The Escort

Chapter Four

By Kurtofsky4eva

Summary: Kurt Hummel is the highest-paid escort at Arena, New York's elite agency that provides the very best. He is sought-after by both men and women and no one knows what his real preference is. Story includes cross-dressing, role-play and light BDSM. Rated M for content and language.

Disclaimer: I have no claim on any of the recognizable characters. The OCs belong to me, and they better remember that.

Noah stared at Kurt when the diva opened his door. He had called him after his publisher had set up arrangements with Kurt's agency. He had had a feeling that Kurt wouldn't have answered his call before that, hence the third and fourth parties involved.

Now he stared at the boy he used to know and treat so reprehensibly and felt as if a stranger stood before him. Kurt was icily gorgeous in evening wear that would not have been out of place at a designer fashion show. Gone was the playfully sexy faux-dominatrix look of the gala or the casual but eye-catching elegance of that afternoon's suede and jeans ensemble.

Kurt stared back at Noah and had to admit that he'd never thought he'd be going to a Broadway show with this man of all people. He was certain that the arrangements had stipulated dinner but he knew he would never turn down a showing of one of his favorite productions.

"Well, I'm ready," he murmured without a greeting to his former schoolmate. He turned to pick up a long, white, fringed silk scarf and draped it efficiently and perfectly over his shoulders. Grabbing an expensive ankle-length wool coat, he eyed Noah's attire with a hint of approval and then sauntered past him.

Noah forcibly kept a little smile on his face in spite of Kurt's brusqueness. He hadn't known what to expect from their 'date' tonight but for Kurt to treat him as if he were just another client – which technically he was – kind of hurt. He waited for Kurt to shut the door to his suite and, with a small gesture of his hand, indicated he should lead the way. They walked toward the elevator in silence.

Noah eyed the smooth, creamy complexion of Kurt's face that was a very effective mask, realizing that he had no idea what was going through Kurt's mind. Something inside him squirmed because he really wanted back the old Kurt he used to know – the Kurt that he'd hurt but who'd forgiven him – or so he said.

He cleared his throat but Kurt cut in. "Look, Noah, you paid for this evening, so take my advice. Keep this simple."

Noah was a little startled at the cool yet amiable tone. No one watching them would know that they had spent most of their school years as acquaintances if not quite friends. To all appearances it would seem they had just met, been set up on a blind date by well-meaning friends. Something inside of him quailed at the thought that maybe he would never get through to the real Kurt… not again.

He cleared his throat; even though Kurt's statement did not require a response he couldn't stand the chilly atmosphere. "Okay, I get it. Keep it simple," and in his mind he added, 'stupid', thinking he could call himself a few more pejoratives.

"Uhm, I got tickets to 'Joseph'," he said now as they got into the elevator, referring to the most recent incarnation of 'Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He watched a little smile hover and then vanish at the corner of Kurt's lush lips. When he'd called earlier he'd told him that he had tickets to a show but he wanted to keep it a surprise. They would then have a late supper because he knew he himself would be ravenous after sitting through a fairly long musical.

Kurt had been surprised – and pleased but he hadn't let in on that – and told Noah that that didn't fit strictly into the parameters of 'just dinner' but he would let it slide this once.

Noah hadn't dared ask why; one did not look an unexpected gift horse in the mouth! Whatever crumbs he could collect from the table of Kurt's largesse he would gladly accept.

They stepped out onto the sidewalk and into the town car that Noah had hired for their evening, and the car pulled away.

Kurt settled back into the luxurious upholstery and stared out his window, trying hard to hold on to his dispassionate air. The warmth of Noah's muscular body in the confines of the back seat was proving distracting and he wondered how he would be able to concentrate on the show they were heading to see.

Noah, on his part, was just as aware of Kurt beside him and he glanced at the other man's profile a few times. The distance between them was about 12 inches but could have been a yawning chasm for all the interest Kurt was showing in being there with him. He sighed unconsciously and turned to look out the window at the lights of Manhattan at night time. The driver knew which theater they were heading to so there was absolute silence within the car all the way to their destination.

Kurt heard Noah's sigh and felt bad but he had to protect himself. He had a weakness for the man beside him, one that had been exploited once before to his detriment. Never again, he swore; that vulnerable, wide-eyed boy he'd been was dead and gone.

They pulled up outside the theater and Kurt smiled involuntarily. He would never be able to completely suppress the diva within him and a twinge of 'what might have been' surprised him. Usually he was pretty good and stomping on it but tonight, for some reason, it surfaced and nearly swamped him.

He stepped out onto the pavement and smiled up at the marquee with the name of the show all in lights and then down at the other smartly-dressed patrons and looked back at Noah who had come to join him. He'd forgotten that he was going to be cool and when he saw the answering smile in Noah's eyes he was brought back to himself with a jolt. 'Calm, cool and collected, Kurt,' he reminded himself abruptly and then turned away from the man beside him.

"Well, let's head inside, shall we," he murmured as he moved off, uncaring that the light in Noah's eyes had flickered out as he turned away.

Noah sighed again; tonight was going to be heavy going if Kurt kept this up. Damn, he'd said he'd forgiven him but clearly he wasn't into the forgetting part at all.

He quickly caught up to Kurt's slender figure as they entered the foyer of the theater, joining the chattering crowd as they milled about. They had arrived barely five minutes before curtain and as Noah presented their balcony tickets, the lights flickered in the first of the warnings for the patrons to be seated.

Noah had never seen this show before although he had heard how great it was and now he laughed along with the rest of the audience at the antics on the stage. Who knew Jewish history could be this amusingly presented? The way his mother used to act all those years ago, it was as if all the melancholy in the world had been distilled into their race and laughter was forbidden. He'd seen a movie version of Fiddler on the Roof and that had been funny in parts but it was so long ago he couldn't remember it all.

Now he watched Kurt enjoying himself and had to restrain himself from watching the man beside him more than the show. When the lights came up for Intermission, he had to whip his head around so that Kurt wouldn't catch him staring and he barely succeeded.

They rose and joined the throng heading down to the bar and the restrooms and Kurt excused himself after he told Noah to get him a glass of champagne. Noah said he would wait for him in the bar area and they separated.

Kurt stared at himself in the long mirror of the beautifully-lit restroom and sighed. This was a lot harder than he'd thought. He was unaccustomed to being cool with a client unless he or she was not to his taste but Noah was definitely to his taste and he wished he could disengage his heart and just go for it. He knew if he made one indication that Noah would be sharing his bed that night but he just couldn't risk it.

Noah Puckerman was Kurt's kryptonite and Kurt was going to make sure that he shielded himself well. He wasn't going to be a sucker again for Noah's brand of sexy. Nope, that was decided.

Outside, Noah got their drinks and waited patiently for Kurt and when he turned and saw him gliding towards him he felt as if his heart jerked. He stared at Kurt, unaware of the expression that revealed itself in his dark hazel eyes.

Kurt flushed a bit at the open admiration on Noah's face. He knew he looked good; he couldn't be in the line of work he was and be unaware of his looks. However, if the man kept looking at him like that it would make things a whole lot more difficult than he wanted.

He accepted the champagne flute from Noah and flicked a tiny smile of appreciation at the staring man. Pull yourself together, Puckerman, he chided his 'date' silently.

Noah shook himself out of his mini-daze and colored a bit. Kurt made him feel off-balance and he didn't know why so he took a quick sip of his whiskey soda and pretended to look around. His eyes landed on a dark-haired, voluptuous woman and she smiled invitingly at him. He automatically smiled back, thinking nothing of it and continued looking about.

Kurt had turned away to nod at an acquaintance he'd seen across the foyer, noticing the man's tuxedo was a few years out of date. His own Alexander Wang tux had been custom designed and he loved the idea that no one here was wearing anything like it. He sipped at his favorite drink and tried to ignore Noah beside him until he realized he was talking. Thinking Noah was addressing him, he turned toward him.

A woman with masses of gleaming dark hair that seemed all her own and whose breasts were squashed into a dress a size too small was talking to Noah and he was smiling down at her. Kurt's breath caught unexpectedly and a wave of dizziness swept over him.

He didn't want to feel this way! Kurt knew himself well enough to recognize jealousy and his stomach twisted. Suddenly the champagne he'd been enjoying seemed sour and flat and he bit his lip before looking for somewhere to put his glass surreptitiously.

Noah, unnaturally attuned to Kurt's every move, had felt him stiffen beside him and now he looked over at him. Kurt was paler than he had been and his eyes had a faintly pinched look about them. As he watched him, though, he saw Kurt's mask come back into place and once again he was a living doll beside Noah.

"Uhm, Kurt, this is Marisol… Marisol, this is Kurt… an old schoolmate of mine." Noah murmured the introduction, still keeping one eye on Kurt and hoping he wasn't falling ill.

Kurt pulled himself together and turned on the charm. He'd got rid of the champagne glass and he held his hand out now and smiled into Marisol's stunning dark eyes. "I'm very pleased to meet you. Marisol – that is a beautiful name!"

The woman, who had been so focused on Noah's muscular handsomeness, found herself with a totally different man invading her personal space and she flushed. Kurt was no one she had encountered before with his creamy pale skin and vaguely feminine features. The way he smiled into her eyes, though, made her pulse speed up and her nipples harden. She knew he'd noticed them when his unusual blue-green eyes dropped swiftly to them and back up to her eyes. He licked his lush pink lips and her eyes became riveted to them as he spoke, his voice light and faintly seductive.

Noah watched in amazement as the woman's interest shifted entirely to Kurt and two spots of color appeared on her smooth pale olive cheeks. She smiled into Kurt's bright blue eyes and Noah knew he was watching a master at work. Kurt definitely deserved his rep as Arena's best escort.

He shook his head and realized he was feeling left out but just as he was about to intervene in the lively discussion about Marisol's home town of Buenos Aires, the lights flickered. Before he could stop himself, he found himself gripping Kurt's elbow firmly and dragging him off towards the stairs and back to their balcony seats.

Kurt gasped but managed a little wave at the beautiful Marisol and when they were out of earshot he snarled, "Noah Puckerman, what is your problem?"

Noah spun him around and pushed him out of the way of the herd making its way upstairs. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching and then glared at Kurt.

"Look, I paid for your time tonight and you will not ignore me only to fawn over some stranger!"

Kurt stared at him with his eyes wide but without any other expression. Noah knew his mind was working at warp speed because he remembered Kurt very well from high school and waited for the vitriol to spew out at him.

However, Kurt simply shook his hand from his elbow, straightened away from the wall and turned to head up the stairs. Now he said, quite coolly, "My apologies; shall we?" and he started up without waiting for Noah.

Noah clenched his fists as he watched Kurt's long legs take the steps quickly and then he followed him, trying desperately to calm himself down. He didn't know what the hell had come over him but watching Kurt almost bedazzle that woman had made him furious. His head almost spun from the adrenaline that had flooded his body and he didn't know if he wanted to fight or fuck the man before him.

Kurt's heart was hammering in his chest as he slid into his seat, not acknowledging Noah's presence as he stared at the heavy red velvet curtains on the stage. For the rest of the show he pretended to be wholly absorbed in the action on the stage but he was even more aware of the man fuming beside him.

Noah tried, he really did, to watch the show but the fun had dissipated and now he felt as if he were getting a headache. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, hoping the movement was hidden in the dark of the theater. This night was already turning out to be a pain and they hadn't even got to dinner as yet.

Noah had been lucky to get reservations at the restaurant of his choice and he hoped Kurt approved. He did, sort of because when they stepped out of the theater and Kurt didn't see the town car, Noah had told him the restaurant was in walking distance, if Kurt didn't mind.

Kurt had simply shrugged and followed Noah, walking beside him in silence but when they'd neared the famous restaurant and Kurt had seen its sign, he'd muttered beneath his breath, "So cliché". When Noah had looked at him, though, his face was once again expressionless.

Sardi's was world-renowned and if you were an avid theater-goer like Kurt, you would have had to have visited at least once before. Noah knew Kurt was familiar with the place but he'd wanted to do something to please him, hence the tickets to the show and now dinner at a place he knew Kurt must like a lot.

They were seated amidst the fairly subdued hubbub of the crowded restaurant and Kurt actually enjoyed looking about to see if he could identify famous and not-so-famous faces among the après theater crowd. Noah suppressed a grin at what Kurt was doing and contented himself with scanning the menu. As he tried not to watch Kurt over the top of his menu, he suddenly felt someone standing by their table and he looked up.

It was actually a couple; the woman was staring at Kurt quite avidly but the man, in his late twenties, was grinning broadly at Noah. Noah raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Yes?" and waited for the guy to speak.

"Hey! Hi, there, I'm sorry to interrupt but… aren't you Noah Puckerman, the writer?"

At Noah's somewhat reluctant nod and a grimace that he quickly hid, the guy rushed on: "Man, I love your books! Honey, didn't I say it was him?"

The woman nodded vigorously, her dark curls bobbing madly. "Yes, he said, 'honey, that looks like the guy who writes those books!' I told him, I said, 'honey, no, don't be ridiculous, he lives all the way on the other side of the country' but he said, 'no, I swear to God, it's him' and sure enough he was right!"

Noah stared bemusedly at the couple, at a loss for words in the face of the verbal tidal wave and was vaguely aware of a stifled snort from Kurt. Kurt's face was slightly flushed and he was biting his lip as if trying to hold back his laughter. Noah rolled his eyes at him and then looked back up at the couple.

"Well, thank you; er, I hope you enjoy the movies, too."

Oh, no, wrong thing to say! The guy went on and on about what he loved best and it was only the disgruntled throat-clearing from the maître d' that had the couple finally getting around to asking for Noah's autograph.

Finally, with all that behind them and their orders given to a jaded-looking waiter, Noah looked up to see Kurt staring at him with a look Noah couldn't decipher.

Kurt eventually spoke. "Does that happen to you often?"

Noah shrugged. "No, not so often but it occurs more after I've just done a round of publicity for the newest book or movie."

Kurt fiddled with the stem of his martini glass and stared into the crystal-clear liquid before saying, "Who would have thought that McKinley's badass sex-shark would turn into a world-renowned novelist."

Noah let out a little scoffing sound. "Certainly not me. I didn't even finish college. When I ran out of money during my junior year, I decided to just go it on my own. No student loan, nothing, and my ma certainly couldn't afford it."

Kurt nodded, understanding very well. "What made you decide to write?" He was really curious; he wasn't just making small talk because, seriously, Noah and writing? Kurt didn't even know he had a creative enough streak to write songs much less churn out best-selling novels.

Noah grinned, relaxing for maybe the first time that evening. "A roommate of mine actually suggested it, jokingly, one afternoon when we were bummed about how things were going for us."

He sipped his drink and thought back to that time and then he shrugged, still without looking at Kurt for very long. "We'd just seen one of those car-chase, explosions every five minutes movies and I said, 'I bet I could write better shit than this' and he bet that I couldn't."

They sat in silence while Kurt waited for him to continue and when he didn't, Kurt frowned and asked, "So, that was it? He bet you and you decided to do it?"

Noah shrugged again. "Well, I did it and shopped it around all over the place. I must have got at least a dozen rejection letters before a small firm decided to take me on." He grinned, "I think it sold because of the hot girl protagonist – who happens to be a lesbian."

It suddenly clicked in Kurt's mind why Britt would be doing the movie from Noah's latest book. These days, girl-on-girl sex on the big screen was a massive draw. He had to admit privately that he'd never read one of the books and certainly hadn't watched any movies developed from them. Now, he felt a little petty that he hadn't. After all, how many people could say they grew up with not only a world-famous author but a movie star as well… and he actually liked Brittany!

He looked seriously at Noah now and admitted it: "I've never seen any of the movies… nor read the books, for that matter." It wasn't an apology, it just felt like something he should get out there.

"Don't worry," Noah grinned at him. "It's not everybody's thing, I guess."

The tension that had been there for the earlier part of their 'date' had completely dissipated and when their dinner arrived, they were able to continue with the conversation between bites of the delicious food.

Things went smoothly until Noah, lulled by the good food and even better wine, suddenly thought to ask, "So how did you become a …" and he blushed and trailed off.

Kurt, one elegant eyebrow rising superciliously, put down his wine glass and asked coldly, "A whore?"

Noah almost choked. "No! God, Kurt, that's not what I was going to say!"

Kurt relented but relaxed only slightly. "Well, why do you do what you do – write?"

Noah's lip curled up slightly and he answered promptly, "Because I'm good at it."

The silence stretched and once again color painted his cheekbones as Kurt stared at him impassively. Noah swallowed and reached for his wine glass only to realize it was empty. He ignored the smirk on Kurt's face and indicated to the waiter that he wanted another bottle. At Kurt's subtle frown though he changed his mind and asked for the check.

His color subsided as he waited for the man to return but he couldn't get his mind to stop whirling with what Kurt hadn't said. He did what he did because he was good at it. Jesus! Noah felt like dropping his head in his hands. For years he'd gone without thinking too much or too often about the feelings that Kurt raised in him because he was straight, dammit! Now, in less than twenty-four hours he was as confused again as he'd been that night eight years ago. Could someone really turn you gay? God forbid that Finn had been right after all.

After he paid the check, he and Kurt retrieved their coats and headed outside where the car was waiting. The driver had got his itinerary from earlier, of course, and Noah wondered briefly how long he had been waiting for them. Still, he figured these drivers were pretty familiar with schlepping celebrities about the city that never sleeps.

As he ushered Kurt into the back of the car, his hand longing to linger in the small of the warm back, he berated himself. He slid onto the seat beside Kurt and struggled to find something to say. Why did Kurt fluster him so much? He hadn't felt this way since Cindy Grant's mom had propositioned on his first pool-cleaning job when he was 14! That had been his first time with a cougar but definitely not the first time having sex. Cindy's mom had shown him a thing or two and the woman had been near insatiable. As a teen, and a rather fit one at that, he'd been able to keep up and he'd been forever grateful for her tutelage. He'd put all he'd learned to good use with both girls and cougars ever since. These days, though, he was rather more selective with whom he indulged his healthy appetite and he put it down to maturity.

Now, though, Kurt made him feel as if he were jumping out of his skin and he hated feeling at a disadvantage. Thankfully, Kurt was once again staring out at the passing lights of the city and all but ignoring him. Although, to be honest, he didn't much like that either. He sighed… again.

Kurt's head whipped around and wide blue eyes glared at Noah in the dim light of the car's interior. "What is the matter with you? If this is such a chore, why did you insist on this damned date?!"

Noah almost cringed but asked, "What the hell are you on about, now?"

"You keep sighing," Kurt snarled at him. "I've never had a date who acted like you!"

Noah frowned at him. "'Date', huh, is that what you call it in your line of business?"

The car had glided to a stop outside of Kurt's building and he threw the door open immediately. "Fuck you, Noah Puckerman!"

As he slid out of the car, Noah groaned, palmed his face and then hurried after him. "Kurt, Kurt! Wait, please, I didn't mean it. Kurt!"

He caught up to him just inside the glass doors of the lobby and grabbed Kurt's arm, spinning him around. They were of a height but Noah had quite a few pounds over him so it was relatively easy. Kurt stumbled and fell against him but he pushed him back quickly. Noah grabbed his other arm as well and ended shaking Kurt to get him to stop moving.

"Kurt, stop, dammit!" He didn't know why he said what he did next but that's what came out of his mouth. "Baby, please, stop… just hear me out."

Kurt had stiffened when that one word had slipped out of Noah's mouth and apparently he was unaware of it for he continued staring at Kurt, waiting for him to calm down. When he did, simply standing there staring at him, Noah continued.

"Kurt, ever since last night, I-I can't stop…" he sighed and released Kurt's arms, taking a step back. He looked at Kurt with a plea for understanding in his dark hazel eyes. "I don't know why I feel this way but … you're driving me crazy."

Kurt's heart hammered in his chest and his cheeks felt as if they were on fire. Noah was standing way too close to him, looking at him with those gorgeous hazel eyes that Kurt had loved from in high school. He knew what Noah was feeling because he'd felt it for all those years.

Now, as he stared at Noah, the thought from earlier came back to him; he needed to be strong. He couldn't let any sign of weakness show; he just couldn't because Noah was the only person who could break him. He would break him and he wouldn't even know he was doing it. So, he needed to be strong.

Kurt felt the shutters come down and he shrugged in a faintly dismissive gesture. "Don't worry, Noah, this 'whore' knows just what you're feeling." He took a step back and turned towards the elevators, Noah still standing rigidly behind him. "Here's the antidote: go to your hotel, have your concierge send you up a special 'painkiller' - remember to specify blonde or brunette - and by tomorrow, you'll be right as rain."

The elevator doors closed on Noah's stunned face and if Kurt saw the hurt in the wide, hazel eyes, he couldn't afford to acknowledge it. The concierge would find the perfect 'vessel' for Noah to release all his confusion into and when he was back home, he would thank Kurt for his help. He would realize that Kurt had saved him from making a terrible mistake. After all, Noah Puckerman, world-famous author, was known to be straight. He couldn't afford to be 'confused' by his little fag of a former schoolmate.

Kurt held himself stiffly against the pain that he wasn't even going to acknowledge but when he closed and locked the doors to his suite, that pain seeped out in the form of slow tears.

With any luck he wouldn't have to see Noah again. His bank account was considerably fatter, thanks to this date tonight and by the end of the week he should be on his way to France. He wouldn't have time to brood on Noah Puckerman and shadowy possibilities, thankfully. There was nothing like an orgy or two to focus one's mind on what was important – having fun and making lots of money while you did it.

He loved his job and if the Noah Puckermans of the world had a problem with it, that was too damn bad.

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TBC

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