Luke Bradbury - Undercover - The Adventures of a Real Life Gigolo

Jenny ran her fingers through her hair. Removing the jumper had taken pounds off her. She wore a short-sleeved cream blouse. I still had my shirt on. Which meant that we were sort of on the same page.

‘I tell you what,’ I instructed as I reached for my own top button, ‘I’ll undo my shirt the same time as you undo yours. Okay?’

Jenny nodded in response but she still didn’t say anything. Her fingers fiddled with the little button at her throat and the cloth slowly parted. Her fingers dropped to the next in line but she kept her eyes from mine the whole time.

When she’d finished, her blouse was open and I could see her white bra beneath, but her head was still down and she was looking at her hands in her lap like she was ashamed.

I’d peeled my own shirt off without thinking. That’s just how it was back home. The climate made it easier to remove your clothes, not that you didn’t have to mind the sun. I’d been told about the Page 3 girls the Brits had in their papers before I came, but the people here didn’t seem like that at all. They wore layers because the weather changed so often. It had to be a really hot day by their standards for them to relax and strip down, and then it was like they did it with a real relief. Here with Jenny, I could see that it was vital that I respected a client and how comfortable or not she felt at every stage. The way to do that was to mirror her speed of undressing—though to take care to chivvy her along if I had to.

There was nothing I could do, it seemed, but spell out to Jenny what was needed and only hope that I didn’t scare her. I feared that if I went at her pace we’d never get anywhere. And the longer it took, the more gruelling it’d be for me too.

‘Jenny, slip off your skirt and underwear, will you, and while you’re doing that I’ll get myself ready.’

There. I’d said it. I’d made it clear what came next and there was no going back. I pulled off my jeans and my Calvins, and fished in a pocket for a condom. By the time I’d turned back towards her she was stretched out and waiting. She’d taken her blouse off but kept her bra on.

I realised I’d had nothing to worry about. Jenny wasn’t bad for her age, I could say that . She had the soft edges I’d expected, something to hold on to, which wasn’t the type of woman I was used to, but wasn’t something that repulsed me as I’d feared either. I was still going to have to give myself a helping hand though. She hadn’t stirred me that much.

Jenny’s eyes were fixed above my waistline all the while I nestled down beside her. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close for a few minutes to put her at her ease. One of her fingers drew a little nervous circle round and round on my chest.

‘I’m just going to protect myself,’ I whispered as I pulled myself gently away from her, ‘and then I’m going to make love to you.’

Just then I realised that the words I used and the way I spoke were as important as the sex act itself to Jenny. She was as nervous as hell and it was up to me to take account of that and make things good for her. But it wasn’t just about Jenny. Whatever happened after this, this was my first professional job. If I thought too much about that, I knew my performance would suffer—and Jenny’s enjoyment. Yet if I forgot I was providing a service, it wouldn’t be fair on her either. It was a fine line to walk. I fixed my mind back on my client. That was surely the key.

I took as much care as any guy can when he’s jutting into a woman. Jenny gasped and clung tight to me as my body lapped and battered against her then juddered to a halt.

I lay against her saying nothing for a couple of minutes and she stroked the back of my head.

‘This isn’t my first time, you know, Luke, though I’m somewhat out of practice,’ she said in a quiet but matter-of-fact voice.

That took me by surprise. It was as if the sex had broken her silence. I propped myself up on one arm to look at her lying there beside me.

‘Don’t diss yourself, Jenny. You were fine,’ I lied. She’d barely moved the whole way through, though it wasn’t as if I’d been expecting some sex-tiger anyhow.

‘I used to work in nightclubs, y’know. My boyfriend owned one and was a big promoter too. But that was a long time ago,’ she said with wistfulness. ‘It didn’t work out. And that was that. There’s been no one since.’

She made it sound so final. Which I suppose it was. Life had been hard.

‘But you’ve nothing to worry about, Jenny. You’re a lovely lady.’

I wasn’t lying this time. True, she needed more experience and a whole boost to her confidence, but she didn’t seem to have any edge to her. She was genuinely nice.

When Jenny spoke again, it was as if her mind was on another track and she sounded like she was somewhere else in her life.

‘And after him I fell ill, and by the time I was back on my feet, all my hours were taken up making ends meet. Still are. I haven’t had the time for anyone since.’

I sat up, my legs stretched out across the carpet.

‘So, it was quite something to call me and Rob out, then. You could have put the money towards a new bed.’

I regretted it as soon as I’d said it. Jenny looked at me, pained, and I wanted to swallow the words right back. Shit. It was none of my business. I’d stepped horribly out of line. But Jenny, to her credit, collected herself admirably.

‘I saw your advert, Luke,’ she said, stroking my arm with boldness, ‘and it reminded me of all I’d been missing. Not just the sex, but someone else’s touch and the tenderness. You’ve given me that this evening. It’s been lovely.’

‘My pleasure,’ I replied. And meant it. She hadn’t been what I’d been hoping for, but in a small way I felt proud. I’d helped out someone who obviously needed it.

We slipped off the duvet and got to our feet. I hugged her, and as I did I checked my watch. She had ten minutes left and I still had to get dressed.

‘I’m going to have to be leaving shortly,’ I said as I picked up my clothes.

‘I’d like to see you again, Luke. But not for sex or anything.’

I didn’t get it. Hadn’t she just told me that it was the tenderness she craved?

‘I’d like just to meet you for tea, and for us to talk, that’s all. Like I did with Rob? I’d pay you for your time. Isn’t that what escorting is about?’

‘Yes, but…’

Jenny held up her hand to stop me—‘Wait a minute’—quickly pulled her clothes back on and left the room. I got dressed. She returned a few minutes later with a wad of notes as I was buttoning up my shirt. She counted out the £150 onto a box lid and I scooped it up and folded it into my wallet. The easiest money I’d ever made.

I thought of how Rob had felt he’d won the jackpot. Which he had, for a mere chat over a coffee. Wasn’t what Jenny was now offering me the simplest part of this job? But it didn’t seem right.

‘I’d just like to see you for half an hour, before I go to work?’

‘Look, Jenny, I can’t have you pay for just that.’

‘But you’re not going to meet me for nothing, are you?’

She had a point. I was running a business, wasn’t I?

‘Well, no… But even so.’

Jenny took my wrist in her hand, and spoke without looking in my eyes.

‘I won’t hear another word, Luke. I’ll give you fifty pounds. How’s that?’

And then I got the message. She needed to pay something . She might have been hard-up but she had no need of my pity.

‘It’s a deal.’ And just like that I had my first repeat customer.

‘So, she was a right little goer, was she?’ leered Mark when I met him later in the local. He had just returned from the bar with our two pints. He set mine down in front of me and grabbed a chair, and I looked down into the mouth of the glass and the deep liquid. I lifted the beer to my lips and took a gulp. I didn’t know what to say. Because Jenny was outside what either of us had imagined, that was for sure.