Lantern Light Ch. 01

She stood out among the other girls in the strip club. Long, dark hair, with caramel-coloured skin. Tall and rake-thin with barely any tits to speak of, but the peachiest ass, marked with a little tattoo of a heart. She wore bright red lipstick and glittery makeup that shimmered in the dim light of the strip club. She looked fragile, as if dropping her would shatter her into a million little pieces.

I'd seen her dance a couple of times before, but I'd never done anything more. But, after one of her performances, she must have noticed that I was staring. After her dance, she came up to sit next to me. I placed a hand on her thigh. "I'm Aurora," she said, with a plastered-on smile. She couldn't have been much older than 21, and I wondered if she could buy a drink here.

Plus, I doubted that she wanted to work at the Red Lantern. Yeah, sue me. In my defence, it was on the way home. I earned decent money, I could afford to splash fun money on the strippers, and, besides, I deserved female company. It wasn't like much was going on at home. My wife was long estranged, as were my two daughters. The Lantern had a bad, rough reputation, but they always managed to get pretty girls working for them. And, sometimes, if you flashed a bit of extra cash, they were the sort of girls who'd offer more than was strictly legal.

I told her my name was Derek. It wasn't, but she didn't need to know that. After all, it wasn't like Aurora was her real name. I told her that she was the hottest girl in the club; she blushed and slapped my arm playfully. But it was true. She didn't look like she really belonged. Whatever circumstances had led Aurora here worked in my favour.

Fifteen minutes later, we were in a VIP room, my pants were around my ankles, her sparkly lingerie lay in a heap, and my cock was in her mouth.

I couldn't believe it. Sure, I'd given her a fair bit of money for the privilege, but the hottest girl in the club was sucking my dick. She seemed hardly enthusiastic about it. "Good girl," I grunted, as she brought me closer to my climax. Finally, I felt my muscles tightening, and I shot ropes of my cum deep inside her mouth. She grimaced, spitting my cum out. For some reason - honesty, perhaps? - it made me like her more. Other girls would have tried to swallow. Pulling my pants up, I grabbed my wallet, handing her a few bills. "I want to see you again," I said, taking deep breaths. "When do you work?"

Aurora was still on her knees, taking my cash, wiping my cum from her pretty lips. "I'm on most nights." She sounded exhausted.

I nodded. "I'll see you later, then." I stood up, making my way to the door, leaving the young stripper alone.

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Crystal - Maria, really, but she always wanted me to use her stage name in the club - let me take a long drag from her cigarette in the changing rooms, just before I finished doing my makeup. She'd taken an instant liking to me. She was older, having worked as a stripper for close to fifteen years. She was the one who suggested Aurora as my stage name. I chalked her affection for me to some sort of maternal instinct, like a daughter she never had. She knew that I'd moved far away from home, where things weren't going particularly well anyway. Mom was sick and couldn't work, and I was trying to earn enough money to cover bills for my sisters. I thought LA might have given me more opportunities, but I ended up working in this shithole of a strip club. Crystal probably saw that I was vulnerable and took me under her wing.

"Hey, Cami, I saw your regular out there," she said, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Dylan, was it?"

"No, Derek." I sighed, crossing my arms. "He's out there every fucking night." Ever since I - well - pleasured him? - a couple of weeks ago, he'd turned up to the club most evenings, looking for me, as if hoping for a repeat performance. That was a one-time thing, though. I just needed to make a payment for mom's bills, and it wasn't like I'd done it again for him. "Like, he's not mean or bad or anything. It's - you know -"

"He's 30 years older than you?" Crystal raised her eyebrow.

"That, I guess -"

"And he's fat and kinda ugly?"

"Maybe - and -"

"He lost the battle with his hairline around the time you were born?"

"Cut it out," I giggled. She always knew how to make me smile when I felt like shit. "Look, I dunno. It's - I don't know - weird? How he's always here."

She shrugged. "I mean, he already was a regular at the club, but he's taken a liking to you." Her eyes glanced at my body, scanning me. Instinctively, I moved to cover myself up, and she laughed. "I'm not surprised. I'm surprised you haven't had more regulars and loverboys."

I groaned. "One's enough."

"It's not so bad. You've made a lot of money off him, right?"

"I guess. I just..."

"You haven't gone all the way with him, have you?"

I blushed, shaking my head. "I - well - I've just -" I made a gesture with my hands and mouth.

"Honey, you're fine. Remember, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, and that security's only a call away, okay?" Standing up, she stepped into me, giving me a big, tight hug. "Look at you, getting your glitter all over me."

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"Derek!"

I was checking my work emails, like I always did when I came into the club. I turned and saw the young stripper making her way over to me, Bambi-esque on those too-tall heels she always wore.

It was Aurora, and she was doing her best to sound excited. We'd become familiar with each other over the last couple of months. I'd come in most nights, watch Aurora strip, and get a lapdance or a private performance in the back. Still, we hadn't gone much further than the first time. Sure, she let me touch her ass and her breasts, but she didn't like me touching her hair or face, much less her genitals. It'd taken a while for her to get her to give me another blowjob, but they were becoming a more regular thing, the more often I saw her.

Was I frustrated that we'd seemed to hit a dead end at oral? Yeah, I was. I was spending a lot of money on her, probably more than any boyfriend has or had spent. Anyone would expect more. I guess, at the end of the day, a girl as beautiful as Aurora spending time with me and catering to some of my needs was more than worth it. Still, though.

I felt my dick stiffen as she approached me in those heels, neon green lingerie, and glittery makeup. "Beautiful as always, Aurora," I commented, as I placed a hand on the small of her back. I leaned in to kiss her, but she swerved, and I smirked. It was weird. She'd blow me, but drew the line at a kiss?

I reached into my pocket, stuffing a few banknotes into her waistband. "Let's go somewhere private?"

"Of course, Derek," she nodded, and she took my hand, leading us back to our room. Our room, given we'd spent so much time in there. I sat down, she closed the door, and got to work.

Her hips swayed in time to the music. I'd noticed her movements had gotten better; I wondered if the other girls had shown her a few things. She straddled me, her crotch grinding against mine, and I let out a grunt. I ran my fingers over her heart tattoo, before grabbing her ass, groping it, as she took off her bra; I leaned forward, taking her dark nipple into my mouth, sucking it. That was a newer thing she'd let me do, and I appreciated it.

She turned around, her hands resting on my knees, as she rubbed her ass on me, on my bulge. "Fuck," I grunted, turned on. I grabbed a few more notes from my pocket, stuffing them in the waistband of her panties. "Keep doing that, fuck, keep doing that..."

Aurora glanced behind her as I slid down my trousers. There was a moment of hesitation. "You can't put it in me," she said.

"I know, I don't want to." That wasn't quite true. "Just rub your ass on me, you don't even have to take off your panties..."

She paused. "Fine," she said, through gritted teeth, and she lowered her ass again, rubbing it against my hard dick through my underwear. I put my hands on her hips, gasping. I was getting closer and closer.

"Keep going, keep going," I begged, and she didn't stop. And, finally, I felt a wave of pleasure hit as I started cumming, soiling my underwear. Was it embarrassing? I suppose. But watching Aurora's face contort as she realised what was happening was worth it. She shot up, her eyebrows furrowing. "Did you just..."

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," I replied, letting out a deep breath, collapsing back into the couch. "Are you okay? You look upset."

She shook her head. "No - um - surprised, I think." She glanced down at me on the couch. It was the first time her mask had truly slipped off completely. "Do you - do you want a towel or something?"

"I'll clean myself up in the gents." I pulled up my pants, pulling out another few bills and pressing them into her hand. "I'll see you next time."

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"Happy 19th birthday, Cami," Crystal said, pulling out a small cake box from her bag, handing it to me as I came into the locker room.

"You're a gem," I smiled, taking the box off of her. "You really didn't need to." I opened it, and my eyes lit up. It was a layered sponge cake, with little bits of fruit and a cream centre. It was my favourite - she'd remembered it from an offhand comment I'd made a while back.

She waved her hand. "It's no problem. Hey, if it was my birthday, I wouldn't be working, but look at you." She sat down on a plastic chair, pulling her bathrobe tighter over her body.

I joined her, sitting down on the seat opposite her. "How's it been?"

"Fine, fine. Sam got a promotion, so we're going to go on a holiday. Mexico, we're thinking. I've never had a passport." She smiled; I was glad her love life was going well. "In terms of work? Nothing new, really. I did see John after my shift, but he couldn't get it up. Paid me anyway. Hey, make sure you always get payment, even if they can't perform. Don't let them guilt you otherwise. But, enough about me. How's the birthday girl doing?"

I sighed, crossing my arms. "It's been, well - I don't know." I blushed for a moment. "I spoke to mom. She didn't say directly, but she's going to need a bit more support from me. She still thinks I'm paying for her bills with a waitressing job. But, in better news - one of my roommates finally finished packing her shit. She's going next week."

"The crazy one?"

"Yeah, her. Thank god. She finally found Jesus, couldn't live with a fornicator and drinker or something."

Crystal laughed. "You always seem to collect weirdos."

"Tell me about it. Take fucking Derek, for one. I can't get rid of him."

"You can tell him no."

"I know, I know. But the tips keep getting bigger? I feel like he's trying to impress me or something. And I always feel like - well, it doesn't feel like it, I know he is - that he's looking for something more from me."

She nodded, looking thoughtful. "Would you do anything more with him?"

"Fuck no," I said, a little too quickly; the force of it made me laugh. "But - like - he's my best client. He's the one getting me through, really. There's a couple other guys who seem to like me, but they don't pay as much as he does. I don't like sucking his dick, but..." My voice trailed off.

Crystal sighed, crossing her arms. "You don't have to like your clients. I don't like mine all that much, even the ones I fuck. I know you're young, sweetie, but... well, you'll grow strong. Every time you look at him, see a little piggy bank or something."

I tried to put the thought of that in my head, and it made me smile.

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I grabbed the blonde's big, fat, fake tits as she sat on my lap in a private room. "These are perfect," I lied. They weren't - it would have been nice if they were real. Plus, her areolas were too big. I pictured what Aurora would look like if she got a boob job. Those little mounds on her chest, those tiny nipples. They fit just right in my hand. No, I hoped she stayed natural. The thought of her changing her body, to better appeal to me, though. It made me twitch down there.

But I hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks. I'd asked a couple of the other strippers if they knew where she'd gone, but they didn't give me any specifics. Had she disappeared on me? It would be disappointing if she had. It wasn't like I'd fallen in love with her, and I knew she didn't particularly like me. But to just - well - leave? Without a goodbye?

"What more do you offer?" I asked the blonde, fishing for more cash in my pocket. Maybe it would help me put Aurora out of my mind for a moment.

"I can make you feel real good with my mouth," she smiled. Those lip injections really didn't suit her.

I pulled out a few bills and handed them to her, and she giggled, taking the cash and sliding down to her knees in front of me. I could feel those hard mounds pressing up against my legs as she opened up the front of my trousers, tugging them down.

"You're soft," she said, pouting.

"Get me hard, then."

She put my flaccid dick into her mouth, and I could feel myself springing to life. Her blue eyes met mine, expectantly, as I started to stiffen. I let out a grunt. "Can I touch your hair?" She nodded, and I reached forward, running a hand through her blonde locks. Aurora wouldn't let me do that, I thought to myself.

My thoughts always came back to Aurora. Her green eyes, her smouldering look. I liked the way she hesitated. Sure, the blonde already was letting me do more than Aurora, but I sort of liked that she wouldn't let me do everything. She wasn't fake, like all the other girls in here.

I pictured Aurora on her knees, that toned, defined tummy exposed in a little bikini set, that little heart on her ass, wearing her trademark red lipstick. It drove me crazy. Why did she leave without saying anything?

I opened my eyes, and the blonde was kneeling there, trying her best to revive my erection. It must have gotten soft when I was thinking about Aurora. "It's fine," I grunted, shaking my head. "Just leave it."

She gave me a confused look, frowning. "But I want to make you feel good."

Aurora never would say something like that. Every time I couldn't get it up, she could barely contain her excitement. "I said leave it." I sighed, giving her a couple more bills, as I pulled my pants back up. "Sorry for wasting your time."

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Six stitches in my eyebrow, a wrecked car, and a drained bank account was the cost of some fucking prick rearending me on my drive home.

Yeah, my car was a beat up Corolla that used to belong to my ex, until I "repurposed" it for my move here. I didn't give a shit about it. And, yeah, no one wants to jerk themselves off to a stripper whose face was mangled, but it was a minor mangling, and the stitches came out in a couple of weeks. But the bank account? That was the real kicker. Six months of taking my clothes off in front of strangers, having them ogle me? Putting up with lecherous looks as they handed me bills? Sucking Derek's dick?

I had to use my savings first for my medical bills. Then to replace my car. And then to cover my living costs as I recovered from the injury. And then for a couple more weeks as I contemplated everything I was doing, if it was even fucking worth it.

To have done all that, and to come out no better off than when I left home? That sucked.

I was so glad when Crystal showed up at my apartment.

"Come in, Crystal," I said. "Sorry for the mess." I'd done a little tidying up, but there was only so much one could do. Besides, those dirty plates were my roommate's; they were her responsibility.

"Call me Maria when we're not at work." She handed me a bag with a few of tupperwares inside. "I figured you didn't want to cook. There's a couple tubs of a bean stew, just as my nonna used to make, and a vegetarian ziti. It'd last me a couple days, but you barely eat anything. You'd get through it in a week."

I laughed, taking the bag off of her. "You really didn't have to. You're the best." I pulled her in for a long hug. It'd been a long month.

"Do you want a drink or something? Water, juice - something harder..."

"Water's fine, I drove here," she laughed. I hopped into my kitchen, sticking the tupperwares into the fridge, and returning with a couple glasses of water. I sat down next to her on the threadbare couch, passing her a glass.

"How was Mexico?" I asked her.

"Amazing. The food's so good, and there's just so much to see. Here -" She pulled out her phone, showing me a picture of her and Sam in front of a ruined temple. "Like nothing we get here." She sighed. "But, yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't come over sooner."

"No, no," I shook my head. "Don't think like that, please don't. I'm glad you were able to get time off. You really deserve it."

"And I really needed it." Maria took a sip of water, crossing one leg over the other. "But - how are you doing?"

"Alright," I lied. "The stitches healed up nicely. So I guess there's nothing stopping me from working again." It was a joke, but Maria didn't laugh. I sighed. "Well, I'm planning on going back soon, anyway."

"I mean, only if you want to," she said softly. "You know that you can take as long as you want, right? You'll get rostered immediately when you're ready to come back. There's a lot of love for you at the club."

"I guess." I broke eye contact with her, suddenly becoming fascinated by my chipped nail polish. "I - well - I kinda need the money, anyway."

"I bet. What was the damage?"

"A - well, a lot. Car, medical bills, obviously I haven't been earning, um, things back home..."

"And can you swing it? Like, are you okay?"

"Mostly." I opened my mouth, about to tell her about my plan. Truth be told, it was a pretty big step up from anything I'd done before, and I wasn't feeling great about it.

Maria leaned in closer. "Mostly? Honey, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I snapped. I regretted the tone I took immediately. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -"

"You're fine. Sweetie," Maria said slowly, "you know you can tell me anything you want, right?" She placed a hand on my leg.

"I know," I nodded.

"And I mean anything. Look, I don't want to get all teachery on you, but I've been doing this for a while, and I know about the issues girls in our business go through." She paused, taking a breath. "I just don't want you to do anything you end up regretting. You're a good earner, even without extras, and you'll be in the clear in no time."

I softly chewed on my lip. Maybe I should tell her about it. Maybe she could give me advice on how to go through with it, to cope with it. But it was - well - embarrassing. After spending the last few months complaining about Derek, I'd let him go all the way with my body?

Maybe she didn't need to know about it. I'd be fine, right? It'd be a one-time thing, and I'd be out of the hole, I'd be in the black, everything would work out fine.

"Cami?" she said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Tell me what you're thinking."

"I was doing - y'know, the math in my head. Like, how much I take in a day, and how much I'm in a hole. And you know I'm not so good at math." I bit my lip. It was a terrible lie.

Maria opened her mouth, as if to say something else, but she hesitated. "Alright," Maria said finally, frowning. We both knew that there was something I wasn't telling her, and I was pretty sure that she knew what I was thinking, even without me telling her. "Well, know that I want you to stay safe." She rifled inside her bag, handing me a bottle of pepper spray. "It's not full, but it's mostly there. Like, 80% or something. Keep it on you, okay?" She squeezed my hand. "You never know when you're going to need it."

"I know, I know." I gave her a shaky, tired smile. "Look, I'll be fine - I'll be okay. I'll be back to the regular Aurora and Cami soon enough. I've missed you."

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I hopped out of my car, stepping inside the liquor store. It was a handy stop on the way from work, before heading into the Red Lantern, and part of my evening routine. I'd grab a beer, sit in my car and drink it, counting the cash I had in my wallet. The club charged a lot for a drink, and I didn't really want to pay that. Besides, it gave me time to think about my plan for the evening.

It'd been a shit day at work. The last few weeks had my brain in a whir. The club had been my refuge, and I did grow to like that blonde, but, fuck, I missed Aurora. That cute little smile. The way she flicked her dark hair behind her shoulder. Even just the feeling of her holding my hand, as she led me to the back.

I turned to the counter, giving the attendant a wave, and I froze for just a second. Dark hair, light eyes, caramel-coloured skin...

It wasn't her, of course. Besides, she was probably in her mid to late 20s, and she was a few pounds heavier than Aurora. But, still, the resemblance made me pause for a moment.

"Can I help you?" she asked, somewhat pointedly. I must have been staring.

"I - no, I'm okay," I said, shaking my head, as I headed towards the refrigerated section. I scanned the beers on offer, frowning. It looked like my favourite wasn't there.

"Hey, sorry," I called out. "Do you have any Frazer's IPAs?"

The store attendant came from behind the counter, peering at the bottles. "Hm. I can check out back, if you want."

I nodded. "That'd be great." I couldn't help but stare as she turned around, heading towards the storeroom. I wondered if she had any tattoos - a heart, perhaps...

In a few moments, the attendant returned, clutching a box. "Here's a few, though they're not cold. Do you want one?"

"Sure," I nodded. I took one off her, watching her unload the rest of them into the fridge. She bent over at the hip, taking each can out...

I felt a jolt as I watched her. It was like I was back at the club, back in the private room with Aurora. I couldn't help but stare.

"Anything else?" the attendant asked, standing back up, oblivious.

"No, I'm fine," I said, shaking my head. "I'll just take this, thanks."

I returned to my car, taking a sip of the warm beer. It tasted like shit. I took a deep breath. Turn right, and it'd be the Red Lantern, and another evening disappointed, wondering where Aurora had gone. But turn left, and I'd be left alone, thinking of her. I took a long, hard swig of the beer, pulling my car out of the parking lot, making a right turn.

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I sat in the changing room, staring at the piece of paper with my phone number scribbled on it. It wasn't my real, regular phone number. It was a burner phone number that I'd created a while back, one I got when I didn't want mom finding out that I was buying weed. I laughed at the thought. That was nothing compared to now.

I was glad Crystal wasn't working tonight. Trying to hide the piece of paper from her, lying to her face? It would have made me feel even worse about what I was doing. It wasn't like I was proud of this.

I stepped out into the club for the first time in a while. It was familiar yet foreign, and I didn't miss it. Slowly, I made my way through, doing my rounds, scanning the room for him.

Finally, I spotted him. He had Katie on his lap. We looked nothing alike - she had big, blonde hair and, thanks to an old sugar daddy that she couldn't stop bragging about, had been "lucky" enough to get filler and plastic surgery. It wasn't like I hated her, or disliked her in any way, or even - under normal circumstances - viewed her as competition. We were just two girls from different walks of life, and we didn't see eye-to-eye.

Even so, I felt my chest tighten. Seeing him so comfortable with a new girl, I was worried that he'd moved on. That my absence had left him no choice but to pick a new favourite. That she did more for him than I ever had, and that he preferred her. But, most of all, I was worried that my attempt to solicit payment for sex from him would come across as desperate, sad, and pathetic. I'd created all these boundaries, and only now was I offering more? It was about the money, and it was, but...

I closed my eyes, pushing the thought out of my head, and I just kept walking. The note was rubbing against my bare skin, trapped behind my bra. I'd sat down next to a younger gentleman, one I hadn't seen before. I touched him, went through my whole spiel, and he shoved a few bills into the waistband of his panties. "No touching," I warned him, "just my hips, okay? And just topless."

He nodded, and I slowly stood up, starting to go through my routine. My hips gyrating, my hands sliding up my hips and torso; bending over, my hands running down his legs; taking a seat on his lap, unclasping my bra. I caught the piece of paper with my number on it, stuffing it into my waistband with my client's money. Turning back around, I crawled on top of him, my hands on his chest, my tits in his face.

At that moment, I glanced across the club, my eyes connecting with Derek. His jaw visibly dropped. I turned back to the client underneath me. I tried to put on a particularly good show, not just for him, but for Derek, too. It made me feel a little sick.

But, finally, I was done, and I climbed off him. "Hope you had fun, sweetie," I said, in my sultriest voice, as I collected my bra. Derek, meanwhile, had made his way over to me. He grabbed my arm, pulling me over towards him.

"You're back." Derek was breathing heavily. "I've missed you so much. Where were you?"

"Personal issues," I said, softly.

"What sort of issue? I've been wanting to..."

"Just some things at home." I said it firmly, trying to stop any further, uncomfortable lines of enquiry. Besides, it wasn't untrue. "But -" My voice softened. "I missed you too." I took a deep breath. "Do you want to take a seat? Catch up a little bit?"

"Of course," he nodded, and I led him to a corner of the club, sitting him down next to me.

I bit my lip - I was nervous. Reaching for the slip of paper, I handed it to him. "I don't want to discuss things here." My voice had dropped low. "But -" I hesitated. "If you want to - if you want me to do - well - you know. Things I can't do in the club." I could feel my heart racing. I wanted to be sick. "You - just - well, just text me, and we can arrange something."

"Really?" he asked, staring at my number, before looking at me again. Any fears that he'd moved on dissipated hearing the tone of his voice.

"Really." I placed a hand on his leg. "I think you deserve it."

He folded up the sheet of paper and tucked it into his pocket. "I'd love to."

"Great." I paused. I felt like throwing up. "Well, I can't stay much longer tonight - I have to dance, and then my shift is over. But contact me. Let's sort something out. Okay?" I squeezed his leg, slowly getting back up on my feet.

Later, as I danced on stage, I saw Derek front and center, tossing me bills, as if lost in a daze.

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[23:23] (323) 555-0124: is this aurora?

[23:46] (310) 555-0189: it is, is this derek?

[23:52] Derek: yes it is. were you serious in the club earlier tonight

[00:54] Aurora: i was. are you interested?

[00:57] Derek: more than anything

[00:57] Derek: can we meet Thursday, after work? i probably can't come to the red lantern tomorrow

[04:21] Aurora: sure, 6pm work for you?

[06:30] Derek: works for me

[06:31] Derek: where do you want to meet? i can come to the club or drive you back to mine

[09:27] Aurora: i'd rather meet somewhere neutral. can you book a hotel room

[09:45] Derek: of course

[09:46] Derek: i'll find somewhere nice for us and text you the details

[09:46] Derek: how much for the evening with you?

[12:01] Aurora: however much you're willing to pay

[12:04] Derek: anything, for you

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I'd left work early on Thursday. Of course I did. If I was to leave at the usual time, I couldn't make the 6pm meet time, and I wanted to spend as long as I could with Aurora. We'd agreed on $2,500. She'd asked for $4,000 but I got her down. Still, it was a lot of money for an evening. I had to take the money out of my eldest daughter's college fund. I felt bad doing so, but I'd be able to replace it, no problem.

After withdrawing the cash, I went home and changed, grabbing the gift I bought for her. I put on my favourite shirt and pants, and I sprayed myself in my favourite cologne. I realised it was the same cologne I wore when I met my wife.

The hotel I booked was close to the city. It was a nice, three star establishment. Nothing too expensive - it wasn't like we were going to use the sauna or have breakfast - but it wasn't the cheapest. I didn't want to meet Aurora in a bedbug-infested hovel. I still felt like I had to impress her somehow.

Sat down on a couch in the lobby, my hand reached inside of my pocket, checking for my keycard and the "donation" for Aurora. The wad of bills sitting in my pocket felt big and meaningful, but tonight was going to be worth it. God, I hoped it was worth it.

I tapped my shoe gently against the floor, checking my watch. It had just hit six, and I checked my phone, seeing if I had a message from her. Nothing yet. Maybe there was traffic. "Looking forward to seeing you soon :)" I typed out, shooting it to her.

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I'd parked my car a block away from the hotel, and I'd stayed inside it for maybe ten minutes, breathing heavily, close to having a panic attack. What was I doing here? I didn't have to do all this. I thought I had a measure on Derek from our chats in the club, and that, while weird, he wasn't dangerous. But I didn't know what he'd be like when it was just us two. In the club, I had Rocky, a big, Samoan bouncer with the world's biggest smile and biceps, able to tear an offender into a million pieces. I had no one to protect me here.

A series of deep breaths had calmed me down, and I glanced at myself in the car's mirror, checking my makeup. It was far less extreme than the face I'd prepare at the strip club - it was more subdued. Like if I was actually going on a date.

Of course, I wasn't actually going on a date. It was weird. I'd let him use my mouth to get off. I'd used my hands. He'd touched my body. But this just felt like such a massive step up from anything we'd done before. I hadn't moved to LA to sell my body, but this was the situation I found myself in.

One more deep breath. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard, before realising I hadn't quite gotten around to setting it properly. Pulling my phone out of my handbag, I checked the time. 6:04. I'd already gotten a text from Derek.

I quickly ran over the things I had in my bag. Condoms and lube? Check. God, it was humiliating buying them on the way. It wasn't as if the shop attendant knew for what purpose I was buying them, but I knew. And the lube? There was no chance I was getting aroused enough to do this naturally. My phone? Check. Keys, purse? Check, though I'd taken my ID and anything valuable out.

And, finally, I found the pepper spray that Crystal had given me. It wasn't too late to tell her what I was doing or just where I was. I don't know why I didn't want to tell her. I guess I was ashamed of what I was doing. Which was weird, right? I could tell Crystal everything, except for this.

"Remember, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, and that security's only a call away, okay?" Her words rang through my head. No, I didn't want to do this, and security was no longer just a call away.

I played with the crucifix around my neck. Mom had given it to me when I was a teenager. It was a little bit of comfort. I wasn't religious, but if Rocky couldn't help me, maybe Jesus could.

One last deep breath, and I slipped my heels on, stepping out of the car. I knew I didn't have to do this - but, at the same time, I had to.

"Coming xx," I replied.

------------------------------

I was fidgeting a little impatiently, waiting for Aurora to turn up, when, finally, she appeared. She was wearing a little black dress that came up to her mid-thighs, a red handbag slung over her shoulder. Her hair was long and loose, covering her shoulders. I could hear those black heels clicking along the stone floor of the lobby. And I saw that she had a couple pieces of jewellery on - a crucifix around her neck, which made me smirk.

She gave quite a different impression to the girl in the strip club. Gaudy, bright colours with glittery makeup made her stand out in a dimly-lit room. Now, she was dressed - well - like a normal woman, I suppose. It was only those red lips that even suggested that she worked as a stripper. I'd never seen her in direct sunlight before. God, she was beautiful.

I got to my feet, giving her a smile. "Aurora," I said softly. "You look incredible."

"Thank you," she said softly, and she leaned in, giving me a hug. Not quite a kiss. "Um, well - do you - do you want to go upstairs?"

"Of course," I nodded, taking her hand, squeezing it. "Let's go."

------------------------------

What struck me about Derek was just how normal he looked sitting by himself on the couch. The shirt he wore was perhaps a little small, but it was pretty standard, I guess? The trousers were - well, fine, I suppose. If I didn't know who he was, he would just have looked like some businessman waiting for a client, not a 19 year old stripper he was paying to sleep with.

He took my hand, leading me towards the elevator, calling it. "How's your day been?" he asked.

"Um, fine, I guess," I replied, trying my best to smile. Fuck, I was nervous. I could feel my heart pumping at a million miles an hour. I wanted to run away as fast as I could.

Instead, the elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside. "We're on the fourteenth floor," Derek said, and I nodded.

There was an awkward silence as the doors closed and the lift started moving. I looked everywhere but at him, intensely aware of my surroundings. The shitty speakers playing Vivaldi, if I remembered correctly from my violin lessons, back when dad gave a shit about me and what I was doing with my life. Each little tick as the floor numbers changed, as the elevator crept up the shaft. The two-for-one cocktail special at the lobby bar - premium drinks not included.

"I like your outfit," he said, finally, cutting through the silence.

"Thanks." I tried to smile, but I couldn't. My hands had gone clammy and sweaty.

There was finally a loud ding as the doors opened, and we had made it. "Come here," he said, offering his hand again. Tentatively, I reached out, taking it, feeling lightheaded. We stopped in front of room 1402, and he pushed the door open, holding it for me.

My eyes scanned the room, immediately trying to spot any signs of danger. But there didn't seem to be any, it was just us two. It was a pretty small hotel room, but it had everything we needed. Plus, there was a coffee table, on which was a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, and a bottle of wine.

"Those are for you," he said, the door swinging shut behind him. "I wasn't sure if you drank, but hopefully you can enjoy the rest."

I bit my lip, staring at those gifts. He didn't have to do it, of course. The money and my presence would have been enough. Maybe he was just being nice. Or maybe it was a calculated manipulation attempt, buttering me up.

"Thank you," I said, turning around, facing him. He stepped towards me, and I pulled him in for another hug, and winced as I was hit by his cologne. He wore a little bit too much.

I didn't feel comfortable kissing him yet.

"D-do you... do you have... you know, the donation..."

"Of course," he nodded, and he rifled in his pocket. He pulled out a wad of cash, handing it to me. "Feel free to count it." He gave me another smile, as if he was proud of himself, or something.

"Thank you," I nodded. "Just give me a moment to freshen up, then." I disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.. I closed my eyes, taking a series of long, deep breaths, calming myself down. I counted, re-counted, and re-re-counted the money he gave me. It was one thing to just assume that he'd paid roughly the right amount in the context of a strip club, but if I was going to do all of this for him...

------------------------------

I was sat on the couch as Aurora came out of the bathroom, and I smiled at her, tapping the space next to me. Dropping her bag off on the coffee table, next to the flowers, she joined me, curling her legs up on the seat, and she placed a hand on my leg.

"I'm glad you wanted to do this," I told her, my hand reaching around her, resting on her ass. I breathed in her floral perfume, savouring it. It was a sweeter scent than the sweat and cigarettes she usually smelt like.

"It's okay," Aurora replied, that shaky little smile of hers returning to her face. I could tell she was nervous. I guessed that she'd never done anything like this before, and it was cute. I wasn't stupid enough to assume that I was her first ever, even though she was so young, but it still felt like she was doing something special, all just for me.

As much as I wanted to rip off her black dress then and there, I wanted to enjoy her company. With the pounding music, it was hard to talk to her in the club, and I wanted to know a little more about her.

"I'm glad you came back," I told her. "I did really miss you. It wasn't the same without you."

She nodded. "I missed you too."

"Can I touch your hair?"

There was a moment of hesitation, but she nodded. I reached out, running my fingers through her dark hair. It was just as soft as I imagined it was.

"You're so beautiful," I said. "You must have a lucky guy at home."

She shook her head. "No, I'm single. I don't think my partner would like me doing this."

I grinned. She really was so sweet. I'd been staring at those pretty red lips as she spoke. There was a brief pause in the conversation, and I leaned in, guiding her head towards mine, softly pressing my lips against hers.

------------------------------

I froze for a moment as he kissed me. He didn't ask, and I wish he did. But I guess I should have expected it. It was obvious we were going to do more; we weren't in the club anymore. But the whole context of it - it made me shudder.

"Are you okay?" he asked, once he pulled away.

"I'm fine."

"Good," he said, as he leaned in again, hungrily kissing me. I felt his tongue nudging up against my mouth, and I was forced to open it, our tongues touching. I pulled away, wiping my lips with the back of my hand.

"Sorry - wasn't expecting - was a lot," I spat out.

He frowned. "Do you even want to do this?"

"I do, I do. I'm just - nervous, that's all."

I could see him taking a deep breath, nodding. "Let me undress you." It was less a request and more of an order.

"Alright. Um, zipper's on the back." I turned my back to him, tossing my hair out of the way. I could feel his fingers fumbling for it, tugging it down. The dress loosened around my shoulders, and I slowly stood up. He grabbed the fabric, pulling it down. I leaned over, and, with a tug, he pulled it over my ass, dropping it. I stepped out of the pooled fabric, wearing nothing but my heels and a black, lacy set of underwear.

He leaned forward, running his hands over my back, down to my panties. My breath caught in my throat as his fingers hooked under the waistband, tugging them down. "I love your ass," he purred, as his hands grabbed it. He leaned forward, giving both cheeks a sloppy, wet kiss.

I could feel his tongue probing my cheeks, licking and kissing my ass, before he spread them, pushing my back, bending me over. In the strong light of the hotel room, I felt strangely exposed. In the club, I had, of course, stripped down to nothing for him, but there was always an obvious transactional thing going on there, with clear boundaries and in the context of an establishment where a man couldn't just do anything with the women he paid.

Here, though? He'd just paid me enough money to buy a used car for an evening, all to use my body. There were some implicit and explicit limits on what he could do with me, and I could say no. But it was unregulated in here, as if the only limits were what he could get away with doing for me.

All this to say that it felt strangely humiliating having him looking directly at my asshole, lit up by the big ceiling lights.

I thought back to Crystal's words, trying to think of him as a piggy bank. It turned out that it was a little harder when his snout was in the metaphorical trough.

------------------------------

Touching her body like this, I couldn't really believe my luck. How things had transpired this way. From sucking my dick back in a private room at her strip club, to getting her body all to myself in the privacy of a hotel room. My hands ran down her cheeks again, and I groped them. "You've got an incredible ass." I grabbed my crotch, adjusting my boxers. It was getting tight down there.

"Come here, take off my pants," I instructed, leaning back against the couch. A lot of what we were doing was all new, but this wasn't. She knelt down in front of me, undoing my belt buckle, unzipping my trousers, and tugging them down, my hips lifting up to help her out.

I was rock hard, my dick throbbing, the tip already slick with pre-cum. "Oh my god," I heard her say.

"Like it?" I asked, holding the base of my cock.

"Of course," she said, but she didn't sound like she meant it. She tentatively wrapped a hand around it, giving it a couple of strokes. "What do you want to do - do you want me to suck it?"

I paused for a moment, before shaking my head. I knew that I'd cum really quickly, and I didn't want to do it in her mouth. That wasn't special. We'd been there before.

Using her body, however?

"Take off your bra and get on the bed." I got up from the couch, slapping her ass, watching her cheeks and the little heart tattoo jiggle.

"Wait, before - before we do that," Aurora said, reaching inside her bag. She pulled out a box of condoms, still in its shrink wrap, and a bottle of lube. "Can you - can you put one on?"

I opened my mouth, as if to protest. $2,500 to wrap up? Ludicrous. Did she not know how much money that was?

But, then again - maybe it was for the best. Who knew who'd stuck their dicks inside of her, right? And, besides...

"Only if I can cum multiple times with you."

"Fine," she said, shaking her head. She passed me the box, and I ripped the plastic off, tearing a condom from the strip, and tossing the rest of the box on the bed.

I watched her take her bra off and climb onto the bed. Using my teeth, I tore open the condom, rolling it onto my dick.

------------------------------

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I got on my hands and knees, just waiting for the worst. I stared out the window, watching the cars and pedestrians out on the streets below move. For a brief moment, I wondered who they were, and what they'd done right; I wondered about all the pretty women out there who were, no doubt, going home or meeting friends or going on dates with men who didn't see strippers. I wondered what I'd done wrong, and if I'd done something in either this life or my previous one to deserve this.

I thought back to all the romantic partners I'd been with. Meeting people, being excited about sharing myself with someone new. Exploring their body, letting them discover more about mine. Fuck, even basic things, like mutual attraction and desire.

Totally naked, sharing a bed with a man so many years my senior, I didn't feel like the seductive, beautiful stripper, the sort men tossed money at when I danced. I really was just a scared 19 year old.

I felt the latex-covered tip of his dick probe my vagina, and I winced, bracing myself. I glanced down, the crucifix dangling from my neck, nudging my chin.

And, with a thrust of his hips, he pushed himself inside of me, and I heard him let out a gut-wrenching moan. I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the sheets hard.

------------------------------

I held onto Aurora's hips, my dick sliding in and out of her cunt, my hips slapping her ass rhythmically, her body clinging tightly to my shaft. "Your pussy feels amazing," I groaned. It really did. It was worth every dollar.

------------------------------

I clung hard onto the bedsheets, his cock violating my body with every thrust. My eyes were still squeezed shut, and I felt something warm run down my cheeks.

------------------------------

Soon, my dick started to twitch. "Can I cum on your ass?" I asked, my pace not stopping for a stroke.

"Yes," she said, though it was more of a whimper.

I pulled my dick out, slipping off the condom, stroking my cock hard and fast. Finally, I felt my groin tightening, and thick ropes of cum shot out, covering her caramel-coloured skin in my white seed.

A thick pool had formed on the heart tattoo, and I grinned. "That was so fucking hot," I said, collapsing onto the bed, sweaty.

"Just give me a moment," she murmured, rolling off the bed. I could see her dabbing her eyes with her wrist, and a black stain was on the white sheets, just where she was pressing her head. She dashed off to the bathroom, grabbing her bag along the way.

"Don't be too long," I called out, lying on my back, basking in my post-coital glow. I grabbed a tissue, wiping myself up, my dick still hard. I gave myself a few strokes, and I reached for the condoms, pulling a couple more out.

------------------------------

I didn't leave until hours later, close to eleven. He wanted to do more positions. He fucked me in missionary, his fat gut pressing me down onto the bed, as I stared up at the ceiling. He wanted me to ride him, but I, at least, got him to accept reverse cowgirl. As long as I didn't have to look him straight in the eye, and be forced to pretend I was enjoying it.

"Don't forget your flowers," he said, as I pulled my clothes on. He was still naked, his dick hard and pointing at me.

"Of course." I smiled weakly at him. I put the bottle of wine and box of chocolates in my bag, clutching the bunch of flowers tightly to my chest.

He had the decency to throw on one of the hotel's bathrobes. "Before you go," he said, stepping towards me. Holding my hips, he planted one last kiss on my lips, his dick pressing up against my body. One last unwanted kiss before he freed me.

"I'd love to do this again," he smiled, finally letting go of me. "I'll text you - and I guess I'll see you at the club."

"Yeah, I'll see you there," I replied evasively, my voice cracking.

I stumbled in my heels as I made my way to the elevator, then through the lobby, all the way down a block towards my car. Somewhere along the way, I ditched the flowers, tossing them into the road. I didn't want them.

I sat in my car for a long while afterwards.