Howard Jay Edmundson slipped out of his room carefully. His younger brother was fast asleep, and Howard was anxious to explore Vegas on his own. He let the door click shut, and pressed his ear against the wood, hoping the slight sound hadn't roused his brother. After a moment he pulled away and walked quietly away from his hotel room. He felt a grin slide up his face as he shrugged off parental overbearing and sibling annoyance in one fell swoop. He adjusted his collar and glanced at his reflection in a mirror arranged conveniently next to the elevator.
Not exactly chiseled features, but a squared jaw, straight teeth, and bright green eyes served his face well. Short cropped brown hair, thin wire framed glasses, a nice shadow darkened his face and he was glad he hadn't shaved in the last two weeks. It made him look older. He hoped. His eighteenth birthday was only two weeks past, at the time he had celebrated it by studying for a stupid final exam. Well, since then, he had graduated High School, and was itching to experience something more than the staid all boys academy the past four years of his life had offered. When his parents announced a family vacation in celebration of his graduation, Howard had slyly suggested Vegas. A city where things don't end at 10pm. He had been looking forward to it for weeks.
The next three hours passed him completely by. He wandered around the strip for two of them, staring wide-eyed at the people, and places. He wandered through numerous lobbies, headed up and down streets, and contented himself with the pleasure of freedom and opportunity. It was nearing one in the morning before he got even the slightest bit tired. He found himself a little lost, a few blocks away from the magnificent Vegas strip. He leaned against a streetlight and yawned deeply.
"You look tired," a voice startled him.
He turned quickly around to stare at the stranger who had spoken. He took in her dark heels, her dark stockings, up to a tight short skirt. Her blouse was opened, exposing a small tank top undershirt, worn low exposing a pronounced cleavage. She had long brown hair curling down past her shoulders. Large brown eyes stared back at him, crinkled amusement.
"Like what you see?" she asked casually.
"I'm sorry to stare ma'm, I apologize," he blushed, and looked away.
"Oh, how sweet, it's all right though," she replied lightly.
He turned back to her and offered her a smile, which seemed to amuse her further.
"So what are you doing out here young man?" she asked.
"Oh, just enjoying the night. I'm only in town for a short time," he said, hoping he didn't sound like a nervous eighteen year old, which he was.
"Oh, business?" she smiled.
"Something like that," he blushed again.
"Would you like to go someplace more private then?"
"Sure, can I buy you a drink?" he asked, amazed with his luck.
"We can start with a drink, did you have someplace in mind?" she asked, her brows quirking together briefly.
"Um, not really. I haven't been to Vegas before actually," he offered.
"I know a place," she said, and extended her arm.
He smiled at her and took her arm. They walked a few blocks to a quiet bar. He felt nervous and rehearsed lines in his head regarding missing identification, should he be carded. She led him into the darkened bar atmosphere and towards the bartender. She leaned over the bar and ordered a cosmopolitan, and waited for him. Howard indicated the same order, and pushed cash across the counter. The bartender eyed him speculatively, and then nodded. Drinks in hand, they walked to a small table, where Howard pulled out a chair for the woman, who shook her head slightly, as if in disbelief, and then sat graciously.
Once they were seated the woman leaned forward and motioned for Howard to do the same. Once Howard had done so, she brought a hand up to his face, positioning him directly in front of her. She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, to Howard's complete shock. His eyes must have been wide and confused, because her brows quirked together.
"You bought me a drink, I gave you a kiss, something wrong?" she asked curiously.
"No, I was just startled m'am," he stammered.
"Enough with the m'am, I'm not that much older than you. My name is Renee," she introduced herself.
"I'm Howard," he replied quickly.
"Um, just how old are you Howard?" she asked.
"I'm uh, twenty-two," he lied.
"Twenty-two huh, and I'm twenty eight," she lied, with a small smile.
"So have you lived in Vegas all your life?" he asked nervously.
They made small talk for a short time, he kept leading her on, hoping that she wouldn't turn the questions around on him, as he started frantically coming up with plausible sounding answers.
Time dragged on, they both finished their drinks and Howard wondered if he should buy more, when Renee leaned forward again. He leaned in hesitantly, and she spoke softly to him.
"So are you interested in spending more time together?" she asked with a wink.
"Sure," he smiled at her.
"How much were you thinking of spending?" she asked.
"How much what?" he asked.
"Money."
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
She sat back and frowned at him. He tried smiling at her, but was quite at a loss for what she was talking about.
"For straight sex it's four hundred," she said, again softly.
"What?" he said loudly, and then his face fell as he realized what he had gotten himself into.
"Are you messing with me?" Renee asked dangerously, a fierce glint in her eye.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I didn't know you were, I thought, I mean ...?" Howard trailed off, looking at her helplessly. Renee stared at him for a moment and then leaned back.
"You really had no idea?" she asked.
"No, I'm sorry," Howard replied, looking downfallen. A few minutes of silence followed in which they both digested this information.
"Well, don't worry about it, not your fault really," she said, looking away from him, "The one night I actually want some."
