Constricted: Beyond the Brothel Walls by Rae Ryans Read Free Book Online Page A

would get better if I could hold on. My eyes swept over the steaming water. I didn’t want to go back, and that was what Petre would do.
    “Please,” I begged her. “You can’t tell him.” Mellissa shushed me again. “I’m …” What was I? Relieved that someone else knew my secret or that she didn’t judge me for it. Would Petre’s reaction be the same?
    “He will see fer himself eventually milady.” Yes, if we ever got that far, but there were six long months before broaching that subject. I saw no reason to bring up my past on the first day. My cheeks warmed. It wasn’t proper conversation.
    I sniffled and lifted my head up. “Please don’t call me that. Call me Korri.”
    She smiled, and it pinched up into her brown eyes. “When it’s ye and me, lass, I’ll call ye that.” Mellissa picked up the towels and put one under her knees. “Let me help ye wash yer hair.”
    “The color will come out,” I replied, shaking my head. I’d applied a talc to cover my brands. All whores wore them when they became a certain age. Traditional color didn’t cover them, Jules had said, but the violet talc worked to blend them into my brown hair.
    “Master Petre won’t care. He knows more than ye think.” I cocked my head, trying to understand. “Korri, he’s had his eyes on ye –just ye.” I didn’t know why. There wasn’t anything unique about me inside or out. What made me special to him or even Jules for that matter? I was just another whore.

Chapter Four

    M y fingers curled around the dark goblet. The bastard hadn’t told Korrigan anything about me. I sipped on the glass of blood, and I pondered everything from the train ride to the kiss. No wonder she was frightened out of her wits. I groaned, running my palm over my face. This might take longer than I had anticipated, but I must stick to my plan. She needed to love me, and if five years wasn’t long enough, I would find a way. Even if I had to kill Jules to secure her future … my future too.
    I threw his letter into the fire. Enjoy her while you can, the note had said. I have my eye on you and more threats lined the paper. The one that stuck out more than the others was the threat never to leave her alone. Uncle Jules had reminded me of the abandonment clause. Leaving Korrigan for extended periods nullified the contract, but I figured she’d remain safe in Nova Scotia. The laws here were much fairer in Arcadia for women, and prostitution was illegal.
    I hadn’t shared his beliefs. Yes, I held workers, but they received fair wages, room, and board, and I paid for their meals. Men like him disgusted me; those girls didn’t see a dime. Was I just as guilty for using his home to find a bride? No, fate had allowed me to find her. I wasn’t seeking out a brothel when she caught my eye. My finger ran over my scar. Korrigan needed to realize that I wasn’t like him even if I was a monster beneath the surface.
    “I’m nothing like him,” I mumbled, poking the fire. Metal clanked as I tossed the poker aside and downed my remaining blood. The meal helped little to satiate my flaming throat. My hunger burned for her.
    The kiss; I sighed and fell back on the bed. My hand moved to my lips. She’d kissed me back too, and electricity shot through my dead heart. How would I survive the next six months, unless I didn’t kiss her? No, the maddening torture was too much. To have her near and not kiss her again, I laughed at the thought, even if that was how courting happened in my time. Wooing was an art form, to say the least, and kissing didn’t begin until the engagement contracts were signed.
    I guess some ideals remained for me. Her agreement was signed, and I’d kissed her. Already, I missed her warm, soft lips and the allure of her presence. The door closed, and I sat up, listening for her. My thoughts drove me mad as I thought about Korrigan. Nothing else mattered, and I was eager to begin the courting game and rid myself of this curse. It