Chapter Ten
Number Eleven was in and getting changed for her encounter at her station. Zera waved hello and asked, “Did you need any help with anything?”
“Um, no. But... I haven’t gone on a date with this patron before, and he seems super keen about... you know.” Eleven gestured toward her extremely well-endowed upper torso.
“Oh. Ohhh.” Zera smiled. “I am sure it will be fine. Everything is declared in your file, and he will be expecting it. The lactation is not a surprise.”
“No, but it is a stupid activation.” She looked down at her breasts as if betrayed.
“Maybe it is just what he wants.”
Eleven shivered. “That is what I am afraid of.”
Eleven’s dress wrapped faithfully around her waist and ribs, then softened into bands that could be moved out of the way to expose her breasts. It was a design created with the greatest care. Susa had outdone herself. Just the right sex appeal without being overt. Eleven just looked like a busty club singer.
“Any jewellery?”
She shook her head. “He said he would bring what was needed. I just needed me and the dress. I even think shoes were optional.”
Eleven looked soft, but she had a history that could curdle milk. Emotionally she was steel and one of the most competent people that Zera had ever met, but her body betrayed her by being soft, curvy, and she couldn’t stop lactating. It was her superpower. She took care of abandoned babies in hospitals and got them strong and healthy before they went on to their foster or adoptive parents. She was as desperate for touch as her patron was.
“So, what do you think about Blind Date being outed?”
Eleven sighed. “I think it would have happened eventually. Sorry that it was so sudden and public, Zera.”
“I will get over it. Torun might not. I think I am going to be busy on his nights. Washing my hair or something.”
“Oh. Wow. I would love to see that. Wait. Strike that. With the way he kissed you, he would not take avoidance lying down.”
“Ah, but therein lies the dance.” She laughed. “Oh. Shit. I have to get into a corset.”
Eleven giggled. “I can help. I have a few minutes before I have to go.”
“Where is he taking you?”
“Hotel Del.”
“Nice. I am there as well. We can share a transport if you like.”
Eleven looked relieved. “Oh. Thank you. I have only had two dates before this and none with this patron.”
“He is even-tempered for the most part. You should be fine.”
“For the most part? Wait, how do you know?”
“I am management. I vetted his credentials.” She smiled as she pulled out the outfit she had prepped.
“Wait. So, you are the one who recruited me.”
“Well, yes and no. Someone else suggested you, and when you panned out, I made contact.”
She removed her dress and underwear, setting them aside for going home. The tiny thong went on first, then the layers of chiffon, and finally the corset. Sometimes he wanted her soft; other times, he wanted her hard, but he always wanted her waist and hips encased in something snug and reinforced.
“Would you like me to cinch you up?”
“Please. Tight as you can.”
Eleven grinned and said, “Better hold onto something.”
“If I had a credit for every time someone has said that in the last few years... oof!”
Eleven jerked on the laces with precision, and soon, Zera was standing with her waist the smallest it had ever been. “Did you get the space in the back closed?”
“I did. Smooth line. Good girl for taking it.” She smoothed the clothing and straightened the lines of the layers.
“If I had a credit for—” They both laughed, and makeup was finalized, masks were applied, and they headed for the lift.
“What do you do if they want to see your face?” They were in the automated transport, and Eleven asked.
“Tell them no. It is not in the contract. If you want to do it at a later date, I am working on jewellery that will blur photography and digital recording. Your mask does that now, but I need to make the tech smaller.”
“Oh. Right. You can do that?”
“That is my non-activation activation. The people who raised me were scientists, and I got to play with all their toys.”
“Well, that explains a lot.” Eleven held up the tiny charm with her number on it that tucked into her cloak when not in use. “I wondered how these worked.”
“They get one when they become a patron. You get one when you become an escort. When you have a connecting assignment, they glow and open the doors between you. I thought it was a nice touch.”
“It is. It takes some of the fear away about meeting strange men in hotel rooms.” Eleven chuckled.
The transport stopped, and their bots exited with them. They passed through the lobby and entered the lift, and Eleven fussed with her cloak. Zera smiled as they rode ever upward. “You will be fine.”
“What if he doesn’t like me? It is a bit to deal with.”
“He will. I am confident of it.”
“Why? How can you be so sure?”
“Step one inch forward.”
Eleven frowned but did as asked. The invisible imprint of a face was in her cleavage, and as she stared, it moved, and a long tongue dragged itself across the creamy skin. There was a rumble of infrasound that ran through the lift.
Zera watched as Eleven was lifted and bodily carried out the doors and down the hall. She appeared to be hovering at a strange angle, but her patron carried her the whole way. The elevator doors shut, and Zera got off at the next floor. She wished Eleven well. Salat was a hard man to deal with.
She held up her charm and walked into Astel’s room and his arms. There was something to be said for knowing what you were getting into.
* * * *
Once inside the room, he set her on
