"Hey, we were here first!" an exceptionally dusty miner complained as he took Crystal's other arm in a tight grasp.
"Yeah, what gives?" another demanded angrily.
"My girls, my gems, decide who, when, and if," Jewel said, her voice stern and raising a bit to be heard above the noise of the crowd as she stepped forward, the skirts of her red dress swirling. "Don't forget that, gentlemen. And may I take a moment to remind you there is a bathing room on the premises. I suggest some of you may want to take advantage of that if you expect more than a few drinks and some poker tonight," she added in a teasing manner. "A round on the house if you please, Gabe," she said with a tight-lipped smile as she nodded to Jasper. As soon as the miner released Crystal's arm and turned toward the bar, Jasper slipped his arm around her waist and whisked her to the stairs. Picking her up in his arms he took them two at a time.
"Which room?" he asked as they moved down the landing.
"Last one of the left," she replied softly.
"I don't have to do this," he offered, setting her gently on her feet once they were inside and he'd closed and locked the door.
"Someone has to," she replied, holding her hands tightly in front of her and looking up at him.
"Why here?" he asked sighing as he sat on her bed and looked around the room. "Why not a job at the mercantile or the boarding house?"
"Money," she replied somewhat defiantly, tipping her chin up.
"So money is the be all and end all?" he asked, rising. Slipping his coat off, he hung it on the hook on the back of her door.
"Only for some and only when you don't have it."
"Is it for you?" he asked angrily.
"Right now it is. Someday it won't be."
"When you have some?" he snorted.
"That's right."
"And where are you going to get this money, whatever amount you need so that it's not all important? You'll make money whoring, but it won't make you rich," he informed her as he undid his tie.
"I have other options," she shot back.
"Oh, so this is just a stepping stone? You're only doing this until you can make enough money to do something else?" he inquired somewhat sarcastically.
"Yes, sort of, hopefully."
"Are you always so cryptic?"
"Are you always so nosey?"
Jasper thought about this as he tugged off his boots.
"No, actually, I'm not," he admitted. "I don't like people in my business and I tend to stay out of theirs."
"Then why are you in mine?" Crystal asked curiously.
"I don't know, I'll try to do better," he promised with a grin.
"Good. This is a business deal, nothing more. I have something you want and you have something I want," she admonished.
"If you say so," he drawled.
Crystal stepped back, hurt as though he'd struck her.
"Don't you want me?"
Jasper looked into her brown eyes and recoiled from the pain reflected there.
"Of course I do. I wouldn't be up here if I didn't, would I?" he demanded. "How much?"
Chapter Four
Clem swayed slightly as she stared at him in confusion. Lord, how could she have forgotten something so important? She'd asked a million questions as the other gems helped her dress. They poked, prodded, curled, fluffed and shaved her in places she'd never imagined. They tortured her into a corset that made each breath painful before finally letting it out a little.
She had cloth under her breasts to make them look plump and Opal even applied a little rouge to her nipples in case one accidentally spilled out of the low cut bodice. Her feet were painfully arched in a pair of heeled shoes designed to make her taller and give more shape to her thin legs. They'd even toyed with the idea of tying a small pillow around her waist to make her bottom appear more prominent, but she never once asked how much to charge.
Looking at Jasper's expectant expression, she picked up the long lock of hair that hung over her shoulder and twirled it. Finally, she spoke.
"Two dollars?" she asked hopefully.
Jasper snorted and shook his head in disgust.
"Too much? All right, how about a dollar?" she squeaked out.
"Good grief, who let you loose in here?" he demanded, rising. "Come here."
Picking her up he plunked her on the bed and bent to remove her shoes. Crystal wiggled her feet appreciatively when they hit the floor. Sliding his hands up her leg he grasped the top of her stocking and carefully rolled it down.
"You'd think one of them would have given you some kind of instruction," he growled.
"Oh they did," Crystal replied, sitting up.
Jasper shoved her back down and moved to the other leg.
"And what did they tell you?" he asked, rolling her over and undoing the back of her dress.
"They said to try to relax and enjoy it the best I can… oh, and to make a lot of noise, you know moaning and groaning. Men seem to like that."
"Any other words of wisdom?" he inquired, slightly appalled.