For the Pleasure of Men (4 page)

“Yes!” Kalliope cried out.

“Yes,
sir
,” he corrected.

“Yes, Kyrie.”

Kalliope reached behind her, wanting to grasp the man but instead he pushed her hand away and spanked her again on her left buttock. Kalliope yelped, but the man was quick to soothe her, caressing her and squeezing her, as his hand slid deliciously south, his fingers pushing into the soft, pink flesh between her legs.

Kalliope moaned desperately, pushing her ass towards the man. The man chuckled darkly before hitting her again and swiftly pushing his fingers back into her warm pussy.

Kalliope clenched her muscles around the man’s strong fingers, begging him with her body to stay inside her. The foreign stranger obliged, pushing his two fingers into her once, twice and then a third time as he rubbed against her soft, spongy spot.

Kalliope had never experienced a man take charge of her body in such a way and she found herself enjoying the surrender and loss of control. She was used to running things, and this was a new experience.

The man brushed against her outer lips, swollen with her desire, and he pushed the pad of his thumb against Kalliope’s nub. Kalliope moaned wantonly and the man increased his pressure as he began rubbing her clit.

Kalliope could feel the orgasm building within her and she lost her inhibitions, tossing her hair to the side as her body climbed towards her release. Just as she was about to come, the man pulled his hand away from her and struck her again.

Kalliope cried out from the pain and from the frustration of not being able to finish.

“Not yet, Kalliope,” the man breathed, “I’m not finished with you.”

The man spun her around and pushed her down on the cold stone. With wide eyes, Kalliope watched as the man fumbled in his cloak and pulled out his throbbing cock. He pulled Kalliope’s hands up over her head and held them tightly as he wound her belt around her wrists. Kalliope watched with shock and arousal as the man immobilized her arms.

Panting heavily, the soldier slid between her legs, rubbing her dripping sex and squeezing her swollen breasts. Kalliope bit her lip to keep from yelling out and the man saw the small gesture. He smiled wickedly and lowered his mouth to Kalliope’s ear.

“Do you like how I tease you, Kalliope?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do your other customers dominate you like this?”

“No, Kyrie!”

The man stroked his cock with one hand as his other hand traced the curvature of her neck.

“You have done well following my orders. You could do quite well where I come from.”

Kalliope wanted to ask what the man meant but she was instantly distracted as the man pushed himself deep within her in one, languorous thrust. The sensation was sweeter than Kalliope could have imagined and the man cried out with his own lust and pleasure as he began to slowly claim Kalliope for himself. His thrusts were strong and meaningful and the man had complete control over her body.

The man pulled Kalliope’s legs up and pushed them wide open, making for an even deeper entry. Normally, Kalliope would have held her legs up with her hands, but that was impossible and instead the man kept her legs pushed open, once more showing his dominance over her.

The man’s thrusts became faster and harder and Kalliope came hard, her inner muscles clenching around the man’s throbbing cock, and in turn he came too, pounding into Kalliope with a ferocity.

Kalliope shook against the rough stone as the man yelled loudly, shuddering as he emptied himself into Kalliope. The man rested his head against Kalliope and then snapped it up quickly.

“Do you anoint yourself?” he asked, his face darkening.

“Anoint?”

“Yes, foolish woman! Did you use a paste to prevent pregnancy?”

Comprehension dawned and Kalliope nodded. “Yes, I use an oil mixture.”

The man sighed with relief, putting his head back down. “I was not sure if such measures were practiced in such an unrefined area.”

“Unrefined?”

“Of course. These areas are nothing like the metropolis of Athens.”

“Well unrefined or not, we still practice such things as using oils to prevent pregnancy. How would I make my living if I were to conceive?” Kalliope’s eyes flashed with annoyance at the man’s ignorance.

The soldier shrugged and stood up, his semi-hard erection still dripping with semen.

He lazily fixed his garment, his eyes never leaving Kalliope’s naked and bound body. His dark eyes were filled with lust and desire.

“I could make you an offer you wouldn’t be able to refuse,” he said softly.

Kalliope only looked at him, unsure of what he meant.

Lazily, the man bent down to unwrap Kalliope’s binding. She rubbed at her sore wrists, and sat up before reaching for her peplos to cover herself.

He leaned over and pulled the leather strap from her neck and stowed it in his pocket.

“Would you like to come with me to Athens?”

“What?”

“Come to Athens. I will speak to your keeper immediately.”

He turned on his heel and quickly strode out of the room.

Kalliope frantically pulled her dress on and scrambled out of the room as she sloppily tied her belt. She figured the man was in search of Gaia, and she hurried through the hall, looking for any sign of Gaia. Men tried to stop her and talk to her, cajoling her into leading them back to the beds. Kalliope pushed past them, desperate to find Gaia. Surely Gaia would not accept this man’s offer. This brothel was the only home Kalliope had known and she was a country girl; she was not fit for a city such as Athens.

Kalliope hurried towards Gaia’s office door and her heart fell when she saw that it was closed.

“Gaia!” she called anxiously, pounding on the door. Kalliope received no answer but she could hear two voices behind the door.

“Gaia, please! Don’t!” Kalliope cried as she continued to pound on the door. After a few minutes, Kalliope gave up and she sank to the floor, holding her head in her hands.

A few moments later, the door opened and the soldier walked out with a pleased look on his face. Kalliope’s hear sank and she turned away from the man.

“Tomorrow, cherub,” he whispered before he went down the hall, his sandals clicking loudly.

Kalliope stood up and rushed into Gaia’s office. Gaia’s back was to her.

“Thea Gaia, please tell me you didn’t!”

Gaia turned around and her face was streaked with tears.

“Paidi mou, I had to.”

Kalliope broke down into tears. “Why? Why did you have to? This is my home. You said I could stay here and run the brothel!” she sobbed.

“Yes, I know, my sweet girl. But Athens can offer you so much more than I can give you here. And that soldier will be able to introduce you to a whole new life.”

“But I will still be a prostitute!” Kalliope cried. Kalliope was not naive enough to believe this man had requested her hand. Once a prostitute, always a prostitute.

“But you will be a courtesan. You will receive more respect.”

Kalliope sobbed.

“But I want you Thea Gaia! I can’t leave here!”

Gaia held her face tightly. “Look at me!”

Kalliope looked up.

“Do you remember what Adelpha did to you tonight? It will only get worse. You are too pretty, and too talented to stay in this small town. It will only be difficult for you. This is your chance to have a better life.” She paused. “The man will come for you tomorrow after the sun rises.”

Kalliope pulled away. “I hope you got a good price,” she said bitterly.

Gaia suddenly looked very old. “I did,” she said softly. “And so did you,” she murmured.

Kalliope turned away and walked slowly back towards the bedroom.

* * * * *

Chapter Four

* * * * *

Though Kalliope begged the sun not to rise, but it did not hear her plea and soon the sky was filled with the soft pink light of morning. The other girls were sleeping as Kalliope tiptoed around them with the small sack that carried her few belongings. A gold broach that had been her mother’s, a carving that had belonged to her sister Hagne, a small gold necklace that Gaia had given her as a child, two worn and tattered books and her meager earnings that she had made from her paltry share of client fees. At least Gaia gave the women shares, most brothel owners did not.

Gaia was waiting for her in the hallway and Kalliope looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. Gaia hugged her tightly and pulled her into her room. The small room made Kalliope’s heart ache as she thought of the years she spent sleeping there beside Gaia.

“You are not my blood, but you are my daughter,” Gaia said. She had a package wrapped in tissue paper. “Take these dresses. They have been hidden in my closet. They were my mother’s.”

“Gaia, I can’t –’’

“Take them,” she insisted. Kalliope took the package and peeled back a sliver of tissue.

She gasped.

“Gaia! I can’t take these!” she exclaimed.

The dresses were made of the finest fabric she had ever seen.

“Yes, you can. They are much too fine for this place.”

Gaia never spoke of her past and Kalliope was now desperate to know how Gaia’s mother had come to own such riches.

Gaia produced a pouch from the inside of her dress. “This is your share for your purchase.”

Kalliope looked at her quizzically. “I don’t get a share.”

“Yes, you do. The soldier paid me more money than I have ever seen before. He was determined to have you, a sentiment of how special you truly are. I took more than enough, and if I choose, I can walk away from this brothel at any time and I will have no financial worries.”

Kalliope stared at Gaia in disbelief. Could her strange customer truly have paid that much for her?

“Take your share, Kalliope, and hide it well. It is a sizeable amount. I’m sure you will make good money in Athens. Guard your money wisely and you could become quite wealthy one day.”

Kalliope took the heavy change purse and she thought of how obscene it sounded to consider herself wealthy. All of her anger quickly faded and she threw her arms around Gaia.

“I love you, Thea Gaia,” she whispered. Gaia pushed Kalliope’s hair from her face and kissed her forehead lovingly.

“I love you, my kori”

Kalliope choked back a sob as she turned away from the woman who had raised her and loved her, and she slowly made her way outside.

* * *

The soldier was waiting for her outside, and a handsome brown horse stood behind him.

“Good morning,” he said, as he took Kalliope’s bag from her and carefully hung it over the side of the horse.

“Good morning, sir” Kalliope said shyly.

The man chuckled. He looked younger and less serious in the daylight. “You do not have to call me sir now.”

He hoisted Kalliope onto the horse and then he pulled himself up beside her.

“I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Orestes.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Orestes flashed her a bright smile and then kicked the horse, which promptly took off.

It had been quite some time since Kalliope had been on a horse, but she held on tightly to Orestes and watched her small village fly by. Soon, they had left the outer limits of her village and Kalliope knew they were heading towards the sea. Kalliope had never seen the sea, but she knew the direction in which it lay, and she had to admit that she was excited to lay eyes on the water.

Within an hour, the sea came into view and Kalliope made a small sound of excitement.

“Have you ever seen the sea?” Orestes asked, leaning his head back to hear her answer.

“No!”

Orestes hurried along and soon they were dismounting at the water’s edge. The water lazily lapped at the shore and Kalliope moved closer to examine it. The water was bright and calm and she longed to touch it.

“Go ahead,” Orestes said, “wade in. But not too far since you obviously can’t swim.”

Kalliope kicked off her sandals, and pulled her peplos up. She waded into the water and she shrieked when the cold water surrounded her ankles.

“It’s cold!” she exclaimed with surprise. She squinted and shaded her eyes and saw a large ship looming in the distance.

“Is that our ship?” she called over to Orestes.

“Yes,” he said, and Kalliope watched as he dragged a small wooden boat from the grass into the water.

“Ready?” he asked, holding his hand out to her, while his other hand held onto her bag.

Kalliope nodded and took his hand. “Where are the other soldiers?” She remembered at least ten other warriors who had been at the brothel the night before.

“They boarded the ship early this morning.”

Kalliope climbed carefully into the boat and watched with rapt interest as Orestes rowed them towards the ship. Orestes helped Kalliope on board and she suddenly became frightened as she looked around at the numerous unfamiliar faces.

“Don’t be afraid,” Orestes said. The other soldiers looked at her hungrily, their eyes ones of carnal desire. “She’s not working now,” Orestes growled.

Orestes beckoned for Kalliope to follow him and she went below the ship where Orestes showed her to a small room that was roughly the size of a closet.

“The journey will take close to a week. Our housekeeper on board will bring you your meals. I will see you once we dock.”

Kalliope could only nod and she looked around the small space that would be her home for the next week. It could barely contain her cot, but it was entirely hers and Kalliope wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry.

She sat down on her mattress and waited for whatever would come next in her new life.

* * * * *

Chapter Five

* * * * *

The journey felt long and Kalliope experienced her share of seasickness. She didn’t see much of the other soldiers, and she tried to sneak up to the deck each day for some fresh air. The sea was salty and choppy and Kalliope would find herself mesmerized until the housekeeper would come in search of her and shoo her back downstairs to her room.