Love For Hire

Nicholas opened the mirror cabinet and took down his bottle of OxyContin. His hands trembled as he tried to open the lid. Getting the bottle open, he dumped four pills into his hand and then tossed them in his mouth. It was far more than he was supposed to take at once, but any less barely took the edge off. He put the cap back on and returned the bottle of pills to the shelf before closing the cabinet.

His hands were planted firmly on the edge of the bathroom counter. Nicholas looked at his reflection. He was a mess, but he did not care. He was expecting a girl, but he could not be bothered to fix himself up. After all, he paid her to fuck him, not judge him. Octavius had called the service hours ago to arrange some pleasurable company for the night.

As royalty, he should not have to pay to play. He was a wealthy, young, attractive man… if he tried, he would have no problem picking up beautiful women in clubs willing to go to bed with him, but in his state, Nicholas did not like going to clubs, and he did not feel like playing the game. He just wanted someone to go to bed with him and leave. No conversation, no getting to know you bullshit, just mindless no strings sex and then leave him alone.

He stared at the mess in the mirror, and he could feel his anger and despair grow. Suddenly Octavius appeared in the washroom doorway. His expression sympathetic and his tone empathetic. He had not seen Nicholas take the handful of pills, but he did not have to. Everyone in the house knew he popped pills like candy. “The girl has arrived,” Octavius told him.

Nicholas stood up and exited the washroom. He sat down in his favourite chair and picked up the half-empty glass of bourbon. He took a big sip and returned the glass to the end table, then picked up his cigar. “Send her in,” he said, making himself comfortable. He lifted the cigar to his lips and inhaled as Octavius left the room, and a young woman walked in. She slowly walked around the bed so that she was standing in the middle of the room.

Nicholas’ gaze raked over the woman before him. She was very young. She was short, probably barely clearing 5’4”. She was not voluptuous or curvy; she was actually very petite and slender. She was dressed in a soft blue cocktail dress, which was light against her toffee-coloured complexation. She clearly was not white, but he was not sure what she was. She seemed to have Latino features, but he would not say she was of Mexican or Latin descent… at least not fully. She might have been mixed-race; yes, the more he looked at her, the surer he was that she was just that. Her hair was long and straight, a beautiful soft caramel colour. It shimmered in the firelight. Her eyes were big and a deep rich dark brown.

She had a pretty heart-shaped face with a perfect nose and lush, full lips. She was far prettier than the other women the agency had sent him. It was strange, he knew she was a prostitute, but she had an odd air of innocence about her. He sat there, enjoying his cigar as he looked her over. He could not help but notice she was doing the same. Looking him over and taking him in. Suddenly he almost wished he had cleaned up. But then again, she was a prostitute, and it is not like he needed to impress her. She was going o sleep with him regardless of how he looked. He took another puff of his cigar and studied her. “What is your name?” He asked. He was not sure why he was asking; he never asked any of the others. Names were not exactly a critical thing for him, but for some reason, he wanted to know hers.

“Kinsley… Your Majesty,” her voice wavered like she was nervous. Strange for a prostitute to be nervous. Suddenly he remembered Octavius saying the agency was sending over a new girl. Was she just new to the company or new to the trade altogether? Judging from her state of unease, he was betting she’d never done this before.

“Are you nervous?” He asked.

“No,” she was lying.

“Octavius says you are new.”

“Yes. You are my first client.”

“First, with this company or first-ever?”

She looked like she did not want to answer. “First ever,” she confessed.

“Interesting,” he took another drag from his cigar. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one,” she said.

He wondered how fresh she was. “Have you ever been with a man?”

if she said no, he would find her inexperienced and send her away for someone who knew what she was doing. She would not look him in the eye when

not believing her. “How many?” He asked,

a moment. “Three?” She finally

lifted one dark brow. “Are

repeated with more

asked, not believing her.

a hard stare. “One?” She said, changing her answer again. He just stared at her. She sighed. “Ok, none,” she confessed with embarrassment. “But I am a fast learner, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you happy,” she said quickly, trying to argue why she thought he should let her

a broad term,” he told her. “I do not think you have realized what you have gotten yourself into,” he said, putting his cigar in the ashtray and standing up. “I will have Octavius call you a taxi. You may wait downstairs,” he

his country, grabbing a member of the royal family was a criminal offence punishable by prison time. “Please,” she pleaded with him. “I need this job; they will fire me if you send me away,” realizing she had overstepped, Kinsley released his arm and stepped back, looking apologetic. “Please, just

her. Less than two feet away, he could not help but realize how much smaller than him she really was. She had to crane her neck to look up at him. Her dark eyes were pleading

With a

or some other john. At least you are cute,” she said, offering

nice girl, far too nice to be

“I need the money.”

not get

not paid the bills in two months. I have no phone because I am so far behind they have sent me to collections. And I am

her eyes, and he felt bad for her. Maybe he could give her a chance.

that he had focused on that part of

the cook bring us up dinner for two,” the woman nodded and rushed off to do his bidding.

door and turned to face her. “Did you just

are going to stay, you are going to need your strength. Do

are not you paying by the hour?”

chair. “Darling, I have the wealth of a nation behind me. I can afford to waste a few

she said unsurely.

empty chair next to him. “Sit,” she walked over and sat down on the edge of the seat, her back straight and her hands folded in her

good,” she

taking a big sip. He was often told he should not mix booze with pills but screw them; he’d do what

fast?” She said with surprise.

prepared every meal anyway in case he decided he wanted to eat. It