Free A Reluctant Empress by Nora Weaving Page A

blushing!”
    “Shh! It’s not a big deal!”
    “Of course it is! What is it?”
    “It’s just that I really like him! He’s different than the other men.”
    “I know! He was incredibly handsome.”
    “Yes, he is handsome, but he treats me better. He’s so kind to me.” Harmena paused, unsure she should say more. “And he asks to see me more,” she said quickly.
    Kalliope was confused.
    “But that’s a good thing. You want your clients to come see you more.”
    “No, not like that. He asks to see me during the day. He doesn’t want to just see me at night.”
    Kalliope gasped and then motioned for Harmena not to say any more. Melina was looking over at them with a curious and inquisitive expression. Kalliope shoved the last of her berries in her mouth and stood up to leave.
    Harmena followed her and once they were safely in the hallways, Kalliope turned to Harmena, her gaze was stern. “What in the world did you tell him? Hopefully you discouraged him, you could get kicked out for that!”
    Harmena hurried alongside of her, pulling Kalliope towards the baths.
    “I didn’t say anything. I know that we’re not supposed to do that, but it sounds so amazing, doesn’t it?”
    Kalliope shook her head. “No, it doesn’t. This place is incredible. I wish you could have seen the brothel where I came from. It was small, crowded and dirty. We lived on top of each other and we didn’t have any nice things.” Kalliope paused. “You can have anything here.”
    Harmena shrugged off her comment. “I guess everyone has their own perspective,” she said sullenly.
    Kalliope rolled her eyes as they approached the baths. “Ok, so what do you think will happen if you were to agree to see him? Would you sneak him inside and sleep with him during the day? Would you sneak out of here and have sex with him up there?” Kalliope motioned upwards to signify the world above. “You’re a prostitute, Harmena. He’s not going to make an honest woman out of you.”
    Harmena’s face fell. Apparently, deep down she hoped that he might.
    “You never know,” she said defensively as she slipped off her robe and sank into the baths. Kalliope followed suit.
    “I don’t know much about this life in Athens, but I know enough to know that men don’t just do that. He might have a family-’’
    “He doesn’t!”
    Kalliope sighed. “That doesn’t mean anything. Just be careful. Don’t jeopardize what you have for some romantic fling.”
    Harmena looked hurt and Kalliope hoped she hadn’t crossed the line. She still didn’t know Harmena that well, but she truly cared for the woman and would hate to see her thrown in the streets because of a horny man's promises.
    At that moment, Elektra showed up. Kalliope was still trying to decide how she felt about Elektra, but she liked her enough, even though she seemed a bit of a loose cannon.
    Elektra called out to them and made her way across the baths towards them. She smiled brightly; her dark hair pulled into a tight knot on her head. She dipped her entire body under the surface of the water. She came up, glistening and dripping.
    “What are you ladies talking about? Actually, I don’t care because you know what I heard? I heard that a few more men have been permitted to enter Hera Selene.” She smiled broadly, flashing her perfect white teeth in what could only be construed as a predatory grin.
    Now Harmena rolled her eyes. “Watch out Elektra, you have Kalliope to compete with now,” she teased.
    Elektra was one of the young favorites at Hera Selene, known for her brass personality, eagerness to try anything and her incredibly limber body. Elektra gave Kalliope a tight smile. “We’ll see who gets the most men.”
    “Not interested in competing, Elektra,” Kalliope said, as she dipped her hair into the water and began scrubbing at her scalp with a fragrant bar of soap. Since Elektra had joined them, Kalliope and Harmena had stopped talking about the soldier. But Kalliope