Love Online(9)

“So, you just…went on and winged it?”

She smiled. “Well, first I had a drink. A strong one.”

“I can imagine.”

“I remember looking at the room count, waiting for it to go up—it was really slow, at first. There were very few viewers. I almost just hung things up before it even started. I mean, there’s so much competition out there. I wasn’t sure if anyone would even show up. Once things got going, though, I got broken in real fast. I’ve heard and seen it all at this point.”

“Not all of it good, I imagine.”

She seemed to tense up. “No. Some of the things people say…it can be brutal.”

My blood boiled as I thought about some of the losers I’d seen in the short amount of time I’d been visiting her chat room. I was seething just thinking about it.

“They’re so fucking disrespectful. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve wanted to virtually kill.”

“Thank goodness the moderator usually removes those types pretty fast. The number-one rule is not to engage them. The beauty of this is that I make the rules. I don’t have to entertain anyone I don’t want to. And the end chat button is just one click away.”

It made me happy to know she felt so in control.

I chuckled. “If only real life were like that—if there were a magic end chat button.”

“Exactly.” She smiled wide.

“I work in the entertainment industry,” I said, deciding to open up a little. “It’s very cutthroat, and I’m constantly dealing with people wanting to know me because of the opportunities they think are in it for them. I expect a certain amount of brownnosing, but sometimes it would be awesome if I could just pick and choose who to interact with like that.”

“Or just log off and disappear mid-conversation.” She laughed.

“Yes! That would be perfect.”

“The best is when people expect that they can sweet talk me into stripping down for them without having to pay—as if I’m not here to make a living.”

“You do a good job of making it seem like you want to be there, though. I have to give you that.”

“Don’t get me wrong…I don’t hate it. But I wouldn’t be doing it for free. You know?”

“Of course. This is your job.”

“Most of my regulars understand that. I love my regulars—like you.”

That was strange to hear. “I guess I am a regular at this point, aren’t I?”

“Yes. But you don’t show me your dick. Which I appreciate.”

I snapped my fingers. “Damn. You just ruined my plans for tonight.”

We were both laughing now.

“Sorry about that.” She grinned.

“Note to self: keep dick in pants.” I sighed. “Seriously? A lot of guys show you their dicks? I just assumed they were watching you.”

“I wish that were the case, but I definitely do see my share of dicks.”

“What do they want? Your approval?”

“Yeah, basically.”

“I’m gonna send you a button you can press that plays ‘That’s the most beautiful dick I’ve ever seen’ over and over. That way you won’t have to say it.”

Montana snorted. “I would love that, because that’s exactly what they want. They want me to lie to them and tell them they’re the biggest, the best.” She rubbed her eyes. “Lord.”

“Is that the scariest part of being a cam girl? Strange guys who show you their dicks?”

“No. Believe it or not, it isn’t. I think the scariest part is when certain guys think I owe them because they send me unsolicited gifts or pay me a lot of money. They get mad or jealous when I’m not attentive to them, and sometimes they turn hateful. This site is pretty secure, and I actually have my home state blocked for privacy reasons…but you just never know.”

Fuck. That gave me chills. I hated the thought of someone trying to hurt her.

“So, people who live in your state can’t see you?”

“It’s supposed to work that way, yeah.”

Nodding, I said, “I guess I know you’re not in California then, if I’m able to watch you.”

She simply smiled. She wasn’t about to divulge where she lived, and I couldn’t blame her.

We continued talking for several minutes, and I totally lost track of time.

Montana let out a long breath. “Well, this is definitely the first time I’ve ever vented to a cam john.”

“A what?”

“Cam john. That’s what we call clients.”

“Like a john who sees a prostitute?”

“Yes, I suppose that’s where it comes from.”

I looked down at myself. “Fuck, I’m creepier than I thought.”

She burst into laughter again. “No, you’re not creepy at all. I don’t know how I know that about you, but I do.”

“Well, thank you. I aspire not to be a creeper.”

She looked over to the corner of her room and then back at me. “Shit.”

“What?”

“Our time has been up for ten minutes. I didn’t even notice. Another first for me.”

I really didn’t want her to leave.