Reborn Vampire Romance: Blood Courtesans Read Free Page A

shadowed lives and humans seemed content to keep it that way.
    She watched my hand, eyes gleaming with what appeared to be amusement. “Not generally, but living as long as they have sometimes changes them in a bad way. Or their original time period may have engaged in practices we no longer find acceptable today. I spend a lot of time ensuring clients can be trusted and that they understand the terms of service. When you work with me, you know you’ll come home safe.”
    I cleared my throat as I processed everything she’d just explained. “So you said I am to please the client, what does that mean? Can I say no to anything?”
    “You can say no, but I would not make a habit of it if you want to make money. This is no job for prudes. Kristos will be a good introduction to what this work entails. You’ll know after tonight if this is for you.”
    Her computer gave a soft ding signaling that a new email had arrived. She checked it and nodded in satisfaction. “Kristos approves. He’s sending a car.”
    At that, my heart began to race as I realized this was really happening. Madame Rouge either didn’t notice or overlooked my shell-shocked reaction and handed me a stack of papers.
    “This is your contract. It includes a non-disclosure agreement and outlines payment terms. Also, you’ll see that, if your trainer’s evaluation is poor, we reserve the right to dissolve our relationship with you.” She flipped through the pages, marking an X where I needed to sign. “In other words, do what Kristos says. He’s trained other girls and he knows what he’s doing. Impress him and you impress me, which means more clients for you. Understood?” She gave me an expectant look.
    I managed a nod as she handed the contract over to me. I tried to read the twisted legalese as I signed, but lacked the mental clarity to focus on the words. Images of what Kristos might look like and what it would be like to let him feed on me consumed my mind. My nerves were on high alert and my hands shook as I made my way through the pages, signing and initialing where she indicated.
    When I finally finished, Madame Rouge gave me a bright smile. “Congratulations. You are officially a blood courtesan.”

Chapter Two
    O n the limo ride to meet Kristos, I sent a quick text to my mom letting her know I would be in the city at least overnight, if not for a few more days. My dad had ditched us both long before I was born and the abandonment made my mom and I close. I knew she’d worry if I didn’t check in. I’d told her I had a job interview, which was mostly true, although I’d led her to believe it was for a corporate internship that would look good on my graduate school application.
    She was just recovering from her last chemo treatment and didn’t need any extra stress. Not that I would, in a million years, tell her about what I was doing. No point in saving her from cancer only to kill her with my loose morals. As far as I was concerned, what happened in New York was going to stay there.
    It only took a minute to check in with mom and I was left with way too much time to think. First, about my Dad. Would things be different if he was around? I’d learned early on to push him to the back of my mind because I didn’t believe in dwelling on things that couldn’t be changed. With mom so sick, though, I felt his abandonment of us as a new loss.
    Then I thought about sex. About vampires. About how the hell I was going to pull this blood courtesan thing off. I was so out of my league I was on another planet.
    I’d never met a vampire. Sure, maybe seen one or two from afar, but that was it. Our society had transferred the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy from gays to supernaturals. We didn’t know what was out there and we were good with it. If we had to know, fine. Like the time there had been a vampire serial killer. Or when another one set up a big philanthropic foundation for his descendants. Beyond those news bites, I went through