Inamorata

Chapter Three - Belladonna

Chapter 3. Author's note: Feeling particularly generous? Well, clickety-clack that vote button and make this humble writer happy! Thanks!

As Nightingale fought to keep a gape from appearing on her face as she stared at Michael, Bobby leaned over and murmured in her ear.

"It seems as though you were wrong about him wanting to visit us," he said. Nightingale felt a small shudder ripple through her as she felt Bobby's hot breath tickle her neck. "But you obviously did a good job of piquing his interest. Go get him, Nightingale."

"Does he already know the price?" asked Nightingale, adjusting her corset a little as she looked over at Michael. He was smiling a bit, but it was an innocent smile - very happy and bright and a tad goofy.

"I went over that with him. He's already given me the down payment. I made it nice and hefty, too," said Bobby. Nightingale rolled her eyes at Bobby's tone. He clearly thought himself extremely clever.

"I'm worth it," said Nightingale, pasting a smug smile on her face for Bobby, who laughed and slapped her ass. "After all, all these fine gentlemen won't get to see me dance or sing if Mr. Castleman's going to keep me all to himself."

Two men heard her words and moaned in agreement. One reached out and tried to touch her, but Bobby slapped his hands away.

"Sorry, Mr. Delaney. She's spoken for tonight. You want to touch her, you have to pay," warned Bobby. "And more than the gentleman at the back has."

Mr. Delaney must have begun to argue with Bobby, because their voices rose, but Nightingale ignored them. She wound her way between the tables, taking a more circuitous route than was necessary to showcase her fabulous strut. She saw many men gaping, their mouths hanging open, practically drooling with lust.

Her lip curled in disgust involuntarily and she had to labour to smooth her expression into one of haughty flirtatiousness. Keeping her eyes fixed on Michael as she approached him, she found herself both pleased to see him - something that shocked her, as she'd never been happy to see anyone but fellow Inamoratas before - and dismayed. She'd liked Michael, and thought of him as someone better than the scumbags who frequented the bordello.

Apparently, he wasn't. And it made Nightingale disquieted.

"Hello," she nevertheless purred as she found herself standing before him at his table. He looked up and goggled at her. She had to smile a little bit at his gormless expression. At least he wouldn't be particularly difficult to seduce.

"Nightingale," he said, his voice weak and breathy. "You...I mean, you're...you're...well-"

Nightingale laughed, but it was a genuine laugh of amusement, not the affected one she used for clients.

"Gorgeous?" she guessed as she quickly assessed his expression, trying to settle on his type. Was he the kind of man who wanted her to sit on his lap (most of her clients wanted this) or was he the kind who wanted her to sit next to him? Like a real woman?

She settled for this and sat down next to him. However, she draped her legs over his lap and shot him a seductive glare. She was rewarded with another gape, his dark eyes wide.

"You know, I didn't think you'd want to see me again," said Nightingale, leaning forward and murmuring directly in his ear.

He flinched back and Nightingale wondered if she'd misjudged him. Maybe he wanted her to behave exactly as a real woman. That was rare. Most of her clients liked her to behave in as shameless a manner as possible.

"I wanted to talk to you," said Michael.

"Oh? You're paying a lot of money to just talk to me, Mr. Castleman," said Nightingale, leaning back.