For the Pleasure of Men (2 page)

When Kalliope had first come to the brothel, Gaia had taken pity on her. She had been filthy and Gaia had lovingly bathed her and dressed her in a peplos that was much too big for her. She had braided her hair, and given her a worn out doll that had been Gaia’s when she was little. Gaia had allowed her to lie around and cry the first week. Gaia had given her all the love she could, hugging her and kissing her, bringing her soup and letting her sleep at all hours of the day.

But after a week, Gaia came to her and Kalliope knew it was time for her to earn her keep in the brothel. Gaia began to show Kalliope how to clean the stone beds where the women took the men. She showed Kalliope how to sweep the floors and clean the kitchen. She slowly taught Kalliope to cook and Kalliope learned that it was not so difficult after all. Gaia promised Kalliope that if she got her work done in time, Gaia would try to spend an hour a day teaching her.

Kalliope was eager to learn and she quickly did her chores so that Gaia could work with her. Running a brothel was busy work, and Gaia could not work with her every day, but Kalliope understood. The love from Gaia was more than she could have ever hoped for from her father and Kalliope slowly adjusted to her new life. She began to run into town for Gaia, and gradually take over the small tasks that Gaia no longer had time to manage.

Time moved ever on and Kalliope slowly became a charming fixture at the brothel. At first, Kalliope was deemed too young by Gaia to be around at all. She only cleaned the brothel-proper during the few small hours when no customers were around. But around the time of Kalliope’s tenth birthday, Gaia began to allow her to use her schooling to entertain the customers.

Kalliope would dress in a pretty garments, and recite poetry, read or make drawings on the walls. Gaia encouraged Kalliope to sing and soon, Kalliope was singing songs for the patrons as well. They would cheer and ask Kalliope to refill their wine. She would scurry off and come back with the wine, smiling brightly at the men.

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.

* * * * *

Chapter Two

* * * * *

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.