harbored these terrorists.”
Sulla had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He played with the cloth of his silky black glove thinking about the new bodies that would be hanging in the squares before they were turned into fertilizer. It became Seneca’s policy to punish the people who harbored Legion terrorists and even chop off the hands of sympathizers. The Viceroy was determined to turn the public against the so called rebels but Sulla had his ear to the ground and knew that public fear was turning into resentment.
“With the refugees pouring into Zagreus and closing down public buildings to house them,” Sulla wondered aloud, “the public is already on edge.”
“I’ve never known you to be the weak stomach type, Julian,” Seneca mused as he took his swig of wine.
“I do what is necessary, Sir,” Sulla’s crystal blue eyes grew steely. “This will hurt more than heal.”
“The people need to know who the real power is,” Seneca stated. “The Earth Confederation has given them food, water, and shelter. Without us the Athena Belt would be in chaos. Marauders would take every transport and the terrorists would blow up every building with innocent clerks just to make themselves feel good. We provide order.”
Sulla sat at his desk, his wine becoming sour all of a sudden.
“Oh, Viceroy,” a sweet melodious voice called from Seneca’s office. “Don’t keep me waiting or I’ll have to punish you severely.”
“Coming, darling,” Seneca called sweetly. He turned to Sulla gravely, “Remember, Sulla, we keep order. See that it’s done.”
“Yes, sir,” Sulla spoke grimly as Seneca practically skipped to join his beautiful ebony courtesan. Sulla managed to catch a sight of Seneca’s love goddess before the door slid shut, she was wrapped in black leather that lifted her breasts to make them seem bigger. The Viceroy had odd tastes but Sulla wasn’t one to judge. Perhaps he could use some distraction as well.
* * * *
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Constance fumed. Leila had her hands behind her back as she looked at the sleeping drunk on Constance’s bed.
“You must have worn him out…,” Leila tried to lighten the mood but Constance’s bejeweled eyes were stormy this morning.
“I seriously don’t want to talk about it now,” Constance got up, “Let’s go to our morning bath I need to let off some steam.”
“Shouldn’t we—”
“If he was capable enough to stumble in here he’s perfectly able to stumble out!” Constance placed her hands on her hips. Leila saw that she had left him some aspirin and a steaming cup of coffee beside the bed. The young girl learned that it was in Constance’s nature to be nurturing even when she was angry with someone. Leila quickly followed the steaming Constance not wanting to darken her friend’s mood any further.
Constance submerged herself into the steaming water, scattering the scented rose petals and making angry ripples. She resurfaced, face red either from frustration or the hot water. Constance then started to comb her black hair but her hands were trembling.
“Here let me do it or you’ll rip your hair out,” Leila offered. Without waiting for an answer, she took the comb from Constance and began parting her long raven locks, smoothing out the tangles. After a few minutes Constance began to calm down. Leila began talking about her night to help Constance take her mind off things. Leila talked about her beautiful, spirited roommate, Naomi. The minute one met Leila you could tell that men were never her interest. She wouldn’t have been the first courtesan to play for the other team but some who were chosen by men made the best of things. Others were lucky to be chosen by other women or even to be taken with another courtesan.
After a while Constance was more clear minded to talk about her disappointing first night with an Erotic Instructor.
“He just came in drunk, nothing much else to say,” Constance remembered.
“Handsome Ransom? That’s what most of the girls call him,” Leila said. Yes he was handsome even though being drunk distorted her image of him. Those slate gray eyes glazed over from too much alcohol, his hair a dark rusty red and stubble that she imagined would chafe against her fine sensitive skin. His lips she imagined would taste like bourbon or beer. Then she remembered his smell of leather and a hint of cinnamon. A sweet smell mixed with a more masculine scent. From what Constance touched she remembered his firm muscles. Nothing too impressive but he had a strong frame, broad chested. She began to imagine what it would feel like to have that body held against her. Somehow the thought made her even angrier.
“He is as handsome as he is rude,” Constance seethed.
“Who is?”
Leila and Constance turned to see Aurelia looking a bit more cheerful than she was yesterday.
“Constance didn’t have that great of a night with her instructor,” Leila explained.
“Leila!” Constance admonished.
“Oh really?” Aurelia smiled more broadly this time, unwilling to hide the satisfaction on her face. “I suppose personality didn’t save the emerald-eyed Constance this time.”
Aurelia’s smugness made it all the more humiliating. Constance may have been raised in Ashoka, a religion of non-violence, but she seriously considered breaking her vow of peace and punching Dex Ransom next time they crossed paths.
* * * *
Dex woke up to the morning light in his face. The dome of Zagreus had an artificial sun as the ice moon was almost always in the shadow of Europa. His head pounded as if a monkey was banging on his skull with a hammer. He needed coffee more than he needed… or maybe he needed an aspirin first… Dex turned his head to see a steaming cup of coffee with a bottle of water and an aspirin on the night stand. Then it suddenly came back to him. He stumbled in last night but instead of doing his instructing job he made a mess of things. He slapped his palm over his eyes and groaned.
“Shit…” he muttered miserably. The girl… what was her name? Connie? Constance! He remembered her eyes. Eyes like emeralds. The other details were blurry but that was what Dex remembered most. He needed to fix this…
* * * *
“It’s okay you don’t have to love me.”
“Then what happened?” asked Bastian.
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Theo lounged back into the cushions with an impish smile on his smooth caramel face.
“You just did,” Ion chuckled.
“What about you, Ion? How was your beauty?” asked Theo.
“Kassia is a sweet girl,” Ion shrugged, disinterested in the subject of his conquest. “Very eager to please but otherwise not so exciting.”
“You’re hard to please,” Bastian shook his head.
Truthfully Ion couldn’t stop thinking of that sharp tongued Ashoka girl with the emerald eyes. As he kissed and stroked Kassia, a slender, small breasted petite beauty of Asian ancestry he imagined Constance’s curves and luscious lips. Kassia’s moans were Constance’s moans. Perhaps he can switch with Dex.
* * * *
“Honey, you’re a bad habit,” Dex muttered to his whiskey bottle. He hadn’t left the room. He had some of the coffee and aspirin that the girl left him. His first thought was to apologize but every time he got up his head would spin.
“Perhaps you should get a new habit.”
Dex recognized that domineering voice. He turned to see the Matron Euphemia, her clear blue eyes narrowing at him. Her pink lips were pursed as she placed her hands on her hips and looked him over.
“You don’t look like a man who had a night with a Hedone courtesan,” she chided. “Unless that meek Constance has some hidden talents I’m unaware of.” They were alone so Dex could speak freely though he would have spoken freely either way.
“Ughhhh,” Dex groaned.
“I heard that you didn’t do the task that you were hired to do,” Euphemia’s voice was grating.
“Can you speak a little softer please?” Dex messaged his temple.
“I have no need for Instructors who can not instruct my students,” Euphemia went on.
“You’re kinda pretty when you’re angry you know,” Dex attempted charm but Euphemia was an experienced woman who was not so taken with flattery. Quite attractive too Dex had to admit. She took Dex by the chin, inspecting his blood shot eyes. Despite her rough touch Euphemia’s hands were quite smooth to the touch.
Euphemia felt the friction of Dex’s unruly stubble. She tested all instructors before hiring them. There was an anger in Dex that made the sex extra fun. It’s why she hired him. Her common business sense told her to set Dex loose but the woman in her…
“I think we need to reevaluate your skills,” Euphemia let go of Dex’s strong chin. “Sober up then come to my chambers tonight. Don’t be late this time.”
* * * *
Constance was in an Ashoka shrine. Hedone accommodated any religion it’s students worshipped. Constance usually went to the shrine when she was in a crisis or just feeling homesick. Right now she was in crisis. Constance burned some incense watching the blue perfumed smoke twist and writhe like a serpent as it ascended. She took a deep breath holding her obsidian prayer beads, putting her negative thoughts into each bead. She stroked the black satin tassel as she did so.
“You look tense but I can help with that.”
Constance turned around to see Ion, smug while leaning against a pillar of the shrine’s entrance. She frowned.
“I came here to be alone,” she turned back around trying to focus on the burning incense.
“I come in peace,” Ion spread his hands holding them up in surrender. The memory of his kiss was still a sizzling imprint on Constance’s lips. Constance ignored him as she attempted to recapture her meditative state. Ion came in without invitation lighting another incense stick then placing it in a brass prayer bowl knelt next to Constance.
“I never know how to meditate in these places,” Ion confessed.
“A tip is one should be silent so as not to disturb others,” Constance focused her energy on her prayer beads.
“So I’m guessing things didn’t go so well last night with your instructor.”
Constance fidgeted on her satin pillow, avoiding Ion’s penetrating gaze.
“What makes you say that?” she asked curiously.
“In my experience a woman who loses her virginity doesn’t spend the next day praying her frustration away… unless you’re a Covenant girl,” Ion chuckled. Constance sat in silence. Ion’s intense gaze made her cheeks burn. She took in a deep breath to calm her racing heart beat.
“He came in drunk,” Constance answered after a while. “He just passed out on my bed.”
“Scoundrel,” Ion pointed out. He inched closer to Constance who remained very still. He boldly moved her hood an inch back, moving pieces of her raven hair away from her face getting a view of her sparkling green eyes that were so distressed.
The graze of Ion’s fingers made her shudder. Whether it was from indignation or attraction or both she wasn’t sure but Ion made Constance feel something. The silence was becoming awkward combined with the intimate touching. Constance stood up abruptly saying, “This is inappropriate. You shouldn’t be touching me and looking at me like…”
“Like?”
“Like that!” Constance turned to look down at Ion who was still smiling smugly. “This is a sacred place.”
Ion rose from his seat standing inches away from Constance. “We should move this outside then… Or maybe we should kiss to break the tension.”
“Knock it off,” Constance left the shadow of the shrine only to be closely followed by Ion. He took her by the arm and once more kissed her abruptly. This kiss wasn’t like before, innocent and close-mouthed. This kiss was more charged with sexual energy. Ion pulled Constance in to his embrace holding her firmly against his lean frame, his thin sensuous lips sucking on Constance’s lower lip. Constance was too in shock to respond at first. Then Ion boldly moved his tongue between her teeth, teasing her timid tongue to touch his.
Ion pulled his mouth away whispering, “Tension diffused.” Ion removed Constance’s hood to reveal her elegant white neck.
“Stop it,” Constance begged. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Ion laughed against her throat, “Relax. I’m not going to deflower you here and now.” Ion released Constance admiring the flush in her beautiful face.
“I can tell when a woman has an itch and you have a raging itch that needs scratching,” Ion said licking his lips, hungry for Constance’s young flesh. “If your Instructor becomes a disappointment again then come find me.”
With that thought Ion left Constance to simmer. Constance’s body was in chaos. Her heart pumping faster and her loins were still tingling.
* * * *
Aurelia sat reading the email her father had sent. She looked at it with melancholy. Eight years had gone by since the day her father dropped her off at Hedone. His stern brown eyes watching her with a mixture of disdainful pride. A buzz at her door interrupted her thoughts. It was that time again. Another session.
Her heart leapt when she opened the door.
“Bastian,” she practically sighed his name.
“Hey there,” Bastian’s brilliant white smile made Aurelia’s heart flutter but it still weighed heavy on her mind. Bastian could sense this as he walked through the door.
“So what’s on the agenda tonight?” Bastian asked. Then he spied Aurelia’s tablet. Without asking he looked at the email that was still open on the tablet.
“Who’s Jerome?” he asked. Aurelia quickly made her way across the room and took hold of the tablet, holding it close to her chest.
“No one,” she said, her blue eyes suddenly cold. Bastian backed off a little.
“Easy,” he soothed. “If you don’t wanna talk about it I understand. We all have things we prefer to keep to ourselves.” Aurelia nodded muttering, “Thanks.”
* * * *
Ever since it happened Constance had been off a step. Ion’s brash, passionate kiss stayed with her making her mind wander towards more lewd images. When Leila offered a trip into the market Constance jumped at the chance. Aurelia was also invited. But that wouldn’t stop Constance. She would rather suffer Aurelia’s brooding company than risk running into Ion again. The girls threw on their white silk veils to conceal their beauty; a tradition to deter men from abducting the would be courtesans on a spur of lust at the sight of them.
The market was crowded. Almost every week refugees were pouring in from the four mining stations: Cressida, Metis, Leto, and Vesta. Zagreus had begun expanding the dome but in the mean time crime had elevated and housing was an issue. Bastian came along for extra security. Seemed that Aurelia was more preoccupied with Bastian than she was with tormenting Constance.
Constance admired the glass figurines of one stand. One was a song bird, iridescent black in the light hanging on a red satin ribbon.
“It’s a black bird,” said the woman proudly minding the stand. “An Old Earth symbol for sexual temptation.”
“Maybe it’ll bring me luck,” Constance smiled. “How much?”
“I got it.”
Constance turned to her unpleasant surprise to see her drunkard instructor standing there looking wilted either from excessive drink or contrite. Perhaps both
“You’re sober I see,” Constance scorned.
“I wanted to apologize for… the other night,” Dex offered the vender credits but Constance stopped him.
“Don’t take his money,” she ordered the poor woman now caught in their spat. “I’m not so easily bought.”
“Take it,” Dex insisted. Caught in Dex’s gray gaze the woman obeyed but by the time the glass bird was in hand Constance had begun to walk off.
“Wait up,” Dex called.
“You got over your hangover pretty quick,” Constance shot back. Dex made his way beside her. Unfortunately Constance wasn’t as fast as Dex.
“The coffee and aspirin helped,” Dex kept pace with her to her annoyance. “Thanks for that by the way.”
Constance’s cheeks burned. She figured it was anger.
“Hey,” Dex pulled Constance aside, the sea of people threatening to separate them. They came to an empty passage way between two shops.
“I’m sorry,” Dex apologized once more making Constance look into his bluish gray eyes. His hands were still on her. Constance could feel the heat burn through her clothing reaching her skin. She felt her heart jump into her throat for a moment.
“What’s wrong with me?” Constance asked looking Dex directly in the eye.
“What?”
“You don’t like me or something?”
“What are you talking about? Calm down.”
“Did you have to get yourself blinding drunk to get through the night the idea was so bad?” Constance seemed genuinely concerned now. She couldn’t help it.
“It had nothing to do with you,” Dex insisted. “It was…” It was then Constance got a better look at Dex’s face in the day lamps. He had bags under his somber gray stone eyes. Sleepless nights. It was then Constance and Dex heard a commotion from the streets.
“I don’t serve to mining rats,” called a coarse harsh voice.
“And I said I would buy it for her.” That was Aurelia. Constance would recognize that haughtiness anywhere. Dex and Constance went to see Leila with her veil parted looking frightened as Bastian had a protective arm around her. Aurelia was arguing with the vender of a fruit stand.
“If her credits aren’t good then mine should be,” Aurelia glowered at the portly vender with a clean shaven round face and beady eyes.
“You know how many jobs her kind has taken from good Zagrean citizens?” the vender continued his manifesto drawing a crowd. Some were shouting agreements. “My brother was replaced by a mining rat from Vesta just last week. The E-Con should just equalize you all the minute you leave your little rat nests. Stealing our homes, the food from our very mouths!”
“Aurelia, let’s just go,” Leila pleaded as she looked around frightened.
“We need to get cover,” Dex whispered. Constance could hear the dreadful hum of the city drones that policed the dome. One didn’t want to be where they were when there was trouble. Constance ran to Aurelia who stubbornly stood her ground, “You don’t like you’re starving, buddy.” The vender’s beady eyes seemed to get smaller in the folds of his flesh. His face resembled the very tomatoes he sold.
“Aurelia, let it go,” Constance took hold of Aurelia’s wrist pulling her back though Aurelia’s hazel eyes still burned like lasers. Suddenly someone from the crowd shouted, “Go back to your rat hole!” Then a glass bottle was thrown from out of nowhere almost hitting the girls smashing to the wall. That was the spark that ignited the mob. Zagreans fought refugees as well as sympathizers.
Bastian grabbed Leila and Aurelia fighting his way through the crowd. Dex cried, “Follow me!” He took Constance by the wrist, in the heat of the moment she forgot her anger allowing Dex to lead her wherever here wasn’t. Some people were trampled. Children crying. Drones gathered calling out warnings in cold monotone voices. Sirens sounded and Peace Keepers appeared as drones began firing into the crowd. Dex led Bastian and the girls around the corner to the Red Bloc of Zagreus. He took them to The Canterbury bar.
“The Cant?” Bastian wondered. “Not the most appropriate place for ladies.”
“Oh please, Bastian,” Constance rolled her eyes. “I grew up just a few streets away from here. Come on, guys. Aurelia?”
Aurelia was distracted. Looking over her shoulder as if expecting a specter to come out from the shadows.
“Aurelia,” Constance called again. Bastian placed his hand on Aurelia’s shoulder. Aurelia flinched. She turned to her companions, hazel nut eyes haunted by memories she didn’t want to share. Aurelia breezed passed them with her head low avoiding their worried eyes. Dex shrugged.
“The Bloc will be on lock down,” Dex explained. “If we go out then we’ll be gunned down by the drones. We can stay here until morning.”
* * * *
The Cant was a bar for the low caste to unwind. It was a made from old parts of the Canterbury ship that helped found Zagreus. Once the Orion Consortium started making newer models The Canterbury was broken down. Most of the scrap went to building houses. Holographic monitors flickered as some showed sports and others the news. The place had an acrid smell like copper, puke and stale beer. Just when Constance thought it would never fill her nostrils again but oddly enough she felt at home here. An old man with swarthy wrinkled skin looked up, his one good eye seeing the new customers. His wrinkled face grew when he smiled.
“Back so soon, boy?” he called in a hoarse tone. Years of smoking no doubt.
“I missed your loving arms I had to get back,” Dex shrugged with a dry smile. “Clayton, we need to spend the night here until the lock down is lifted.”
Clayton looked over Dex’s shoulder to see Bastian and 3 young women in veils. His brow furrowed as he looked the girls up and down.
“You kidnap a few virgins, miho?”
“We just need a place to stay for the night,” Bastian stepped in. He pulled out a small tablet comm prompting Clayton to get out his comm as well. Bastian touched comms with Clayton, transferring 500 credits.
“Enough for your discretion?” Dex asked. His lips curling into a smile. Clayton returned the smile.
“What can I get you boys?” he asked.
* * * *
“Ow!” Leila jerked her head back as Constance applied alcohol to the wound.
“Hold still,” Constance scolded gently. “That bottle got you but not by much.”
“It’s going to scar isn’t it?” Leila’s voice trembled. By all accounts she was still a child. Barely 14. Aurelia handed Constance a healing patch.
“This should heal it up by tomorrow,” Constance soothed.
“No way that little thing is going to scar,” Aurelia patted Leila on the shoulder. “And I know something about scars.”
“She wouldn’t have to worry about scars if you had just walked away, Aurelia,” Constance retorted.
“Are you blaming me for the riot?” Aurelia sounded incredulous.
“No I just want to know why you couldn’t just leave it alone?” Constance placed the patch on Leila’s head then turned to face her rival.
“He was being a dick,” Aurelia’s low caste was showing. Her coarse language grating against Constance’s cultivated ears.
“I know but Leila could have been seriously hurt because of your recklessness,” Constance reprimanded. Then she sighed, “I’m not saying that guy was a saint but there were other ways to handle the situation.” Aurelia’s ears grew pink as her nostrils began to flare. They stared each other down. Aurelia was about to say more but Bastian intervened.
“Ladies!” he sang. “How about a drink?” He pulled Aurelia away though her hazel eyes burned a hole in Constance’s face. Dex leaned against the doorway of the room watching Constance.
“What?” she spat.
“She’s not the only one who can’t seem to drop something,” he said simply.
“Aurelia needs to take responsibility for her actions,” Constance glared at him. “We all do.” Dex stood there, his expression unreadable. He nodded.
“You could use a drink,” Dex suddenly suggested. “Come on. Leila can sleep in here she’s safe for now.” Dex pulled Constance away from Leila who gladly took a break from her friends’ bickering.
* * * *
“Constance is such a self righteous bitch!” Aurelia gulped down her mug of beer. Bastian sat across from her watching with interest.
“You know how to put it away,” Bastian marveled.
“I would often sneak out with other students to get some of Lady Euphemia’s stash,” Aurelia was actually boasting. “Constance never talked but she always gave me that judgmental mother hen look just to piss me off.”
“Not that I’m agreeing with her but Constance is kinda right,” Bastian grew somber. “There were other ways to handle that situation.”
“Not you too!” Aurelia grumbled. They sat in awkward silence until Bastian asked, “What’s really going on with you today?”
Aurelia sat there staring into the foam of her beer as if the excuse was written in the bubbles.
“Ashoka teaches us that holding all those negative feelings in is like a cancer,” Bastian remarked softly. “It eats away at the light until there’s nothing inside you but darkness. All you’re doing is hurting yourself.”
Aurelia mulled it over in her mind.
“I think another drink would help,” Aurelia said.
* * * *
“You need to line up your targets,” Dex critiqued Constance’s pool technique. Her veil was off. Even in the bad fluorescent lighting she was beautiful. The only gem in this dive bar.
“I know how to play…,” Constance retorted. Her face was a little flush from 2 beers already. Constance missed her ball entirely.
“Damn! Can’t I get a do over?” she begged. Dex could barely suppress his laughter as her pink lips pouted.
“Here let me show you.” Dex stood behind her. Her scent filling his lungs and the warmth of her body as he pressed against her, laying his hands on hers as he showed her how to properly line up two billiard balls.
“The 8 ball is not your friend,” Dex advised gently. “All you really need is a good eye and a firm hand then no ball is safe.”
Constance took a deep breath to slow down her hammering heart. Dex’s touch burned yet his hands seemed to fit so perfectly with hers. His natural musk seemed to drown out the staleness of the bar. Dex backed away, “You got this.” Constance focused. The red ball was her target. Lining them up she pulled her one arm back then with the right amount of force she hit the ball and it fell into the pocket.
“I got it!” she cried with joy. She actually jumped with excitement. “I think I can do it again.”
“Okay no more alcohol for you,” Dex chuckled.
“Oh come on,” Constance was all wriggly and energetic like a child which was more adorable. “Just one more.”
“I’m cutting you off,” Dex affirmed.
“Okay, Dex…,” Constance sighed defeated. “You know you don’t really look like a ‘Dexter’.”
“Which is why I’m called ‘Dex’,” he explained as he lined up his shot.
“Still…”
“She’s right, brother. You seem more like a Jaxon to me. Or a Jay.”
Dex looked up to see Faro leaning against the frame. Dex’s face soured a little.
“Faro,” Dex nodded then walked over giving his friend a hug. Yet from Constance’s somewhat intoxicated point of view she could see Dex was not as happy as Faro was.
“Constance, this is a friend of mine, Faro,” Dex explained.
“Hello, Constance,” Faro held out his hand to her. His gaze burned with such intensity she felt her soul shiver with nameless dread. Nevertheless she took his hand. It was very firm. Constance thought her hand was caught in some bear trap.
“Not much of a grip on this one, Dex,” Faro shook his head but smiled all the same.
“Been thinking of teaching her some basic self defense techniques,” Dex mentioned rather quickly. Constance was lost. Why Dex was suddenly so jittery? Faro nodded in approval.
“Good idea,” Faro agreed. “She’ll need it to fight off those unwanted customers. I bet all kinds of men will be lining up to get a piece of that.” Constance and Dex exchanged looks. Faro laughed suddenly realizing his error, “I’m sorry. You’re one of those courtesans aren’t you. I just assumed since you’re not wearing that veil of yours…”
“It’s fine,” Constance said quickly. She was feeling light headed now. “I think the alcohol is getting to me. I’m going to go to bed.”
“I’ll walk you up,” Dex was by Constance’s side in an instant. Dex looked over his shoulder, glaring at his friend.
* * * *
“What was that all about?” Constance asked as they made it to their room. Leila was fast asleep already. Constance leaned against the door frame, the alcohol making her woozy.
“Boy, you really are a light weight,” Dex marveled amused.
“Seriously…,” Constance grew somber. “You weren’t too happy about that guy showing up.” Dex stood there looking down at her rheumy green eyes. His pulse quickened at their depth. Right then in there something inside him wanted to take her into his arms and kiss those pouty lips red from her biting them and the beer. What would her kiss taste like? His fingers yearned to touch her, to know what secrets hid inside that soft, yielding flesh. Dex shook his head, “Learn to drop things, Constance. Get some sleep. You’ll probably have a headache tomorrow.” But he couldn’t shake his desires even as he walked away from her. Once more Dex Ransom left Constance alone and wanting.
* * * *
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