Beyond Expectations

Howard Jay Edmundson slipped out of his room carefully. His younger brother was fast asleep, and Howard was anxious to explore Vegas on his own. He let the door click shut, and pressed his ear against the wood, hoping the slight sound hadn’t roused his brother. After a moment he pulled away and walked quietly away from his hotel room. He felt a grin slide up his face as he shrugged off parental overbearing and sibling annoyance in one fell swoop. He adjusted his collar and glanced at his reflection in a mirror arranged conveniently next to the elevator.

Not exactly chiseled features, but a squared jaw, straight teeth, and bright green eyes served his face well. Short cropped brown hair, thin wire framed glasses, a nice shadow darkened his face and he was glad he hadn’t shaved in the last two weeks. It made him look older. He hoped. His eighteenth birthday was only two weeks past, at the time he had celebrated it by studying for a stupid final exam. Well, since then, he had graduated High School, and was itching to experience something more than the staid all boys academy the past four years of his life had offered. When his parents announced a family vacation in celebration of his graduation, Howard had slyly suggested Vegas. A city where things don’t end at 10pm. He had been looking forward to it for weeks.

The next three hours passed him completely by. He wandered around the strip for two of them, staring wide-eyed at the people, and places. He wandered through numerous lobbies, headed up and down streets, and contented himself with the pleasure of freedom and opportunity. It was nearing one in the morning before he got even the slightest bit tired. He found himself a little lost, a few blocks away from the magnificent Vegas strip. He leaned against a streetlight and yawned deeply.

“You look tired,” a voice startled him.

He turned quickly around to stare at the stranger who had spoken. He took in her dark heels, her dark stockings, up to a tight short skirt. Her blouse was opened, exposing a small tank top undershirt, worn low exposing a pronounced cleavage. She had long brown hair curling down past her shoulders. Large brown eyes stared back at him, crinkled amusement.

“Like what you see?” she asked casually.

“I’m sorry to stare ma’m, I apologize,” he blushed, and looked away.

“Oh, how sweet, it’s all right though,” she replied lightly.

He turned back to her and offered her a smile, which seemed to amuse her further.

“So what are you doing out here young man?” she asked.

“Oh, just enjoying the night. I’m only in town for a short time,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound like a nervous eighteen year old, which he was.

“Oh, business?” she smiled.

“Something like that,” he blushed again.

“Would you like to go someplace more private then?”

“Sure, can I buy you a drink?” he asked, amazed with his luck.

“We can start with a drink, did you have someplace in mind?” she asked, her brows quirking together briefly.

“Um, not really. I haven’t been to Vegas before actually,” he offered.

“I know a place,” she said, and extended her arm.

He smiled at her and took her arm. They walked a few blocks to a quiet bar. He felt nervous and rehearsed lines in his head regarding missing identification, should he be carded. She led him into the darkened bar atmosphere and towards the bartender. She leaned over the bar and ordered a cosmopolitan, and waited for him. Howard indicated the same order, and pushed cash across the counter. The bartender eyed him speculatively, and then nodded. Drinks in hand, they walked to a small table, where Howard pulled out a chair for the woman, who shook her head slightly, as if in disbelief, and then sat graciously.

Once they were seated the woman leaned forward and motioned for Howard to do the same. Once Howard had done so, she brought a hand up to his face, positioning him directly in front of her. She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, to Howard’s complete shock. His eyes must have been wide and confused, because her brows quirked together.

“You bought me a drink, I gave you a kiss, something wrong?” she asked curiously.

“No, I was just startled m’am,” he stammered.

“Enough with the m’am, I’m not that much older than you. My name is Renee,” she introduced herself.

“I’m Howard,” he replied quickly.

“Um, just how old are you Howard?” she asked.

“I’m uh, twenty-two,” he lied.

“Twenty-two huh, and I’m twenty eight,” she lied, with a small smile.

“So have you lived in Vegas all your life?” he asked nervously.

They made small talk for a short time, he kept leading her on, hoping that she wouldn’t turn the questions around on him, as he started frantically coming up with plausible sounding answers.

Time dragged on, they both finished their drinks and Howard wondered if he should buy more, when Renee leaned forward again. He leaned in hesitantly, and she spoke softly to him.

“So are you interested in spending more time together?” she asked with a wink.

“Sure,” he smiled at her.

“How much were you thinking of spending?” she asked.

“How much what?” he asked.

“Money.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.

She sat back and frowned at him. He tried smiling at her, but was quite at a loss for what she was talking about.

“For straight sex it’s four hundred,” she said, again softly.

“What?” he said loudly, and then his face fell as he realized what he had gotten himself into.

“Are you messing with me?” Renee asked dangerously, a fierce glint in her eye.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I didn’t know you were, I thought, I mean …?” Howard trailed off, looking at her helplessly. Renee stared at him for a moment and then leaned back.

“You really had no idea?” she asked.

“No, I’m sorry,” Howard replied, looking downfallen. A few minutes of silence followed in which they both digested this information.

“Well, don’t worry about it, not your fault really,” she said, looking away from him, “The one night I actually want some.”

He puzzled over her last statement, but then was struck with inspiration.

“Well, I didn’t mean to er, waste your time, or lead you on, I’ll buy you another drink though to apologize,” Howard offered. She smiled at him, and inclined her head, in acceptance. When Howard returned with the drinks, she smiled at him oddly.

“So how old are you, really?” she asked.

“Twenty,” he replied, slightly blushing. They sat in silence for a few more minutes, after which he added, “Eighteen.”

“Ha! I thought so. It’s okay, young one,” she smirked at him.

“So how old are you?” he returned.

“A lady never tells,” she quipped back, “and it’s rude to ask.”

“Okay,” he grinned, “M’am.”

She slapped him playfully on the arm and he kicked her gently under the table. She giggled and pretended to be offended. It seemed like a tension had been lifted, once the air had been cleared, they both relaxed and started genuinely enjoying each other’s company.

“What’s your middle name Howard?” she asked a little while later.

“Jay.”

“Oh, I like Jay better, you should go by Jay,” she said enthusiastically.

“Jay? I don’t know,” he said hesitantly.

“Jay is better than Howard, Howard is too formal, Jay is like a, a quick name or something,” Renee reasoned.

“If you say so,” Howard/Jay responded.

Renee looked at him with interest. Howard/Jay found himself ridiculously attracted to her, despite her confession of prostitution. He found himself wanting to make her smile.

“Have you ever been with a girl Jay?” she asked lightly, watching his reaction. A few moments ticked by.

“I’ve been, with, dammit,” he stopped mid-lie because she started laughing.

“And you say you’re eighteen?” she giggled.

“So I’m a little inexperienced, and a bad liar,” he flushed, self-conscious.

“It’s okay,” Renee said comfortingly, which made him feel worse, “Are you er, saving yourself?”

“All boys’ school, I was never into breaking the rules, so I haven’t really had the opportunities,” he confided, “How old were you?”

“Sixteen.”

“And how many years ago was that?” he asked with a wink.

“Not THAT many, worry not my young one,” she said cheerfully.

They talked for a while, and to Howard’s amazement, she made no move to leave. She leaned forward at some point, and Howard/Jay dared kissing her. She seemed surprised, but she kissed him back tenderly. After a few moments, she pulled back and regarded him in confusion.

“You’re sweet Jay,” she smiled at him.

He smiled back, and they talked for a while longer. Two drinks stretched to four, and he found himself holding her hand. She seemed genuinely interested in him, which surprised the hell out of him. Later he leaned forward again, and their lips met across the table. They gently made out for several minutes, until she pulled back, and shook her head ruefully.

“I shouldn’t do that to myself,” she said softly.

“I don’t understand,” Jay said, equally soft.

“You don’t need to understand, just stay sweet.” Renee turned to look around the bar, and then her eyes fell back on Jay. “What are you plans tonight anyway, besides mistakenly picking up a whore?”

“I don’t think you’re a whore,” Jay said, a little startled.

“But I am,” she said calmly as she looked at him, “Plans?”

“I had none, I mean, I have none,” he blushed a little.

“Why don’t we go back to my place, it will be more comfortable to talk,” she smirked at him.

“I would love to, but I’m a little confused…” he trailed off.

“Come with me,” she said firmly, taking him by the hand.

They left the bar holding hands. Her apartment was close by, and as they approached her door, she turned to him and made a small confession.

“I don’t bring customers here. It’s not anything fancy, it’s small and messy, probably not what you were thinking a person like me would live in.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” he said reassuringly.

She unlocked the door, and turned on the light. It was a small and messy one bedroom apartment. She waited for his reaction, but he just smiled and looked around curiously.

“Have a seat,” she motioned to a relatively uncluttered couch.

He sat down gingerly and watched her as she moved about the apartment. She turned on a radio and set it playing on some local station. She was about to walk into her bedroom, when she turned back to him and regarded him.