The Surrogate -

Having only ever fucked one man before Victor railed me, I woke confused and felt around in the bed for his warm body. Discovering nobody, I panicked mildly before calming down, realizing this wasn't the same thing I'd almost had with Justin. Spooning, having a morning chat, and enjoying a few kisses weren't on the menu.

I dressed for the gym wearing black yoga pants, a grey compression short-sleeved sports shirt, and my favorite Nike sneakers. I remembered where the gymnasium was, took the elevator down, and helped myself to a bottle of water on the way in.

As luck would have it, a spinning class on one of four exercise bikes that lined up in a row had a class starting soon. I hopped on, connected myself to its heart rate monitor, and began warming up, scrolling through my playlist for suitable music.

A woman rushed into the gym carrying far too much gear, tripping awkwardly, grinning from ear to ear. She saw me, focused on the bike alongside, throwing her bag down behind.

"Has Kayleigh started yet?"

"Umm, no."

"Thank god for that. I thought I was late."

"You have a couple of minutes."

She leaped on the bike, glancing at and weighing me up while connecting and inserting her pods.

"I'm Hannah."

"Amy."

"You're the surrogate, right?"

"Yes, I am."

The label had taken some getting used to in the weeks leading up to my selection. At first, it sounded like whore, but then uncaring mother and womb for hire took center stage. Hannah didn't reveal her judgment by intonation or insinuation, so I wasn't sure whether I was dealing with a friend or foe.

"I'm Victor's girlfriend."

The fucking what now?

"Oh."

"I hoped we might become friends."

"Umm, really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

I heard Kayleigh's voice bringing the class to order at the exact moment Hannah did, so I focused on that and the massive video display of our instructor, my fellow riders, and the warm-up phase of our class.

"Nice and slow, ease in, stretch your hamstrings by standing and leaning forward, then compress calves and quads slowly."

The class chatter dissolved, and everyone got down to the scheduled hard and hilly session. We were riding around hills near Tokyo in late spring. Cherry blossom flooded my screen with a mild pink hue I could almost smell.

"Have you guys done it yet?"

"Umm, fuck, sorry, I thought we were on a group microphone for a moment there, Hannah."

"I am; you're muted."

"Is this really the time to discuss surrogacy in front of strangers?"

"You shouldn't be ashamed, Amy."

"I'm not, but neither am I here to discuss private matters with people I don't know."

I popped my pods in, spun pedals, and focused on our ride, irked by Hannah's intrusive nature. She hadn't seemed judgemental, but nevertheless, I felt disconcerted.

Does he have a girlfriend?

I thought Victor was unattached. He said so.

She's fucking beautiful too.

Hannah was a perky cheerleader type around my age. Her long jet-black hair was tied back in a perfect ponytail similar to mine, and she wore the same yoga pants with a similar shapewear top in bright orange.

When we set off, I sprinted out in front, setting the pace while cursing my competitive nature and the ego sunspot that fired me. Hannah cruised alongside me, activating private near-field communications I dared not reject for fear others might see me as hostile.

"I'm sorry. It's just you and me now."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I realize what you are doing is important for Victor."

"Yes. It's important for me as well."

"I know, sorry. I feel like a spare tool left out when all others have been stored away."

"I don't understand, Hannah."

"Victor speaks highly of you."

"He doesn't know me."

And neither do you.

"Victor assembled a ten-man research team to discover everything about your life, history, present, and potential."

"Holy fuck!"

"Sorry, Amy, I shouldn't be telling you anything. I was warned against it."

"By Victor?"

"Yes, it was more of a polite request, though. Victor never threatens or harms anyone. It's one reason why I love him so much."

His deep dive into my life sounded sinister, although I didn't think Hannah intended to make that impression. As I thought about that, realizing Victor was doing due diligence, I was surprised his girlfriend kept perfect pace with me as we pulled away from the peloton.

"It makes sense that Victor had looked into me in detail."

"Can I ask you a favor, Amy, please?"

"Yes, of course."

"Can you slow down a little?"

Hah! Beat you.

"Okay."

I eased off the gas, tracking the group in pursuit and exceeding their average pace slightly.

I won't be beaten.

"I don't want you to overdo it, considering how your energy should be focused."

"Oh, you're not asking me to slow down because you're struggling, Hannah?"

"Do I seem to be struggling?"

I studied her and had to agree Hannah wasn't breaking a sweat or showing any signs of exertion. I eyeballed her, recognizing something, trawling my memory.

"Hannah Greene?"

"That's me, sweetie."

"Olympic road and World Championships velodrome cycling champion?"

"Yes. I'd rather not compete with you... in cycling or anything else if that's okay, Amy."

I will be beaten after all.

"Sorry."

I felt terrible about my feelings and jealousy and then considered whether I should be bothered at all. Hannah seemed nice, and from what I'd read about the iconic cycling champion, she was kind, bubbly, and well-loved by everyone, on and off the circuit.

But I had usurped her; she knew that, and so did I.

"I didn't know about you and Victor."

"It's been going on for two years now. We both keep our relationship private."

Okay. That suits me. Just keep it that way.

"You came out on top by a long way, Amy."

"In what way?"

"The team that investigated you. The other four downselected candidates were also thoroughly checked out, and you came top by a long way. A very long way, if I'm being honest."

"Okay. I didn't know that."

We'd completed the first loop of an arduous route, progressing onto a second, and my mind was confused over Hannah's presence in the house.

"Are you and Victor seeing each other at the moment?"

"We're on a relationship break."

"Since I came onto the scene?"

"Since Victor decided he wanted a child nobody could ever take away from him."

"Yes, we skirted around that conversation. It suits me as well, to be honest."

"I won't pry Amy. I'm curious about everything but won't derail Victor's plans or cause you any upset."

Jesus, this is fucking weird.

I held my own against the mighty peloton sprint in the final kilometer, tracked all the way by Hannah, who never tried to pass. When crossing the line like a ball of sweat, panting heavily, I noticed my unexpected training partner hadn't passed one hundred and ten beats on the heart rate monitor.

When I dismounted the bike, my knees wobbled while Hannah continued cycling. She spoke, but my near-field communications were turned off when the program ended, so I popped out my pods as she did.

"How much longer will you continue training?"

"Another two hours of spinning."

"At this pace?"

"Yeah. If you ever want to train together, I'm here every morning at this time. Kayleigh is a great warm-up."

"Okay, thanks, Hannah."

I strolled over to a set of mats, stretching my legs, making sure tired hamstrings didn't tighten. When I watched Hannah, I saw the professional cyclist perform. She disengaged from Kayleigh's class and set out on a Rocky mountain bike trail, expending at least double the effort that constituted my maximum.

She didn't try humiliating me even though it would have been easy for one as accomplished as her. I spun around when footsteps behind me closed in, and fingers tapped a shoulder.

"Good morning, Amy. Would you like to sauna with me?"

"Hi, Victor. I didn't see you arrive."

"Sorry. I swam for the last hour; now I'll sauna for half an hour and finish with abdomen and bicep exercises."

"I'll join you for a sauna."

Jumping into a shower naked with a man I met the day prior was made slightly easier because he'd licked my pussy so enthusiastically before fucking and filling my womb with baby-making seed.

"How do you feel today, Amy?"

"Happy, confused, a little tired, and my pussy aches nicely."

"I enjoyed our dinner and copulation last night very much."

And yet, you left.

More my fault than yours.

You also ignored my confusing comment.

"You keep saying that sex is my choice. Can I ask why you see things that way, Victor?"

"You understand your body far better than I do. I believe that the moments when you are optimized for pregnancy occur to you far more than they would to me."

"I guess that is consistent with the outcomes we both desire."

"Yes. You made that clear last night."

Holy fuck! Have I hurt your feelings?

I was determined not to ask about Hannah. Whatever relationship shit was going on between the pair had nothing to do with me. Victor claimed to abstain from others; the world-class cyclist had confirmed it, and the case was closed.

It's none of my business.

And I rather like her.

Victor must like her as well because she's still here.

He held the door open to the sauna, and I enjoyed a gentle, pendulum swaying of his cock as it slapped against both thighs, three-quarters fully reared.

He has morning wood.

When Victor sat on the second of three bench rows, I stepped up and stood in front, prising his knees apart so I could shuffle inside their arc.

When I leaned in to kiss him, I saw a pleasantly surprised, eager man who wanted me. I gripped his cock, wanked it gently, and brushed my lips tenderly against his, flickering my tongue inside his warm, soft mouth.

I kissed him passionately, taking what I'd wanted when first waking up. When I straddled his legs, Victor knew what I wanted and peeled his foreskin, sliding it up and down my creamy, throbbing slit, pressing the banjo string against my engorged clitoris.

I moaned, enjoying my early morning arousal that Victor was intent on taking care of by impaling me on his long, thick, glistening cock.

When I couldn't take any more foreplay, I wriggled, slipped Victor's cock inside my quivering pussy, and slid down his shaft, biting my bottom lip while frowning in disbelief when I reached the bottom.

He looked in awe, more so when I clenched the tight, soft tissue walls of my stretching cunt on and off his gnarly shaft. I sped up while Victor gripped my ass cheeks in a claw-like cup, helping me slide my pussy up and down his cock, pressing harder on the downward stroke until he filled me entirely.

My heart rate ascended, and I perspired profusely, soaking my hair, breasts, and back. My body trembled, shivering through the early pre-orgasmic warming of my reproductive organs on surging oxytocin and engorging blood.

I tossed my head back, swishing my hair seductively, smiling at him, enjoying how much his cock stretched me wide, deep inside a wanton hole. Victor's glans rubbed against my cervix, mostly pleasuring but with a slight ache with every thump as he lifted and lowered me, using my hole as a wanking toy for his giant cock.

Victor suckled, then softly chewed each nipple while I ground my clitoris into his pubis. The way he cupped my arched back in clawed fingers lifted my orgasm, sending me to the heavens while he squirted more life-giving seed deep inside me.

I felt pregnant, whatever that feels like. At least, I felt a warmth in my soul that I was doing something Mother Nature intended for me. It was new, and I was sure pregnancy had already sparked.

I stared into Victor's eyes and saw a maelstrom of indecipherable emotions. My female instincts couldn't fathom what he felt aside from the ecstasy of an overwhelming orgasm that filled me with the deposit required by his side of our contract agreement.

I kissed him again while sitting on Victor's lap with his enormous cock buried deep inside my hole, twitching the last few drops of precious semen.

"That felt so fucking good, Victor."

"I'm pleased our surrogacy is so enjoyable for you, my dear."

"I hope the same applies to you."

"Yes. You are the most exquisite, fascinating, and lovely girl I have ever met."

When I slid off Victor's cock, I felt my pussy, giggling that his cum dribbled liberally from a gaping wide hole into my hand. I left Victor to enjoy his post-orgasm meditation in the sauna while I dipped back in the shower, vowing to research the best positions and techniques to promote my pregnancy if it hadn't already sparked.

I wrapped a large bath sheet around me and a smaller towel around my hair before running the gauntlet of staff to the elevator.

I was certain Hannah caught a glimpse of me through a floor-to-ceiling mirror at the gym entrance, but my life was complicated enough without dealing with her emotional tsunami.

Am I a bitch?

Fuck knows, but I'd better get dressed quickly and head to Columbia.

I wore jeans, a loose-fitting white t-shirt tucked in at the front, and sneakers. Being six feet had advantages, but wearing heels drew far too much attention to my height, especially at University.

"You're late, Amy."

"Sorry, Dean."

"It's okay. Our meeting was agreed at short notice."

"I have no idea why I'm here."

She examined me from behind her vast wooden desk, a relic of the early days when Columbia University was inaugurated. I imagined every scratch and blemish hidden underneath a thick varnish had meaning and a historical context.

I hadn't warmed to Vanessa during my time at Columbia, but I didn't need to. As faculty Dean, she called the shots, and the rest of us followed her lead.

"I'm distressed, Amy."

You don't look it.

"Oh, really. Is that related to something I did?"

Of course, it is.

"That damn advertisement should never have been allowed to be pinned on our notice boards. These hallowed halls are not places for wombs to be bought or sold."

"Rented, actually, Dean. Maybe leased, I don't know."

Her icy facade cracked, and Vanessa revealed a flicker of disdain. I was being sassy, which was not a great idea given the circumstances.

"Are we getting into legal definitions, Amy?"

"No, ma'am."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I don't want to freeze my eggs or have kids when I'm older instead of enjoying the best years of my career. I don't want to struggle with a baby when I'm young, getting passed over for partnership because of old stigmas."

"You are wealthy. That's enough for most people."

"I want to practice law."

"You are top of your class and can choose any law firm worldwide. You are the best pupil I've met."

"And like everyone else in the Ivy League system, I have no life, love, or fun and a reproductive system mothballing, waiting for a day when I no longer want to be pregnant."

"Does the law mean that much to you?"

"Yes, but so does having a baby and passing on my legacy."

"You won't participate in the child's upbringing. I saw the contract you signed with Victor, and it's ironclad."

"I'll still leave behind a legacy. My child will have immutable qualities and characteristics gifted by me. They will also have a fortune, Victor's and mine."

"A legacy through surrogacy. It's normally men who walk away."

"I don't see it that way. Victor is a fine man; he'll choose a wife he loves and one who will nurture our child if he so chooses."

"You've fully thought it through?"

"I hope you would expect me to and realize I would apply due diligence to a matter so immense."

"Yes, Amy. I wanted to check in with you, is all."

Vanessa relaxed and looked kind for the first time I'd seen her. She was a shrewd lawyer but still a woman and mother with adult children. I guessed she wanted to probe and had now done that.

"It could be an interesting legal case to add to our lectures."

"I'm not a case study."

"You could lecture about it as a returning fellow."

"No thanks."

"That's very emphatic without considering the benefits to you and others. Would you mind explaining?"

"My child won't know me, so it seems unfair that I blast their life history to future lawyers so that they understand the emotions and realities of surrogacy. What if my child one day went to Columbia Law and saw me lecturing?"

"You won't get total privacy if that's what you're hoping for."

"Nothing of my transaction with Victor is in the public domain, although I imagine some people gossip already."

"What about your social media?"

"Suspended for reasons associated with study."

"And your family?"

"None of their business."

She looked resigned to my choice and probably somewhat reluctant for having tried to balance my view. Vanessa couldn't probe further without intruding, so I knew she would back down soon.

"Okay, Amy, well... I still worry for you, so my door is open anytime you need support. Good luck."

"Thank you."

I slipped out of the room, smiling briefly at Vanessa, glad to leave the dragon's den unscathed. She had probed my psyche, going to places I felt were none of her business, but an Ivy League Law School Dean had a broad presence in my industry and was not to be crossed.

My car with Greg at the wheel arrived five minutes after I messaged him, and twenty minutes after that, I was back in Victor's mansion, hunting down anyone who could point me toward coffee.

"Hi, Amy."

"Hannah... are you just finishing the session now?"

She finally broke into a sweat.

"Yeah, I do strength exercises after cycling, then stretching, and finally yoga."

"I was looking for coffee."

"Come with me. I'll join you."

Oh fuck.

I trapped myself and had no way of escaping without seeming rude. Hannah led me into a large kitchen diner with a wooden and marble island that could seat a dozen people.

A simple Breville press button espresso machine sat on one end, surrounded by glass mugs with all the makings of coffee nearby, so I set myself the task of figuring out how to grind, lock in the basket, and heat a steam wand.

"Cappuccino?"

"Do you know how to use the machine, Amy?"

"I'm studying Law. I could grind the beans by hand and percolate coffee through my teeth if I had to."

"Is it that bad?"

"No life... just the law."

"Is that why you're doing this surrogacy?"

"Do you mind if I don't answer that question? I keep getting grilled about it."

"Sorry. It must be deeply personal."

"It is. Do you want sugar with yours?"

"Never. It unhinges my rhythm."

"Poor you. You might want to look away while I spoon more energy than you'd consider healthy into mine."

"I don't judge, Amy. My curiosity is a problem, and I'm sorry for intruding into your privacy, but you'll have no trouble from me."

That's fucking bizarre but none of my business.

"But... can I explain about me, please?"

Until you force your business on me.

"I'm not sure I should know, Hannah. Please don't think me unfriendly, but I don't want to become entwined in anyone's life."

"Okay. I understand."

"Sweetheart, I can't afford to make friends or any meaningful relationships in this house or anywhere in Victor's life."

"Yes, I can see how that works."

She wanted to be friends, and under any other circumstances, I would have leaped at the chance. This was Victor's girlfriend, at least ex, and maybe the future wife.

"I can't walk any of life's paths with you. I'm so sorry."

"It's such a shame, Amy. I'm sorry, too."

I stood up from the kitchen stool beside hers, lifted my coffee, and smiled a friendly farewell. Her eyes looked damp, and I was sure Hannah felt hurt, but I could do nothing to assuage that without breaking my rules.

Fuck! I feel heartless.

I'm training as a goddamn litigation lawyer.