Smoke On The Water | 18+

Chapter 1

Word Count: 1,595

"It drives them wild, I swear." I giggle drunkenly.

"What do you tell them when they ask?" Harry asks, laughing all the while.

"Well, you see, my dear husband died in the war, and I couldn't possibly fend for my lonesome out here on the frontier." I over exaggerate, throwing my hand over my forehead in faux faintness. I've never had a husband, let alone had one that died in the war. The war was almost 10 years ago, for Pete's sake.

"Bless your heart, darlin'. Just how did a sweet thing like yourself end up doin' somethin' like this?" He plays along, as we spin around drunkenly to the music playing softly from the gramophone behind us.

"A woman has needs too, y'know." I tell him seductively, batting my lashes at him and running my hands over his shoulders and to his neck. Harry smirks and dips me low, my raven hair almost sweeping the floor.

"I can see why these men pay so much to spend even a half hour with you..." He says breathlessly.

"They pay to fuck me, Harry. Don't be coy. Call it what it is." I say, my voice quiet as he twirls me slowly. He sighs as the song comes to an end.

"Be that as it may, but I can still see why." He tells me honestly.

Sometimes I like to imagine what Harry and I could'a been if our situations were different. We were both brought into this.. life path.. from a very young age, not really knowing what we'd gotten ourselves into. If our situations were different, I like to think we could have been something great.

But our situations aren't different.

So we spend time together as friends, and occasionally- if the opportunity presents itself- we may indulge in casual sex.

Once in a blue moon, of course.

Meredith never comments on my proclivities, and I know she doesn't care to until it interferes with her income- which it hasn't. At least, not so far.

Someone begins to pound on the door, which I assume it can only be Colter- Meredith's second hand.

"You know the rules, love birds. An hour at a time." Colter says as he opens the door. I pout at him. Harry kisses my pouted lips tenderly, and I smile into it. Colter's eyes fixate on my plump lips, but he then turns to Harry and throws his head back, as if to tell him to get lost.

Colter is always so stickler when it comes to the hour rule. If you don't count when it pertains to himself.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Evelyn." He tells me, a sweet smile spread across his handsome face. I smile at him and nod my head.

"Close the door on your way out." Colter tells Harry. I can see Harry send me a look, but he does as he's told. We both know what happens if he disobeys. We've both seen it a few times.

If you fail to do your job, or you cause any problems for Meredith- or Colter, for that matter- you would be dealt with accordingly.

Sometimes it would just be simple flagellation, but if you caught one of the two on a bad day, they'd do things that would make you wish you were dead.

Like tar and feathers. That was a horrible sight.

Or stripping you down and sending you out into the cold.

Or maybe they'd be merciful and just hang you by the neck.

The results may vary.

"Pout for me again, sugar." Colter tells me. He's a bit older than me, maybe 36 years or so compared to my 23 years.