Dominque (Knights to Remember) (3 page)

D
ominque
almost sighed down the phone to Suzie as she went through the coming weeks’ bookings. His calendar was open on his laptop and he was adding them in, tying the men up with past dates and listing what they required from him. Despite having a few days off the previous month, it hadn’t been as slow as he’d liked, but he had regular clients who booked months in advance for his time, so turning them down wasn’t an option. Instead, he’d taken mornings or afternoons off, spending half the day doing what he wanted with the people he chose to be with.

Reconnecting with Kieran was emotional for both of them, and since their first coffee together three weeks ago, they’d met up several times for a quick chat in town. It made Dominque feel more like a person having normal conversations with someone outside of the job. Hearing about Kieran’s life and his new boyfriend, chatting about mundane things which Dominque never got to talk about. Coming back to his own life seemed even lonelier and wrong afterwards, and Dominque was spending more and more time considering a change.

He had plans, and those plans involved two major things. One: making more money and actually saving it while he worked the last few months with the agency. Two: cutting his outgoings down to a more manageable level.

Angelique would be leaving school soon. She had a savings account set up by their parents for her college fees, so the huge school fees would disappear, and she would get a job to help out too. She hadn't agreed, mainly because Dominque hadn't shared his thoughts, but she would do it. Selling the house and finding somewhere smaller would mean less money being spent on bills and the upkeep.

Dominque would be free. Free to do what, he didn’t know, but even the thought of it excited him. For the first time ever in his life he would be able to do what he wanted. He just had to figure out what he wanted first.

After deciding to leave, he’d taken on more bookings, even one which he hated because it involved being out of the country with the client for three nights, but he had a trusted neighbour who checked up on Angelique, and she wasn’t a kid anymore. He’d returned last night, and there he was, barely any sleep and jet lagged, booking in another full week of double dates and almost overlapping clients to fit them in.

Suzie knew something was up. They were friends now after so long working together, and in the beginning, when he had to spend time away from home and Angelique had been so young, Suzie was the one who looked after her. She would stay longer each time he got back from a date, talking about everything and anything until they would begin to meet up just to chat.

It felt different from a friend outside of work because he was always careful how much he told her, knowing Harriot and her were friends, but apart from the money and the clients, they found a good base to work on. They’d shared drunken nights with too much wine, he’d opened up to her about his mum, they’d cried and laughed together and she knew him better than anyone else in the world.

“What’s going on?” She was tapping her nails on the table. He could hear them loud and clear through the phone. She dropped her voice and whispered, “You're leaving, aren’t you?”

“Suzie, I can't… please don’t talk like that there.”

“But it’s the truth?”

He didn’t confirm or deny it, but she knew the answer anyway.

“I'm coming over for wine tonight and a good gossip.”

“You can't… please don’t say anything to anyone.”

“You know I won't.”

He didn’t really, but he agreed to the visit. “It will be late. Around one in the morning when I get back.”

“I have my stash of spare clothes and bathroom stuff at your place. I’ll just crash there and we can go out for breakfast.” She became more professional in her tone and he knew Madam Harriot was nearby. “I had the strangest conversation today with a client.”

“You have strange conversations every day with clients.” He chuckled as she sighed.

“Yeah, but this one was
truly
strange.”

“Ugh, this isn’t one of mine, is it?” He hated the weird ones.

“No. That’s just it. He practically freaked when I suggested you. I could hear him mentally breaking down over the phone when he saw your picture. He was all like, ‘No, no, no. No way! Not him. No one like him.’ And I was all like, ‘Hey, there’s no one like Alasdair. You like them ugly or something?” She screeched, laughing too loud, and he pulled the phone from his ear.

“Well, I'm not everyone’s cup of tea.” He had a specific client list which loved him and those which would never touch him.

“Yeah, he’s booked Harry instead though.”

“Harry?” Dominque paused. He liked Harry, they’d started at the same time, and they moved in the same client pool because they shared a certain look, but in Dominque’s pool, he was king, and the fact he’d been so vehemently disregarded over Harry niggled at him. “Why not me? What’s wrong with me? He’s the same age as me.” Dominque bit the inside of his cheek while he worried. “Did he want something specific which I don’t do?”

“There’s not much you don’t do, honey. No worries.”

“Yeah, but…”

He didn’t know every escort’s skill set, but they were his competition, so he took time out to get to know what they could offer over him. The things Dominque didn’t do any more were missing on most escort’s lists unless you chose a specific escort. Harry was cautious, overcautious, he wouldn’t make the same mistake Dominque made two years ago.

“Not everyone is going to fall in love with you on first sight. Get over yourself. Harry has that posh upper class thing going on which a lot of men love. The client’s some big wig surgeon or something and he wanted a date for a work conference dinner thingy.”

“I can do them. I'm good at them.”

“Harry has a background in biology which the guy found interesting, so he’ll fit right on in with his friends. What the fuck is wrong with you? Ugh, I'm never joking about this again.”

“I'm getting old. I've been on the scene too long. People are getting bored of me.”

“Honey, they
are
not
. You're fully booked up. You have more dates than anyone else, and I have a back list of clients waiting to be with you. You make us more money than three escorts.”

“That’s not the point. It’s about him preferring someone over me.” That didn’t happen often. He was always the number one choice. Men chose another escort because
he
wasn’t available. “I work hard being what men want. I don’t like it.”

“Don’t worry so much. I’ll chat later tonight, okay. Love you.” She ended the call with lots of kisses and Dominque sat back in his chair, curling the phone in his hand while he thought.

Dominque liked to think of himself as a Geisha. He didn’t just offer sex, he offered everything else a person could wish for in a date too. He liked to find out what the client enjoyed or was interested in so he could share those interests with them. He became more than a face. He developed whole personalities to fit regular clients, and with the new ones, he used whatever information he could find about them and their role in the world to form a quick connection.

He was the epitome of his role. He became what they wanted in every way. He was anything they wanted him to be. Talked and walked as they preferred him to do. He was a blank canvas and he found out which colours the client preferred and painted himself up to be the image they had in their mind. This was the real reason he was so popular, he was sure his skills in bed didn’t differ from most other popular escorts, but they were blank, too blank. He gave them what they really wanted. A fantasy, one they could buy over and over if they had enough money.

It’s also how he lost himself. Over the years, those different portraits became like old hats which he could wear at any time he wanted, but who he was underneath slowly became less and less visible.

He knew it would take time to find the person he really was underneath those hats, but he was positive when the job finished, he would take that time to learn all about himself, and then perhaps he could find someone to share himself with.

The years he’d been without anyone had flown by, and because he had regular clients who he enjoyed, he hadn’t felt like he was missing out on sex, but there was so much more than sex and Dominque wanted it all. He wanted to meet one person who would sweep him off his feet, take their time getting to know him before moving further. He wanted to be courted. An old fashioned view, but he wanted a long period of time before he gave himself to someone.

His body had been available to the highest bidder for six years and he was sick of it being the only thing men wanted from him. All the nice personalities he made up were just the icing on the cake, it always came down to his body, and although he was proud of how he looked and dedicated a lot of hours keeping it in the best shape, he had more to offer. He wasn’t sure what, but he knew he was more than a quick fuck.

He wanted someone to look at him and see beyond the sexy body and the beautiful features. He wanted someone to see inside him like they were wearing x-ray glasses. He wanted to be understood in a way he could never voice.

Dominque sighed heavily, closing his eyes. How could he expect anyone to understand him when he didn’t know who he was? It was like asking a wizard of some sort to perform a magic trick. But then he’d planned a good year of freedom in his calendar before he even thought of thinking about a boyfriend, and by that time he would have a better idea who he was.

Sometimes, he would think about meeting someone, but how could he ask someone to share him with so many other men? Dominque wouldn’t be able to cope with sharing who he loved, and he certainly couldn't ask that of another.

Angelique came in with a cup of coffee, distracting him from his thoughts, and he smiled at her.

“I have to go away again this weekend. I’ll be in London Friday, Saturday, back late Saturday evening if everything goes to plan. Suzie may be able to stay over if you want. She’s coming round tonight, so you could ask.”

Angelique liked Suzie, and she nodded. “I can stay by myself, but I hate being alone during the night. If she could just stay over and keep me company that’d be cool. If not, then I can invite a couple of friends over.” She rolled her eyes and Dominque realised he was frowning. “I’ll be good and keep the house clean.”

“Yeah, well, that’s okay. I hate you being alone too.”

“You could take me with you.” She pouted playfully, leaning against the doorframe. “I know, I know. You won't.” She flung her hair over her shoulder and smiled. “I’ll be fine, Domie. You just do what you do best, and try to have some fun.”

Huffing loudly, Dominque turned back to his calendar. “Thanks for the coffee. Go revise. You have exams coming up.” Just as she started to argue, the phone rang and Dominque chuckled. “No arguments now. Go.” He looked at the caller name and sighed. “Hi, Suzie, another booking?”

“Nope, just travel arrangements. I know you hate trains. Harry’s driving down early Friday morning and he’s offered to take you. Thomas is down there already with a couple of women, escorting them round their dates, so he’ll be with both of you when you arrive at the hotel and available to drive you back Saturday.”

“Sounds good. Better than the train, but then anything is better than going on one of those things.” He usually had a dedicated driver when he went down and it was more often than not Thomas, who he liked and trusted. He helped get Thom the job, and despite hating being reminded of his old friends who he left behind two years ago, he had slowly opened up a little to him again.

“I thought you’d feel more comfortable with Harry than one of the security guys. He’ll be round to pick you up at eight Friday.”

“I’ll send him a text to say thanks.”

“At some point you may want to learn how to drive.”

“Ugh, I would be the worst driver. I phase in and out all the time. I’d kill myself or, worse, someone else.”

“Besides, it will give you time to quiz Harry and try to find out what he has which you don’t.” She laughed wickedly down the phone then hung up before he could say anything.

Cow!

D
ominque had just arrived back at the hotel when his phone began ringing. He expected it to be Suzie. She checked up with all of her escorts half an hour after they’d confirmed the date was over and they were heading home, but when he looked at the display, he saw Harry’s name flashing up. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I can't do this date,” Harry hissed, sounding out of breath and more panicked than Dominque had ever heard him before. His cool reserve slipped and Dominque heard the real him for possibly the first time. “I have to leave and the guy will be here in half an hour.”

“You can't leave like that.” Dominque paused, knowing it had to be something bad if Harry was about to walk out. “You haven't seen him yet, so it’s nothing to do with him. What happened?”

“You need to get here, set off now. Grab Thom and get here in a tux as fast as you can.”

“I can't… no way.” The guy didn’t want Dominque from reading his profile, so he wasn’t going to turn up and suffer being rejected in person. “I told you the guy didn’t want me.”

“There’s no one else, no one who fits what he asked for. You’re my
only
option.” He sounded even more out of breath than before, like he was jogging or something.

“What are you doing?”

“Running away. What the bloody hell does it sound like I'm doing? Just set off. Now! Thom knows where to take you, and don’t forget the tux. It’s black tie.”

The call ended and Dominque stood there looking at his phone for a second before he sprang into action. He couldn't let Harry get into trouble for backing out of a date. Harriot would go mad and probably suspend him for two weeks because of it. He rummaged through the collection of clothes he’d brought as he called up Thom. “I need the car outside now. Harry’s pulled out of his date. I have to get there in half an hour.”

“Then you'd better leave now or we won’t make it.”

“I have to change.”

“Time for a drive through switch then,” Thom chuckled out.

Dominque grunted as he ended the call. He’d done drive through dates before. Switching outfits and roles in between driving from one to the next and he hated them. He felt unprepared and messy, but he had no other option. He grabbed his clothes and shoes then ran from the room, making it outside and in the car faster than he thought possible.

“Twenty minutes.” Thom opened the door for him. “Better rush, Cinderella, or you’ll be late for the ball.” With a cheeky wink, he closed the door.

Dominque was half undressed when Harry called up again. “I can’t talk, getting changed,” he huffed out as he pulled his legs into his dress trousers.

“My grandmother’s there. She saw me.” Harry sounded calmer and was breathing slower, but he was still agitated. “If I hadn't spotted her first, she would have seen me on a date. She doesn’t even know I'm gay. How would that have looked? I hate taking jobs around here. It’s too close to home.”

“I’ll get there, I promise.” Poor Harry. Dominque didn’t consider that possibility. “It will be okay. Let me put you on speaker.” Dominque messed around with the buttons, and then continued getting dressed. “Tell me about him.”

“He’s called Jacob Buchanan. This party you’re going to is a big charity event which he’s involved with through the Royal London Hospital—that’s where he works. He’s a specialist in reconstructive surgery, mainly spinal work. This charity helps children who suffer from crippling spinal deformities and it’s a big deal. I should have known someone would be here I knew. I was stupid accepting the date.”

“Okay, okay.” Dominque fastened his shirt up. “Jacob Buchanan, big surgeon, charity thingy for kids. What’s he look like?”

“Tallish, around six feet two, medium built, blond hair—collar length, good looking, sort of stern. Obviously he’ll be wearing what everyone else will be, a tux. I’ll find his picture and send it to you.”

“Okay, what did he want from you?”

“Companion for the night. To make a good impression on his colleagues and bosses. He said he wanted a professional so he could concentrate on the evening and not on them, but he needs someone who wouldn’t cock stuff up.”

Dominque sighed. “He wanted you because you know what you’re talking about and have a brain. I don’t.”

“You’ll be fine. You’ll own that room in ten minutes. You’re the best.”

“But I'm not what he wants.”

“You’re what every man wants. That’s your thing.”

“Okay, but what about afterwards, what are his requirements?”

“Nothing.”

“What?” Dominque arched an expertly plucked brow in shock.

“It’s just a date. No sex. Easy peasy. Why I took it.”

“Really?” That didn’t happen often.

“I'm guessing he may change his mind when you turn up looking so good in that tux.”

“I'm tired. I just finished a job.”

“We’ve all piggy backed dates before, no big deal.”

Dominque frowned as he fastened his shoes. “You’ve not had the week I have. I was looking forward to a swim in the nice pool back at the hotel.”

“I owe you big time for this.”

“You do.” Dominque looked up. “We’re almost there.”

“I’ll send the picture now.”

Harry ended the call while Dominque checked his hair, huffing at the state of it and grabbing his comb and gel. The picture came through while he was tweaking stray strands back into place and trying to spray himself with aftershave at the same time. Dominque glanced at it, taking in who he would be meeting. As clients went, this guy was a good one. Handsome and clean cut, and he wore a suit so well it made Dominque take another look at him.

“We’re here,” Thom called out over his shoulder. “There’s Harry.”

Dominque opened the door, shaking out any creases in his clothes and straightening himself up a little more.

“You look fine, like you spent hours getting ready.”

“You’re only saying that to make me stop fussing.”

“I am not.” He smiled. “You get the picture? Know who you’re meeting?”

“Yes. Where’s the meeting point?”

“Bar.”

“Okay.” He began rushing off, but Harry held his elbow.

“Thank you, Dominque. Like I said, I owe you.”

Dominque flashed a winning smile, already faking it and moving on from the person Harry had been talking to moments ago. “No problems.”

Harry smirked, obviously noticing the change. “I’ll make sure you get the cash.”

“Obviously.” Dominque placed one of his hands in his pockets and smiled back. “Have fun. Catch you later.”

“I should stay and learn from the master.”

That made Dominque laugh. “I'm no master.” He winked seductively before he shimmied away, leaving Harry chuckling behind him.

Walking confidently through the lobby, Dominque saw the bar ahead and mentally went through the information Harry gave him, memorising it as he tried to recall every bit of knowledge he’d learned in passing through the years about spinal disorders. He was a caring person anyway, so this was something he immediately felt was a brilliant cause. Anything to help out children, and those who were in pain and discomfort deserved everything they could get.

He checked his watch when he walked through the big glass double doors. He was never late, and despite everything, he had a few minutes to spare.

A distracted waitress turned around, walking straight into his path, the glass she was balancing on her tray slipping to the floor, cracking into three big pieces. “I'm so sorry,” she rushed out.

“No problems.” Dominque stopped her from bending down, and instead, knelt on one knee, gingerly picking up the shards and placing them on the tray she held out.

A shadow fell over him and he looked up, his wide eyes connecting with the beautiful green ones staring down at him. The firm look and control spilling from the man made him falter slightly, a spontaneous wave of heat rolling over him and leaving him feeling like he was burning up from the inside out.

He dropped his gaze to the floor immediately, dipping his head, not wanting the guy to see how red he must have turned. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself and stop reacting like a virgin on their first date, before glancing up the entire length of the tall frame in front of him. The memory of those firm, green eyes made him coyly look up through his lashes, his hooded gaze centering on the handsome face still glaring down at him.

Then the realisation hit him. This was his client. The one who didn’t want him and who had no idea why he was here, but who obviously recognised him by the pissed off frown on his face. Dominque was failing badly and the date hadn't even begun.

A tap of the man’s foot and the waitress rushing off with the tray made him drop his gaze to those big feet. His mind going blank as he spoke for the first time, he whispered out the words, hoping the guy heard him above the background noise.

“I’m here for you, Sir.”