Late one night, Alex sat slumped at his desk, the dim light of his laptop flickering across his face. He scrolled through Craigslist, drowning in the weight of unpaid bills. Tuition, rent, and his father's endless medical expenses loomed like a guillotine. His life felt like one big, cruel joke--a college degree that was supposed to lift him out of poverty now nothing more than an added debt. He'd spent months searching for a way out, but nothing ever seemed enough.
His tired eyes skimmed over the usual ads until one caught his attention.
"Discreet gentleman seeking a college student over 18... generous compensation for companionship."
His pulse quickened. Companionship? He read the ad again, this time lingering on the words "generous compensation." He couldn't help but imagine how a few thousand dollars could keep him afloat. The thought danced in his head, a tantalizing escape.
Maybe it's just dinner, he thought. Maybe I just need to hang out with some lonely rich guy for an hour or two. It sounded easier than yet another minimum-wage shift. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, heart thudding in his chest. After a moment of hesitation, he typed:
"I'm interested. What does companionship involve?"
He barely had time to second-guess himself before a reply came in, sharp and direct:
"Let's discuss in person. Meet me at The Ritzwood Hotel tomorrow evening. Your time will be generously compensated."
The name of the hotel sent a ripple of anxiety through him. The Ritzwood? He could never afford to set foot in a place like that. The idea of even walking through its doors made his palms sweat, but the thought of that compensation kept him locked in place.
The next day, Alex found himself staring at his closet, everything inside either too baggy, too old, or too embarrassing for a place like that. He finally settled on the tightest pair of slacks he had--ones that clung to his hips in a way that felt wrong--and a simple sweater. He checked himself in the mirror, running a hand nervously through his hair. His reflection unsettled him, the anxious look in his eyes betraying his uncertainty.
As he entered the lobby of The Ritzwood that evening, his stomach flipped. The place was extravagant, with gleaming marble floors and chandeliers dripping light. He felt so out of place it hurt. But he kept moving, scanning the room until his gaze fell on a man by the bar--Jim.
Mid-forties, stocky, gruff. Jim's eyes landed on him, and Alex could feel them trail down his body, lingering on his hips. That gaze--hungry, lingering--made Alex's skin prickle. He forced a smile, his legs feeling like they could buckle at any moment.
"Alex, right?" Jim's voice was smooth, but his eyes were sharp, like he was sizing him up. Judging. There was something lurking beneath his casual tone, something that made Alex's stomach twist.
"Yeah," Alex muttered, sliding into the seat next to him. His fingers twitched, unsure of what to do as Jim's gaze raked over him again, so deliberate it almost made him shudder.
Jim leaned in slightly. "You nervous?"
Alex swallowed. "A little, yeah." His voice was small, almost pathetic, and he hated it.
"Relax. It'll be worth your while." Jim's words were calm, but there was an unspoken edge, something that made Alex's throat tighten.
They talked, or at least tried to--idle chatter about school, work, things that barely held Alex's attention. The whole time, his mind raced, wondering what exactly he had agreed to. His imagination ran wild--maybe Jim just wanted a dinner companion, someone to talk to. But the way Jim looked at him, like Alex was something to be devoured, made his body tense.
Jim finished his drink and placed it down with a slow, deliberate motion. His eyes locked on Alex's.
"You ready to go up to my room?"
The words hit like a punch. Alex froze, the weight of the question pressing down on him. His breath hitched, and for a split second, he thought about leaving, just getting up and walking away. But the money, the bills, the suffocating reality of his life rooted him to the spot. His throat was dry as he nodded, barely able to speak.
The elevator ride was suffocatingly quiet, tension heavy in the air. Alex's heart raced, mind spinning as he tried to piece together where this was going. He thought this would just be some lonely guy paying for company--talking, maybe a drink. Companionship, right? But Jim's silence was thick, and Alex's stomach tightened with every floor the elevator climbed.
When they stepped into the hotel room, the luxury of it barely registered. His skin crawled with uncertainty, the weight of what he had agreed to feeling more real by the second. Jim wasn't here just for conversation, and Alex was starting to realize how naΓ―ve that hope had been.
"There's something for you to wear in the bathroom," Jim said smoothly, nodding toward the door like it was the most casual thing in the world.
Alex blinked, the words hanging in the air, almost surreal. Wear? He opened his mouth to question, but Jim's expression didn't waver, so he didn't push. His legs felt leaden as he made his way to the bathroom, heart hammering in his chest. This wasn't what he had expected at all.
Inside, he froze.
Hanging on the door was a maid's costume, tight, revealing, cheap-looking. Alex's stomach flipped at the sight of it. What the hell? He hadn't signed up for this. His pulse quickened as he ran a hand over the fabric, the absurdity of it crashing down on him. For a moment, he considered walking out--just leaving, consequences be damned.
But then his eyes drifted back to the outfit. Is this what Jim wanted? The thought twisted in his gut, but at the same time, there was a strange thrill in it, something dark and forbidden.
He stripped, slipping into the tight dress. The fabric clung to his slim frame, hugging his hips, barely covering his ass. He stared at himself in the mirror, and what he saw hit him like a shock to the system. He didn't see the shy, uncertain Alex he knew. The reflection staring back at him was someone else entirely--someone slutty, sexy, something both ridiculous and erotic. The way the dress fit made his legs look longer, his chest more defined. His breath hitched as his cheeks flushed, the thought of Jim seeing him like this sending a wave of heat through his body.
Fuck, he thought. I look like a total slut.
With a deep, shaky breath, he stepped back into the room. Jim's eyes snapped to him immediately, and the hunger there was unmistakable. Alex's skin prickled under the intensity of his gaze.
"Fuck... look at you," Jim muttered, his voice low and thick with approval. His eyes roamed over Alex's body, lingering on the way the skirt barely covered his ass, the way the tight fabric clung to his chest. Alex's heart pounded faster, his skin hot under Jim's scrutiny.
"I thought we were just... spending time together," Alex said, his voice coming out weaker than he'd intended, the reality of the situation settling hard in his gut.
Jim stepped closer, one hand already reaching out to grip Alex's hip. "We are," he murmured, the heat in his eyes making Alex's knees feel weak. "This is part of it." His fingers pressed firmly into Alex's side, the possessiveness in the touch sending a confusing jolt through him.
Alex swallowed hard, his breath catching as Jim's hand slid lower, cupping his ass through the thin fabric. "I didn't think... it'd be like this," Alex managed, his voice shaky as Jim's hand squeezed, pulling him closer.
Jim's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I think you're catching on," he said, his voice a dark purr. "You're dressed like this because you know what you're here for."
Alex's face burned, a mix of shame and something hotter swirling in his stomach. He wanted to protest, to push Jim away, but the feeling of Jim's fingers digging into his ass, the heat of his breath so close, made his pulse race in a way he couldn't control.
Jim's hand slid up to Alex's hair, his fingers tangling there as he pulled him closer. "You'll be a good girl for me, won't you?" he whispered against Alex's ear, his breath hot, sending a shiver down Alex's spine.