Sophia swung and swirled around the tables, the beat of the music seductive in her ears, making her body move with the rhythm. She was glad she’d chosen a light fabric. The Lounge was always hot and she hated sweltering in the bodice and layered skirts of the usual style. Instead, she wore a silky veil of a dress, an import from the hot, island climate of Rogun, and a favourite of the exotic dancers there. Or so she’d been told.

Her eyes scanned the crowd to find him. Someone said he was there, the mysterious man from a place forbidden. She’d met him only a few times, he’d seemed to like her, he’d invited her to socialize at his table last month when he’d been in Divik on business, and he said he’d be back by now. Sophia had waited, it felt like, on pins and needles. He’d been so handsome and so charismatic, he’d had a large entourage of women and men that had followed him, set up for the evening in the club and it had proceeded into a party like she’d never experienced.

She preferred the travelling businessmen. Sophia liked it when she could hang out with people who didn’t know who her father was at the first sight of her and because Divik was one-fourth her father’s town, that was tough. But the visitors, the businessmen that came and went, staying only long enough to play, spend cash and make deals, they were her current addiction. She’d done it all, young and old, powder or liquid, Sophia didn’t care. She had no purpose in her life, no love from anyone, and every time she went home, she had the sad little face of the girl she’d nearly died pushing out, reminding her she was terrible at everything and too young to be languishing her best years cooped up playing domestic in a boring and empty house.

Since Swan’s birth, Sophia had sworn off boys her own age. It was one such boy that had got her pregnant, so clearly they were the problem for not knowing better. Now, she dated and sought only older men. They would know and like her, want to avoid it like the plague. It was smarter to hang out with them, they had things to protect, like wealth and wives back home. They were wise. And because they didn’t know her and they paid for everything, her father wouldn’t find out what she did or with who. The Lounge staff were good like that, they never told.

Sophia didn’t see anyone she recognized, again. She sighed, but settled to still enjoy the night. The dancers would be starting their show in a few minutes, and the men of this particular troop were candy to her eyes. She just wished she had a handsome man to put hands on her while they performed, it always brought an extra element to the show.

The music started playing, and Sophia accepted a bottle from the barmaid with a wink. She poured the glass herself and snuggled back in the deep, semi-circular banquette. Having spent most of the afternoon and evening drinking, she was far enough drunk to recognize she would not last the night.

“Am I interrupting?”

Sophia turned slowly from watching the stage, her drink at her lips. She was completely comfortable to be there, The Lounge her second home. Truthfully, she spent more time there than her real home. Familiar eyes looked back.

“Krug!” She exclaimed with an instant smile and squeal of genuine delight. Without hesitation, she stood, tip-toed around the edge of the seat and threw herself into his lap. Krug laughed and pulled her tight against him.

“Winds, girl,” he said and inhaled strongly through his teeth, his eyes darting over her bosom and face. His hands roamed over her body and the thin silk of her dress. “When I brought you that dress, I never imagined you’d fit it quite like this.”

Sophia giggled and moved to seat herself more directly. She didn’t care of the company he was with, she only had eyes for him.

“You said you thought I could be a dancer on Rogun,” she said to him and she moved her hips against his. He grinned and his hands held her thighs strongly against him. “That I’d fit in there.”

Krug laughed a deep and not entirely appreciative sound. “I could think of a few clubs that would take you,” he said and now she noticed the rest of the table, a few of his friends, who laughed and smirked to see them. “But uh, let’s just stick with this one for now.”

Sophia shrugged and noticed the stage again. Three females swirled around three male dancers, obviously the attraction, but the point was a little of something for everyone. She smiled dreamily and rubbed her body in the silk fabric against the male warm one that held her firm.

After a few minutes of watching, she leaned back so she was prone against his body. His hands moved to her breasts and squeezed and rubbed them openly.

“You said you would be back,” she told him. “Are you staying longer this time?”

Krug chuckled. “Yeah, my boss has more interests here, he needs us to set up a bit of a…presence. I think we’ll be staying a while this time.” He moved his hands everywhere and she felt him warming. Sophia purred in delight.

“I’ll show you around, help you meet who you need,” she offered.

“You’re a good, Kitten, aren’t you,” Krug teased her and she nodded, biting her lip for him. Krug watched her moment longer and then he grinned and started to laugh. Sophia wasn’t sure what was so funny, she hesitated but tried to keep up her smile. She wanted Krug to like her. If he was going to be around for a while, she wanted to have a steadier relationship. If he fell in love with her, maybe he would take her back to Rogun. She’d been dreaming of leaving Divik… ever since Swan.

Whatever the cost, Krug would never know about her. She felt it was critical to him wanting her for his own; no baggage. And if he found out she was a baron’s daughter, she’d convince him she could be trusted. Her loyalty just might be for sale, for the right price.

The show continued and they settled to watch. Bottles began littering the table some more, it was closer to mid-morning than mid-night by the time the main show and the late cards were through. The Lounge was near closed, and littered by the too inebriated and the too pre-occupied. At sunup, Gunther would throw everybody out.

Sophia panted and tried hard not to make any sound, but it was close and her head was swimming. Krug was sweating, huge droplets beaded on his forehead and she could smell the alcohol on his breath where he huffed and puffed between her breasts.

“Take it off,” he barked at her, tired of fidgeting with the material and wanting to see her body between his hands, unobstructed. He quickened his pace and she bounced hard up and down. “Take it off, or I’ll stop and leave you here!” he ordered though he had no intention of not taking his fill. He would discard her afterward though, if she had trouble following orders.

Sophia’s mind hesitated on her propriety, knowing it wasn’t right and her station really warranted her discretion.

Screw it, she thought when she felt her own climax rising. She lifted the gauzy material and flung it back, her hair trailing long and tickling her back. Krug laughed and grinned proudly and she was glad she’d done the right thing. She called to him, unable to hold on, and suddenly he jackknifed upright and bit her on her left breast. Sophia had never cried out her climax like that.

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Slick with sweat, her body glittered in the low light. Her breasts heaved in his face. She looked down when she felt cool liquid evaporate fast from her skin to see Krug pouring some alcohol over her nipples and drinking it from them. She laughed. It felt wonderful.

He collapsed backwards against the cushions, his hands letting her go and he breathed to rest and recover. Sophia bent down to smooth herself over his chest.

“What are you doing?” he said to her, his expression confused and unhappy. Sophia hesitated. She was still in his lap, still connected even. “Winds woman, does this look the place to take a nap? Get your shit and get off of me. We’re done here.”

Sophia had never been spoken to in such a way, nor dismissed so abruptly. She fumbled, moving to get off which was awkward in that it was a public lounge, a bar, more than his friends watched with interest, thanks to the scene she herself had created. She looked fast to find her dress, her arms trying to cover herself and the men around his table only snickered and leered. When she found it, she ducked to a corner and put it back on. She fussed with the straps and her hair and bent to put on her shoes. When she stood again, Krug was standing close behind her, his face only passively accepting.

“You’re one fine lay, I’ll give you that,” he told her. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to beat around that bush for too long to find out like last time. So here’s the deal; I have to work here for a while, my boys and I have rented an apartment not far from the blockhouse, do you know it?”

Sophia nodded she did. Krug grunted.

“When I want to party, I’ll call for you. You show up fine looking like this, when I say and where. If you do good, I have gifts, if you screw up, I won’t invite you back. Clear?”

Sophia was so shocked she could only nod. Krug crossed him arms then and studied her a little harder for a moment.

“You got a place in the city, don’t you?” he asked her. She shook her head.

“A man that keeps you?” he pushed. She shook her head and he chuckled once, but shrugged. “You spend your own money then, you’re too fine to be working décor.”

Sophia’s face coloured. “I am not a décor,” she said, heat colouring her cheeks in embarrassment but he only shrugged. Obviously he cared little, but obviously he’d not considered her differently before.

“I am not a whore, I have money,” she barked at him. Krug laughed out a bark then.

“You think the rich don’t sell themselves?” he said and laughed harshly. His friends all laughed likewise behind him. He shrugged when he looked back to her. “There are all kinds of ways to feel poor. You don’t fool me.”

“I did fool you,” she snipped at him and she moved to walk away but he was blocking her and she needed to move close to pass. His hand shot out and grabbed her hard and painfully by the arm.

“You got a daddy I need to worry about, Sugartits. He know you come here?” he grumbled in her ear. Sophia swallowed. She felt the sweat bead on her neck. Her father would disown and then kill her if he were to find her like this at this moment.

“No,” she said to him. “I am my own woman, I am not a décor. I sought you out because I liked you. I thought you liked me. Please let go of my arm,” she replied, putting every ounce of her acting skills to keep her voice calm.

To her surprise, he did.

“Sophia,” Krug said and his change in demeanor threw her off. She stared at him. “I would be pleased if you would be my escort and friend while I am living in Divik,” he said, suddenly the gentleman.

“You just called me a whore,” she said accusingly. Krug only shrugged.

“You just polished my pole in the middle of a public bar,” he replied, shrugging lightly and leaning back. “Not exactly the “lady” thing I expected from an upper-class daughter of the House of Weatherstone.” He’d leaned close to whisper the last.

Sophia’s mouth opened in shock and her blood went instantly cold. Krug’s sinister smirk crept back up his lips but he softened it.

“Awe, don’t worry, princess,” he said to her then and decided to take her more gently by the shoulders and start walking her out. “Now you can see that I’m serious and I am still giving you a way out. But if you decide to play, you will be loyal to me, and discreet. The same as you need me to be, see?”

“Krug,” Sophia hesitated, but they were at the door and the coat girl smiled warmly to her in greeting. She disappeared to fetch their things. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Krug sighed loudly with impatience. “Lookit,” he said and looked around them to see if anyone could hear. His goons closed in more closely, blocking them off. “You’re not the first high-brow slut of the month I’ve pickled, OK? I’m looking for a woman for my arm, a wet and warm place to bury the rest of me when I’m done working for the day. I like to party, you like to party. You told me you want out of this hell hole, I told you I could get you to Rogun, and I am telling you I can do that without Daddy finding out. So you decide what it’s worth to you. I’m not forcing you!” he added and backed away then, both hands held wide and away from her, the easy smile was back. “I’ve got a line-up of girls behind you that want the job. I just thought getting out of here appealed to you, so I offered it to you first.”

The coat check girl returned. “Have a great night, Sophia!” she chirped happily to you her. “See you tomorrow!” She added and Krug took his own cloak and laughed to himself.

When they were outside, Sophia could see the sky was lightening. If she didn’t find her groomsman soon, she’d not make it back before her father. She was starting to panic.

“Sounds like you spend all your time trying to escape this place already,” Krug said to her from over her shoulder. She spotted her groom, just being kicked awake by Gunther. He woke, rubbed his eyes and jumped to attention. She shivered in the pre-dawn air.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she replied.

“Ah, come now,” Krug crooned and walked slowly around to face her again. “You come here so often you’re known to the staff. You’re comfortable enough to get shitfaced by yourself in a crowded bar, filled with men and woman who want to eat you, literally. There’s no hiding who you are, but they don’t fear partying with you, so clearly your father – the baron – doesn’t hold you on a very tight leash. So let me guess, you don’t want to go home, you find it oppressive. The titles bore you. You want life, you want to screw who you want and drink till the sun comes up. You want liberty, you want choices,” he said and then stopped to watch her a long moment. “And you won’t get them until you no longer live in a city your father partly owns.”

Sophia felt helpless. He was peddling everything she had hoped and been dreaming about. She just never expected to see his true side wasn’t the one she’d imagined. He was crude, crass, he was rough but at the same time completely honest with her. She did want what he was offering. She just never expected to meet a man who wasn’t afraid of her father.

“What if my father found out about you?” she said then and just as her carriage came up and stopped in front of them. The young boy jumped from the driver seat and hurried around to open the door and lower the step for her. He stood waiting to give her a hand in.

Sophia stood where she was, waiting for him to reply. Krug’s expression gave her chills. He looked like he already knew the answer, like it was part of the plan or he relished it. He chewed on it long enough she was scared.

“I’ve had some experience with protective fathers, sweetheart,” he said snidely. “Trust me when I say, they – or their pretentious little daughters – do not scare me.”

“I don’t want to get hurt,” she said then and felt weak by the admission but it just came out. Krug didn’t melt at her submission he simply grinned.

“Completely your call, too, princess,” he replied. “I just want to have a good time in Divik while I’m stuck here. Do a good job, get a free pass to Rogun, on me. That’s the offer.”

He held out his hand for her.

Sophia looked to it and everything in her mind screamed at her to turn him down. Her father’s voice threatened to banish her in an imagined argument that played in her head.

She reached back and shook it. Krug grinned and moved to help lift her into the cab. When she was seated he hung a moment in the doorway. She noticed horses swirling around them, his men starting to mount.

“Keep this to yourself and I’ll leave word with Coat Check Girl when I want you,” he told her. She nodded and Krug shut the door without further sentiment.

He barked at the driver to leave and the coach lurched and did a wide turn in front of the club to be pointed back the way towards home. She watched from the window, while Krug stood still and watched her leave, his eyes dark and almost glaring in the now risen predawn light as she passed by.