*** Author's note: Earlier parts of this story were placed in the Romance category but as the rest of the story contains strong elements of reluctance and manipulation I've chosen to post it in Non Consent/ Reluctance. ***
***
Blake was too distracted to eat. After pacing around his room for a while, standing on his balcony clicking his phone on and off while he contemplated calling Eric, deciding it was too soon, he'd gone down to the open air dining room and ordered a steak. Once it arrived he'd barely touched it. Instead he'd watched the other people in the room as he waited for the knots in his stomach to untangle themselves.
Directly in front of his seat four women sat at a table, speaking in soft voices that didn't carry far enough for Blake to make out any part of their conversation, eating salads with table manners one would expect to see at a dinner with royalty. A few tables in the room were occupied by couples of the May December variety. Blake had expected to encounter those when he'd booked his stay. There were also a few men that were closer to his own age but he was definitely the youngest potential patron in the room.
He could almost feel the eyes of the women in the room sizing him up, trying to decide if his youth was an advantage or not. As he watched them stealing glances at him he understood why they might see it as a disadvantage. If his desires had a darker bend whoever signed his contract could face a much more difficult time than if they'd been chosen by an older man who would be satisfied with less frequent indulgences.
He took a bite of his cooling steak as his gaze swung back to the table of women. Age was not necessarily an impediment though, not when chemical solutions to biological problems could be used. If a man didn't want to go that route there were always other ways to find satisfaction. He'd heard of men using a proxy. He knew of several men in his father's circle of friends, including his father, that enjoyed sharing their partners.
After their mother's death Eric had tried to shield Blake from that side of their father but one ill timed visit home during his freshman year of college had ruined his older brother's efforts. Eric had been furious when Blake had admitted what had happened. It was then that Blake finally understood the cause of the rift between the two men.
Eric might have understood the practice of keeping concubines, if he could have been persuaded to open his mind a little, but not forcing them to service his friends. Eric had never been as sexually adventurous as his father, or even as liberal as his baby brother had become over the years.
Blake grabbed the napkin from his lap, wiped his mouth impatiently, and dropped it on his plate. He sat back with a sigh.
How had Marcus manipulated her into signing up for that kind of life? Surely she hadn't known what she was getting into? Or was the draw of their more powerful father's fortune enough to have pulled her away from Eric?
He looked around the dining room as he stood. Jess wasn't there. He assumed that she had eaten in her room or with Francois, who was also absent. It would have allowed her more time to prepare herself for their meeting.
Blake headed back to his room to do the same. He would have to appear as though he was only interested in using her until he could get her alone and try to get information out of her. He had to put the puzzle together before calling Eric and dropping it into his lap.
When he got back to his room he showered, shaved, wrapped a sarong around his hips, turned on some music, and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for her. Twenty minutes passed as he watched the clock. He stood up quickly after the soft knock on the door signaled her arrival. He took a breath, waited a few seconds, then went to answer it.
He opened the door to find Jess standing there, her eyes fixed on a point well below his knees, and the hulking figure of Francois at her back. Blake stepped back to let her enter. After a brief hesitation she did, with Francois right on her heels.
"What—?" Blake tried to ask as the big man passed him.
"You reviewed the rules yes?" Francois asked as he came to a stop near the bed.
The knots in Blake's stomach tightened. "Of course," Blake answered softly as he followed the pair into the room and stopped in front of Jess. She was dressed in a near see through sarong that came together in a twist below her neck, the ends of the fabric were clipped together at the back of her neck. The blue colour complimented her especially with the tan she'd gained while staying at the compound.
Blake's gaze drifted down from her face, she was staring at his bare chest so he couldn't see her eyes, to where the fabric draped between her breasts. His mouth went dry as he saw her rosy nipples through the fabric. He tried to swallow as his gaze fell further to where her hands were clasped together in front of the apex of her thighs. His gaze shot back up to her face but she was still focused on his chest.
"And you understand the reasons for those rules?" Francois asked as he slid hand under Jess' hair to brush it over her shoulder exposing the clip holding the sarong in place.
"I thought the non disclosure would be enough," Blake said with a little shrug.
"Years ago I would have agreed with you but experience has taught me to be more careful," Francois said as he stroked Jess' hair. "We do have safeguards in place but one can't be too careful with such delicate creatures." He looked at Blake. "The rules exist for the patrons protection as well." Blake nodded stiffly. "I will only interfere if necessary." His fingers moved to the clip. Jess caught her breath. "I doubt that will be required. Jess will do everything you want. Won't you?" He directed that at Jess. She nodded slightly. "Good girl." He released the clip and brushed the fabric forward. Her hands caught it against her chest. "Jessica," Francois said in a steely murmur. Her hands lowered slowly. Francois reached up and pulled her hair over her shoulder so Blake would have an unobstructed view of her body.
