A Reluctant Courtesan (Harem Masters #1) (Harem Masters Series) Read online

  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.

  Kalliope moved towards Elias. “So you can’t resist me?”

  “No! You know that Kalliope! Even as a young teenager, you were breathtaking. I waited and waited for you to ripen.”

  “Stop. Talking.”

  Kalliope fell across Elias, and ran her hot mouth down the middle of his chest, before tracing each of his nipples with the delicate tip of her tongue. Elias groaned beneath her, but Kalliope didn’t let up as she traced the lines of his abdominal muscles. She slowly kissed up each side of his chest and then dragged her tongue down in a straight line towards his navel. She felt her own arousal growing, but she knew that Elias liked her best when she drove him wild.

  She planted soft kisses south of his navel, and then along his inner thigh, carefully avoiding his erection. Elias’ soft groaning and rapid breathing let her know she was doing everything right. Elias smelled of the earth and a musky soap and she thought of Elias taking a bath. The image aroused her to the very core of her being and she nipped at the sensitive skin between his thighs as she felt herself moisten between her legs.

  She felt Elias’ cock twitch against her cheek as she moved past him and she knew that he wouldn’t last much longer. She forced herself to stop kissing his perfect body, which was radiating heat, and instead she leaned up and gently undid her own belt. Her peplos fell free and she peeled it off, making sure she kept her eyes locked on Elias. She slowly lifted her arms up and tugged her gown over her head. She tossed it to the floor and shook her hair free, letting it fall softly down her back.

  Elias reached out to cup her full breasts, squeezing them softly before his fingers moved towards her nipples. He tugged at her nipples, making them harden like two small stones, and Kalliope couldn’t help but moan at Elias’ skillful fingers. With Elias’ hands still holding her breasts, she bent down and slowly encased his solid cock in her mouth.

  Elias cried out as he felt Kalliope sheath him. She stayed very still at first, letting Elias feel the full effect of his cock sitting in her warm, perfect mouth. Then she gently flicked her tongue against the underside of his erection. Hollowing her cheeks, she began to slide up and down his shaft, making sure she pressed her lips firmly against his root and then sucked lightly at his swollen head.

  First, Kalliope worked slowly, but then she began to quicken her speed. It didn’t help that Elias was keeping a firm grip on her breasts, and she could feel the pull directly to her groin. Elias released her breasts, gripped her head, and dug his fingers into her scalp. Kalliope moaned against the warm mass in her mouth and rocked back and forth on her knees as she pleased her favorite client.

  Elias tugged on her hair, making Kalliope bend to him, and she moved her mouth at a frenzied pace, using her hands to help lengthen her strokes. She pulled to Elias’ tip and sucked at his pink head, tasting the few salty drops that beaded at the top. She sucked harder and then gently blew along Elias’ erection. She felt him buck beneath her and then twitch in her mouth. Kalliope shoved his warm cock as deep into her throat as she could manage and she felt Elias jerk in her mouth, before he exploded.

  Warm salty semen filled Kalliope’s throat, and she pushed him in deeper and felt the warm fluid run down her throat. Kalliope moaned against Elias’ throbbing cock and Elias yanked her head harder onto his shaft.

  “Oh, Kalliope!” he cried, holding her head hostage against is body as Kalliope swallowed all he gave her. When Elias ran dry, he finally released Kalliope and she sagged against his body, resting her head against his chest. Elias absentmindedly stroked her hair as his chest heaved up and down from his powerful orgasm. Kalliope listened to his rapid heartbeat and she took a few moments to relax.

  Elias would be ready to go again in mere minutes.

  * * *

  “How was Elias?” Kassandra whispered the following afternoon.

  Kalliope smiled wickedly. “My jaw hurts.”

  Kassandra laughed a deep throaty laugh. “Sounds perfect.”

  “If only they were all that good,” Kalliope sighed, a faraway look in her eyes.

  Kassandra elbowed her. “You’re such a romantic.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “It’s only going to hurt you, sweetie.”

  Kalliope dragged a brush through her hair. “I know.”

  “I miss Elias,” Kassandra said with a playful pout.

  Now Kalliope laughed and shrugged; she couldn’t help it that now Elias only saw her. At that moment, Adelpha turned around and gave Kalliope a dirty look.

  “Oh, fuck off!” Kassandra said loudly before rolling her eyes and leaving the room.

  Kalliope stifled a giggle as she followed Kassandra out of the room. Adelpha jumped up and cornered Kalliope stopping her abruptly.

  “What do you want?” Kalliope asked not bothering to hide her annoyance.

  “You think you’re so damn special because you get the best customers,” Adelpha hissed, her eyes flashing.

  “Actually, I don’t. You said that, not me. Now get the hell out of my way, Adelpha, I’m not in the mood.”

  “You’re just another disposable whore like the rest of us.”

  “Yeah, well at least I’m not a washed up, disposable whore,” Kalliope snapped, losing her cool as she shoved past Adelpha.

  “You bitch!”

  Adelpha was only a few years older than Kalliope, yet she was vain and constantly worried about her aging. Kalliope cut right to her insecurities.

  “You’ll pay for that.”

  “I’m so scared,” Kalliope scoffed as she moved down the hall.

  “Kalliope!”

  Kalliope froze and slowly turned around. Gaia was standing a few feet away, a look of disappointment on her face.

  “I’m sorry, Thea Gaia, but she pushes me.”

  “I know, but you mustn’t give in. She is vengeful.”

  “Well, what’s said is said. I’ll have to deal with the fallout.”

  “I wish you were more careful.” Gaia gave her arm a tender squeeze and moved down the hall towards her room. Kalliope felt a small pang of sadness as she thought of the little cot she used to sleep on in Gaia’s room before she became a woman of the night. There was no time for sadness however, and she hurried along the hall, trying to find Kassandra.

  * * *

  Two hours later, Kalliope hurried back to the living quarters so she could dress for the evening. The town was abuzz with news that a fleet of soldiers from Athens were visiting. Athens seemed so far away and glamorous from her sleepy mountain town that sat just east of Mount Olympus.

  Kalliope went to her trunk and pulled out her favorite peplos, that was a mixture of yellow, lavender and red. She shrieked in horror as she saw the garment in a pile of shreds. She rifled through the trunk to pull out her white and green peplos only to see that it too, had been shredded. Frantic, she yanked out her three remaining dresses, only to see that all three of them had been shredded, too.

  Tears stung her eyes, and she whirle
d around to see Adelpha standing in the doorway, a smug and satisfied smile on her lips. She turned on her heel and flounced out of the room.

  “Pountana!” Kalliope screamed, lunging to her feet and racing after Adelpha. Adelpha hurried down the hallway, but Kalliope caught her by the hair and yanked her backwards.

  “My dresses!” she screamed.

  “I told you that you’d be sorry!” Adelpha cried, wrenching her hair free. Kalliope went to strike her, but Gaia jumped into the fray and grabbed Kalliope’s raised hand.

  “Get out of my face, you little tsoula,” Gaia hissed at Adelpha.

  Adelpha snickered. “You pay me to be a slut. It’s not an insult.”

  Kalliope buried her head in Gaia’s chest once Adelphia disappeared. “My dresses,” she sobbed, “she ruined them.”

  “Kalliope, I warned you to stay away. Adelpha is fire and you would have been wise to keep your distance. Come now. Let’s see what we can find you.” Gaia led her back to the room. A few of the other women had seen what happened, and some of them offered Kalliope one of their dresses. Kalliope settled on a rich blue and white peplos from one of the older women, and she got herself together before heading downstairs. It was going to be a busy night with the visiting warriors, and she needed to forget about Adelpha for now. She knew that she had the opportunity to earn a large sum of money.

  Subdued, she moved into the brothel, not feeling like her usual self. She received a few calls from some familiar faces, but she felt reckless, and she moved instead towards the strangers. She settled on an older handsome man with big hands and she led him back to the stone beds.

  The evening passed in a blur and Kalliope didn’t bother to count how many men she took back to the beds. Each face began to blur into the next one and she ignored the burning sensation between her legs. The brothel was not empty yet and all the women were working more than they normally did.

  Kalliope stepped back into the room and decided that she should take one more customer. She surveyed the room, feeling eyes on her but not caring; she was still too upset over her ruined clothes, all of tonight's wages would go to replacing them. She closely scanned the room and a man sitting in the corner caught her eye. He was not much in terms of looks, but he had intelligent eyes and Kalliope felt a deep and strange pull towards him. She tossed back her hair and made her way towards the out-of-town visitor.