Playing With Fire by Ella Price

making me feel any worse than I already did. I spent the day
trying to focus on school. I needed to pay more attention to my studies. The
plan was to only work a couple days a week so I could keep up on my school. The
plan wasn’t really working so well.
    After
class I walked across campus back toward my apartment. “Hey Thea,” Mark called
catching up with me.
    “Hey
Mark,” I said softly not really looking forward to talking to him.
    “So
I was wondering if you wanted to go to the coffee shop to do some studying.” He
sounded so hopeful I didn’t want to turn him down.
    I
nodded. “Sure sounds good,” I said softly and we walked to the coffee shop. I
listened to him chatter about what he was doing in school. I tried to focus on studying,
but it was difficult.
    After
about an hour my phone rang. “Hello,” I said softly.
    I
was a little surprised that it was Charlotte. “Miss Blake, you have a date set
for this evening at ten.  Be ready by nine. Be sure to bring condoms and
lube with you.” Her tone was business like. It was almost as if she was telling
me about a simple task.
    “Ok,”
I said and hung up. I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t
really want to do it, but it didn’t matter anymore. I was going to do what I had
to and take the money. It would at least pay for my school. “I’ve got to go,
I’ll see you later,” I said to Mark.
    He
nodded and looked like he wanted to say more but he didn’t.
    I
dialed Naomi on the way back to my apartment. “What did you do now?” she asked
when she picked up.
    I
rolled my eyes. “I need lube and condoms, what do I buy and where do I go?” I
called her because she would know what I needed.
    “I’ll
get it, what time are you leaving?” She didn’t sound as annoyed as she had
earlier.
    “Nine,”
I said with a feeling of dread in my stomach.
    “Cool,
I’ll be at the house by then,” she said and hung up. 
    At
eight Naomi came through the door. I had showered and was in a robe. She dumped
a bag over on the table. There was a variety of condoms and lube. “You want to
use the flavored for oral sex and the regular for sex. There is latex and
non-latex. You want to have both kinds in case the guy has an allergy. Then
there are different sizes.” By the time she was done describing what they were
all for my head was spinning. I packed a variety of condoms and lube in my
purse. I wouldn’t know what I needed until I got there. When she was done
explaining I went to my room and got dressed.
    I
wore a short, dark purple dress and black heels. I pinned my hair up and made
sure I had sexy red lingerie on. I did my makeup and as I was finishing up the
doorbell rang. Naomi had already left again so I walked to the door and
answered. I was surprised to see I didn’t recognize the man.
    “Hi
Miss Blake, my name is Carlos. I am here to take you to your appointment,” he
said.
    I
nodded then went to retrieve my purse and jacket. I wondered what happened to
Edward. I was beginning to think he didn’t want to see me after last night. The
ride to the hotel was nerve racking. Carlos got out and held my door for me. I
followed him into the hotel and to the elevator.
    He
hit the button for the penthouse and typed in a code. “Your phone will ring
when his time is up. I will be at the bar when you have finished your
appointment,” he said and smiled.
    I
nodded and when the elevator opened I stepped into the large foyer. I went to
the double doors and knocked. I was nervous about the whole sex with a stranger
thing, but I was going to follow through because I had agreed to it.
    I
plastered a smile on my face and prepared for the worse. The door opened and a
relatively good looking man was standing there in a robe. “Hi I’m Thea,” I said
offering my hand.
    “Tim,”
he said and took my hand. He pulled me against him and pressed his mouth to
mine. I was a little caught off guard by his aggression. He obviously wasn’t
planning on