Chapter 3: Use Allowed
While Conina was technically a temple dancer and lived in a 'cloister' she was free to explore the city as she liked. There were certain rules though; do harm to nobody and steal nothing unless you intend to keep it. Obviously rules are meant to be followed by other people and never for one's self, unless it is convenient.
She decided to go shopping; it wasn't often she got the chance since most people knew who she was so they tended to try and give her stuff for free out of spite. She went to an old friend's shop, where the proprietor greeted her warmly. She was in a nice sky-blue dress that showed her figure but in contrast to her normal outfits may as well have been head to toe covering. His name was Pritti, he sold sex toys among other items. He was short and stocky, almost round except for his hairy ears.
"Pritti my dear! How lovely you look today!" They embraced each other closely. "Oh, this?" he held up his hands, "just something new I wanted to try." Their cheeks brushed against each other when they spoke close together. "So, how can I help you today? Looking for anything special?"
Conina smiled sweetly, batting her eyes, "Well Pritti, I haven't had a session in awhile and wanted to see if you'd have time to direct one?" Her hands moved suggestively underneath her skirts. If Pritti blushed any harder he would leave bruises on himself.
They entered the private room behind the counter. It looked just like everything else inside the store only bigger, cleaner and...well, less crowded. There were several pieces of furniture scattered around; wardrobes and chests, benches and tables, cushions and pillows. In the center stood a raised dais sporting various contraptions and devices all made for pleasure or pain depending on which end you happened to find yourself on.
"And when would you like the session my dear?" Pritti asked. Conina pouted and ran delicate fingers through long white-blond hair before looking up at Pritti hopefully, "As soon as possible." She sat down gracefully on a red velvet seat next to a shelf full of interesting tubes, bulges, and knobs attached to intricate wooden bases of varying sizes. Several of them quivered eagerly when she came near.
Pritti bowed deeply and clapped his hands, "Of course! Right away!" He disappeared through a curtain and emerged seconds later pushing a large man roughly twice her size. "You want some of these or maybe some a little smaller?" Pritti pointed at the man as if he were a cut of meat in a shop. The man gave him a tired look. "Hey, she can take it or leave it," he growled gruffly.
Conina smiled, climbing off the chair slowly revealing supple legs encased in fine lace stockings. Her dress rode up slightly exposing pale smooth thighs adorned by golden ribbons. She stepped forward and placed her hand gently on the man's broad shoulder and gazed deep into his eyes until they grew unfocused then leaned closer whispering something only he could hear. His face flushed crimson instantly. "Oh yes ma'am, whatever you say."
"Do you have anymore like him on standby? I want as many as you can get." She looked around quickly, making sure nobody was watching through the curtain. They weren't; everybody else in the store was either too fascinated by their own purchases or pretending not to watch just so they could do so without appearing rude.
The large man nodded once grimly and left the room followed shortly afterwards by several others who were even bigger than he. Each one met Conina's intense gaze before disappearing behind the curtain of privacy. Once she was alone again she walked over to a bench covered in silks and velvets where various items such as whips, chains, ropes, shackles and other restraining devices resided.
Pritti walked back in, "Did you send them away?" Conina had a wry smile and looked at Pritti, "Not exactly. I want all of them. Bring in your eight biggest men."
"Ah...Eight..." Pritti trailed off, looking uncertain. He glanced sideways towards the door nervously. There were people out there waiting, watching. Some would pay money just to find out how temple dancers got up to their tricks when they thought no one was looking! But rules were important, especially when keeping secrets safe.
Conina saw his hesitation and sighed dramatically. Then her features relaxed into a knowing smirk.
"Oh, come now," she purred, walking closer to him. Her voice dropped low enough that only he could hear. "They won't tell anyone. Not if we let them keep their minds intact." Pritti looked unsure of this deal. "Look Conina, if we follow the rules I'll have to close the store for the rest of the day. It'll cost $100 for the men and I'll lose another $50 in sales... I don't know." Conina was idly playing with a whip that had hard metal beads at the end of each tassel.
"I see," she said as she browsed the shelves, "Maybe we can make a deal? You don't have to close the store and $10 to watch? $50 to participate?" Pritti paused for half a second like a mouse that is choosing between cheese and bread. He took both. "What's the catch?" Pritti asked.
"I get half." Conina was a savage business woman in addition to her many other talents. "You know if word gets around I'll have 50 patrons lined against the walls." She interrupted him, "So I would get $250. Do we have an agreement?" They came to terms eventually; fifty-fifty for all profits, she doesn't have to pay for the goons. "I'll need time to spread the word, do you want a snack or drink while we wait?" Pritti said with the grin of a man about to win a lottery that hasn't been drawn.
Conina nodded absently towards several items on display nearby, "Bring me meat, wine, and whatever else you think might help keep my mind busy until then." Pritti left the room and returned with a plate of meats and a carafe of wine big enough for three men. "There are books next to the dais too, meet back here in 2 hours then?" Conina nodded.
