A/N: I think y'all deserve another chapter for your exuberant response. Don't you?

Chapter 2

"You look strangely familiar."

His voice is like rich dark chocolate. I want to close my eyes and go Mmm, like after the first bite of a really fattening and scrumptious dessert, but I'm far too nervous to enjoy it right now. Instead, I gather my courage, hissing in a deep breath so my nerves aren't obvious, smile and answer him. "Why strangely… or shouldn't I ask?"

The mask covers his upper face so I can only see his eyes—they're sort of colorless but have such clarity that I could see all the swirls in his irises—and his mouth and chin. His lips are full with a slight cleft in the center of his bottom lip and he has a very strong, square chin. He's clean-shaven but I can see the shadow of where his beard grows. I find that so sexy—as all women do, I think.

In answer to my question, his lips turn up in a sly smile. "Oh, there's nothing strange about you, Ana. It's just that Madame Irina mentioned that you were brand new here and I tend to doubt I know you outside of this realm… unless you have a day job in the corporate world? I suppose that's possible."

"No, actually, I don't. Until very recently, I've been a full-time student." I tilt my head, trying to see beyond the mask. "I think I can assure you, fairly positively, that we've never met before—if that's a concern."

"No, not a concern… merely an observation." He pauses for a beat and then says, "I suppose this is the point in the conversation when I'm to ask you what services you're offering?"

Suddenly I was tempted to offer more to keep him as a possible client. But I just can't just trample on my values. Besides, I'm still a virgin. To have waited all of these years for the right one to come along, years when my friends had been having sensual romances and sharing all the juicy details… only to end up selling it? That was asking too much of my soul.

I try to ready myself to watch him walk away. "Apparently it may also signal the end of the conversation or so that's been my very limited experience. I'm offering only my companionship."

The slight smile he'd been sporting widened with my answer. "Refreshing response, Ana. Usually I need my iPhone to record the answers—they're so lengthy in what they're willing to accommodate. I'm sorry that others have walked away."

"Are you saying you won't be among that group? I mean, you don't seem the type to require paid companionship."

"No, I don't."

"If I were allowed to ask questions, I'd want to know why you're here, in that case."

"Nice roundabout way of subverting the rules. What did you study in school?"

I smile. "Nice roundabout way of avoiding the roundabout question."

He laughs and I feel tingly heat deep inside my belly. God, what a sexy laugh. I want to know this man!

"Touché. Honestly, I'd rather not explain what brings me here, but I can say with no duplicity that I am very pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise."

"Is it ungentlemanly for me to ask the same question of you after just declining to answer it myself?"

I hesitate. I'm unsure if it's wise to share anything about my private life, even with someone so seemingly nice. Blindly trusting people is what got me in this situation to begin with and I need to wise up—and soon. Irina's only advice in this regard was to go with my own instincts. I decide to answer in a vague way. "I find myself with unexpected debt and require extra income."

He cocks his head, speculating. "Well, education loans are not unexpected so I'll assume it's something else." He glances around the room and then gestures with an open arm. "Do you find this type of work appealing or do you feel pressured into it?"

Why does he care, I wonder? I'm not doing anything illegal, am I? The only attorney I know is the immigration attorney I contacted to assist me with the debt collection. I'm sort of flying blind here. I realize I'm not very savvy for a twenty-two-year-old woman but I've been rather sheltered all my life and spent all my free time within the pages of make-believe. Lily Bart and Elizabeth Bennett I know: the legal distinction between prostitution and perhaps hospitality (if providing escort service can be so called) not so much. In retrospect, I should have gone to law school.

He's waiting for my answer while I ruminate. "I don't feel pressured, per se, but it's not really what I aspire to do, to pretty much understate my situation."

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that, Ana. Truth told, you do not seem like the type to be here."

Just then his blond friend comes up behind my beauty and slaps him on the back. "Time to move along, bro. You have to spread your sunshine more equitably among the ladies," he says and winks at me with a huge grin. I smile back at him. He looks like a nice guy. Both of them do.

Tall-dark-and-handsome shifts his glance to the other man and judging from the part of his face I could see, he looks like he's scowling. Blond hunk ignores it, and seems to be enjoying himself immensely. "Go on. I'll keep this one company while you meet others."

"No, I don't think so," came the deep-voiced response.

"Now, now, you can't monopolize this lady. It's my turn to charm her."

It looks like the scowl now becomes a glare. "I don't think there's the slightest danger of that happening."

"Move along now. Step away from the pretty girl…"

I'm watching the verbal sparring with interest, trying to decide what kind of relationship they have when my dark beauty smiles, bows at me, and says, "Very well. It's been indeed a pleasure to meet you, Ana. I wish you a good night."

I nod my acknowledgement and smile, too. Inside, I'm hurting though. I don't want him to leave. I like him! Meeting him was the highlight of my evening. It's going to go back downhill now, I think, as I watch him walk away. Blond hunk turns back to me, still grinning.

"I love to mess with him—he makes it so easy. He's my brother, by the way."

"Oh? Your coloring is so different from his."

He nods congenially. "Different mothers. Anyhow, he's just here to do me a favor and I'm here because a friend of mine needed some moral support. But I have to go to another engagement so my brother will no doubt leave, too. Ana, he said your name is?"

"Yes." I have mixed feelings. I'm thrilled to learn a tidbit of information about my dashing guy but let down that he'll be leaving and I won't be. I suppose I can go, but Irina very kindly invited me to spend the night. I decide then and there that if the next man disappoints me in any way, shape, or form, I'll retire for the night. Feeling better, I say goodnight to the fair-haired boy.

"Yes, good night to you, too. I wish you luck tonight but I doubt you'll need any."

Not willing to launch into any explanation, I just nod and smile. Next up, please. I want to get out of these infernal heels—my feet are killing me!

The next man I meet is very pleasant and he doesn't walk away mad. I think he's gay so maybe he will become my client. Balding and of average height, he nonetheless is dressed very well and is gregarious. After we discuss the meager services I'm offering, he takes my hand, brushes his lips across the knuckles and promises to request me for his next big function. "I have a high-profile occupation so I need arm candy on a regular basis. I think you'll be perfect for the job."

"Thank you," I say and truly mean it. I'm so touched by his acceptance that I want to hug him. The only thing that stops me is my uncertainty as to how he would receive it. So instead I give him my warmest smile and reach over to gently squeeze his wrist. "I really enjoyed meeting you."

"That's nice to hear. My name is Kent. You'll be hearing from me soon, Ana. Have a good night."

Minx appears by my side a minute later. "Well, how goes it?"

"Much better, thanks. I think I have my first client!"

Her eyebrows shoot up. "Mr. Gorgeous?"

Laughing, I say, "No such luck. I met a very nice man who I'm pretty sure fits your description of who might be interested in escort-only. I'm thrilled with him actually. But Mr. Gorgeous? I want to marry him."

Minx laughs. "Well, I wouldn't mind marrying his blond friend."

"That's his brother."

"Is that what he told you?"

"Why, do you think he lied?"

"Probably. Everyone pretends here."

"Oh. Minx, I think I'm done for the night. My feet are killing me and I'm pretty discouraged despite my one win. Irina invited me to stay overnight but I don't know where to go or who to ask."

"You and I are in adjacent suites so I can take you to your room. The mixer for the general assembly is nearly over now anyway."

"What do you mean by general assembly?"

"Come on. I'll tell you about it on the way to your room. Did you eat anything?"

"I ate before I came here."

She nods. "I'll have something sent up to you. Staying at Irina's is akin to staying at a five-star hotel so we might as well enjoy it."

She leads me out of the ballroom into a sumptuous hall lined with white marble and dark gleaming wood. We walk through a foyer all the way to the rear of the house and stop at a small elevator. It's waiting on the main floor so we step in and Minx presses number two out of a selection of four buttons. When the door swishes open again, we're in a softly luxurious hall, and it's cool and quiet. Ah, relief.

"Here's your room," Minx says, stopping at the second door on the left. Mine's the next one down. Okay?"

"Yes. So tell me about the general assembly thing."

"Well, everyone attends the opening part of the party so the clients can see all of the escorts. Then the ones like you leave and the ones like me stay. Simple."

I narrow my eyes and give her my most suspicious look. "Like Ricky Ricardo used to say to Lucy, 'splain, please."

"Who's Ricky Ricardo?"

"Oh, my mom used to watch this old black and white television show called I Love Lucy. Anyway, don't try to change the subject."

Minx is laughing, her black hair falling in her face as she bends down. I think she's avoiding answering. It must be bad. Finally she looks up. "Okay, here goes: for those of us who are willing to do more than merely escort, we assemble again and the men come round and choose us for a little try-out. Afterward, refreshments are served and the party breaks up."

"Try-out? The clients get to test drive the merch?"

Minx nods, a look of apprehension on her pretty face.

"For free?" I ask. I'm shocked, not just by the concept but also by the fact that Minx is doing it. I don't know why I'm shocked for I don't know her at all, but I am.

"Well, I suppose technically it's free but not really. They're required to buy us an expensive gift as a thank-you… and then of course they're expected to hire us throughout the year."

"Where does all of this take place?" I whisper.

"There are small rooms downstairs for the private sessions and a couple of larger ones for the specialties."

"Specialties such as…?"

"There's a swing room, and a leathersex room."

"Leathersex?" I choke out. "What the hell is that?"

"It's another term for BDSM. That room has the most interesting equipment."

"God, I'm such a babe in the woods here."

"Yeah, well, at least you a got a client on your terms. Now you can go to sleep, knowing you'll hang onto your clear conscience. I've got to go, Ana. Goodnight."

"Yes, goodnight, Minx."

She turns around and hurries back down the hall. I watch her progress and when she disappears, I let myself into the dimly lit room. Before I even turn on the overhead light, I go first for my heels and unstrap them. Ah, pure relief. I bend down to feel the softness of the fluffy bedcover. Oh my God, a featherbed! This is really the lap of luxury, I think, as my fingers glide over the expensive bed linens. Suddenly I can't wait to go to sleep. I begin to reach for the back zipper on my dress when I hear a deep voice say, "Here, let me do that."

I whip around and stare. Inside my room, wearing only a towel around his waist, is the mean, cold-eyed man who'd rejected me earlier.

"I was told that this was my room for the night."

"Yes. I was told the same. I think we started out on the wrong foot and came up to remedy that poor impression."

"Michael, isn't it?" At his nod, I continue. "Wrong foot or not, I'm not interested in pursuing anything further with you. Right now, I'd like to get some sleep so I'll ask you to leave, please."

In two quick steps he is in front of me. I attempt to back away but he grabs my forearm. "Let go."

"Oh, no. I think we should get better acquainted, right here, right now."

My heart is about to explode through my chest but I know I can't panic—I have to keep my wits about me. Inhaling deeply, I pretend to go along. "Well, aren't you persistent? Okay, fine, Michael. But I'd feel more comfortable if you'd put on some pants—at least initially." I smile, hoping it's a seductive smile and not a terrified but pretending to be sexy smile.

His hand skims my face and then runs down to my bare shoulder, around the curve of my breast and then lands on my hip. "That would be a wasted effort since I'll only need to take them off again."

"My but you're confident. I'm asking you a favor to just throw them on for a little while. I find it disconcerting to have a conversation with a handsome man who has nothing on but a towel."

"Sweetheart, I'm not interested in conversation."

"Michael, please humor me. At least put on a robe for ten minutes."

His face turns ugly and he slams me hard against the wall. "You don't seem to understand English very well. I said no. I want you to take off your clothes. Now."

I slide sideways out of his grasp and know I have no choice but to make a run for it with him right there in the room. The only thing I spy to use as a weapon is a lamp but it's on the other side of the fucking rapist. I just have to hope that I'll be faster in my gown than he'll be in the towel. Mentally counting one, two, three, I do an about-face and take off toward the door. He manages to snag some strands of my long hair just as I cross the threshold into the hallway but I am ready to sacrifice that chunk of my hair. I run as if my life depends on it for it just might.

I don't wait for the elevator. I search out a stairway and take the steps four at a time, falling once and twisting my ankle but I don't let the pain stop me. When I reach the landing, I burst out of the door. I can hear him in pursuit and he isn't far behind. In front of me is a door. It's locked. Damn it. I try another. Just as I'm reaching for the doorknob, it opens. I push past the person exiting and stop short.

Oh. My. God.

I have landed in the leathersex room. All around me are women in various amounts of bondage, some being whipped, some engaging in sex, oral or traditional. What stopped me in my tracks entirely is the scene right in front of me: Minx is lashed naked but for her thong to an x-shaped contraption, each limb tied to a separate arm and is being whipped with some implement with multiple strands. The man doing the whipping is so muscular that he has no discernible neck. What really freezes me in place is the man standing to his right, just out of the whip's trajectory, watching the scene intently. He's wearing his black trousers and white shirt, his jacket and tie gone, his sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. It's my dark-haired beauty. I must have made some kind of sound for he turns his head and spots me. I can see his strange eyes flicker with changing emotions: first surprise, then regret, then anger as Michael the would-be rapist tears through the door and grabs another handful of my hair, pulling me back against him.

It is a faint-or-cry moment. Before I have time to choose, everything fades to black.