Their Courtesan: Billionaire Menage Romance

by Cynthia Dane

  They bathed together. They watched a movie on a small laptop Seth brought, since Judith didn’t have a TV. He offered her a massage before she could give him one. As he touched her, careful to both relieve her tension while inciting arousal through her delicate form, Judith candidly talked about the type of men she had been with over the past dozen years.

  “You know they only want your body, to have a good time, to secure that they at least fuck one beautiful woman that month, to forget about you in the morning… and you’re fine with that. The money makes sure you’re fine with that. I don’t regret a single day of it, but lately I’ve been wondering how it may have stinted other parts of my life. I’ve never been in love, Seth. Isn’t that weird?”

  “Everyone is different,” he said smoothly, although a lump formed in his throat. He squeezed her shoulders, thumbs pressing into her back. “Maybe you don’t fall in love easily. I know I don’t. That’s a good thing for your line of work.”

  “I suppose.” Judith shrugged into his massage, arms stretching out before her and face buried in her bed covers. “What if I am falling in love with someone, though? How would I know?”

  “You know because you can’t think of anyone else, even when you’re not around that person. You are always thinking about how you can help them and make them happy. You imagine a future with that person.”

  Judith didn’t say anything until, “Kiss me, Seth. I don’t want to talk anymore.”

  So began their first lovemaking session that night. Do you realize you’re the one I’m talking about, Judith? Even when he was with her, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He hoped that one day – soon – she would realize the same thing about him.

  ***

  Fog covered the Château grounds early Thursday morning when Seth stole his love from the compound and drove off with her. By the time they reached the main highway leading to the city, the fog had burned off, and sunshine lasted their entire journey.

  “I like your car!” Judith called over the wind whipping in from the window. Her sunglasses glowed on her face. “Stylish!”

  Seth took a sharp curve before responding. “What are you talking about? It’s just an Audi.”

  “Dude, there’s no such thing as just an Audi! How fast can it go?”

  “Hold on!”

  Seth was never caught speeding. He didn’t even like speeding. Then again, he didn’t like putting excess miles on his car either, and since meeting Judith another couple thousand had easily been added. I would scrap this car for her. Seth never thought about his bank account anymore. For the first time in his life, he found a woman worth spoiling with his wealth. He’d buy a fucking Jaguar or Rolls-Royce if that’s what she wanted. Wasn’t there a reason he had hoarded his money for so long?

  With any luck, this new collection of his would bring in millions more. This was only the start of something great.

  They didn’t go straight to his townhouse, even though he was dying to show her his studio. Instead, they were due for lunch at the usual outdoor café. Zack and Joy would both be there. Seth had insisted they meet Judith – in Zack’s case, he wanted him to meet the real Judith. The one his best friend had intimately become familiar with. I’ll show him what a good match she is for me. Zack never gave his friend smack for the whole “paying for a girlfriend” thing in weeks, but it still hung between them every time they met and the conversation even slightly turned to relationships or art.

  No one looked more comfortable than Judith did at their table. Dressed in an off-white, off the shoulder peasant top and denim shorts, she was the pinnacle of care-free and not about to take anyone’s shit. Which was good, because Joy was always looking to dish out some shit, and Zack could bullshit better than anyone else.

  “Pleasure,” Judith said, shaking Joy’s hand over the four-person bistro table. She sat down again, legs crossed and loose ponytail tossing over her shoulder. No one could see her gorgeous eyes behind those big, gold sunglasses, but they could see her pearly-white smile. She wore minimal makeup, if any at all.

  “How grand to finally meet this ‘muse’ Seth is always going on about.” Joy sat across from Judith, her large black Michael Kors tote hitting the bottom of a wiry basket. Judith had brought a white purse to hold her things. It currently rested right on the cement ground beneath her chair. Joy is probably having an aneurism over it. She liked things to stay… clean. “You don’t look much like your paintings, though. Must be the glasses.”

  Seth knew that was how Joy spoke, but something flashed across Judith’s mouth. “It’s because I’m not naked. If I were nude right now, you’d see the similarities.”

  “I’m sure.” Joy cleared her throat. “Did Seth tell you about the gallery opening next month? Your nudity is going to be plastered for all of New York’s art snobs to appreciate. He’s assured me that you’ll be there, but I’ve had clients tell me that about their models before.”

  Seth and Judith exchanged glances. “He’s told me all about it. I’ve already scheduled time off work to go.”

  “What do you do?”

  Seth wanted to snort into his ice water, but Judith kept her cool. “Let’s say I work nights and weekends.”

  Whatever Joy took away from that, she kept it to herself.

  Zack showed up fashionably late, after the second round of telling the waitress to please wait until their fourth arrived. Arrive he eventually did, wearing his usual marina duds of loose khaki pants and a white cotton shirt. I know this is a casual place, Zack, but come on… Seth wasn’t exactly dressed up himself, but new jeans and a collared shirt had to count for something. “Hey!” Zack slapped Seth on the back and nodded to Joy. He did not seem to be in a hurry to greet Judith, who sat behind him. Even when he sat down in the seat to her right, he did not acknowledge her much. “Sorry I’m late. Lost track of time down at the dock.”

  “Men and their boats,” Judith quipped. “You sail?”

  That got his attention. “Ever hear of the Priss & Moan?”

  Judith caught a laugh in her nose. “No, sorry.”

  “Good. I intend to keep it that way.”

  Judith slightly cocked her head. Seth cleared his throat. Is he being an ass on purpose, or is he being humorous? Sometimes with Zack it was hard to tell. If he liked someone, it was humor. If he didn’t? Ass.

  With Joy still there, no time remained to find out. The conversation, as soon as they finally ordered lunch, immediately jumped to work, not that anyone but Joy took it that seriously. Zack never took anything seriously. Judith was only along for the ride, even though she was the model. Seth should’ve taken it seriously, but he was too enthralled with having his beloved by his side, in the open air, shining in the sun and looking like the million dollars she would make off of him should he become her patron.

  Zack knew about that. Joy, on the other hand, regarded Judith with nothing more than, “She exists, huh?” Joy never cared about her clients’ love lives, as long as they didn’t interfere with work. Seth hadn’t introduced Judith as his girlfriend, but it was pretty obvious they were sleeping together. Until last night, we hadn’t slept together at all. Tonight, he hoped to do it again. This time in his bed!

  Joy only stayed long enough to have a salad and iced tea. As soon as the last leaf was gone from her plate, she shook Judith’s hand and insisted she come to New York in a few weeks. “I want everyone to see the actual inspiration for those paintings. It will sell them so much faster.”

  Judith smiled. “Trust me, Ms. Cheung, I am also a saleswoman of sorts. I understand how that works, and would love to be there.” She brushed her fingers against Seth’s arm. Joy couldn’t help but stare, the cogs turning in her mind. Busted. “Seth insisted long before you did.”

  “Yes, well…” Flustered, Joy pulled her sweater off the back of her chair and hoisted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Only fair that everyone see you’re the real deal.”

  Both women exchanged a dark look. Seth looked to Zack for help.

/>   “No offense,” he said, as soon as Joy left, “but she was talking about your naked breasts.”

  Judith retained her smile. “I know.” Her lips parted. “Who hasn’t seen them by now? Fantastic, aren’t they?”

  Even Zack couldn’t reply to that.

  “Anyway,” Seth interjected, hand slapping the table. “What was going on down at the dock that kept you so long?”

  “Some new hotshot in town bought the boat next to mine. You know. Schumacher’s old flotation device?”

  “Yeah, that guy. Mr. Downsizing.”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Who bought it? Anyone I know?”

  “I highly doubt it. He’s in real estate or something. Casinos? Something like that. His family’s building one nearby and he’s in town to oversee it. So unless you’re rolling in that world now, I highly doubt you’ve heard of him yet. I only know him because he’s been down at the marina many times and drinks beer on deck with me.”

  Seth snorted. “You’ve replaced me as your best friend, I see.”

  “Hey, I need someone who will leave the dock with me. For a doctor, you sure get seasick a lot.”

  Don’t remind me. Seth liked the idea of yachting in theory… but the few times he had gone in his life, including on Zack’s boat, he ended up so green that even the ocean couldn’t out-foam him. The only times Seth got motion sick was when he went out on the water. Flying, driving, roller coasters… those were fine. “What does being a doctor have to do with it?”

  Judith interrupted him. “Casino, huh?” There was something uneasy about her tone. “That would be the first in a long while. Then again, with all you rich dicks, I’m surprised it’s taken this long. What was the guy’s name again?”

  Zack gave her a suspicious look. “Miguel something. Bolivar. That’s it. Miguel Bolivar, from Spain. Er, I think. I know it’s Europe. Maybe France? No, it’s Andorra. Wait… what’s that really tiny country by there?”

  The smile remained on Judith’s face, but it was so forced that Seth wondered if she was going to faint. He put his hand on her leg, feeling her cool flesh turn warm beneath his touch.

  “Monaco,” Judith said, hand covering Seth’s. “You’re thinking of Monaco.”

  “You know Miguel?”

  Nobody could read Judith’s face if they tried – and Seth did. He tried so hard that he went cross-eyed. “I’ve heard of him.”

  She and Zack held their gazes long enough for the waitress to return with tea and water refills. Seth made a note to ask Judith about this later. For now, he was happy to curl his fingers with hers and think of everything they would do that day.

  Zack excused himself from lunch on the pretense that he had a family thing later that afternoon. Seth figured he was full of shit, but went along with it, shaking his friend’s hand and wishing him well. When he was alone with Judith again, he said, “Sorry my friend’s an ass. Don’t know what’s up with him.” I know.

  “Was he? I thought he was charming.” Judith chuckled, relaxing in her seat again. “You have to understand, my barometer for ‘ass’ is set pretty high. Takes more than a good-looking grump to set me off.”

  “Wait, you think he’s good-looking?”

  “Don’t you?”

  “Never thought about it.” Seth couldn’t say he sat around thinking about which of his friends was the hottest. Sure, Zack was conventionally attractive… it wasn’t just his money that got him all those women, not that he had heard of many lately. Not since the trip to the Château… well, not since Seth made it public that he was seeing Judith regularly, and not since Zack deduced that his friend was in love with a woman who charged him money for the experience. “Should we go?”

  They had no concrete plans until that evening. Seth figured they could take things slow through the afternoon. Maybe see a film. Go to the park. Shop. Whatever Judith wanted to do. Yet when he asked her what they should do, she simply said, “Anything is fine. I’m happy to get off the mountain for a while.”

  He took her hand and led her down the sidewalk. With no destination in mind, they walked slowly, aimlessly, grateful that it was a Thursday and thus there weren’t many people out to get in their way. Seth hated crowds. His patients were also lucky if he let the husband or boyfriend in… not that those guys were ever around for the birth of their kids.

  “Now that’s a look,” Judith said, gesturing to his cheek. “What are you thinking about? Artist stuff?”

  “Actually, it’s doctor stuff. Had a random memory.”

  “About delivering babies?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You know…” Judith squeezed his hand. “You’re the first obstetrician I’ve met who didn’t make a big deal about the number of lives he’s brought into this world. I keep forgetting you used to do that.”

  “I never brought anyone into this world. That’s all the mothers.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m serious. My job was to guide and make sure no complications arose. Or if they did, I fixed them. I must’ve done okay, because nobody died on my watch… although I’m sure if I didn’t retire so early, they would have. Nobody’s a doctor for more than ten years without at least one death, no matter what kind of doctor they are.”

  “Those poor podiatrists.”

  Laughing, Seth released her hand and snaked his arm around her midsection. “Now come on, I’m sure that there’s something you want to do, fair Judith. We have all afternoon to do whatever we want.”

  She stopped in front of the next shop. “Buy me some ice cream.”

  “You got it.”

  It had been a long time since Seth was out on a date like this, and he doubted the last one felt so good. Few women made him feel so comfortable, and Judith had the magical ability to make him so at ease that he almost made a fool of himself multiple times. Kissing her. Touching her. Tucking her stray hairs back into her loose ponytail and straightening out her bag so it fell comfortably at her side. He wanted to take care of her. To make her feel as good as she made him feel. He wanted to hear her opinions on this shopping district, on that restaurant, on that elderly couple holding hands as they shuffled out of a penny theater. When Judith dripped ice cream on her hand, Seth snatched it and kissed away the vanilla droplets. As she smiled, the elderly woman passing by asked her husband, “Why aren’t you that sweet with me anymore?” He informed her that if he could, he would cover her in ice cream and lick it all away. They continued down the sidewalk, laughing.

  “Now that’s my kind of old couple.” Judith crunched into her cone. “You ever think about where you’ll be when you’re that age?”

  “No idea.”

  “Me neither.”

  Seth tucked more of her hair back. It was an excuse to touch her face and nothing more. “All we can do is prepare for the future. We don’t actually know what’s going to happen.”

  “Pragmatic for an artist.”

  “I was a doctor first.”

  Judith held her ice cream to the side so she could lean in and peck him on the lips. “You’re sweet, Seth. I mean it. This is the most low-key date I’ve ever been on, and I’m already having a lot of fun.”

  His heart warmed to hear it.

  Seth could’ve done the usual rich guy routine with her. He had done it with other women before, and God knew he watched Zack and others do it on a constant basis. He could dress Judith up in a beautiful gown. Take her to the fanciest restaurant in town. Take her to the opera or any number of galleries he was familiar with. Parties. Soirees. Galas. There were a million opportunities to show her off to the world, even though most of those other men had probably seen her at the work before. Seth wasn’t bothered by that. What he was bothered by was how much fun she was having… or not. To hear her say she was having fun was what he needed to smile back at her.

  Women he took on the circuit were for appearances only. To remind the world that he was a heterosexual male who was capable of socializing. These kinds of dates were different. T
hey were for him, first and foremost. I would give up every gala for the rest of my life if it meant having more dates like this one. He pulled Judith into a deep, satisfying kiss right in the middle of the sidewalk. Normally he would deride PDA, but for the first time in his life, it felt right. Necessary.

  Judith was the first one to break away. “I’m glad I got to come out on a date with you,” she whispered. “I’m looking forward to more.”

  ***

  He took her home for dinner, having already bought enough groceries the day before to feed Cox’s army. Judith stood on the stoop of his townhouse, taking it in – and taking pictures. “Chelsea loves this kind of old architecture. She’ll go crazy for this.”

  She took more pictures of the interior. Seth never thought much of his décor before. It was minimal as a result, but at least there were paintings and prints he considered special. Judith squealed over his Picasso originals. Seth didn’t have the heart to tell her that having a Picasso original wasn’t a big deal, especially for an art collector.

  While she wandered around his spacious townhouse, Seth started dinner in the kitchen. One of his favorite dishes to make was Greek spaghetti, complete with capers, olives, and feta cheese. The original recipe didn’t call for fresh tomatoes, but he always added those in lieu of a lot of sauce anyway. On the side, he made an autumn salad of squash and pumpkin, sprinkled with lemon juice and a pinch of vinegar. By the time his concoction was cooking on the stove, Judith was sitting at the counter, demanding he cook faster to satiate her empty stomach.

  “When are you going to show me your paintings, hm?” She nodded to the one door that remained closed. He had allowed her to snoop in all the others, including his bedroom. “I’ve only seen that one you gave me. I want to see the whole collection.”

  “Later. After dinner.” Seth had planned that out too. “Do you like garlic bread?”

  “Do I like… are you going to load me up with some carbs or what?”

  Grinning, Seth pulled the bread out of its box and found the garlic butter in the fridge. “Don’t get to eat this many carbs usually, huh?”