She also watched them. Eli and Jason were a united team, with Eli handling the financial and business decisions. He was able to do addition, subtraction, and division of multiple long numbers in his head. It seemed as if he knew the balance of every account holder and their house purse from memory. Any dispute, however, was where Jason stepped in. He had the gift of gab and plenty of charm. Together, they were two sides of the same working coin.
Then, all too soon, the two weeks came to an end. Eli and Jason had promoted their new girls nightly, and interest and demand had led to men buying into an exclusive membership that granted them the right to pursue the women. The women would still choose their dates, the membership did not guarantee anything, but that only added to mystique.
The night of the end of the two weeks, Avilon sat at her vanity, alternating between wanting to run away and wanting to embrace Eli and Jason. A knock sounded at her door, and she looked up. Annabel hovered in the doorway. Avilon waved her in.
“Mr. Masters made a deal with the whorehouse across the street,” Annabel said as she walked in. “He directs the johns that we don’t want, or the ones that can’t afford the buy in, over to them…for a percentage, of course.”
Avilon rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
Annabel ran her fingers over the mass of dresses hanging around the room. “It looks like a rainbow exploded in here.”
“Mm,” Avilon murmured, eyeing the assortment of silks and satins as well. “I’ve been trying to determine the least offensive one in the bunch. Most of them have so much extra material I could make a complete second dress.”
“That would have been Millie,” Annabel said. “She liked the sweets a tad too much.”
Avilon raised her eyebrows. She didn’t need to state the obvious.
“By the way,” Annabel murmured, coming to stand behind Avilon. She started unpinning her dark locks. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
Annabel picked up a brush and started smoothing out the tangles.
“You’ve brought change for us. Good change.”
“You’ll have to be the ones to uphold it,” Avilon warned her. “You have to make sure to keep alive the fantasy, all of you, or Eli will have no qualms about replacing you. Or worse, returning things to how they were. At least now, you have some control.”
Annabel gave a bitter half smile. “It is a business, after all, right, dearie?”
Avilon nodded. “Even for me,” she whispered.
Annabel set down the brush and started braiding Avilon’s hair. “What did you promise him? To help us, what did you have to give him? And don’t say nothing. I know better.”
“Does it matter? You don’t have to be beaten anymore.”
“And I thank you. I just hope you didn’t promise your soul.”
Avilon smiled at her through the mirror. “Of course not.”
“Or your heart.”
Her smile fell away. “I’ll be moving into their house,” she admitted in a quiet voice.
“What?”
Avilon pulled away from Annabel and stood, letting the half-formed braid unravel. She walked over to the mended scarlet dress with black lace ruffles on the skirt. She held it up as she looked it over.
“I’ll be moving in with Jason and Eli, into their home next door.”
“Oh, Avilon,” Annabel said with a note of sorrow in her voice. “I’m so sorry.”
Avilon cocked an eyebrow at her. “For what?”
“For making you sell yourself.”
“You’re not making me do anything, Annabel.”
“A good girl like you shouldn’t have to become one of us.”
“See, that’s the problem I have in this world. People think I’m a good girl.” Avilon threw the dress on the bed and turned to hug her friend. “Don’t worry about me, Annabel. I’ve gone through in my head what this means. Besides, once I find Amelia, she and I will be returning to New Orleans.”
Annabel nodded as if she understood. “Has anyone ever talked to you about sex?”
Avilon raised an eyebrow.
“I see. Well, let me tell you a few things I wish I had known for my first time.” Annabel took her hands and settled her back into the chair. She resumed her braiding. “It will hurt, but only the first time. Try to relax. If you relax your muscles, the pain won’t be so bad. And try to get the men to pull out before coming, to avoid pregnancy. I know a woman who can make you a pessary, but until we can get to see her, use the pull-out method.”
Avilon’s forehead crinkled. She had no idea what Annabel meant, but figured she was going to learn. So she just nodded as if she understood.
* * * *
Avilon sat waiting on her bed. Her valise was packed and rested by her feet, its heavy presence a reminder of her change in situation. Her back was straight, her shoulders squared as she watched the door. After her performance, she had retreated to her room. She had changed her dress back into her dark woolen traveling dress and had brushed out her black hair until it crackled with life.
And at midnight, a knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” she replied, making sure the quiver shooting through her body did not resonate in her voice.
Eli opened the door. He took one look at her, walked in, and picked up her valise. He held out his hand to her.
She rose, flipped up the hood of her cape, and placed her slightly trembling hand in his. Half of her dreaded this, but a larger part was glad the wait was over. Eli led her to a deserted hall that led to an office.
“This is my personal office,” he confirmed. “It actually leads into the house. Very convenient for me and Jason. And now you, of course.”
She nodded. Her mouth was too dry to speak.
He unlocked a door and led the way into a sparsely furnished room. A table, some mismatched chairs, the room was as lifeless as she felt inside. Eli did not stop. Instead, he went straight to the stairs and started up. She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and followed.
She followed him into a bedroom. His, of course. The bed was large, the sheets hastily pulled up as if hadn’t had enough time or desire to actually smooth out the covers. Eli tossed her valise into the corner, turned, and was standing in front of her seconds later, untying her cloak with large, steady fingers.
“I want this off,” he muttered. “I hate when I can’t see you. I’ve stayed away for two weeks because if I hadn’t, I would have gone out of my mind.”
The cloak fell away. He started on the row of tiny buttons at her throat. Her heart thundered. She was half afraid it would beat right out of her chest.
“I want to sink into you,” he told her. “I want to bury my cock so far in your pussy you don’t know where I end and you start.”
The words ignited a fire deep in her belly. Sweat broke out on her skin as her breath hitched in her throat.
“W–What about Jason?”
“He’ll be here. For your first time, we thought maybe only one of us should initiate you, but he’ll be here to help arouse you.”
The buttons were free, and he pushed the dress off her shoulders, revealing her white cotton chemise, corset, and corset cover. He got to work on untying each undergarment. Avilon felt her face flame with heat. No man had ever seen her in her undergarments.
Soon his fingers were brushing her skin, peeling away layer after layer. Once the garments were loose, it was easy to push them down. She stood before him, feeling too exposed even in semidarkness. The windows allowed light from the streetlamps to trickle through, adding a surreal ambiance to the whole experience.
Eli stepped back, looking at her. She went to try to cover her bare breasts, but he stopped her. He pushed her hands back to her sides.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. He cupped her breasts. “Perfect. Don’t you think so, Jace?”
She tensed even more as she realized they were no longer alone. She felt Jason come up behind her, his body warm against her backside. His hands trailed down her spine, to where her bottom flared from her hips, smoothing over her skin. Then they curved around, coming to brush against the downy thatch of curls covering her most private area, and she couldn’t help it, a whimper escaped.
“Shh,” Jason murmured in her ear, his lilting accent sending goose bumps over her body. “Your body is beautiful, Avilon. Perfect. See, you’re starting to become wet.”
His finger dipped past the curls, searching, finding the hidden slit, and dipping in. Shocked, she almost buckled over, but he and Eli held her up. Jason’s finger continued to explore, past the warm lips to delve inside. He touched a small nub that seemed to explode with sensation. She cried out, her eyes snapping open wide as unbelievable pleasure coursed through her.
“That’s it,” Jason murmured in her ear. “I knew you’d be fire in our arms.”
He continued his assault on the responsive little nub as he slipped another finger inside her sheath. Slickness ran, her body coiling higher and tighter, until seconds later she burst apart with short, static cries. She convulsed as little stars danced beneath her closed eyelids. As the incredible feelings ebbed away, she slumped back, her head finding a resting place on Jason’s shoulder.
As her heart slowed a little, she heard the rustling of clothes and opened her eyes to see Eli’s powerful body completely naked. She dipped her gaze to see his large shaft fully extended, almost pulsing with life.
He sat on the bed and smiled wickedly at her.
“Come here, Avilon,” he ordered, his voice thick with arousal. “I want you to suck my cock, take me as deep as you can, and swallow me down.”
She blinked, not quite sure what he meant. But Jason wrapped his arms around her and led her forward. Eli grabbed a pillow and placed it on the floor between his feet as Jason pushed her gently down to kneel between Eli’s thighs.
Eli put his hand on her head and guided her down to his cock.
“Open your mouth,” he whispered. “Take me into your warmth. Watch your teeth. That’s right, use your tongue. Relax.”
* * * *
He felt her throat open up as she swallowed him, his hardness slipping easily into her mouth. He didn’t move as he allowed her to get used to the sensation. She was on her knees between his thighs. Her black hair was a mass of curls hiding her face, so he gathered up the thick volume in one hand so he could see her engulfing him. She was untrained, exploring his length and taste rather than bobbing her head in a fucking motion, but the experience was so pleasurable he really didn’t mind her lack of finesse. Her soft mouth felt amazing, and he felt himself grow even harder.
One of her hands fluttered on his thigh, and he moved it to his balls, showing her how he liked them cupped and caressed. It didn’t take her long to learn, and soon she was stroking them as he took over control of her mouth. In and out he pumped, slowly, as not to overwhelm her, drawing out the amazing torture. Her mouth was warm and tight, making him want to thrust with quick thrusts, but her innocence was almost crippling him with excitement. He’d never had someone so chaste, and it was damn near inflaming.
He continued fucking her mouth for a few minutes before reluctantly pulling her off. Saliva was shining on his throbbing cock as well as around her mouth. She stared up at him with dazed, luminous eyes.
At some point, Jason had taken off his clothes, and now he knelt behind her, his hands coming to rest lightly on her hips before slowly sliding up. He cupped her breasts, and she gasped. Eli watched as Jason pinched her nipples, rolling them between thumbs and index fingers, tweaking them hard to elicit a gasp from her wet red lips.
Watching them together made his heart beat differently. He was taking a chance on Avilon and hoped she would be the glue that held them all together.
Eli leaned his head down to capture Avilon’s lips, kissing her hard enough to part her lips and let his tongue sink into her mouth. She still rubbed his balls, her fingers delicately brushing over the taut skin of his scrotum and the underside of his dick, which leaked pre-come. He wanted to bury inside her warm pussy, to ride her hard and fast. Images of her bound beneath him flashed through his mind, but he knew that would have to wait. She was a virgin, and tonight was about initiating her into the beauty of sensual desire and sex, not confusing her on the little fetishes he liked.
The vivid image of actually impaling her, fucking her with wild abandon, was almost more than he could stand. He rose and caught Jason’s eye. He seemed to understand without any words between them. As Eli reached for Avilon, Jason knelt on the bed and gripped his own cock, using the leaking fluid to help him rub the shaft in slow strokes.
Jason’s cock was long, a little more slender than his own, but with a large, bulbous head. For a moment, Eli couldn’t take his eyes off that red dick as Jason fisted it.
“Stroke it, Jace,” Eli ordered, the command an old and familiar one between them.
Avilon looked at Jason. She seemed fascinated by Jason’s ministrations and licked her lips unconsciously. Eli felt a quiver of satisfaction. Just a little more training and she’d be wonderful at sucking cock, maybe even as talented as Jason.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Eli murmured and pulled her into his arms, capturing her mouth with a deep kiss. He gripped her ass and lifted. She squeaked a little as he turned and laid her upon the bed next to Jason.
He broke the kiss and licked his way down her body, taking small nips as he made his way to her pussy. Her legs had parted naturally, but he pushed them farther apart, letting him see the juices glistening. Bending his head, he lapped at her slit, letting his tongue sink deeper into her nectar.
She shuddered beneath him and tossed her head as mewling little sounds broke from her mouth. He pulled her clit between her teeth and sucked just as her body convulsed and cream flooded his mouth. She tasted like warm honey and all woman.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Eli left her pussy and covered her body with his. Her dazed dark eyes met his, her face flushed with the wash of two climaxes.
“I’m going to take you now,” he told her. “Relax for me, sweetheart. Let me in.”
She gave a shaky nod.
He knelt and lifted her legs, hooking them over his shoulders as he held himself and lined up with her tight hole. Slowly, he pushed in, the ample lubrication letting him slide easily. She gasped and wiggled a little, but her position didn’t allow much movement. Deeper he went until he felt her barrier. Using his thumb to stimulate her little clit, he gave her one moment to relax before plunging forward. Immediately he felt her pussy clamp down on his cock, as if trying to prevent him from going farther. She whimpered a little in pain. Eli held still.