For the Pleasure of Men (10 page)

* * *

Three days later Kalliope was sitting in Melina’s room, asking her for advice on braiding, when Priska came in search of her.

“I’m sorry, Melina, but I must take Kalliope from you.”

Kalliope gave Melina an apologetic look and followed Priska.

Priska placed a heavy black velvet coin purse into her palm.

“What’s this?”

“A gift.”

“From who?” Kalliope had only just received the bracelets as a gift and she couldn’t imagine who else would be sending her such a present.

Priska swallowed, “Spyro.”

Kalliope shoved the purse back in Priska’s hands. “Not interested,” she said backing up.

“I don’t like it either, but he said it was an apology offering.”

“Liar,” Kalliope spat, her anger bubbling over. “He wasn’t the least bit sorry.”

Priska straightened up, and her eyes flashed. “Listen here,” she hissed, “I don’t like it any more than you do. But he’s a good paying customer and you work here now. Spyro is giving you a gift, and you would be wise to accept it!” She paused, and her face softened. “And since you’ve showed such promise already, I’m willing to move you to a new room this evening.”

Kalliope was about to retort back when she realized Priska’s words. “My own room? Tonight?”

Priska nodded. “If you’ll follow me, I will show you what I had in mind.”

Humbled, Kalliope snapped her mouth shut and followed Priska. To Kalliope’s excitement the room was located next to Harmena’s. It was also roughly the same size as Harmena’s room, and Kalliope decided that she would be able to split the room to accommodate a small sitting room as well as a bedroom.

“The furniture is a bit old,” Priska commented, motioning toward the worn out chaise lounge, “but I imagine you will be able to buy new furnishings soon enough.” She looked shrewdly at Kalliope. “Or maybe you already can.”

Kalliope quickly added up the money she had earned, plus the money that she had been given from Orestes’ deal with Gaia, not to mention Spyro’s disgusting gift. She had more than enough to buy herself new furnishings. And not only that, she could probably afford well-made pieces.

Priska left Kalliope in her new room, and she wasted no time moving her few belongings into the space. She then went in search of Melina, who she knew would be able to tell her how she could go about finding furniture for her room.

Melina was more than helpful, and a couple of hours later Kalliope found Harmena.

“That’s amazing!” Harmena exclaimed when Kalliope told her where her new room was located.

“Well, the way it happened was not ideal, but yes the end result is incredible!" Kalliope agreed.

Harmena looked confused, and Kalliope quickly filled her in about Spyro’s gift.

Harmena made a nasty face. “That means he likes you. He’s going to come back for more.”

As angry as Kalliope was at the thought, she still couldn’t forget how Spyro had managed to please her at the same time. She tried to shrug it off, and instead she and Harmena talked about how to re-arrange her new room.

That evening, Melina introduced Kalliope to Stelios, one of Hera Selene’s most valued customers, who also happened to be the most exclusive furniture maker in Athens.

Stelios was older with cropped salt and pepper hair and light eyes. He was friendly and flirtatious and Kalliope knew he liked her instantly.

“Tell me,” Stelios said warmly, guiding Kalliope to a quiet corner in the lobby. “What type of furniture are you interested in?” His hand lingered on Kalliope’s arm, and she decided to play along and flirt.

Smiling seductively, she let her hand graze across Stelios’ knee, and explained how she was interested in a large bed, a trunk, a chaise of some sort and a table with chairs.

Stelios’ nodded thoughtfully. “I think I have some items that you would like. A woman as beautiful as yourself deserves furnishing to match her beauty. How much money do you have?”

Kalliope leaned in, her mouth only inches from Stelios’ ear.

“Enough,” she breathed.

She saw Stelios shudder from excitement.

“Let’s make a deal,” he said silkily, “You take me back with you now, and I will provide you with furnishings that will far exceed your expectations.”

Kalliope licked her lips and stood up, and Stelios quickly rose as well. He followed Kalliope back to her new room, and he looked around quickly before pushing Kalliope onto the bed.

Obedient as ever, Kalliope let Stelios fuck nearly every inch of her, and then she gave him a blowjob that guaranteed he would never forget. Stelios was a good lover, but Kalliope knew that this was more than just work; this was also a business transaction. By the end of their time, Stelios seemed sexually satiated and he left Kalliope’s room with her payment, promising to send his workers over with the furniture the next day.

Kalliope spent a few minutes in her room to recover. Stelios had bound her by her ankles, and she rubbed at the sore pink marks where the rope had cut into her skin.

Straightening her peplos, she went out in search of her next client.

* * * * *

Chapter Ten

* * * * *

True to his word, Stelios’ workers arrived the next day carrying some of the most beautiful pieces Kalliope had ever seen. Harmena watched enviously as the new furniture was placed about her room.

“Your bed is so big,” she said enviously, fingering the delicate blankets draped across the top. Once the workers left, Kalliope and Harmena sprawled across the bed.

“We should do something productive,” Kalliope said, not moving.

“This is productive,” Harmena insisted, “We’re testing out your new bed. This is your place of business after all.”

Kalliope laughed and looked around her new room. Stelios had even sent over a hand-painted partition that separated the bed from the sitting room. After the women finished talking they parted ways to begin preparing for the evening.

Kalliope dressed in her new room, making sure to fasten her mother’s clip into her upswept hair. She was excited to have her own space to work in and glad that she would no longer need a borrowed room.

As she walked towards the hidden lobby of Hera Selene she watched some of the other women slink down the hallways with eager men following behind them. Kalliope was beginning to recognize some of the more frequent customers. A general who always came for Elektra, a politician that preferred only a handful of women, and a few soldiers who would take the first woman they laid eyes on.

Kalliope entered the lobby and let the sounds and smells wash over her. The low murmur of discreet voices, a hearty laugh, and the sound of wine goblets clinking against the stone resonated throughout the hall.

Kalliope could smell the fresh flowers in the lobby, hints of cinnamon and jasmine from the female perfumes, as well as the musky scent of men. As Kalliope’s eyes moved about the room, she could feel someone watching her from behind. Slowly she turned around, her eyes searching until they fell on the culprit.

It was Damianos.

Kalliope hadn’t been expecting him to return until the end of the week.

His bright blue eyes were smoldering with an intensity that made her skin flame, and she knew that he had been watching her since the moment she entered the room. 

Time seemed to freeze as Kalliope made her way across the room towards him. Her feet seemed heavy as lead and she could feel her dress gently grazing against her legs. Damianos’ gaze never faltered and Kalliope found herself standing before him, looking up into his beautiful face.

“Kalliope.”

He said her name with so much feeling, so much passion, that Kalliope couldn’t bring herself to respond, and instead let the name hang there in the heated air between them.

“I wasn’t expecting you home so soon,” Kalliope said feebly. She wanted to tell him about the overwhelming relief she felt to see him safe and sound before her.

Damianos smiled a sly grin. “Hoping I would be gone longer?”

“No!” she said a little too quickly.

Damianos’ grin became slyer. She had given herself away.

“Why don’t you take me back to one of the rooms?” His voice was deep and throaty and he rose slowly until he was towering over Kalliope.

She gulped as her insides clenched and molten hot desire filled her stomach. She straightened her shoulders and looked up at him.

“You missed a lot,” she said coyly, “I have my own room now.”

Damianos’ eyebrows raised and he couldn’t hide his surprise. “Well, well. Now that is unexpected.” His eyes clouded over. “You must be doing quite well.”

Kalliope shrugged his comment off. “I guess that will be for you to decide.”

Damianos’ eyes were playful once again and he grabbed Kalliope’s hand. Her hand felt small and safe in his large grip.

“Take me to your room.”

Without another word, Kalliope led the way to her room. The walk seemed to take years, and by the time Kalliope stepped into her new bedroom, she felt as if her entire body would combust.

Damianos seemed to be feeling the same way, because he let go of her hand and took a giant step away from her.

Kalliope moved towards the bed, and Damianos walked toward her slowly, like a predator stalking his prey.

“Why did you go away?” Kalliope asked softly.

“Business.”

“What kind of business?” There was an erotic tone in their conversation as Damianos’ greedy eyes drank in her body.

“I own land that must be overseen. I have people that must be managed.”

Kalliope nodded, not sure if she completely understood his explanation. Her eyes were drawn to his full lips and she felt a sudden swell of desire when she realized that in any moment those full lips would be on her body.

Damianos moved towards her, his body strong and powerful.

“I thought of you everyday.” His voice was but a whisper, but Kalliope clung to every word.

“I dreamed of you every night.” He continued as he came to stand before the bed. “The other women here no longer hold my interest. It’s only you that fills my mind.”

“And what if I disappoint you?” Kalliope asked quietly.

Damianos kneeled on the bed and grasped Kalliope by her ankles and quickly pulled her to him. She gasped.

“You won’t.”

Before she could cry out with excitement, Damianos crushed his lips to hers, his body hovering above her own. Kalliope froze and then slowly worked her lips in sync with Damianos. His mouth was warm and eager and Kalliope’s body hummed to life beneath him. Damianos mouth tasted sweet and Kalliope wanted more. Sensing her eagerness, Damianos kissed her harder, pushing his tongue between her lips.

Kalliope parted her lips to allow Damianos entry and he groaned as his tongue slipped inside her. With lush strokes he licked the inside of her mouth and their tongues crashed against one another. Damianos lowered his body onto Kalliope and she felt the delicious weight of him on top of her. She reached up to run her hand through his dark hair, but he was too quick, and he caught her wrist in his hand.

“Not unless I give you permission,” he said smoothly. Kalliope pouted, but kissed him harder. Damianos pulled away from her, his breath shallow and ragged.

“I’m going to get carried away,” he chided, “I have a plan for you.”

“A plan?” Kalliope gasped, her hormones raging out of control.

Damianos nodded and crawled across the bed, leaving Kalliope disheveled and panting.

“First things first,” he said slowly, “I want to see that beautiful body underneath your dress.”

Kalliope sat up shakily, her body still reeling from their intense kiss. She smiled somewhat shyly. She knew the way men liked things at Hera Selene.

“Tell me how you want me to undress.”

Damianos’ eyes lit with excitement. “You’re learning fast.” He situated himself on the bed and his eyes turned dark with arousal.

“Stand up and come before me.”

Kalliope scooted off the bed and came around until she stood before Damianos. She couldn’t help the way her eyes slid up his exposed thighs and she would be lying if she said she didn’t want to know what lay between them.

Damianos gave her a wicked grin and she knew she had been caught. She fixed her eyes on him and waited for his order.

“Undo your belt and hand it to me,” he seductively commanded.

Mesmerized by his full lips, Kalliope looked back to his eyes and obeyed. She unknotted her roped belt, and with exaggerated slowness, pulled it from her waist. She felt her dress widen once her waist was no longer cinched. She moved towards Damianos and outstretched her hand, the length of her belt resting lighting in her palm. Damianos took the belt from her, his eyes dancing with amusement.

“I’m going to put this somewhere nearby,” he said softly, reaching behind him and placing her belt at the top of the bed. “I know we will need it later.”

A thrill of anticipation ran through Kalliope and she knew she would obey any command that Damianos gave her. She still couldn’t believe that she was here with Damianos at this very moment.

Damianos looked back at her. “Take off your sandals.”

Kalliope bent over, knowing full well that her dress would hang low at the neck, giving Damianos a peek of her breasts. She heard Damianos suck his breath in and she knew he had glimpsed inside her gown. She slipped off each sandal, tossing them carelessly aside to show Damianos that all her attention was on him.

“Very good. Now slide your dress off your shoulders.”

Kalliope took a deep breath and slipped her arm through each armhole. She held the dress up over her breasts, exposing both her shoulders.

Damianos’ hand grazed across his lap and rubbed between his thighs.

“Good,” he said in a throaty voice, “Drop it to your waist.”

Kalliope let the material fall to her waist and she felt the cool air hit her breasts.

Damianos groaned audibly. “Better than I imagined,” he breathed. His eyes drank in her round breasts. Kalliope had never felt so exposed and so sexy.

“Touch them,” Damianos croaked.