“Ghost, Tony would like to pay for an hour with me. He has full reign over me during this time.” My voice had been strong, and I’d hoped it would be enough. Short of stomping around like a petulant child, there had been nothing else I could do to end the madness.

Ghost had studied me for several beats, uncertainty crossing his hard features.

“Please,” I’d added for good measure.

“Full access costs more,” he’d finally told Tony, and triumph coursed through my veins. It would seem he was a reasonable man after all.

Tony had set up payment, not even blinking at the outrageous amount quoted to him, after which I’d drawn him down to my bedroom.

Several awkward minutes of small talk had led to me finally working up the nerve to take the lead, which had then led to some of the best sex I had ever had. Top five for sure. Tony was well endowed and it was evident from the attention he’d shown my body that he knew how to take care of a woman.

Even if it had been a long time for the both of us, our bodies had known exactly what to do. We’d moved in sync with each other, as if we’d had sex with each other numerous times. It had been absolutely beautiful.

Which led to now and my post-coital cuddling with him.

“You okay,” I murmured against his ear when he still hadn’t roused.

He lifted his head, resting his weight on his forearms in the bed, and gifted me with a laidback smile, showing how relaxed he was. “I think I’m more than okay.” His face turned serious and his fingers ran along my temple, pulling my hair from my face. “Thank you,” he said almost reverentially, and I felt tears building behind my eyes at his sweetness.

It was a perfect moment that I wished would have lasted forever. I couldn’t have asked for my introduction into the final step of this life to be any better.

After Tony pulled out of my body and we had both cleaned up, I led him out of my room and towards the main hall. He was surprisingly affectionate as his hand ran up and down my back as we walked side by side. His wife had been one lucky lady. The thought made me frown in sadness for them both. Losing someone who was so young was heartbreaking.

When we approached the mouth of the hall, loud voices came reverberating from Ghost’s office. I slowed my steps, my curiosity swinging my gaze towards the partially open door. Tony stopped next to me and was about to ask why I’d stopped when we heard words bellowed so loudly it was like a lion’s roar of anger. “I told you no clients were allowed to fuck her.”

My face drained of its color at the same time my heart plummeted into my stomach. They were talking about me. And from the sounds of it, Xavier wasn’t exactly thrilled with Ghost agreeing to let me service poor, sweet Tony.

Well, fuck him.

“And I told you that you were being ridiculous. Thinking with your dick instead of your head,” Ghost’s boom followed.

“Maybe we should—” Tony started, but his words were cut off when I stomped down the hall towards the door. I was vaguely aware of him following me, but rage had taken up residence inside me and I was on a mission.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I shrieked at Xavier as I pushed the door open, causing it to hit the wall with a loud bang. The air in the room was thick with animosity—most of which was coming from the man who looked ready to kill his first lieutenant, as I affectionately referred to Ghost—but I wasn’t put off by it. No, I fed off of it.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Xavier sneered.

“I will not! You can’t tell me who I can and can’t sleep with,” I yelled even louder.

“You’ll get the fuck out of here before I rip your head off with my bare hands.” Xavier’s cold and lethal voice made me tremble. I realized then that his gaze was pointed just past my shoulder to where Tony was standing behind me, his face pale and his whole body stiff with fear.

Xavier moved nary an inch, but it was just enough to show his intent. Tony was down the hall and out the door before I could release the breath I had been holding.

Poor Tony. He didn’t deserve that and I really would have liked to see him again. No way was that going to happen after Xavier’s pissing contest.

“This isn’t a dictatorship. It’s my body and I’ll damn well do as I please,” I forged on, this time my voice calmer and quieter. Yelling at him when he was in this condition wouldn’t get me anywhere. It was only going to make him roar even louder.

He stalked towards me menacingly, ignoring Ghost, whose hand reached out to try and block his progress. “That’s where you’re wrong. I own this body. I say who has access to it. You’re mine.”

His words had my heart beating wildly against my chest and not out of fear. What I wouldn’t have given to hear him say I was his just twenty-four hours ago. But that was then and this was now.

“You can’t do this,” I told him in a low and steady voice. “You can’t act all proprietary over me and send my clients away. You don’t have that right. You never had that right. I’m here to do a job. Let me do my damn job.”

“She’s right,” Ghost added, his tone firm.

Xavier’s eyes moved from me to him and then back to me. His face, which had been dark with anger before, was now a blank mask of indifference as he contemplated how he wanted this to play out.

“Fine,” he said shortly, and without another word, he was gone. I stared at the door after he was gone and a few moments later heard the secret door slam shut. A wave of relief flooded my body, quickly followed by a surge of intense disappointment. I chose to focus on the first emotion rather than exploring why his leaving so easily caused the second.

“You need to get back to work.” Ghost broke the silence, his reminder firm yet gentle.

“Right.”

With a nod, I left the room and did just that. And when I serviced my second client of the night, taking him in my mouth at the same time he took me in his, I tried to ignore the despair that threatened to overwhelm me or the tears that insistently crawled up the back of my throat.

“Hey, Trixie,” I called out after knocking on the woman’s door.

“Hi,” she mumbled distractedly, not even raising her head to look at me when I plopped down in the chair in front of her desk.

“What’s up?”

Her gaze finally came to me and she pushed the papers she was studying aside.

“My daughter...” She trailed off, shadows passing through her eyes. “Never mind. What can I do for you?”

“What about your daughter?” I pressed, not letting her change the subject.

“My daughter has cancer,” she solemnly admitted and I gasped. “Stage two, so it’s early, but…” She shrugged and leaned back in her chair.

“I’m so sorry, Trixie.” I felt my throat clog with emotion for the woman who had come to mean a good deal to me these last few weeks. She was one of the kindest and sweetest people I had ever met. Quick to tell a joke and fiercely protective of the girls.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’ll pray for your daughter,” I added, setting my hand over hers in a show of support. I might not be a God-fearing woman like Ruth, but I still liked to think that every now and then he listened to me. Hopefully, this would be one of those times.

“So, what do you need?” she asked, and knowing she probably needed it, I allowed her to change the subject.

“Just wondering what you had for me.” Trixie was the keeper of schedules and the girls never did anything without checking with her first.

Ever since Xavier lifted the ban on my interactions, my clientele had become a steady stream. I was finally making money, and while I couldn’t say I always enjoyed the work, I was becoming more desensitized to allowing random strangers to touch me and use my body. That’s not to say all of my jobs were full-on fucking; some men just wanted a woman to do the things their significant others wouldn’t do while others wanted a little companionship.