3 The Companion

Finished with his peppercorn steak, Coriolanus prepared to go to The Grand Hotel located around the corner from the restaurant. During his peaceful dinner, the young senator decided that he would not talk to Vera's friend but would simply drop off the money promised to her.

In the hotel lobby, he looked at his smartphone and discovered that he was 20 minutes early. Specifically told not to call early, Coriolanus sat at the bar and ordered a cognac to pass the time.

Left alone with his thoughts, his eyes drifted around the bar until they came to rest on a windowsill of flowers, which reminded him of his wife, a wife who did not care if he slept alone. As the minutes slipped by, his frustration began to smolder as he pondered his future of solitude in the guest bedroom.

Where's the passion? he thought. Why did she marry me? Coriolanus's seething ignited into anger as the resentment for his wife grew until he self confessed that he hated Cynthia for taking one of life's pleasures and casting it aside. Hate is such a strong word. Chiding himself, he vowed not to let his physical torment change him. He would remain strong, at least, for his daughter.

Snow's smartphone chimed, reminding him of his appointment. Swallowing the last of his cognac, he strolled from the bar towards the lobby as he retrieved his business card from his pocket. To deliver the money to the woman as promised, he began dialing the number, resolved to go home to see his daughter. But that isn't enough, he thought

"Hello?"

Hearing the woman's voice, Coriolanus paused. "Um...hi. Um...Vera sent me."

"721." The called abruptly ended.

Staring at his smartphone, Snow exhaled as he rotated his business card in his hand. He entered the elevator lobby and called for a car. Riding up in the car, he continued stewing in his thoughts, nearly missing his floor. The young senator stepped into the hallway and progressed with small doubting steps towards the room.

When he reached the door, he found it ajar by several inches. Listening for any activity within, he heard nothing. Coriolanus took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Pushing the door fully open, Coriolanus entered the room and found a young woman in her late 20s, dressed in a white business jacket and skirt, sitting on the end of the bed with legs crossed. Stopping in the entryway, he took in the sight of this sharply dressed woman with long brunette hair put up into a delightful bun as strands of hair highlighted each side of her face. Most of all, he noticed her natural appearing smile, all of which left him gobsmacked where he stood.

"I'm Julia." The young lady stood from the bed and stepped into the entryway. Closing the door behind the young senator, she took his arm in her own and escorted him into the spacious hotel room. "Welcome. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Um...hi."

Julia smiled at his nervousness. "How would you like me to address you? Do you want me to call you Senator?"

"No, no. Coriolanus is fine." The young senator could not take his eyes off the woman. "You can call me anything you want."

"Okay, Coriolanus. Here, let me take your overcoat." Julia moved behind him and removed his coat, hanging it on a nearby hook. She gripped his arm and pulled him towards the bed. "Please, take a seat; make yourself comfortable."

Sitting next to his host, Coriolanus cleared his throat. "I'm not sure what Vera told you, but I'm here only to talk."

"That's fine. We can do whatever you want."

Glancing quickly at the elegant furnishings of the expensive hotel room, the young senator began fidgeting with his hands.

The woman smiled. "Please, don't be nervous. I will never disclose our meeting to anyone. Your privacy is more secure here than if you went to the doctor."

"I know." The senator nodded. "If Vera trusts you, I trust you."

Julia took his hand to calm the young senator. "Is there a specific reason why Vera recommended me to you?"

"Um..." Snow's eyes drifted to the floor. "My wife lost interest in me. I'm guessing that I'm not the only husband to whom this has happened?"

"True. And you don't want to leave her because...?"

Coriolanus swallowed. "My daughter. She'd take her to her mother's if we parted."

"That's quite noble of you to sacrifice yourself to be with your daughter. Do you and your wife fight?"

"No. She does complain a lot, but that's part of her nature." When the conversation paused, Coriolanus noticed for the first time piano music playing faintly from the nightstand. "Do you like classical music?"

"Yes. It's my favorite. You?"

"It's my favorite too." Coriolanus took a slow calming breath, peeking at the woman out of the corner of her eye.

Sensing his continuing unease, Julia leaned her shoulder into his. "Do you like sex?"

"What?" The young senator felt his face blush. "Yes. Doesn't everybody."

"Apparently your wife doesn't."

"True. I suppose there are many women like my wife."

"And males."

Coriolanus's brow rose. "Really?"

"I have a couple female clients whose husbands lost interest in sex."

"Wouldn't the women just go to a bar?"

"No. They don't have time due to their families."

Snow began staring at the floor. "Time is an issue. Wouldn't they seek out a male...?"

"Companion. Some do, but the women I see prefer the expertise of a female outside the home." Julia patted his hand. "So, you're not sure if you need a companion?"

Coriolanus mouth twisted. "My secretary apparently thinks I do. She thinks I'm possessed by a demon."

Julia's back straightened. "You know what? It's your lucky day."

"It is?"

"I specialize in slaying demons." Waggling her brow, the woman smiled.

Coriolanus chuckled briefly.

"If you want, we can order some coffee and maybe an appetizer to be brought to the room. We'll talk for the two hours if this is your desire."

"Two hours? Vera scheduled two hours?"

"I require two hours for our first visit so there is no rush. This allows us to get to know each other."

Bowing his head, his thumbs began twirling. "Oh. That's very prudent."

"If you weren't a public figure, we could do G-F-E and go out for dinner, but I suggest we stay here."

Confused, the young senator tilted his head. "What's G-F-E?"

"Girl friend experience. This is when I accompany clients on dates. One gentleman hires me whenever his boss throws a dinner party. His boss never hires single men or woman, thinking marriage makes for the best employees. So I tag along and pretend to be his loving wife."

"Oh."

When her guest fell silent once again, Julia cupped her hands over her crossed legs. "It has certainly been a pleasant winter this year. Don't you agree? No? Have you seen the latest movie? The special effects were amazing."

Her sarcasm pulled a grin out of Coriolanus. He sighed. "I don't want to commit adultery."

"You won't be."

Coriolanus eyed his host.

"You're wife chooses not to fulfill her part of the marriage. You are not at fault and are allowed to fill the void elsewhere."

Biting his lip, he looked away. "But this isn't real."

Leaning against her guest, Julia took his hand and placed it firmly against her chest. "Oh, I don't know. Don't I feel real? I think I exist."

Snow chuckled as he withdrew his hand.

She rested her hand upon his shoulder. "Should we discuss philosophy?"

"It doesn't count when you pay for it."

Julia leaned in again and whispered into his ear. "The sex is free."

Pulling back, Coriolanus turned his head to watch the woman gnaw her lip.

"You're paying for my time." Her lips parted as she smiled.

"You're good." The young senator began rubbing his thighs, unable to keep his hands still. "You could have a bright future in politics with your persuasive talents."

Julia smiled. "I prefer to be entertainer."

"Did you study to be a therapist?" As his brow furled, Coriolanus looked away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be asking you personal questions."

"You can ask me questions, darling. I'll let you know if they become too personal." Julia combed her fingers through Coriolanus's hair. "And yes. Psychiatry was my minor in college."

"What was your major?"

"Biochemistry. For a while, I consider pharmacology for my post grad before I quit college."

"Why did you stop?"

"Turns out that this was my true calling."

Coriolanus let his eyes fall on the young lady's cleavage before diverting his gaze. "So you chose this occupation of your own free will?"

"Yes." Julia raised her chin. "Should I be ashamed?"

"No, no. I'm grateful to have met you." Coriolanus swallowed. "In fact, I think it quite brave considering the dangers."

With the tip of her finger, Julia pulled on his chin until their eyes met. "Thank you."

Unable to relax, Snow continued to fidget as he struggled with his emotions.

Reading her guest, Julia began rubbing his back with one hand. "Can I get you anything to relax? A drink maybe?"

"No thank you."

"Pills?"

His hands came to a rest. "Huh?"

"I have an assortment of other entertainment if that is your desire?"

"I don't do drugs."

Julia smiled. "Good. Those who do are never any fun. They usually end up lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling."

Unable to relax, Coriolanus began rubbing his thighs once again.

Seeing his reaction, Julia kicked off her shoes and left the bed. She knelt down before the young senator so that he could not divert his eyes. "Darling, the frustration is welling up in you. Don't let it fester into hate."

He bit his lower lip. "I don't want to hate my wife."

"Then you have to move on. We can sit here and chat or we can do more, either way I get paid, but I do not like seeing you suffer. Your secretary is right. You do have a demon inside you."

"My emotions are a mess right now. I wish that I could take a pill and make that part of me go away. What should I do?"

Taking Coriolanus's hands into her own, Julia stood, pulling the man to his feet. "I think that we should start with a backrub and see where it goes from there."

Nodding slowly, the senator took a deep breath. "Okay. Should I shower first? My last shower was this morning"

The woman leaned in and buried her face in his neck before inhaling deeply. "You smell good and even better…you don't wear aftershave. You're fine." She exhaled her hot breath into his ear before inhaling deeply again. "If you want to shower after your massage, we can shower together."

Taking in the subtle aroma of her unscented hair, he felt his whole body tingle as all his senses came alive.

Pulling herself slowly away, Julia stepped towards the bathroom. "Let me grab my lotions. They're soaking in hot water."

Fidgeting, Coriolanus stuffed his hands into his front pockets and encountered the money Vera gave him. When Julia exited the bathroom with the bottles of lotion atop a small bath towel, he offered her the money.

She smiled and made a small nod towards the dresser.

"Oh, right." He set the money upon the ornate furniture. "I don't know if it's the correct amount."

Setting the towel and lotions on the bedside table, Julia approached Coriolanus and helped him remove his suit jacket, tossing it onto a corner chair. Without a word, she began unbuttoning his shirt.

"Don't you want to count the money?"

"I trust you. You let me know if I rub your muscles too hard. I tend to put my weight into it."

Coriolanus looked at the bottles on the nightstand. "Are the lotions strongly scented? My wife has a strong aversion to perfumes."

"There unscented. It would be unprofessional of me to send my clients home to their wives smelling like lavender." She tossed his shirt atop his suit jacket and moved to the bed, peeling back the covers to the top sheet. "Get comfortable and lay face down in the center."

Kicking off his shoes, Coriolanus undid his belt and stepped out of his slacks before he began ringing his hands. "Underwear too?"

Julia smiled. "It's up to you. I hate getting lotion on my clothes." In what appeared to Coriolanus to be one fluid motion, the woman slipped out of clothes in mere seconds. Lastly, she removed two pins from her bun and let her hair fall upon her bare shoulders. Before him, she stood naked, confident, and unashamed.

As if he had just witnessed the greatest magic trick of all humankind, the young senator stood there dumbfounded. A barely audible squeal of astonishment escaped the man's slack-jawed mouth.

Reaching for the lotion, Julia stood at the side of the bed and smiled. "Are you okay?"

"I think my inner demon just had a heart attack." Snow slid off his underwear and crawled to the center of the bed, laying himself face down.

Julia straddled his legs and began studying his back. "You must be in constant pain? The stress knots in your back are visible." She pressed a knot with her finger, causing the senator to groan.

"My doctor has prescribed me a muscle relaxer, together with a painkiller. I often forget to take the relaxer since I've gotten use to it."

"You don't need meds. Just some fun in your life." Appling a generous layer of warm lotion to his back, her strong masseuse hands went to work as her thumbs targeted one knot at a time. Between the knots, she would give his entire back a once over and watched his skin quickly turned a warm shade of rouge.

Any nervousness Coriolanus had soon evaporated. His heart began to beat stronger with a new sense of desire. Every muscle relaxed as a smile spread across his face. Is this how heaven feels? He closed his eyes.

When he felt her long hair drape his face, he opened his eyes as she laid herself forward atop his body. He took notice of the warmth and smoothness of her skin as she blanketed his back.

She whispered in his ear. Are you interested in doing something more than just talking?"

"Yes." He smiled. "Very much so."

"Turn over." Julia sat up and shifted her wait so Coriolanus could rotate his body. When he was supine, she settled onto his thighs and began gnawing her lip as she ran her long painted fingernails down his abdomen with a feather touch, making his muscle quiver. "Are you having fun?"

"Yes. Is there such a thing as too much fun?"

"We'll find out."

His eyes took in all of her, for he had never beheld such a heavenly sight. Not only was this woman intelligent and beautiful, she exhibited a great confidence as she played with him as if he was a feeble mouse. Observing the glistening lotion that had transferred from his back to her skin, he reached up to touch her, pausing. "May I touch you?"

"No."

"Oh." Coriolanus lowered his hand.

Julia burst out laughing. "Are you really that reserved that you'll remain gentlemanly until you cross the threshold of passion?"

"I don't want to risk angering you?

"Why?"

"I don't want to risk chasing you away. You're a tall glass of water in the middle of the desert. I never felt so alive."

Her tight lips stretched to grin as she took Coriolanus hands and pressed them against her body.

When she began to lean forward against his hands, he could feel her heartbeat. Slowly he watched her smiling face come close to his own as her long hair shrouded his face. Tasting her breath, he felt their lips come together. Never before had he experienced a kiss so warm and soft, a kiss he thought perfect.

With his breath deepening, Coriolanus began to whisper. "I didn't think kissing was permitted."

"It's not, but there is a very short list of those who are permitted, and I've put you on it."

Coriolanus cupped her face and kissed her long. When their lips parted, he watched her reach over to the nightstand and present a small flat, square wrapper.

She held it in clear view. "So?"

With a single nod, he watched her tear open the wrapper with her teeth, and within seconds, he became lost in pleasure. Finding his body sensitive to every touch, Coriolanus surrendered his entire being to this woman. He willingly put all his trust in this stranger he had just met—who could destroy his political career and personal life. Powerless to resist her intoxicating femininity, he soon found himself swooning in pleasure, spent, catching his breath.

Collapsing next to the young senator, Julia brushed her hair back and smiled. "Demon slain?"

"My demon died a most merciful death."

Julia licked her lips and smiled. "Demons never die. They retreat deep within until they regather their strength."

"Well, I'd say he won't be back for a while." Snow began to sit up. "I'll go clean up."

Julia pulled him down by his shoulder. "You're my guest. Relax and let me get a warm wash cloth."

After a bit of tidying, Coriolanus lay against his pillow listening to the classical music, all the while staring at his companion. "I can't remember ever feeling this relaxed and content. Thank you."

Sipping from a glass of water, Julia smiled. "An entertainer is always pleased to know that their work is appreciated."

"My secretary was right: you are better than a doctor or psychiatrist. No pill could ever do this."

Setting her glass on the bedside table, the woman rolled onto her side, eyeing him. "As your therapist, I have to ask; how you are feeling?"

Coriolanus pondered the question. "Joyous is the word that comes to mind. I don't feel guilty at all, which surprises me. I thought I would."

"You shouldn't. It's your wife's loss if she doesn't enjoy being with her husband. Sad to say, there probably is no changing her since she's clearly asexual."

Rolling onto his side, he stared into Julia's eyes. "I don't know for sure if she see's that way."

"Oh I do. Even in the presence of a companion, you are not a selfish lover. I can honestly say that there is nothing wrong with you."

The young senator exhaled, for this question had been nagging him for days, weeks or more. Perhaps the money had paid for the answer that he wanted to hear, but he had no reason not to trust this woman and took comfort in her words.

For the first time since stepping into this room, he wondered about the time and began looking for a clock. "What time is it? Have I gone over?"

"Relax, darling. I will let you know when it's time to shower. It's okay if you go a bit over."

"Oh, okay." Coriolanus settled onto his pillow and smiled, beholding the woman next to him.

The man and woman continued small talk for a few more minutes until Julia informed her guest that it was time for a shower. Following her lead, they entered the large hotel shower together and took turns sharing the water as the man's fingers continued to explore.

Once dressed, Coriolanus doubled checked his pockets, at Julia's request, to make sure he had not dropped anything. He followed her to the door. "Do I have permission to see you again?"

Wrapped in a towel, Julia opened the door partway, concealing her body. "Of course, just have Vera call me and we'll schedule something."

"Okay." Coriolanus stepped into the hallway.

Julia peaked around the door. "Wait."

"What?"

"You may want to tone back that smile of yours. Your wife might become suspicious." Julia winked.

Coriolanus pulled on his chin, unable to wipe the smile off his face, for he felt overwhelming relief from being freed from his incessant seething.