It was pretty self-explanatory what you were. A lady of the night, a whore, a harlot. An inexperienced one, that much was clear - a new acquisition, no doubt. You were clumsy, trying too hard. Likely a virgin too.

“Would… would a man like you be interested in a night of pleasure?” you got out and swallowed, clearly flustered from saying it.

Gideon smirked. “I might be. What’s your price?”

And soon, he found himself from the brothel, having pressed you against the wall. His lips on yours, his hands hurriedly untying your corset. Your dress falling off you, him spinning you around and throwing you on your bed as he started to undress himself too. And by the morning, he was gone, believing he’d never have another night with you.

But that wasn’t what fate had in mind, and after you had seduced him for a second time just a few weeks later, he went back to the brothel again and again, always in search of you, wanting to spend a night with you. Other women were trying to seduce him, laying their hands on him and trying to pull him into their rooms, but he always pulled away, only wanting you. You grew to be like a drug to him, he wanted more of you and the need only grew as time went by - and eventually, it started to affect how he reacted to seeing you touching other men, trying to lure them to come with you. He couldn't stand the thought of someone else having you under them, someone else making you moan. It should be him, always him. Nobody else.

He sat at the table of that pub - the same pub, the same table where he first met you. He saw you sitting on another man’s lap, unbuttoning a few top buttons of his shirt and slipping your hand inside, before you leaned in to whisper something in his ear. Gideon squeezed his glass so hard that it was on the verge of cracking - he wanted to go there, rip you off the guy and take you right there, in front of everyone. He wanted everyone to know you should be his and no one else’s.

But he knew you weren’t his. You belonged to every man in town, and you weren’t allowed to even choose your preference. Whoever offered the most money was your choice, or your nights wouldn't profit enough.

But when he went to the bar counter to have another drink, the man who you had been seducing came to order another drink as well. That chunk of meat looked back at you, licking his lips as he looked over your body, and it infuriated Gideon. He was nowhere as big as this guy, and this guy could probably squeeze him so hard that he’d fit in a sardine can, but then the guy did something he just couldn’t let slide. He leaned towards Gideon. “I know that one is your favourite. I might test her out myself tonight. Tell me; is she better at blowjobs or riding?”

“Don’t touch her,” Gideon growled, and the man raised her eyebrows. “She’s off bounds.”

The man laughed, glancing at his friends who also chuckled. “She’s a whore, in case you haven’t noticed. Her job is to entertain us.” 

One of his friends stepped forward, cocking his head at Gideon. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been awfully possessive of her in particular lately.”

Third laughed, “I’m pretty sure she’s just good in bed. Mr. Fletcher here wants to have her all for himself because of that.”

Gideon was fully ready to throw a punch, but he then locked eyes with you, and he knew you noticed what he was doing, so with one last glare at the other man, he retreated back to his table, only to be followed by you.

“Mr. Fletcher,” you sighed, glancing behind you before carefully sitting across from him at the table. “You have spent a lot of money on me, and I do appreciate having a regular customer, they’re rare and I know I’m lucky to have one. But unless you either start accepting I also have other customers or start to give me big tips for our nights, I won’t be able to bring enough money for Mr. Talbot, and you surely can guess what will happen if he’s displeased with my income.”

Gideon’s eyelids flickered as he clenched his jaw, and his hand closed into a fist. He had completely forgotten that Mr. Talbot was your pimp. The man was known for beating his whores for not being profitable enough, and often his less popular whores disappeared without a trace. Everyone knew what happened to them, but no one really cared. They had it coming by not being able to be seductive enough.

He didn’t even fully know what was happening to him, why did he care so much? Falling for a whore, him? Falling for someone so lowly, so pathetic. Whores were good for nothing else than being pretty and fucking, certainly not for… be even accompanied in other means than sex, much less courted by people within his status.

At least he thought so.

You started to get up, which made Gideon quickly dig his waistcoat and hand you yet another payment with a generous tip. “You’re with me tonight.”

You frowned, but took the money, a practised smile immediately appearing on your face. “Well, I wasn’t able to agree on anything with that other gentleman, and I’d much rather spend another night with you anyways.”

He knew you only said that because he paid you to say it, but he still felt happy to have you sitting on his lap again, your arm around his shoulders. Only for a moment, imagining you doing all that because you wanted to, and would do it without him paying you for it.

You bit your lip and dragged your finger along his cheekbone and down his jaw, before you leaned in and whispered, “I had to change my bedding after last night we were together, right after you left. We were quite messy.”

Gideon chuckled, placing his hands on your hips and squeezing. “Oh, we were?”

You hummed, pulling back. “It was worth it, though. It always is with you.”

He smirked, and gestured to you to get up. “What about you coming to my home for a change? My bed could be more comfortable for what I’m going to do to you tonight.”

You blinked, clearly taken aback by his proposition. It was uncommon and might have been even risky in terms of not seeming suspicious, but Gideon masked it by standing up as you did and caressing your cheek as he muttered, “That measly brothel bed may not be able to take my lust for you tonight.”

You swallowed but then smiled and nodded, taking his offered arm and you left the pub together.

—

After, when you were laying in bed side by side, panting and sweaty, you slowly rolled to your side to look at Gideon. The man was staring at the roof, and you carefully ran your fingers up his arm. “Mr. Fletcher, may I ask you something?”

He slowly turned to look at you, meeting your eyes. “Go on.”

You hesitated, but then shifted slightly closer to his body. “I can’t help but have noticed you being tense lately. Are you possibly having difficulties in business, or your studies, or anything? You may talk to me if you want, it’s part of my job. To satisfy my clients physically, but also mentally.”

Gideon narrowed his eyes on you. “You should know by now that I know that your ‘job’ is to run to your pimp and tell everything personal you know about your clients to him.”

You swallowed, and then averted your eyes from his. “I’m sorry, sir. I… I’ve just noticed that you've been different with me lately. I couldn’t resist. Mr. Talbot gives bigger food ratios to those who… um. I shouldn’t talk about it, I apologise.”

Gideon scoffed, turning to look at the roof again. You were quiet for a moment, before you shifted and sat up. “I should go, the sun is rising and I have another client scheduled for this morning. It was a pleasant night once again, Mr. Fletcher. I hope to meet you again soon.”

Gideon didn’t reply, just continued staring at the roof as you put on your clothes, but just as you were about to walk through the bedroom door, he spoke again. “Go straight to Mr. Talbot and tell him that I want to have you exclusively.”

You paused, your hand on the door handle. “I’m sorry?”

He sat up himself, picking up his shirt. He didn’t look at you as he began to dress himself, and it took a moment from him to speak again. “I want you to be in my personal, exclusive use. You aren’t allowed to sell yourself to anyone else anymore.”

Gideon heard fabric shifting, before slow steps approached the bed again. “Mr. Fletcher, are you aware how much I’d cost if you covered all of my monthly income? And Mr. Talbot would make me more and more expensive every month, if I started to profit so much. I’m sorry to tell you, but you wouldn’t be able to afford it for very long.”

Gideon realised you were right. Mr. Talbot was a greedy, old pig. He saw money in everything, and a monthly payment for you would end up bankrupting him. 

He was quiet for a moment, squeezing his waistcoat in his hands, before slipping it on. “Fine. I’ll buy you from him.”

Your breath hitched and you stuttered out, “B-buy me?”

Gideon hummed, buttoning up his waistcoat. “You’re surely familiar with the term. Some of my acquaintances have done similar deals. In exchange for your services for whenever I desire to have you, you will get everything you need to live, like food and a roof over your head.”

You were clearly stunned by how quiet you were - he didn’t hear you even breathing. He glanced at you standing there - the rising sun illuminating your figure, making you look like an angel, or some other celestial being. He had a hard time not to stop and stare, and instead turned his face back to his waistcoat, checking the buttons over and smoothing out the fabric.

“I trust you can take my message to Mr. Talbot?” he said after a moment of dressing himself in silence, standing up himself. You blinked at him and then nodded, before making your way out of his house.

He watched you go along the streets, towards the brothel, and he knew to expect a swift reply from Mr. Talbot - whores bought from him for personal use were a fair share of money and they often faced beatings and an ultimate death, men used them to release their rage. They owned them, so they no longer needed to play nice, they were no longer only borrowing the women for one night’s pleasure. And once the whore was bought, they often lost the little freedom they had before. Sometimes, their new owner just locked them up in a chamber and dragged them out just for sex, and then threw them back when they were done. So you, too, were probably scared that you being his property would end up in that, and he didn’t know if it was a wise decision to buy you. How long would it take before it would start to shine through that he was falling for you?

He clenched his jaw again, before glancing at the messy sheets and making his way out of the bedroom. He wanted to go for a walk to have fresh air to clear his head, but he would need to stay at home for the messenger to come with a message of Mr. Talbot wanted to meet him, and then… you’d be his.

---