Excerpt: Disciples and Courtesans

The doors opened as they approached, revealing a highly select crowd, all the men in tuxes, all the women in formal gowns, shimmering in a plethora of colors. The president, Erik Norbin, broke off from the group he was speaking with as he saw them, and approached.
“Ah, Derrek, my friend, I’m glad you could make it.” President Norbin said, pulling Derrek in from a handshake to a hug.
Sapphire half-curtseyed, respectfully staying back a bit, allowing the men their time.
President Norbin glanced at her, and smiled. “Always a pleasure to see you, my dear,” he said, taking her hand and lightly kissing the back of her hand.
The ancient gesture made her spine tingle. “And I you, sir. I am quite impressed. We only just arrived, so we haven’t had a chance to explore, but the improvements seem quite impressive.”
“They are, they are, I must show them to you later. Meanwhile, enjoy, I’m afraid the old ball and chain is beckoning, and if I spend too long in the company of such a beautiful woman, I won’t hear the end of it for years!” he winked at her as he said it, then waved bashfully at the First Husband, William.
William smiled as if at an errant child, and then beckoned him.
“Busted!” he whispered with a wince, and then smiled as he turned towards his husband.
Derrek at least had the poise to wait until the president was safely away to begin laughing. Sapphire just shook her head.
“That man never fails to amaze me.” Sapphire said, as Derrek pulled her into a dance. “In charge of so much, and has done so much for this country, and yet he willingly bows to the will of his lover.”
“Wouldn’t you?” His eyes met hers again, his grip firm on her, confident.
Her smile didn’t waver, practice had long since given her the ability to smile whenever the situation called for it, but she hesitated for almost a breath too long before answering. “If I were the marrying type, yes.”
“You can’t see ever being with just one person?”
Sapphire shook her head a bit, her lower lip folding in slightly. “I don’t know if I could. It would mean giving up everything I’ve worked for. And I enjoy my work. I don’t think I’d want to give it up.”