“Anything from your sister yet?” Alexis returned to her seat, shifting that little bit closer to Sam.
“No, I haven’t tried again.”
“Maybe she just needs some time to herself?”
“That’s what I'm worried about,” Sam said. “She used to have a cocaine habit.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.” Alexis placed her hand over Sam’s, their connection undeniable. “If you need to leave, I wouldn’t be offended.”
“That’s the problem.” Sam smiled, her eyes distant. “I don't want to leave.”
“No?” Alexis squeezed Sam’s hand, bringing her back to the moment.
“What?”
“You said you don't want to leave…”
“Right, yeah.” Sam blushed. “It’s a beautiful night and I'm sitting here with you. Why would I want to leave?”
“Well, Sam.” Alexis took her bottom lip between her teeth. “When you say things like that…”
Watching Alexis bite her lip was doing everything imaginable to Sam’s body. “Don't finish that sentence.”
Just stop talking. Sam ached inside. Alexis and her words…her voice, the cause.
Interrupted by the waiter, Sam was thankful for the reprieve. As much as she felt the need to let off a little steam right now, Alexis couldn’t become that woman. Whether that was what she was here for or not, Sam couldn’t take her home. She wanted to—she was just about done with putting herself last—but it would be for the wrong reasons. Sam believed that sex wasn't just a casual thing. If it went that far, it had to mean something more.
“We should take this conversation back to your place…”
“Oh, we shouldn’t.” Sam shook her head, a wave of heat coursing through her body. “We can’t.”
“Sorry, I don't know where that came from.” Alexis held up her hand, embarrassed that she could even insinuate doing such a thing with someone like Sam. Her client had never been anything other than respectful from the moment they met, so offering something more seemed wrong on every level. Wow, it comes to something when an escort feels bad for offering her services. Alexis put on her best fake smile. “Dinner and conversation. Got it.”
“I thought you preferred this side of things?” Sam asked, her eyes finding Alexis’.
“I do…but what does that tell you?” Alexis inwardly chastised herself. However hard she tried, she could help the flirtatious comments.
“I don't know.” Sam smiled. “What does it tell me?”
Sam’s phone buzzed on the table, Lindsay’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hello? Linds?”
“Sorry, I was sleeping.”
“Why?” Sam glanced at her watch. “It’s only seven.”
“Because I have a shift at the bar tonight,” Lindsay said. “So, no…it’s not because I plan to do an all-nighter in a drug house.”
“I’m sorry about earlier.” Sam sighed as she turned away from Alexis. “Look, if you're stuck for cash, you only have to ask.”
“But I don't want to ask, Sam.”
“I wish you would.”
“Why? So you can forever hold it against me?” Lindsay laughed. “I have to go. Enjoy your night.”
“Lindsay, wait!”
“What?”
“Come and stay with me tonight.”
“I have to work remember…”
“I need to speak to you about something.” Sam glanced over her shoulder, thankful to find Alexis looking the other way. “I need advice.”
“I have a shift.”
“Call in sick. You know I’ll see that you're all right.”
“Fine,” Lindsay said. “But the first mention of drugs and I'm leaving.”
“I promise you, it’s not about that.”
“Should I come over now?”
“I, uh…give me an hour.” Sam ended her call with her sister and turned around to find Alexis responding to something on her own phone. “Everything okay with you?”
“Oh, yeah.” Alexis beamed. “Just a client.”
Sam’s heart sank. The idea of Alexis seeing another client made her stomach churn. She understood this was just an arrangement, but tonight Sam felt as though she wanted more. Alexis had already offered more in her own way, but Sam being Sam, had to play hardball. Unable to think straight, Sam removed an envelope from her bag and slid it towards Alexis on the bench between them.
“I have to go.” Sam’s voice trembled. “Thank you for another wonderful evening.”
“Go?” Alexis’ eyebrows rose. “We haven’t even been here an hour.”
“Well, there is enough in the envelope to cover the entire evening.” Sam smiled. “After last time, I didn’t want to be caught short again.”
Sam stood and pulled her bag up onto her shoulder. She could see Alexis’ worry in her eyes, but this was about herself. Not the kind and sweet escort who made her feel like a million dollars.
“Sam?” Alexis followed her away from the table, the idea of overstepping weighing firmly on her mind. “Was it me? Did I do something I shouldn’t have?”
“No, you’ve been great.” Sam leaned in and kissed Alexis’ cheek. “I’m assuming you have another client waiting so you should really go.”
“I didn’t accept their invitation. I was busy with you.” After being here, Alexis couldn’t bear the thought of meeting anyone else tonight. Last week, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but Sam had gotten under her skin and honestly, she never wanted her to leave.
“And now you're not.” Sam shrugged as she backed up. “Go. Have fun.”
“I already was.” Alexis’ shoulders slumped. “You're more fun than you realise.”
“I’m sure somebody else would be happy to rock your world tonight.” God, I wish it was me. “Be safe.”
***
Sam pushed her front door open to find Lindsay already waiting for her. Settled on the couch, her legs crossed, Lindsay glanced at her through hooded eyes. She didn’t know where to begin with an apology, but she was thankful that her sister had shown up. After leaving Alexis and wandering the streets for the last thirty minutes, she really was unsure about her feelings towards her escort. At one point, she’d thought about cancelling with Lindsay and calling Alexis to her apartment. Then, common sense kicked in and ultimately prevailed. Sam didn’t sleep around, she never had, so why did she feel different since meeting Alexis? Why did she stare at her lips at any given opportunity during their short but sweet arrangement tonight?
“You look like you need a drink.” Lindsay’s brow knitted. “And where have you been?”
“With Alexis.”
“Why the hell aren’t you still with her now?” Lindsay sat forward. “Get it while you can, Sam.”
“Well, I guess it’s useless asking you for advice now…” Sam kicked off her heels.
“Um, what are you doing? Put them back on and go find her!”
“It doesn’t work like that, Linds.” Sam laughed, falling back onto the couch. “She has another client.”
“Ew!”
“Behave.” Sam swatted her sister’s leg. “What she does is her own business. I just pay her to talk to me.”
“You know, you really should be paying her to do anything other than talk.”
“Excuse you!”
Sam loved her sister more than anything in the world, but she wouldn’t discuss her sex life with her. Not now, not ever.
“What? We all have sex, Sam!”
“I don't want to know.” Sam held up her hand. “So long as you're careful, I don't need to know any more than that.”
“Don’t you miss it?” Lindsay made herself comfortable, lying back and clasping her hands behind her head. “Being with someone…”
“At times, yes.”
“I know you don't want to, but you really don't think Alexis could help you out with that?”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.” Sam gl
anced at her sister. “Tonight, it felt different.”
“Different how?”
“She was flirtatious with me. I think I was close to doing the same thing…”
“And it felt good?”
“Weirdly normal,” Sam said. “It felt like I didn’t have to worry about it. You know?”
“You mean, you didn’t feel guilty about it?”
“No, I didn’t.” Sam ran her fingers through her hair. “I just… I’m scared.”
“You have nothing to be scared about. It’s her job.”
“That’s the problem though. I think I'm attracted to her. In a way that I shouldn’t be. She’s my escort, Lindsay. You have to tell me this is wrong.”
“Oh.” Lindsay sat up, chewing her bottom lip. “Um…”
“Do you see my problem?” Sam asked. “Why I have to be careful about this…”
“Kind of, yeah.” Lindsay nodded. “But what if she feels the same way?”
“She doesn’t.”
“But she could…one day.” Lindsay beamed. “Why don't you take her away? Show her the real you?”
“What?” Sam scoffed. “Take her away?”
“Yeah. Book her for the entire week.”
“I know it’s your favourite film, but this is not a scene from Pretty Woman.”
“God, it’s such a classic.” Lindsay sighed. “Maybe we should watch it tonight. Get a few pointers.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“And so are you.” Lindsay winked. “You’ve got the hots for your escort, Sam. You either have to admit it or move on from her.”
“That would mean not booking her again.”
“I know.”
“I don't think I could do that.” Sam tugged the hem of her dress. “I like her company too much.”
“Then you have some decisions to make.”
***
Alexis lay back, her head on her pillow. She couldn’t bring herself to see another client after leaving Sam, so she switched her business phone off and wound down for the night. She worked her way through a bottle of wine, followed by a scorching shower, but Sam remained on her mind. Her client. The woman she wasn't supposed to become attached to. Sam, the person she would fall asleep thinking about. Alexis figured their second meeting wouldn’t be as intense as the first, now that she knew what to expect, but she’d been wrong. Very wrong. Nothing had changed for her, other than the fact that she wanted to kiss Sam more than she had when they first met.
I need to speak to someone about this.
Just thinking about Sam left Alexis feeling aroused. That arousal was like nothing she’d experienced before. A look from Sam, a slight touch of her skin, and Alexis’ body was on fire. She had friends at the agency, women who’d been there a lot longer than she had, but she knew speaking to them would only leave her disappointed. They would tell her it was forbidden. They would offer to take Sam off her hands. Alexis didn’t want that, she just wanted to figure out how she was feeling, hoping that Sam may someday want more. Alexis knew that was selfish, knew she was putting herself in a position that would ultimately end in her being hurt, but she believed Sam was worth it.
I don't know this woman.
Alexis was right, she didn’t know Sam. That didn’t deter her from lying here thinking about her though. It didn’t stop her thoughts of what could be if she persisted with the flirtatious behaviour, the glances and the touches. Deep down, Alexis felt a connection to her client, a connection she presumed would only grow stronger the more time they spent together. Alexis glanced at the phone number sitting on her screen. Sam’s. It was a mistake adding it to her personal contact list, but before Alexis could stop herself, she was opening a new message.
A: I hope I wasn't the one that made you run earlier.
Alexis held her breath, her anxiety rising as the three little dots beneath her message signalled that Sam had read it and, was in fact, texting her back.
S: Who is this?
A: Alexis.
S: Isn’t this against policy?
A: Are you going to call the agency and tell them?
S: Of course not.
A: Then will you answer me one question?
S: Okay…
Alexis thought about the next message she would write. It could change everything, and it likely would, but she needed to ask Sam out to dinner. She needed to give herself the opportunity to find someone truly worthy of her time, rather than be someone’s escort. Her thumbs tapped the screen, but she quickly hit the delete button.
A: Never mind. It’s not important.
S: Seemed important enough for you to break policy.
A: See you around, Sam. Goodnight.
S: Goodnight.
Alexis threw her phone to the bed, groaning as she placed her hand over her face. How could she be so stupid to think that a woman like Sam would even contemplate agreeing to an actual date? Alexis knew she was easy on the eye and she knew she could charm anyone into bed, but Sam was so not that kind of woman. Sam…would never be her woman.
Six
Sam woke to the sound of her phone buzzing on the bedside table. Her alarm hadn’t yet gone off, so whoever was calling her at such an ungodly hour should have one hell of an excuse. With one eye opened, she reached for her phone and accepted the call.
“Sam, hello?”
“Lindsay, what the hell do you want at this time?”
“You didn’t call me after I left last night…”
“And you thought it would be appropriate to call me at what…” Sam glanced at the alarm clock. “Five-thirty in the morning?”
“I was worried.”
“You should be,” Sam spat. “Because when I get my hands on you, you're dead.”
“Sorry I woke you up, but I didn’t hear from you. I've been awake all night wondering if she came over once I’d gone.”
“Linds, I'm fine.” Sam dropped back onto the mattress. “I didn’t ask her to come over.”
“Why?” Lindsay asked, her voice less panicked than it was moments ago. “I thought you wanted to see her again?”
Sam closed her eyes, a small smile curling on her lips as she thought about Alexis. As much as she wanted to spend time with her, Sam knew she had to distance herself. It may not last, but that was her plan as she climbed into bed last night. “I don't think I’ll be seeing her again.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't think I can.” Sam wasn't willing to offer any more than that for the time being. She was yet to process her own thoughts regarding last night. She hadn’t expected Alexis to privately text her and the last thing she needed, was Lindsay influencing any decisions. “I would really like to get another hour. I’ll call you when I'm at the office.”
“Fine, okay,” Lindsay said. “Bye, Sam.”
“Bye.”
Sam ended her call and dropped her phone down beside her. While she’d fallen asleep perfectly fine last night, Alexis had been on her mind. During their first dinner date, Sam was impressed by her. She wasn't the woman she imagined she would be and as the minutes passed, she found herself truly laughing for the first time in forever. It felt good to have that side of her slowly coming back to life. Nobody made her laugh like her wife once had, but Alexis was doing a good job of coming close second. That was why she arranged a second meeting so soon after the first. Yes, Sam cut it short, but that was for more than one reason. She couldn’t concentrate while worrying about her sister, and Alexis’ flirtation had thrown her. The thigh grab on her part, that was totally unexpected.
If she was being honest with herself, that worried her. How she could so easily enjoy the company of another woman with no thought for her wife or how she would feel about it? It didn’t feel right, and the more she thought about it last night, the more it gnawed away at her inside. The more her guilt rose. Yes, Lucia wanted her to be happy…but don't people say that to lessen the blow when the time actually come
s to leave? Don't they pretend that they wouldn’t be hurt by their significant other moving on?
Sam sat up and shifted back, leaning against the headboard. She had the perfect view out of her windows, but she was beginning to suspect that nothing would calm her today. The moment Lindsay got wind of how she was feeling, Sam knew she would never hear the end of it. She knew that no amount of lying to her sister would work, not with something ground-breaking like this. To the outside world, it was nothing, but to Sam and everyone around her…it would be shocking news to find out that she may be potentially ready to move on with her life. A life without Lucia.
She turned her head, her eyes focusing on the picture beside the alarm clock. God, you still take my breath away. Sam slowly lifted the framed photograph and studied it. When she met Lucia, she had been a breath of fresh air in her life. Only months apart in age, Lucia brought an immense amount of joy to Sam. Mentally, physically, and sexually. Every moment she woke beside her wife gave her life a meaning, and Sam knew she would spend forever with Lucia. They got each other. They knew exactly what made the other tick. Sam would always be thankful for the moment Lucia walked into her life, but was this how it would be from now on? A constant guilt? A panic every time she even looked at another woman? Sam couldn’t live that way, she knew that, but she struggled to let down her walls and let go of her past. A past that would never be anything more.
***
“So, this isn’t like you.” Shannon, a fellow escort, took a seat facing her at the coffee shop they’d agreed to meet at. “Since when do we meet for coffee?”
“Since I lost my fucking mind.” Alexis sighed. “I needed to talk to you about something. I know you love this life, the things that go on, but I need you to be serious for a moment and give me some advice.”
“Serious. Got it.” Shannon straightened her back and smiled. “What’s going on, Lex?”
“I have a new client.” Alexis’ mind wandered to Sam and her beautiful smile. “We’ve had two bookings.”
“And I'm sure you’ll have many more. You know the clients love you.”
The Arrangement Page 5