Mark's birthday is today, and I still had no idea what present to get for him. We are buds and it's not like he is really expected anything, and I figured if nothing else I would just settle for a nice bottle of scotch. It was the usual thing between us, neither of us were really big on gifts.
Wandering around the electronics store looking for inspiration, I stopped just before turning a corner, hearing a familiar voice. At first I was going to just go around to the next aisle and say 'Hi' but the tone of her voice stopped me. I heard her say that she screwed up on her checkbook and as a result had blown too much money at the bar the night before and she was not going to be able to cover her rent.
Sneaking a peek around the corner, I confirmed my guess that it was Karen talking to someone I vaguely recognized but didn't really know. Her friend laughed lightly, saying "Well if you're desperate, you could always sell your ass on the corner, right?"
...silence...
Karen replied "Don't tempt me. I've actually thought about it. My friends are getting tired of gifting me money, and $200 is a lot for me to ask for, especially with this short of a notice. As much as I love sex and don't have a boyfriend, it could work out perfectly. But that whole 'jail' thing and diseases scare me enough to keep me from trying. Besides, Mother Nature is conspiring against me right now too. Kinda limits the options."
The friend's eyes were kind of bugging out hearing this, but she recovered and shook her head. "You know, girl, I think you would really do it if you could. Even if you did do it, it's just once, and for a good reason and I wouldn't blame you."
"Thanks I guess? It's also kind of kinky to think of meeting up with some random guy one time, just so he can use me for my body, but the vulnerable position really scares me, I don't want to be taken advantage of or beat up or something. And it's not like I could ask any of my guy friends to be my bodyguard, I couldn't handle them knowing!"
"Wow, I guess you really did put some thought into this. Sure wish I had some extra cash to help you out, but you know how broke I am... Well hey, not to cut you short, but I have to get running, my lunch break is over in like 2 minutes. I gotta run!"
"OK hun, thanks for listening. Love you!"
They hugged quickly, and the friend left at a fast walk to the front of the store to clock in. Karen turned back to the display and stared at the rack, her mind clearly miles away. My heart was pounding in nervousness, my head swimming with what I had just heard and the thoughts that came up.
Karen jumped and barely held in a tiny squeal of fright as I touched her shoulder.
She scowled at me, trying not to laugh. "You jerk, why do you always do that?"
Shrugging my shoulders, I said "Didn't do nuthin, just saying 'hi!' So what are you doing here?"
With a sigh, she looked down at her feet. "I just stopped by to chat with my friend Amy for a little bit. She just went back on shift, so I was going to go home and dream up ways to grow some money for rent. Know any Sugar Daddies looking for someone to throw cash at?"
"Nope, sorry."
Now I was really nervous. I knew if this came out wrong, it could ruin our friendship.
"Umm, Karen? Not to seem too nosy, but I kind of knew you were here. I was coming around that corner a few minutes ago, but heard something that made me stop..."
Her eyes got huge and her face turned beet red instantly.
"No, no, no, you can't say anything to anyone, I didn't mean it...."
"Wait a second" I interrupted, "it's not like that, just listen. As beautiful as you are, and as much as I like you, I couldn't ask *that* of you, it would kill our friendship. But I heard about your 'bodyguard' comment and the whole 'vulnerable' thing you said."
Karen opened her mouth to say something, and I could see her eyes were starting to mist over. Holding up my hand I said "Wait a sec, just let me finish, OK?"
She nodded slowly, now looking at me differently. Was she now intrigued?
"OK, I couldn't tell anyone what you said to Amy, that's just not cool. But I have an idea for you, and it would help out your little rent problem. It's the birthday of a friend of mine, and I wanted to get him a present but had no idea what to get. I was thinking we could help each other out here. It's safe, it's secret, I would be in the next room, and everyone wins all the way around."
She had been looking straight at me while I spoke, a look of mild shock on her face as if she couldn't believe the proposition I gave her. My face was about as flushed as hers was, I could feel my ears burning. This was WAY more than I ever expected to ask a female friend to do.
Karen quickly turned and walked a few steps away, pretending to look at the shelf of DVDs in front of her, but looking right through them. I could almost hear the gears in her head churning like never before.
She waved her hand at me and said "Walk this way, let's talk about this."
We left the store and walked in silence to my car, then sat on the hood, neither of us talking for several minutes. Seeing me look around, she said "My car isn't here, I sold it to pay bills and have been borrowing my room-mate's, but now her car is in the shop so I took the bus. Can you give me a ride home?"
Unlocking the car, we both sat down, but she grabbed my hand to stop me from starting the engine.
"Mike, you have really messed with my head hearing you talking to me like that in the store. Seriously, it weirded me out. But I thought about it, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm so desperate for cash right now that I may take you up on that offer. But we need to lay some ground rules if this is going to happen, OK?"
Stunned in disbelief, I couldn't answer right away. Finding my voice, I said "What did you have in mind?"
"First, he can't know who I am. Period. I won't even talk so he can't recognize my voice. No one but you and I can know. And speaking of 'period', I'm on mine, so I can only do a blowjob. He can use his hands as much as he wants though. And like you heard in the store, I will need $200 for this. Now you tell me what you're thinking about how to handle this?"
She had not looked at me the whole time, but I was staring at her. She was breathing hard, and her face was all red, but based on the instant appearance of rock-hard nipples trying to poke through her shirt, I was no longer sure if her breathing and complexion was from embarrassment or being massively turned on. Or both.
"Umm, ok, that all sounds good. And I'm thinking we do this right now before we lose our nerve." Seeing her nod her head, I continued "I will call him now and get this started."
Hoping to reduce the awkwardness later, I pulled out my wallet and took the cash out and put it in her lap without saying a word. She didn't look at the bills or count them, she just stuffed the bills into her purse.
I got my phone and dialed Mark's number, hoping my voice wouldn't betray my nervousness.
"Hey dude, it's me" I said as he answered.