Chapter 1

I'm a male escort, drifting from one woman's bed to another, all for the sake of hefty paychecks.

The moment cash hits my hand, I'd rush to give it all to Sarah.

I thought this would be enough to marry her, but I never expected to catch her tangled up with someone else.

"That idiot Luke thinks he can marry me with the dirty money he makes from sleeping around. He's dreaming."

It was then I realized she only saw me as an ATM.

After learning the truth, I abandoned my principles and boldly became a sugar mama's boy toy.

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1

I've been a male escort for a year now, and tonight is my last job.

As I imagine getting that final five grand, which will complete the $600,000 dowry I've been saving up, I can't help but smile.

After fixing my hair one last time outside the door, I reach out to knock.

The moment the door opens, a wave of rose perfume hits my nose, instantly igniting a spark of heat within me.

Seeing me frozen in place, Winter yanks me inside, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

She leans in close, her sexy red lips whispering in my ear.

"After all this time together, you're still not used to my beauty?"

Her fair hands, nails painted a flesh tone, caress my chest, sending shivers through my body.

My eyes are drawn to her cleavage, admiring how it complements her red negligee. I can't help but swallow hard.

A year of encounters has made us quite familiar with each other.

If not for the no-sex rule, I imagine any man would find it hard to give up such a bombshell.

Of course, I'm no exception. Anyone would dream of a passionate rendezvous with such a sultry woman.

But thinking of the no-sex rule and my girlfriend's face, I feel a twinge of regret.

The excitement from earlier fades from my voice: "You look stunning, Miss Montgomery."Winter let out a satisfied chuckle, then bent down to retrieve her sleepwear from her bag.

After freshening up, she lay down beside me as I began my sleep-inducing services.

I had just placed my hand on her back when I quickly withdrew it.

The softness beneath my palm made my hand instantly clammy, and I shifted myself backward.

Rule number one for professional sleep companions: No overnight stays at the client's home, and never ask the client for services.

Rule number two: Maintain at least eight inches of distance during the sleep-inducing process, or forfeit payment.

Rule number three: No intimate contact with clients, or risk losing eligibility for future jobs.

...

I had already broken protocol at this point.

My mind raced, desperately trying to figure out how to salvage my pay for this job. My heart was pounding uncontrollably.

"Luke, since you started this line of work, I've practically been your exclusive client. Surely you can see what I'm getting at?" Winter spoke suddenly, her eyes locked onto mine.

Her words caught me off guard. How could I not have noticed?

But she was my employer, and I was just passing through her life. We each had our own needs, that's all this was.

To get her to sleep quickly, I bent down to grab my gloves from my bag and got back to work.

She hadn't given up on the idea just because of my silence.With a forceful roll, she pinned me beneath her, looming over me like a haughty queen. Her other hand caressed my cheek.

"You've spent over two hundred nights with me this year. I thought you understood what I meant."

"It's okay if you don't understand. I'll tell you what I mean right now."

With those words, she leaned down to kiss me.

I quickly turned my head away.

I understood her meaning. She wanted me to be her lover, her bedmate, her true sleeping companion.

But I have a girlfriend. Even though I'm physically very attracted to her, I can't cross that line.

Little did I know that while I was faithfully guarding my promise to my girlfriend, on the other side, my head was already covered in green grass.

After I rejected Winter, she didn't give me a hard time.

Instead, she gave me an extra five thousand in compensation.

On the way home, I stared at the number in my wallet, feeling a twinge of bitterness in my heart.

With these mixed emotions, I finally stood outside the door, imagining how Sarah would happily run into my arms when she saw I had enough for the bride price.

The image of her dimpled smile flashed through my mind, instantly dispelling that hint of gloom.

I practiced smiling at my reflection in the elevator several times until I found the right expression.

But this smile, which hadn't even lasted five minutes on my face, froze the moment I opened the door.