The Boyfriend Experience (2 page)

The original plan was to make enough so he could afford to go back to school and finish his degree, but the money was too good. Living in New York City didn’t come cheap. He had bills and debts to pay; playing boyfriend ensured that he wouldn’t starve and could save some for a rainy day.

Shaking his head, he closed the book and tossed the dishes into the sink to deal with later. Strolling back into the living room, he picked up the red folder and opened it.

The first page of the file contained the basics—name, age, occupation, stats and background. If there was one thing Darcy was good at, it was making sure that the client was clean and worth engaging. There was a picture attached to it. Nate took the page out and stared at the man in the picture.

Darren Chase reminded Nate of Christian Bale a la Bruce Wayne. His hair, dark with a slight wave, was carefully styled to match the expensive suit he wore. The shot was a paper clipping from some business periodical, and the man was smiling at someone or something off to the side. It was really a handsome smile, but the man had a serious, formidable air about him that contrasted strongly with the brilliant smile. The combination sent a shiver down Nate’s spine.

Nate pulled his laptop back out and googled Chase’s name. There were some news articles about the man’s background—graduated MIT with honors, then Harvard Business School, started his company with a fellow classmate from nothing, et cetera. The rest of the more recent articles were from the business section, with speculations of when his company would go public (“maybe sooner than we thought,” said one article).

Flipping to the next page of the file, Nate began reading the questionnaire.

“Long-term, full service experience. Need someone who is willing to listen but could carry an intelligent conversation if necessary. Basic cooking skills an asset, but not essential…” Nate read out the long list as he plopped himself back on the couch. The questionnaire the Agency provided the clients was very comprehensive. There was something like five pages of criteria that ranged from domestic skills to sexual practices. “Darcy was right, exactly the kind of client for me.”

Darcy’s agency wasn’t a small one, but there were only a handful of male escorts who serviced male clients and had the necessary skills to pull it off. Nate happened to be one of the best.

He continued reading, then blinked in surprise at the last line. “Willing to pay extra for full-time, 24/7 service. Minimum one month engagement.”

Whoa, Nelly!

Full-time services were not unheard of, but it was very rare. Most men Nate had ever engaged were looking for short-term relief on a regular basis—something to take their mind off of the problems in their everyday life, to scratch that itch. All they were looking for was someone who wouldn’t judge them to confide in. Very few clients would ever consider hiring someone full time, the main reason being cost.

“No wonder Darcy was so on edge about this,” Nate muttered to himself as he set the file down. He needed to think.

He hadn’t really given it any thought before today, if he was ever contracted to a full-time engagement. He’d never expected it to come up.

If he were to accept Chase’s offer, he’d have to temporarily hand his current clients to someone else while he worked exclusively for this one man. He didn’t really like the thought of that. Their business was a competitive one, and there was a very high possibility that he’d lose some of his regulars.

On the other hand, though, if everything went well, he’d have enough money set aside in a few months to retire from the circuit. He’d finally be able to get back to his interrupted life and think about a future.

He let his head drop back against the top of the cushion. He took a deep breath then let it out.

He stared at the ceiling for a long moment before he decided that he wouldn’t be able to figure it out sitting in his apartment. He needed some fresh air.

* * *

Sitting on a park bench at Pier 11 over-looking the East River at Brooklyn across the water, he took out his phone and dialed Darcy’s number from memory. The sun was just about to set and the distant sky beyond Brooklyn looked hazy and dark, as if a storm was about to form.

“Ethan! What’s up?” Darcy sounded cheerful, as he always seemed to be. “You read what I sent you yet?”

“I’ll take the case,” Nate said, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck to block the chill from the brisk wind blowing in from the Atlantic. “Under one condition.”

“What kind of condition?”

“Tell Chase I’m willing to commit only if the first date goes well.” There would be no point for him to waste his time if they didn’t click. “Set it up and email me the details.”

“Deal.” Nate could hear Darcy’s grin across the wire. “You have no idea how much this means to me, man.”

Nate rolled his eyes as he disconnected the call. He could hazard a guess—it probably contained a few zeroes.

The lights of the Brooklyn Bridge came on and it looked simply splendid at night, but Nate wasn’t in the mood to enjoy the sights. He continued to sit there staring out at the water as the sky darkened, until it was too cold for him.

Chapter 2

Darren Chase hooked a finger under his collar, trying to loosen it a tad as he took a deep breath then let it out in a long sigh. He had all the appearance of a man enjoying a relaxing drink, but he was anything but relaxed.

In fact, he was more nervous than the first time he addressed the media at a company press conference.

The man from the Agency, Darcy, had instructed him to pick a place and a time, and told him that someone named “Ethan” would be coming to meet him. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. It was supposed to be a simple drink and dinner, maybe some small talk. There was nothing to be nervous about, really.

Well, nothing to be nervous about, except for the fact the man he was meeting was a professional boyfriend—a male escort that provided boyfriend experiences.

They were supposed to go on their first date, at which point Ethan would decide whether to accept his offer of a long term engagement or not. Darren could understand their cautiousness; there was a lot of money and time involved, and he was an unknown to them. He’d done his homework too; the agency he used was one of the most reputable one in New York. It held its clients’ satisfaction and protecting its clients’ privacy as its number one priority.

He didn’t want to seem intoxicated, especially during their first date, but he waved the bartender over and ordered a second drink anyway as he finished his first. Maybe he just needed more liquid courage to get over his nerves.

He’d never seen Ethan—not in person, at least. He’d only seen a picture and it didn’t give him much of an impression about what the man really looked like. Then again, he’d never been a very visual person; he was more interested in the interaction and chemistry. Good looks wouldn’t hurt though he thought as he anxiously waited.

It didn’t really sink in for him until he’d stepped into the restaurant’s bar to wait for Ethan, that he was really doing this. He’d never thought about hiring someone who provided this kind of service—it just never occurred to him. Not until an acquaintance of his had brought it up recently when they were chitchatting.

Darren Chase had never had problems attracting sexual attention, whether it was from a man or a woman. He’d hit the jackpot when he started his information technology company with his business partner a dozen years ago, specializing in IT infrastructure and security. He was good-looking, and he had money—a combination that ensured he could have anything and anyone he wanted.

The problem with having money and influence, was that it made it that much harder to find someone who was interested in him as a person, rather than his money. He didn’t want just anyone; he wanted a relationship that would last the test of time.

While he’d all but given up on a real relationship, he had his needs. Hiring someone on a long-term basis to provide not only sexual release but also the appearance of a real relationship… it wasn’t a bad idea.

“Mr. Chase?” A mild tenor voice roused Darren from his thoughts, and he looked up to find a man in a sharp suit standing next to him with a polite smile. “I’m Ethan. Nice to make your acquaintance.”

Darren chuckled at Ethan’s words. “You can call me Darren,” he said, shaking the young man’s out-stretched hand. “And, for the record, formality should be reserved for those you don’t like.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ethan said, his smile widened.

“Sit down. What’s your poison?” Darren asked, quietly observing Ethan as the man took the seat next to him.

Ethan was only a couple of inches shorter than him, but with a much lankier frame. He had a young looking face—Darren couldn’t believe that Ethan was almost thirty years old. He would’ve guessed that Ethan was still in college if it wasn’t for the profile Darcy provided him.

Darren could see why Darcy regarded Ethan as one of the best the agency had. The man had a sensible style. The suit he wore wasn’t new, but it was good quality, well-fitted and meticulously maintained. This was someone who took care of his appearance, making sure that he could blend in and wouldn’t give himself away. This was someone who took his job seriously.

“I’ll have what he’s having,” Ethan told the bartender when asked.

Darren waited until Ethan’s drink arrived before holding his drink up and said, “Cheers.”

* * *

“Oh, come on,” Darren said with a chuckle before pausing to take a sip of the wine. The shiraz was dryer than he normally drank but it was good nonetheless. The food had been excellent; he could see why they dared to charge an arm and a leg for it. “You have to admit that it was pretty stupid sinking all that cash to try and save something that was essentially an unsalvageable black hole.”

“Yes, but they couldn’t just ignore them, could they?” Ethan tried to argue.

“Of course they could,” Darren rolled his eyes. “If they had the guts they would’ve.”

“Okay, fine, you win.” Ethan chuckled. He took a peek at his watch before he continued, “It’s only nine thirty, still early. You want to go for a walk?”

Darren had thoroughly enjoyed Ethan’s company, and he wanted to spend more time with him before they made their way back. He shrugged, giving Ethan a faint smile. “Sure. I could use some fresh air.”

Heading out of the restaurant, they walked along the street until they hit Broadway.

“I’d forgotten how vibrant and full of life this place is,” Ethan said with a sigh as they strolled through Times Square in the Friday evening crowd. “Even in the winter.”

“It’s a tourist trap,” Darren pointed out.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t cool.” Ethan looked up at the colorful displays. “I haven’t been down here in years.”

“You don’t come here for New Year’s Eve?” Darren asked curiously. Ethan looked like the kind of person that would.

“I’m usually working on New Year’s Eve,” Ethan shook his head, smiling. “Plus, like you said, it’s a tourist trap. I have no interest in lining up for hours just so I can stand on my feet for a few more.”

“True,” Darren chuckled. “Once is more than enough.”

“Speaking of tourist traps—” Ethan waved down a cab.

“Where are we going?” Darren asked as Ethan pulled him into the cab.

“Somewhere I haven’t been since I was a kid,” Ethan said with a wicked grin before turning to the cabbie. “Rockefeller Center.”

Darren felt mesmerized by the man’s excited smile. “You do realize I have a driver waiting for us, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s faster this way.” Ethan shrugged.

The cab dropped them off a few minutes later at their destination. Darren watched Ethan’s blue eyes take on a cheerful glow as they stood in front of the giant Christmas tree. He silently reached for Ethan’s hand and smiled as he felt Ethan squeeze back.

“You skate?” Darren asked. Maybe it was seeing all those people on the ice, or maybe he was influenced by Ethan’s youthful enthusiasm, but he suddenly itched to get out there on the ice.

“I did,” Ethan said, sounding a little distant before he looked up at Darren. “It was a long time ago.”

“You want to try?” Darren tipped his head towards the rental booth.

“I don’t know. I told you it was a long time ago.”

“Come on, I’ll lead you,” Darren said, giving their joint hand a shake. “And I’ll catch you, won’t let you fall on your butt.”

“Oh, all right.” Ethan chuckled.

They paid for entry and for the rental, and before long, they were standing on the ice.

“Okay, keep your knees bent and your feet apart.” Darren held both of Ethan’s hands and gave him instructions. “Yes, that’s it. Now push backwards and outwards with your right leg then your left.”

He skated backwards, pulling on Ethan’s hands as Ethan skated wobbly forward. “There you go! See? You’re doing it.”

Darren watched Ethan’s wide smile contently as they glided across the ice, dodging other skaters as they moved. He breathed deep as brisk evening air graced their faces.

They stopped at the side of the rink for a break to catch their breaths.

“Wow!” Ethan wobbled for a second. Darren grabbed onto his arms to straighten him up.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good—”

Ethan tripped again, loosing his balance completely this time. Darren tried pulling him in, but lost his own footing too instead. The two of them landed in a heap with Darren on his back and Ethan on top of him. They stared at each other in shock, and there was a silence before they both began to laugh uncontrollably.

“Ow,” Darren groaned as they rolled onto their sides.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” Ethan said between bouts of laughter as he tried to get up. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, I think.” Darren got back on his feet then pulled Ethan upright. “You?”

“I’m okay.” Ethan patted the bits of snow from his coat before doing the same for Darren. “I think we should call it a night, at least for skating,” he said, still chuckling. “Before someone breaks something.”