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?”

and send her away for someone who knew what

“How many?” He asked, pushing the

for a

one dark brow. “Are you

repeated with more

He asked, not believing her.

his expression he was not buying it. “Two?” She said, changing her answer. He just fixed her with 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

you have gotten yourself into,” he said, putting his cigar in the ashtray and

to have ever dared to touch him without his permission first. In his country, grabbing a member of the royal family was a criminal offence punishable by prison time. “Please,”

two feet away, he could not help but realize how much smaller than

this really how you want your first time to be? With a john?” He asked, trying to put things

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

like a nice girl, far too nice

“I need the money.”

get

because I cannot afford food. My utilities were cut off last night because I have 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 two days away from being homeless. I need money, and this is the only option I have left. Please do not send me

bad for her. Maybe he could give her a chance. “You have not eaten in

that part of her confession. “I do not know four

“Have the cook bring us up dinner for two,”

face her. “Did you just order dinner?”

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

paying

chair. “Darling, I have the wealth of a nation behind me. I can

she said unsurely.

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

I am good,” she

was often told he should not mix booze with pills but screw them; he’d do what he wanted. What was the

was fast?” She said

very efficient,” he said. Nicholas did not eat very often, but the cook prepared every meal anyway in case he decided he wanted to eat. It ensured he would not have to wait long when he was