A RED ROOM I

(Jack’s Pov)

Thumping jazz music floated through the room, creating a sensual ambience that went very well with the alcohol coursing through my veins, making me pleasantly tipsy.

It was cool enough that my nipples would pebble if it weren't for the rhinestone nipple covers but not cold enough that I shivered since I wasn't wearing anything else. The room smelled soft, like a crisp winter day in front of a perfume tray, and so did the rest of the club.

I arched my back around the pole, holding the pose. The spotlight was on me, so bright, I had my eyes closed. I couldn't see out into the audience anyway.

But they were watching. 

I could feel eyes on me, perusing, lustful, and I slowly spun around the pole to show a little of my ass in the matching, almost non-existent thong. I still hadn't learned a lot of moves but what I did have under my belt was enough for a show.

And I gave one.

I could hear stifled low groans, and I knew some people were touching themselves. I remember being so amused the day I’d asked another stripper and she'd told me.

I slithered off the pole to my knees, as the song tapered off. Just as the lights came on, one of my usual patrons walked up and tossed a bundle of money at me. It exploded out of the bunch, raining down around me.

I smirked at him and he smiled back shyly. The stuff he liked would horrify the rest of the HR department in the company he worked. 

I stood, walking off the stage giving them the full view of my ass. Someone wolf-whistled, and I laughed under my breath.

If anyone asked me how I felt about being a whore, I'd probably shrug. I'd been fucking for free almost everyday since I was sixteen. I'd just attached a price tag, at first unwillingly, to myself two months ago.

I adjusted my mask, pushing the droopy feathered piece away from tickling my nose. But I didn't want anyone to find out.

Because if they did, especially anyone from school, it would lead to questions as to why Jack Pierce was a paid whore. And then it would come out that my family was broke. 

The damage from the combination of those two things would absolutely destroy me.

We were in such a deep hole I wasn't sure we'd be able to climb out. We owned basically nothing now but the name of the company and it was a miracle that word hadn’t gotten out.

If I prayed, I would get on my knees every night to beg that some higher deity kept it that way.

I sighed, settling into my chair. I got my own room last week, way faster than others usually did, because I was basically the employee of the month. 

It wasn't hard. There were a lot of people who were resentful of being forced to work here. Not me though. I came in about three times a week and I took on a client all three days, maybe more than one if I fucked good enough that a session was over quickly.

My flushed face started back at me in the mirror, still riding the high. I liked fucking. And I needed the money.

So win, so win. Sort of.

Honestly, it wasn't a first career choice but I didn't mind being here. I could walk around semi-hard and it wouldn't be frowned upon. It would even be welcome and more often than not, I would find someone to take care of it with.

My hole tonight was a man, who preferred to remain anonymous. Well, a man was a strong word seeing as he just turned eighteen today, and that was why he was here.

My eyes had shot up when I saw the price he'd paid. That was double my flat rate, all the way up to the “anything you want” package.

With that money, I could replace some of last year's stuff, like my headphones and shoes and still have some left over to put into my admittedly meager savings.

There was a small pip in my step as I made my way to the reserved room. I needed this too, school had been so stressful and I might have skipped it if it wasn't for the shit ton of money I would get tonight.

What had given that fucking nerd the ball to talk back to me?

I'd have to look a little bit closer at him from now on, just in case he'd gotten wind of my situation. That was the only reason I could think of why he opened his fucking mouth to challenge me. I had barely even heard his voice over the years, except to pathetically mumble an apology ever so often.

And that was the reason I’d needed to drown him back down to his place. And if he dared piss me off again, I would fuck him up.

I liked what I was at school and I'd do anything to keep it that way. After that fucking stunt of lacing my food with something, I needed to do something even more drastic. 

I would not have anyone else thinking they could mess with me. I was the king of those fucking halls.

Tamping down my anger, I knocked on the door and waited.

“Ohh that must be him! Have fun!”

A muscle twitched in my little finger involuntarily. Why did that voice make my eyes perk up like a cat hearing something squeak?

The door opened and a boy in a white mask scurried away. I watched him go, my brows furrowing.

Did I know him?

I shook my head, bringing my mind back to what was behind that door. Whatever.

I pushed the door open. His was a red room, which included a plush bed and couch with bright red finishings and not much else.

My client was standing in front of the bed, already taking off his clothes, a pair of shorts and a t- shirt. 

Eager. I cocked my head, pleasantly surprised.

“Um, hi!” he says, pulling the shirt over his head. I didn't want to make it awkward by having to take off my clothes midway so…” 

The mask skewered revealing the skin of his cheek and somewhere deep in my mind an alarm bell rang in my mind.

He sighed, reaching up to reposition the mask on his face but stopped halfway. “Actually can I just take this off too? There aren't cameras in here right? And it's not like you're not going to tell.”

I nodded my head, a small voice in my head telling me to not use my voice. What was it about this boy?

The mask slid off his face and he dropped it to the floor, with a sigh. 

I barely stopped myself from gasping out loud at the blushing face staring at me. Aaron? What was he doing here?

But the surprise slid away lightning fast. A muscle in my face twitched, remembering today.

I turned around and walked out the door.