Page 1 of The Show (Dirty Little Harlots #3)

“ Come now, my pretties, do not be shy,” cajoled Madam Eve, gesturing for us to step up onto the little dais in the private salon. “Let the gentlemen see their choices.”

The two other women were ahead of me, and didn’t seem to mind their nudity. One—her hair so red the color must not be true—blew kisses to her audience, while the other held her shoulders stiff and back straight. Was she as uncomfortable as I was, paraded before the eyes of so many men?

“There we are,” Madam Eve crooned approvingly, even as she turned to the audience with a grand flourish. “And here you are, good sirs. Three lovely flowers from my Garden of Pleasure. Which one shall keep you company tonight? Rose, Violet or Heather?”

It was my first time on the dais, and I wished I wore a robe, if only to have someplace to dry my palms.

If the silk hid my skin from such lecherous stares, all the better.

As Madam had taught me, I kept my chin high and my gaze locked across the room. They will think you aloof, darling , she’d murmured comfortingly to me, and will pay extra to take you down a peg. It is easier if you do not meet their eyes .

Anything to make this easier!

My mother had spent years hounding me about poise and polish and a haughty attitude, telling me it was the best way to win a titled suitor.

Putting those lessons to good use tonight, I kept my chin up and my eyes—hidden behind the ornate domino mask I wore—from focusing on the men who were murmuring to one another as they studied us.

While it was my first experience as the center of attention, I had been in this room before, several times. Each time it had been as a server, one of the girls Madam employed to bring the gentlemen their whisky and keep them happy between shows.

I’d never been the center of attention before, but this would pay so much better.

After tonight, after this humiliation, I would have enough money not just for a ticket to New York, but train fare to any other part of America, and living money besides.

After tonight, I would be on my way to my new life.

I would find a place where no one knew of my ruination, no one knew my name. I would find a husband, settle down, and live a respectable life.

After tonight, after this …I would have enough money to make it happen.

“Well, my lords? Which of my flowers catches your eye tonight? You can have one or all, you know the price!”

“I think, Madam Eve, my friends and I are in the mood to…share.”

I caught my breath, my gaze slamming downward before I could stop it. Sure enough, I recognized that handsome smirk, that arrogant stance, and I forced my eyes away from Edward, Lord Stanthurn, before he noticed.

Oh God.

Oh God.

Praying none of them could hear the frantic beating of my heart, I chewed on the inside of my lip.

Only years of deportment lessons with my mother, of being trained to hide my true feelings and portray only the vaguest polite interest, allowed me to keep from bursting into tears. From hunching over, hiding my nudity, and running from this brothel, this place of sin.

Sin I’d agreed to participate in.

With the man who had ruined me?

Dear God, let him choose one of the others.

I could hear them murmuring to one another, Edward and his friends. Without looking, I could guess who they were: Rogers, Bertie, and Sir Michael. Perhaps a few more, judging from the vague shapes I’d seen in my quick glance. Edward was always the life of the party. People wanted to be his friend.

It was what had drawn me to him, after all.

Madam Eve, ever the professional, was solicitous.

“There is much pleasure to be found, I have always said, when friends share among themselves. Food, drink…women.” Her throaty laughter joined theirs.

“Each of my flowers knows exactly how to offer pleasure, but they have different stipulations in their contracts. Rose, for instance, is willing to take no more than two cocks at a time.”

I swallowed, fighting the urge to close my eyes in humiliation as the redhead at my side giggled and blew a kiss. My mask hid my pink cheeks, but could the men see the way I blushed elsewhere?

Let them choose Rose.

But Edward’s voice cut through the chuckles and speculations. “The one in purple. I’ve always been fond of curves on a wench.”

And my blood ran cold.

He’d murmured something very similar right before he’d seduced me, made me think I had a chance at a future with him. He’d called me beautiful, said he loved me. Then later, laughed cruelly when I’d told him I would eagerly await his courtship.

Why should I court the plump daughter of a simple country squire, when my betrothed is the niece of an Earl?

If I’d known he was affianced, if I’d known his cruel streak…I would have never given into his kisses and caresses, no matter how good they’d made me feel. Would have never allowed the news of my ruination to reach Society. Would have never been put in this situation.

But now?

But now…

I swallowed and forced a sickly smile as a cooing Madam Eve reached for my hand.

“My Heather? Oh yes, gentlemen, a very fine choice.” She tugged me gently off the dais, turned me in an awkward circle, as if I were an item for sale, being shown to her customers.

“This is Heather’s first time as the star of the show, as it were. ”

“A virgin?” That was Rogers’ eager cry, and I dropped my chin in disgrace.

Madam Eve’s fingers were a comforting caress across my shoulders. “No, my fine young sirs, not a virgin, but new to this world nonetheless. Before you decide on her, and I send Rose and Violet away, I must tell you that Heather’s contract stipulates there shall be no risk of pregnancy.”

She’d remembered, thank God. I’d been lucky to avoid such shame once; I could only risk it for a very good reason. Such as…

“Aw, Edward, I wanted to fuck her cunny! Choose a different gel,” Sir Michael slurred. The thought of him pressing into me made me shiver with revulsion. I hadn’t liked Edward’s rough tupping, and wouldn’t like his friends’ either.

“If you do want to fuck my Heather,” Madam Eve inserted smoothly, “You will each have to pay an additional hundred pounds. To cover expenses in case of a pregnancy, you understand.”

“Christ, no cunny’s worth that!” I didn’t recognize that voice, and I refused to lift my eyes. “Choose one of the others, Edward!”

Yes. Choose one of the others, Edward .

But God wasn’t listening to my pleas, because Madam Eve knew how to close a deal. “Heather’s cunny is off-limits, but she is quite skilled with her mouth, gentlemen.”

Oh yes. I’d become quite good with my tongue, hadn’t I?

My ruination had forced me to learn to do things I never would have dreamed, and it was the fault of the smooth-talking bastard whose shoes I now stared at. The one who stepped forward to run his hand down my side.

I didn’t flinch away, but it was close.

“This one,” Edward announced smugly. “I want to use her mouth.” His touch rose to my shoulder, my neck…my jaw. “I want to see my cum dripping from this glorious hair.”

His fingers tightened in my dark curls. Did he recognize them? No, he’d only ever seen my hair in the elaborate coiffures I wore to balls—our rendezvous had always been secretive, stolen moments at those events.

Swallowing, I locked my gaze on his chest, refusing to risk him recognizing my eyes.

Behind him, his friends were chortling.

“I say, will you let us share?”

“Be a good sport, Teddy. We can all fuck her mouth.”

“I want to paint her tits with my cum!”

I could barely hear them over the pounding of my heart.

“Well, slut?” Edward murmured, his palms brushing over the tops of my breasts. “What do you think?” He cupped them, his thumbs finding my nipples. “Can you take us all?”

I wasn’t going to answer. I wasn’t going to respond. But then he squeezed. He squeezed , and I couldn’t help the way my body responded, the way I whimpered slightly and leaned into his touch.

As he laughed and squeezed again, I cursed my traitorous body, and the rush of liquid warmth that filled my core at the thought of being filled by him again.

“She’s shy, lads, but she’s eager for it.” Edward rolled my nipples between his thumb and forefingers, and lowered his voice to croon to me. “You like the idea of being covered in our cum, of being used like the whore you are, eh?”

I could feel myself warming, and I squeezed my thighs together to catch my arousal. My vision was filled by the subtle pattern of his waistcoat, and I did my best not to whimper.

Until he squeezed again, using my breasts as roughly as I knew he wanted to use the rest of my body.

“Answer me,” he growled.

“Yes, my lord,” I whispered, hoping it would disguise my voice enough that he wouldn’t recognize me. “ Please .”

The please might have been too much. But I wanted this. The way my cunny throbbed, slickness coating my thighs, made me suspect I needed this.

Madam Eve's voice seemed distant, a soft murmur at the edge of my consciousness, as she dismissed Rose and Violet.

I couldn't focus on her words, not with Edward's hands still on me, his thumbs circling my nipples, drawing out a gasp despite my efforts to remain aloof, impassive.

I didn't hear her leave, didn't notice anything but the sudden press of men’s bodies around me, the harsh breaths and crude whispers.

My eyes fluttered closed, a vain attempt to block out the reality of what was about to happen. But shutting out the sight of them only heightened my other senses. Hands—so many hands—were on me…groping, caressing, exploring every intimate inch of my flesh.

A rough palm skimmed down my spine, while another squeezed my buttock, fingers delving into the cleft between. I shuddered, a mix of revulsion and unwanted desire coursing through me.

Someone cupped my mound from behind, thick fingers sliding through the slick folds, tracing the entrance to my body. “She's soaked, Teddy,” a voice grunted, thick with lust. “Your little whore wants this?”