“As a medical professional, I’m inclined to remind you that complications rise the older you become, but it’s never impossible.”
“Hmph. Thanks for the reminder.” June picked up a piece of bread and tossed it into Sette’s soup bowl. “Let’s talk about something else. Like what we’re doing tomorrow.” Her grin was infectious. How could Sette stop herself from joining in? “I haven’t been on a date in the city in a long time. Not since my last patron…” Her voice trailed off as she looked at the romantic setup on the balcony. “Hell, I haven’t even done something like this since that man.”
“Who was it? Or can you tell me?”
June looked around, as if there were any servants there to eavesdrop and report back to the boss about broken NDAs. “Mitchell Hutcherson. Do you know him? He’s from this county, not the city. Didn’t live too far from here until he moved to the Middle East for work.”
Sette searched her brain for that name. “Doesn’t ring a bell.” That was a lie. She knew Mitchell. They were one year apart in school.
“You’re better in bed.” It was like June read her mind.
Sette snorted. “Much better, I’m sure.”
“One of the best. You actually make me feel like you want to be with me.”
There went both of their smiles. “What do you mean?” Sette asked. “Of course I want to be with you. I wouldn’t be doing all of this if I didn’t.”
“You’re a rare breed, Dr. Christie.” June held up her wineglass for a toast. “Only you would come to a pleasure house looking to give one of the residents a good time.”
She held up her glass as well. “I can’t help myself. I see you and think about everything you deserve… and how I can give it to you.”
A tint of blush appeared on June’s cheeks, her sheepish look blooming into an awkward laugh as their glasses clinked.
They took their time that night, knowing that they had no deadline. A tour of the labyrinth took them past dusk, when the dim lamps turned on, and insects buzzed in the air. Inside June’s room, Sette sat in the large lounge chair and regaled her with some of the milder medical stories, while June sat at her feet, arms and head resting in Sette’s lap. Eventually, she dozed off down there, and Sette was content to sit and stare at her vulnerable visage.
They bathed together. They watched a movie on Sette’s tablet, since June didn’t have a TV. She offered her a massage before June could give her one. As she touched her, careful to both relieve her tension while inciting arousal through her delicate form, June candidly talked about the type of clients she had been with over the past dozen years.
“You know they only want your body, to have a good time, to secure that they at least fuck one beautiful woman that month, to forget about you in the morning… and you’re fine with that. The money makes sure you’re fine with that. I don’t regret a single day, but lately, I’ve been wondering how it may have stunted my life. I’ve never been in love, Sette. Isn’t that weird?”
“Everyone is different,” she said smoothly, although a lump formed in her throat. She squeezed June’s shoulders, thumbs pressing into her back. “Maybe you don’t fall in love easily. That’s a good thing for your line of work.”
“I suppose.” June shrugged into the massage, arms stretching out before her and face buried in bed covers. “What if I am falling in love with someone, though? How would I know?”
“You know because you can’t think of anyone else, even when you’re not around that person. You are always thinking about how you can help them and make them happy. You imagine a future with that person.”
June didn’t say anything until, “Kiss me, Sette. I don’t want to talk anymore.”
So began their first lovemaking session that night.Do you realize you’re the one I’m talking about, June?Even when she was with June, she couldn’t stop thinking about her. Sette hoped that one day – soon – this courtesan would realize the same thing.
Fog covered the Manoir grounds early Thursday morning when Sette stole her love from the compound. By the time they reached the main highway leading to the city, the fog had burned off, and sunshine lasted their entire journey.
“I like your car!” June called over the wind whipping in from the window. Her sunglasses glowed on her face. “Stylish!”
Sette took a sharp curve before responding. “What are you talking about? It’s an Audi.”
“Dude, there’s no such thing asjustan Audi! How fast can it go?”
“Hold on!”
Sette was never caught speeding. She didn’t evenlikespeeding. Then again, she didn’t like putting excess miles on her car.I would scrap this car for her. Sette never thought about her bank account anymore. For the first time in her life, she found a woman worth spoiling with her wealth. She’d buy a Jaguar or Rolls-Royce if that’s what June wanted. Wasn’t there a reason she had hoarded her money for so long?
With any luck, this new collection of hers would bring in millions more. This was only the start of something great.
They didn’t go straight to her townhouse, even though she was dying to show her the studio. Instead, they were due for lunch at the usual outdoor café. Zara and Joy would both be there. Sette had insisted they meet June – in Zara’s case, Sette wanted herto meet therealJune. The one her best friend had intimately become familiar with.I’ll show her what a good match she is for me.Zara never gave her smack for the whole “paying for a girlfriend” thing in weeks, but it still hung between them every time they met, and the conversation turned.
No one looked more comfortable than June at their table. Dressed in an off-white, off-the-shoulder peasant top and denim shorts, she was the pinnacle of care-free and not about to take anyone’s shit. Which was good, because Joy was always looking to dish out some shit, and Zara could bullshit better than anyone else.
“Pleasure,” June said, shaking Joy’s hand over the four-person bistro table. She sat down again, legs crossed and loose ponytail tossed over her shoulder. No one could see her gorgeous eyes behind those big, gold sunglasses, but they could see her pearly-white smile. She wore minimal makeup, if any at all.
