A Reluctant Courtesan (Harem Masters #1) (Harem Masters Series) (2 page)

Only a few times did one of the men try to touch her. Some
men thought that she was a special prize and they were willing to pay any price
for her. Gaia made it clear that Kalliope was not a prostitute and that she was
merely a servant in the brothel.

Once a drunken man groped her and pinned her up against the
wall before Gaia jumped in. The man had punched Gaia but still Gaia defended
Kalliope. Many men offered Gaia exorbitant amounts for Kalliope’s virginity.
Gaia could have become a very rich woman, but she wouldn’t accept them.

Kalliope was not for sale.

As Kalliope finished cleaning up the living quarters, she
sat down on what was now her mattress. She had lived in Gaia’s quarters for her
entirety at the brothel. Tonight she would sleep on this mattress with the
other women. She knew that Gaia was good to her and after years in the brothel
Kalliope knew what was expected of her now. All along she knew that one day she
would be a prostitute too. The customers of the brothel had been waiting for
Kalliope to ripen. They had begged Gaia, pleaded with her for the first taste
of sweet Kalliope.

Around fourteen, Kalliope had started to become a bit of a
distraction in the brothel. She was growing into herself, and she was an
undeniable beauty. She had long raven-hued tresses that fell in thick, envious
waves down her back. Her complexion was a flawless and desirable olive tone.
Her eyes were dark and luminous and seemed to change shades in different light.
Sometimes they were a rich and sultry amber, while other times they appeared
almost deep green.

Gaia was asked on an almost daily basis when Kalliope would
be available. Gaia referred to Kalliope, as her kori, daughter, and she made it
clear that her daughter would not be available until she was eighteen.

Most of the prostitutes were nice to Kalliope and treated
her like a little sister. Sometimes they shared trinkets from the men – a coin
from a foreign country, a scrap of silk from China, a clay figurine. They would
braid her hair and give her their old dresses.

But some were jealous of Kalliope, of her sweet nature and
stunning beauty. Some would claim that Kalliope stained their dresses when
Kalliope knew they were stained already from doing the laundry. Others would
accuse Kalliope of stealing their valuables and plant them in Kalliope’s things
in an attempt to frame her. But Thea Gaia always knew of Kalliope’s pure heart
and she didn’t listen to the others.

Kalliope was lucky to have Thea Gaia.

“I know you’re nervous, Paidi mou,” Gaia said, and Kalliope
turned towards Gaia and smiled at the sweet endearment – my child. Kalliope had
not heard Gaia enter the living quarters.

“I always knew this would happen one day, but I’m afraid. I
don’t know how to be a lover.” Kalliope confessed.

“You will learn. We all had to learn. And soon, it will be
so easy, that you will be a great lover without even having to think about it.”

Kalliope sighed. “I don’t think I will ever be like
Kassandra.”

Gaia chuckled and sat next to Kalliope on her thin mattress.

“Kalliope, you have it in you to be ten thousand times
greater than Kassandra.”

This time Kalliope laughed. “Never!”

“I mean it. You do not know your own beauty. Your sexual
appeal. Men have been lining up for you for years. You will have more work than
any of these women.” Gaia became serious. “You will need to be very careful.
The women will become jealous. You must not act affected and still try to be
the same sweet Kalliope.”

Kalliope rolled her eyes. Everything that Gaia was saying
sounded so ridiculous to her.

“You should get your sleep, sweet one. You have a busy
evening ahead tomorrow.”

Gaia turned to leave the room, but she stopped. “Kalliope. I
do not know how long I will walk this earth, but this brothel is yours, if you
want it.”

“Thea Gaia don’t be foolish! You are still young!”

“I don’t feel so young. You know this brothel from the
inside out. If you want it, it’s yours. You simply need to tell me. You would
do an excellent job running it.”

“I will think about it. Thank you Gaia.”

Gaia nodded and slowly left the room.

***

The next day went by much too quickly for Kalliope, and she
soon found herself dressing for the evening with the other women.

“Are you nervous?” Kassandra asked.

Kalliope nodded and Kassandra came to her.

“Here, let me braid your hair tonight.”

Kalliope smiled gratefully as Kassandra began to work on her
hair. The sensation was heavenly and Kalliope sighed as she felt the stress
melt away.

She was dressed in a light purple gown that draped across
one shoulder and was belted at the waist with thick twine. The dress fell in a
straight line down her legs and grazed against the floor. It had belonged to
two other women before her, but Kalliope had been able to wash it well and mend
the holes.

Not before long, Kalliope found herself moving into the
brothel with the other women. Sometimes men requested women and other times the
women just waited for customers to arrive. Kassandra was usually always
requested and according to Gaia, there were many men who had already requested
Kalliope.

Kalliope gulped as she saw her client, Nileas. He was a
somewhat respected man in the community and a frequent patron of Gaia’s
brothel. All things considered, he was filthy rich.

Kalliope knew he had paid a steep price to claim her
virginity.

“Kalliope,” he breathed as Kalliope moved towards him. He
fingered her hair and ran his fingers across her bare shoulder. “I have dreamed
of you.”

“Follow me,” Kalliope said in a shaky voice.

“Anywhere.”

Kalliope led him to one of the stone beds. Her legs wobbled
as she walked on them, and she felt sick to her stomach.

Nileas reached out, pulling Kalliope against him, and
Kalliope jumped as she felt the hard mass that pushed against the top of her
buttocks.

“Feel how hard I am for you, Kalliope?” he rasped.

Kalliope nodded, feeling afraid.

“Hurry. Take me to the bed. I want your sweet, virgin
pussy.”

Kalliope continued forwards, wishing with each step that she
would not have to go through with it. They reached the stone bed, and Nileas
greedily shoved his hand inside her dress, groping her breasts roughly. He
groaned before pushing his garment aside to reveal his thick cock. It was hard
and slightly crooked to the left. Kalliope had seen enough of them while
working in the brothel, but never one this close.

“Put me in your mouth. Suck on me.”

Kalliope knelt down and wrapped her mouth around Nileas.

Her life of prostitution had begun.

***

“Out of my way!” Adelpha hissed, shoving past Kalliope
towards the baths. Kalliope sighed as Adelpha shoved her out of the way.
Kalliope had learned that arguing with Adelpha was a lost cause. Adelpha
despised Kalliope and the attention she received. Kalliope tried to ignore her
the best she could, but sometimes she couldn’t deal with Adelpha’s attitude.

Today was one of those days.

Kalliope had become a woman of the brothel a little over two
years ago. Gaia had been good to her, and Kalliope had certainly earned the
brothel a great deal of money. She and Kassandra were the two most requested
women, and even after two years; the novelty of Kalliope’s coming of age had
still not completely worn off.

The first few days of Kalliope’s prostitution were a blur.
The initial customer, Nileas, had been rough and Kalliope had bled after their
encounter. Gaia had allowed her to take only two customers that first night,
and Kalliope had been beyond sore the next day. But slowly, Kalliope’s nights
began to fill. Four, five and sometimes six customers a night. Kalliope was in
demand for months, and men would beg Gaia to let them have a taste of the sweet
Kalliope. News spread that Kalliope had come of age and slowly word spread that
Kalliope was just as lovely horizontal as she was vertical.

Tonight, Kalliope had one of her favorite customers
visiting. Elias was one of the most handsome men in the district and he had a
sexual appetite that his wife couldn’t fill. He was young, tall and handsome
and he made Kalliope’s mouth water in a way that she knew was dangerous.
Kalliope often found herself daydreaming about Elias coming to her and begging
her to run away with him. She would leave her life of prostitution and flee
with Elias. They would travel to distant lands where Kalliope would be
respected and Elias would worship her.

The daydreams were bittersweet. Kalliope knew she owed her
life to Gaia, but she often was envious of her sisters who were sold to men so
they could marry and have children. Kassandra had scolded her one time, asking
why Kalliope dreamt of children. “They are nothing but trouble and extra mouths
to feed,” she had scoffed.

As Kalliope draped her green and white peplos across her
shoulders, she glanced at her reflection. Her hair was hanging down her
shoulders tonight, just the way Elias preferred. She rubbed a bit of crushed
berry on her cheek to bring out her natural flush and then she headed towards
the brothel waiting area. She could already hear boisterous voices coming from
the holding room and she knew that the men were beginning to make their way
inside.

Kalliope moved down the stairs and fixed her face into a sultry
expression before she breezed into the room.

“Kalliope!”

“Kalliope!”

“Over here!” The men called.

Kalliope smiled sweetly at the men as she sashayed towards
Elias. Elias was sitting on a stone chair; his back straight and his dark eyes
riveted on her every movement. Kalliope flushed and felt sexy under Elias’ dark
gaze. She felt honored that Elias only came to the brothel for her now. Before
Kalliope was old enough, Elias would sleep with whoever was available.

“Elias,” she murmured as she stood before him.

“Kalliope,” he acknowledged, rising towards her. Kalliope
grasped his hand in hers and led him out of the room. The men called after her
but Kalliope only had eyes for Elias.

Kalliope gently pushed Elias onto a stone bed and she pushed
his legs apart and stood between them.

“What will it be tonight?” she asked softly, running her
fingers lightly across his chest. Elias shivered slightly and fingered at
Kalliope’s dress.

“Your mouth. I’ve been dreaming about your mouth all week.”

“Where do you want it?” she asked coyly, nudging her leg
against Elias’ growing erection and raking one of her hands through Elias’ long
hair.

“Everywhere. You know what I like, Kalliope. Give me what I
like.”

Kalliope didn’t need to be asked twice and she gently pushed
Elias back on the rough bed before she climbed on top of him. She slowly undid
the gold belt that kept his cloak in place and she slid the belt along his body
until he was free of it. She fingered the fine material as she tried to push
away thoughts of his wife buying the item of clothing for him.

With practiced carelessness, Kalliope dropped the belt to
the floor and stretched her body atop of Elias’ strong muscular one. She heard
Elias’ breath catch as she hovered over him, a sliver of the top of her breasts
exposed as she reached around his shoulders to grip the fabric of his cloak.

Slowly, Kalliope pulled the cloak from his shoulders and
exposed his muscular chest. She sighed as she ran her hands over his hard
muscles and his chiseled features. She felt highly satisfied as she watched
Elias’ breathing go from calm and steady to quick and ragged. She continued to
pull at his cloak and Elias eagerly lifted his hips so Kalliope could pull the
cloak completely off.

Elias lay bare and gorgeous in front of her.

“Kalliope,” he breathed, “I can’t get enough of you.”

Kalliope smiled seductively as she let her body gently graze
his erection, and Elias moaned when Kalliope didn’t touch him with her hands.

“Please,” he begged, but Kalliope wagged a finger at him.

“Not yet,” she teased.

She straddled his hips and brought her mouth to his face.
Gently kissing Elias down the side of his cheek and along his jaw line, but
careful not to kiss his mouth. She continued to kiss along his jaw and down his
neck and Elias turned towards her, pushing his mouth forward so Kalliope could
kiss him.

Kalliope had slowly been perfecting the art of teasing. She
kissed up one side of his jaw and down the other side and then slowly grazed
her lips against his lips without pressing firmly. Elias cried out in
frustration and he grabbed Kalliope’s head with his hands and roughly pulled
her towards him. He crushed his mouth to her, forcing her lips apart as he
thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, licking every corner of her.

Kalliope gasped as Elias held her and she felt herself
melting into the kiss and groaning as Elias’ probing tongue possessed her.
Elias didn’t let up and Kalliope knew her lips would be swollen the following
day. Kalliope grinded against Elias’ erection and she tried not to let her
desperate need for Elias to show. Most men repulsed Kalliope, but Elias was one
of the few men that Kalliope would sleep with for free. In fact, Kalliope
herself would
pay
to sleep with Elias, he was just that good.

Finally, Elias tore himself away, leaving Kalliope desperate
and upside down and she jumped up to take a step back and get a hold of
herself.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t be. You’re paying for this. You get whatever you
want.”

“But you were doing exactly as I asked. It’s just it’s so
hard to resist you Kalliope.”

Kalliope made no move towards Elias. She looked at him in
the dim light of the room and wondered what his wife was doing now. Of course
she knew he came to the brothel, the wives in the village were not fools, they
knew that their husbands preferred to get their pleasure outside of the home.
Elias was maybe ten years older than Kalliope, and she guessed that Elias’ wife
was probably five years older than herself. Kalliope couldn’t help but think
that it could have been her if only her father hadn’t been so hasty to get rid
of her.