Chapter 3

“When I was younger, I liked these to be lightly toasted. But now that I’m older, I like ‘em ... charred.”

“Well, you’ve always had a thing for flaming balls.”

Amusement reverberated through Pamela’s abdomen. “Stop being silly!” Full of sweetness and eternal sunshine, the thirty-year-old elicited positive energy and made the people around her feel like they were important. Her compassionate heart and spirit were downright infectious. Pamela appreciated who she was and was grateful for what she had in life. Above all else, she understood that kindness was a language everyone gravitated toward.

Colt dabbed at his chin with a napkin and raised an eyebrow. “Do I still have marshmallows on my mouth?”

Snuggled together in the brothel’s backyard with the sands and stones of Calafell Canyon as their backdrop, Pamela sloped her head and locked on a grin, and stole not one, not two, but three quick kisses from her husband. “I don’t think so.” She pulled away for a second glance and then kissed Colt again, all the while holding her own marshmallows-on-a-stick over an open bonfire flame.

Waiting for them to char.

Pamela grazed her lips along the sweep of Colt’s collarbone and clutched his chest. “Oh, you’re so cuddly.” She nestled her face upon the crook of his neck and a content sigh slipped out. “A million times cuddlier than Beary Potter, even, and that’s saying something.”

Pamela and Colt McCarron recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary by spending a week and a half in Bora Bora. A marvelous, fertile oasis of verdant valleys, azure skies, and sandy beaches, the idyllic island paradise had topped their bucket list for years. They rented a 1,576-square-foot Tahitian-inspired contemporary living and sleeping space – an overwater bungalow on stilts – which featured a wraparound sun deck, a stunning two-tier infinity pool overlooking the horizon, a hammock suspended over the lagoon, and a spacious bathroom with a rainfall shower and deep soaking tub.

Whether it was enjoying French Polynesian cuisine, snorkeling with the stingrays and sharks, bicycling to a dormant volcano and hiking to its summit, touring the region aboard a yacht, or witnessing the sunset amid a blaze of glorious tropical colors while sipping cold beverages, Bora Bora was the perfect binge for their milestone anniversary.

But when their vacation ended, it was back to the harsh, unforgiving climate of the Nevada desert and their professional lives. Colt had worked at Happy Ending Ranch his entire adult life and inherited ownership responsibilities after his father passed away on October 17, 2008. He didn’t agree with many of his father’s business tactics and set out to make immediate changes, both for employees and customers alike.

A darling, fresh-faced eighteen-year-old, Pamela Annabeth Prescott arrived on the scene from Fairfax, Maryland two years prior on July 8, 2006. The house manager at the time, Colt found himself enthralled with Pamela. He had interviewed thousands of exquisite young women over the years, but none gave him butterflies until she came along. Nothing seemed disingenuous between them. Everything was comfortable and authentic.

Colt recognized he had stumbled upon a gold mine, but it had nothing to do with Pamela’s earning potential. Her thoughts on every topic fascinated him. His curiosity led to more questions, and their conversation veered from the traditional interview to more personal matters. Colt’s heart rate sped up, his body temperature spiked, and the smile wouldn’t leave his face.

He hired her on the spot.

And was already in love.

“The first day we met, I called my mom and told her you were the man I would marry one day. I had an inkling right away.” Pamela’s eyes glistened with tears as she shared her own recollections. “Odd I came to such a magical aha moment in a brothel with you being my new boss, huh?” Pamela kneaded his hand and held it over her heart. “We liked each other right off the bat, but I...”

“We did?” Colt cut her off with a goofy grin, fingers from his opposite hand stroking her thick, sumptuous hair. “When did that happen?”

Pamela tugged at his wrist and offered a callous glare but couldn’t suppress her smile. “Let me talk.”

Colt extended a hand.

“I remember I felt like a schoolgirl and couldn’t stop feeling ridiculous.”

Colt motioned toward her breasts. “And looking like that?”

“Looking like what?” Pamela hooked a finger around his belt and stifled a grin.

“Looking like that.” His bride dazzled in a bright, neon-pink bikini top and denim booty shorts with golden blonde tresses sweeping down her back in long, vibrant waves. Her eyes were warm and sparkled with that trademarked air of mischief.

With mornings often slow for business, Pamela and Colt had opted to spend some one-on-one time out back by the bonfire pit. Enclosed with high, inaccessible security walls and barbed wire on top, the backyard offered both safety and privacy. It was crucial to connect each day as husband and wife, if just for a short while, since most of their energy when in town was dedicated to the brothel itself.

Colt always had a million things on his plate at the so-called office. As a provider, Pamela was on call for seventeen hours a day, six days a week. She also did what she could to assist behind the scenes, such as screening new applicants from the website and talking to them over the telephone. But every decision was made by Colt.

“Oooooh, I adore you. I want to gobble you up sometimes.” She leaned forward and brushed her cheek against his. “You’re always complimenting me and giving me those steamy little looks of yours.”

He tipped his chin high. “You have like a thousand layers. You keep letting me discover them.”

Pamela slid a fingertip along his forearm. “What do you want to do?”

“How about each other?” Colt laughed in perfect unison with Pamela and brought her palm to his lips for a kiss. “You have such pretty hands.” His eyes marveled, just as happy about being with her as he was on their wedding night a decade earlier. “So delicate.” He nibbled on her fingertips and was extra careful with her fragile, manicured nails. “So precious.”

Every working girl was different. Some wanted no part of any relationship and found zero joy in physical contact. Sex was their job – the act itself was repulsive, and they tried to avoid it at all costs in their free time. Others feared having sex outside work given STIs were rampant, and if they caught one, it could ruin their career.

As for Pamela, her sex drive had been through the roof over the past several weeks. During their vacation, she demanded intercourse every night from Colt. He had no complaints and was thankful for her overcharged libido, however temporary it may have been.

Pamela had always differentiated her professional and private lives and never allowed the two to intersect. She may have been a pleasure and orgasm specialist who made herself available to anyone willing to pay her price, but Pamela loved her husband with all her heart. She would do anything to make Colt happy.

He reciprocated those feelings in full and supported Pamela one hundred percent. Colt had her back and would defend her and the choices she made to all four corners of the globe if necessary.

Theirs was a unique marriage. Colt often stood by in the bar and watched Pamela flirt with and seduce men of all ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnic backgrounds. From time to time, it would be another woman, or a couple. She was usually wearing a provocative outfit that would land her in jail if she ventured out in public.

In time, Colt would watch them drift hand in hand back to her bedroom and listen to the negotiations through his earpiece and the electronic surveillance system.

“Are you sure you can’t go any more than five-fifty for the hour, baby? I’d love to show you a kick-ass time, but the party you’re asking for has a higher premium. It costs more. Can you do six-fifty?”

In this type of exchange, Pamela would hope to settle on $600 and grant the customer whatever he or she wanted during their time together. Sometimes, the client – let’s say a man for simplicity’s sake – would do everything he could to fuck her senseless. He’d pound Pamela into what he believed was sexual oblivion and live out several fantasies in the process: control, power exchange, and domination, among many others.

Of course, Pamela was accustomed to such treatment and didn’t wear out easily. Her goal with every party was for the customer to leave fully satisfied but also for them to presume she was fully satisfied too. Pamela was selling a fantasy, after all. Yet she embellished none of her reactions. Other girls would fake multiple orgasms during parties, but Pamela refused to. It was a line she wouldn’t cross.

And on rare occasions, Pamela received far more than she could handle. One day last year, she entertained a well-known NBA athlete – a perennial all-pro – for five hours and needed two full days to recover afterward. She had never experienced sex so rough and demanding before.

Customers had diverse needs and desires. Pamela spent entire parties hanging out and chilling with certain clients as some didn’t want sex or anything erotic. They wanted to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife, and talk. She’d curl up and snuggle in bed with a so-called trick, and they’d stream a movie or play video games. Perhaps listen to Spotify or watch Monday Night Football. Pamela would act as a therapist as well, as these customers’ lives were often lacking and all they truly yearned for was someone to share their issues with.

She also considered herself an expert at giving marital advice.

Intimacy in some form or another was preferred, but most took it a step further and wanted sex. It was on the marquee, right? Clients would ask Pamela to give them a nuru massage in the parlor, for example, and take a dual shower to rinse off afterward. Others would spend thirty minutes (or more) dining on her pussy like it was their first meal in weeks. Pamela had sucked cock an infinite number of times and gotten fucked in every conceivable position known to man.

She had seen it all. Done it all.

And always with a smile on her face.

Jake from Albuquerque stopped by about once every three months and used bondage restraints to gag and hogtie Pamela on the bed. Her job was to squirm, struggle, and cry (per his instructions) like a captive as he reclined back and masturbated for the rest of their allotted time. When in the mood, he’d remove his belt and dish out some corporal punishment.

But the man never touched Pamela.

The bondage was uncomfortable as hell, but Pamela was still at ease with Jake and enjoyed partying with him. That was due to the strong rapport they’d built over the years, and the knowledge he’d never overstep his bounds. Jake never wanted sex, yet still paid her fetish rate (a much higher premium) regardless.

When Jake wanted to whip Pamela, she charged an additional $100. They always negotiated terms beforehand.

Yet he never hurt her.

And Colt would listen in, without fail, to every second his wife was being taken by someone else. The surveillance system’s purpose was to safeguard the working girls from overaggressive and belligerent clients. It was rare, but Colt and/or Jim had to burst into a bedroom on multiple occasions throughout the years and put an immediate end to a customer’s roughhouse, unwanted behavior. If necessary, they’d involve the authorities as well.

“Oh, a text from Jim.” Pamela gazed at her smartphone, bright and blingy in its pink rhinestone case, with one hand and continued to roast marshmallows with the other. “Lindsay got approved for her sheriff’s card moments ago and they’re off to Oakfall. Should be back late this afternoon or early this evening.”

“Kayleigh.”

Pamela’s eyes narrowed as she offered a snarky grin to Colt’s correction. To him, it was imperative that the ladies use their working names amongst one another. In the past, those at odds would try to leverage any personal information they could against each other. Sometimes lives were forever wrecked when parents found out what their daughter was up to.

“Kayleigh,” Pamela yielded and raised an eyebrow. “What do you think of her?”

“If Kayleigh holds up, she’s going to make us a ton of money.” Flipping an inner switch of his own, Colt’s tone deepened, and the raw, no-nonsense dictator from yesterday’s interview made his return. “In this industry, young girls like her are worth their weight in gold. You know what men who come here want, Pamela. But if Kayleigh can’t handle things, she’ll be like the hundreds of others we’ve had over the years who flop and leave town after a day, a week, a month.” His palms stung from digging his fingernails into them. “I hope you know what you’re doing by insisting we offer her a loan before her first party.” The restraint in his voice was palpable.

“I trust Lindsay – Kayleigh – can handle the stress and demands. She’s young and doesn’t have any experience, but she loves sex, and I’m going to work with her.” Pamela undid the top button of Colt’s polo shirt and pressed a kiss to his throat. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll teach her all I know and have her well-prepared for anything by the end of the week.” Pamela took pride in being able to reel Colt’s alter ego back in, the take-no-prisoners workplace commando, to allow the warm gentleman she loved to reemerge. “The money doesn’t concern me either. She’ll pay us back.”

“You don’t perceive her the same way I do.” His tone had dropped several octaves. “Oh, I can tell. You can’t fool me. To me, Kayleigh is a sweet girl, a good girl, but an asset. A sought-after asset who’ll do wonders for our business and its bottom line.”

And the type the mainstream brothels will soon come after like a hungry pack of piranhas, Colt thought, and try to entice away with promises of more money. Once word of her spread, he feared recruiters from the houses near Reno and Carson City would attempt to poach Lindsay away. That bastard Robbins does it to us all the time.

“To you? Kayleigh is the girl you’ve spent your entire life dreaming about. Don’t you dare deny it. I know you too well.” His hand lingered on her thigh. “Not going to leave me for her now, are you?”

There it was again. Pamela laughed, though a quick burst this time. Her lips, her eyes, her soul, they all smiled in unison. “I admit, I have a crush on Lindsay.”

“Kayleigh.”

Pamela growled and snagged another kiss. “You know, I’ve been attracted to other girls for as long as I can remember. But I’ve never been more attracted to another girl than Kayleigh. Ever. But read my lips, Colt McCarron – you have nothing to worry about.” She fluttered the tip of her thumb in languid circles along his mouth. “You are and always will be my number one.”

“Yet you’ve forever yearned for a number two.”

Was there any reason to sidestep or lie about it? Pamela had always been honest with Colt about her feelings. Working in this industry, their marriage wouldn’t have lasted this long otherwise. “I love all the girls we have and most of the ones who’ve worked here in the past and I’ve had sex with almost every single one of them. Remember Jessica? She and I didn’t get along, but if a customer picked us for a threesome, we were best friends and lovers until the clock ran out.”

“What’s your point?”

Pamela rolled her fingers into steely clamps and blew the strands of yellow, sunrise-gold hair across her forehead skyward. “I’ve had sex with other working ladies and female clients so many times, Colt, I’ve lost count. But never have I been with one where it’s intimate. Something more than business, something special, something real ... like what you and I have.”

“And you believe you can have this with Kayleigh too?” What we have doesn’t come around all too often.

Pamela glanced down, her lips flat. “Maybe? I can tell she’s interested in me.”

He rested his finger on Pamela’s chin and lifted, gazing into her eyes. “Sweetheart, Kayleigh is a kid. She’s only eighteen.”

“So was I when you first met me. And you were older than I am now.”

“Touché. You got me there. No defense for that one.” A lump grew in Colt’s throat, but he gulped it back. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. I know how loving and kind you are, and I’ve supported your fantasy of having another special someone – a woman – in your life since the beginning. I’ve never told you no.” He reached out and smoothed his thumb between her eyebrows. “All I ask is you keep me in the loop and tell me everything that happens along the way. Can you do that?”

“Of course. I promise to.”

I have no doubt. Others may consider him insane given her occupation, but Colt viewed Pamela as the ideal wife, someone he trusted. She’s never given me a reason not to.

“When are we going to start our family?” His words were gentle as he nipped her ear. “You know I want to be a father and I’m not getting any younger. I wish you’d retire. I do.” Colt threaded his fingers at the base of her neck and luxuriated in the fresh, feminine scent. “Twelve years as a woman in a brothel is an eternity. You could concentrate on obtaining your graduate degree while we work on starting a family. I’d have no problem if you fooled around with Kayleigh on the side either. Nicolette, Scarlett, Kenzie, I wouldn’t mind. You know I’m not the jealous type.”

Pamela pulled away and crossed her arms. “No. No kids, at least not now, and I’m not quitting the house.” She sensed his gaze, kind and patient, as she glanced back toward the house. “Not until our mortgage in Fairfax is paid off and we have more money in the bank.” Pamela’s arms relaxed and a wave of sadness befell her as she faced him. “I don’t want to be away from you for three weeks at a time either. I’d be so lonely.” She gnawed the inside of her cheek. “I’m afraid of being alone. You’ve worked these three-week cycles for years.”

His mouth tightened. “I keep telling you, we could move to Nevada and live here full-time. You’ll never be alone.” His fingertips caressed her forearm. “I wouldn’t let that happen. I’d work a standard shift and come home to you every night. No crazy hours, I promise. I’d take days off each week, and we could spend them together.”

The problem with that was Pamela preferred to live close to her family in the Baltimore suburbs. Brothels were only legal in select parts of Nevada, so Colt couldn’t relocate his business to Maryland. Otherwise, he would.

In a heartbeat.

“Honey, you’ve been studying so hard to get into the medical field and one day become a Nurse Practitioner. And you have three years to go before you earn your graduate degree. That’s it. You could get a job at a doctor’s office or hospital and do what you were born to do: help people. Make them feel better. That is and always will be your true calling in life.

“Here, I know you want to make your clients happy and genuinely care for them, and that makes you a superstar. But there comes a time to call it quits and move on to the next phase of your life, your career, our life. This...” Colt regarded her for several seconds, a fantasy image of breathtaking curves in skimpy attire, and grimaced, “ ... isn’t you.” He flashed a hand in front of her. “You ... you’re better than this.”

“Better?” Her face expressionless, Pamela’s shoulders drooped as this discussion became much deeper than she was comfortable with. “Am I better?”

“You know you are.” He reached for her bare foot with both hands and she groaned as he worked his magic. “I don’t want you to be like Mariko. She’s thirty-five and has been working as a courtesan, an escort, for seventeen years. And she has no game plan for the future.”

“I’ve never met someone outside the house like Mariko does on her time off.” A vein in Pamela’s forehead throbbed and she shook her fist. “I am not an escort.”

“Never said you were.” Whoa, better back off. And I know you’ve never done any escorting. It was an unfortunate choice of words on Colt’s part.

“But the demands here, they get on your nerves. Girls aren’t supposed to last as long as you have. Twelve years ... it’s forever.” Colt paused and flexed his fingers. “I’ve never told you what to do. I’ve always supported you no matter what.” Hope flickered behind his eyes. “We have money. You know we do. You don’t need to...”

But his words trailed off. It wasn’t in Colt’s nature, as lenient and supportive as he was, to pressure Pamela into any decision. He wasn’t the possessive type and had no issues with her being with others in the bedroom. This was a job and how she made a living. He understood. It was for him, too, like how he put his hands on Lindsay during the interview yesterday. It was necessary. Colt told her she was firm and sexy, among other things, but it was just business. He had zero attraction toward Lindsay.

Colt’s problem was despite what Pamela would tell everyone, including him, she had run her course working here. She was aching, both physically and emotionally, beyond exhausted, and on certain days it was clear to see.

But Pamela worried about money. She always had. Colt chalked those fears up to her modest upbringing. And she would never admit to suffering a burnout. This was his life’s work. He was raised in the business. Without it, they would have never met and gotten married. Pamela believed she owed a debt to the sex industry.

For the most part, this was all Pamela had ever known as far as working. She started out as a webcam model on her eighteenth birthday and transitioned to stripping for a few months while still attending high school. Following graduation, she left home for Vegas and applied at Happy Ending Ranch. A friend from the webcamming site suggested she try it.

Pamela had business ventures outside the house, too, but sex work was her livelihood. She was proficient at it, and the money was plentiful. Stepping away and taking a full-time job that paid, say, eighteen dollars an hour for rotting at a desk seemed like a colossus waste of time.

Pamela believed continuing to make a solid income would provide a better future not only for her, but for Colt and their children as well, should they ever have children. Pamela was still undecided. Why not work in the brothel for as long as she could? Until decisions such as starting a family were made and set in stone?

“I’ll retire in three years, I promise.”

Colt bit his tongue and glanced away. You’re not going to last three more years.

“Are you going to initiate Kayleigh once she returns from her day out with Jim?” Pamela’s knee bounced in place as she plucked at her throat. “You usually do with the new girls.”

“Think so, yeah. Need to see what she’s got.” Hissing, he drummed four fingers on his thigh as Pamela’s shoulders again crumpled. “It’s just business, honey.” Colt gripped her foot and resumed the massage. “I hate having sex with anyone but you.”

“Let me do it instead?” Pamela wrapped her arms around his torso and pressed her cheek into his chest. “I know Kayleigh won’t have any objections or reservations if it’s me. I’ll do it in a way that she doesn’t even realize it’s an initiation.”

Colt often gave in to Pamela whenever she pleaded but held firm this time. “No. No way. You’ll let your emotions, your attraction, get in the way. I need to see if Kayleigh has what it takes to succeed here. It must be me.”

She slumped back, her nose twisting. “Okay.”

“Get with Kayleigh later if you two have some free time and see what happens.” Colt realized Pamela disapproved of him having sex with any of the hired help but didn’t feel like rehashing that topic again. I know, I know, you’re a working girl and it’s your job. It’s not mine. Still, the hypocrisy of her rationale was astounding. How can you, of all people, be opposed to me being with another woman? “You know I won’t object.”

She rubbed the back of her neck and winced in discomfort. Pamela’s body had taken a beating over the years, and some days were worse than others. Before the end of the year, she’d have to bite the bullet and go back to Dr. Pietz for a full checkup.

During her last visit, the Maryland-based physician indicated certain areas of Pamela’s body – joints and muscles, and the arthritis in her neck and back that kept worsening – were more than in line with what a fifty-year-old would experience. The constant, unyielding stress she put herself through was doing irreparable damage to her body and would cause implications as she aged.

She already suffered from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Shifting into lots of unique positions with a client or holding the same position for too long could be painful. Pamela often swam in the outdoor pool to combat these ailments, did yin yoga, and planned to purchase a spa membership during her next trip to Oakfall and spend eight to ten hours in the sauna and hydrotherapy pool every time she had the day off.

Even at her early age, Pamela took five prescription medications daily and had two others for pain as needed. If she wasn’t a sex worker, six of those seven prescriptions wouldn’t be necessary.

“Why did you have to act so damn strict and businesslike when you were dealing with Lin ... Kayleigh yesterday?” Pamela leaned closer and furrowed her brow. “The poor girl was petrified during the interview. I’m glad I was there to help offset you.”

“You know why I act that way. You know full well.” Colt glared at her without blinking. “These new girls need to know our rules and regulations, and I want their respect. If I act all buddy-buddy, they’ll come in and think they own the place.” His demeanor softened as he stroked her neck. “You like that, honey? Feel good? They’ll walk all over me and Jim. You too. Rip us apart.”

“But you’re not that way. And yes, it feels good. Thank you. My neck needs it more than my foot.”

His caress, as usual, was therapeutic. Colt was well versed with Pamela’s everyday aches and pains and often treated her appropriately.

“You’re a big teddy bear, Colt. Just like Beary Potter. But you know I don’t like that resting bitch face you put on with the new hires.”

He roared with laughter. “I have a resting bitch face?”

“It’s driven girls away over the years. You know it has. Plus, Kayleigh isn’t the type to walk over anyone. She seems passive, quite submissive.”

A single eyebrow rose. “Looks can be deceiving.”

“God, Colt. Lighten up.” Pamela huffed and puffed but regained control of her emotions. “I will say one thing, though: once a girl establishes herself here, you treat them like gold. Solid gold. Scarlett and Nicolette were telling me on Sunday night how much they enjoy working for you. Scarlett even said she missed your looming presence while we were away in Bora Bora. At first, years ago, Scarlett didn’t know what to think of you. She was apprehensive like Kayleigh is now.”

“My business model and methods have done us well over the years.” Colt pressed a bottled water to his mouth and took a sip. “This isn’t a popularity contest. I’m here to make money and provide for us.” He palmed her abdomen and spoke with caution, “For our children, too, whenever you decide to retire.”

Pamela’s eyes flashed. “When I put the lube away for good? Hang up the old high heels once and for all?”

“Yeah.” Three years, right? I’ll believe it when I see it.

“All I’m saying is you come across as too harsh sometimes. Do you know how nerve-racking it is for an eighteen-year-old to come in off the street and apply for a position like Kayleigh did yesterday? I do. I was once her. Kayleigh left her entire life behind and spent every last penny she had for an opportunity to earn a job with us.” Pamela traced her finger along the line of Colt’s jaw. “Explain the rules and protocols, but be gentler from now on? Please? For me? You’d still earn their respect. If a girl doesn’t seem like the right fit, we don’t have to hire her. That resting bitch face of yours is so damn unattractive.”

“Burn ‘em to a crisp, my queen.” Colt tried to switch topics and motioned toward the marshmallows with his head. “Burn ‘em good.”

“I know, down deep, you’re not that way.” Pamela pecked him on the forehead with a kiss. “You’re the sweetest, most generous, most loving guy in the world. I can’t believe how good you are to me.”

“Well, I should be.” He couldn’t contain his grin. “You are my wife, you know. And I love you more than words could ever say.”

She bracketed his upper body, rubbing the arc of his shoulder blades with her thumbs. “I love you, too, baby.”

“Being good to you is so easy.” Still smiling, he exhaled a deep, cleansing breath. “Easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

The doorbell to the brothel rang. In the backyard, the chime could still be heard because an outside speaker was devoted to it.

“Oh, you know what time it is now, don’t you?” Colt sprang to his feet as if he was a pogo stick on steroids. “First customer of the day is here. Time to make some money.”

“Hold your horses, cowboy.” Pamela grabbed a handful of Colt’s shirt and pulled him back down to deliver a kiss saturated with affection. “Sometimes you frustrate me, but I always know you’re looking out for our best interests, especially mine. I thank you for it. We’ll talk more about me retiring later tonight or tomorrow.”