Chapter 6
Theo
“How does that make you feel?”
I stared out the window of Dr. Winters' office, watching a hummingbird flit between the bright red flowers of the desert sage. It zipped around like it was on some kind of caffeine high while I was sitting here, feeling like an emotional sinkhole.
“Theo?” Dr. Winters prompted gently, pulling me back to the present moment.
I shifted in the plush chair as Dr. Jamael Winters watched me with those patient eyes, like he could see right through the nervous mask I was trying to wear.
The dude had this professional vibe down to a science—salt-and-pepper hair, trim beard, and glasses that screamed 'I know my psychology stuff. '
“Sorry,” I mumbled, fidgeting with the hem of my robe. “I was just... thinking. Not that that's surprising or anything.” Thanks, brain.
“That's alright. Take your time.” He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “We're here to process your experiences, not rush through them.”
The office was all warm and inviting, with soft light spilling through windows overlooking this cute little garden. Bookshelves lined one wall, packed with psychological texts that felt way more interesting than me right now.
I took a deep breath. “I guess I feel... disappointed? Or maybe tired of feeling like I'm screwing everything up. Like a classic 'What am I doing with my life?' moment. You know?”
“There are no right or wrong words here, Theo. Just your truth.”
Ah, my truth. The one that didn’t make it to the Instagram highlight reel.
I’d come to The Ranch broke and desperate, willing to do whatever it took to make sure Casey got the care he needed.
And now, I’d let some rich guy use my body for his pleasure, like I was on some fucking buffet line at a corporate dinner.
And honestly? It hadn't sucked.
But did I say all that? Nope. “Kaiden and Carter kind of... ambushed me this morning,” I said instead, forcing a smile at the memory of them dragging me to the Wellness Center. “They flipped when they realized I hadn't done any of the post-client protocols.”
Dr. Winters nodded, making a note on his tablet. “That was responsible of them. The protocols are in place for important reasons. Kaiden's one of our finest mentors. His advice should be heeded.”
“Yeah, I get that now. The medical check was... thorough. Like, ‘super fun mandatory check-ups’ level of thorough.” My cheeks warmed at the memory of the clinical examination. Not my idea of a good time.
“And how did that go?” Dr. Winters asked.
“Fine, I guess. All clear. They said I need to come back after every client interaction for the first month, make sure I'm not freaking out.” I shrugged, trying to play it off like it was no big deal.
“That's correct. And these therapy sessions are weekly, though you can always request additional time if needed.”
I glanced around the office again, letting the calm atmosphere wash over me. “It's a lot,” I admitted. “I'm actually surprised The Ranch invests so much in... well, us. I mean, I get that we’re their shiny toys, but damn.”
Dr. Winters smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “It may seem unusual compared to other establishments, but The Ranch understands their most valuable assets are their people. Healthy, happy companions provide better experiences for clients, which means better business.”
“I guess that makes sense. Can you imagine the outrage if they went all low-budget?” I laughed, but it felt a little hollow.
“Besides,” he continued, leaning back, “many of the guests who come here are high-profile individuals. Discretion and safety are paramount.”
I nodded, thinking back to the aristocratic bearing of my first client. Just picturing him made my stomach twist with a mix of emotions.
“So,” Dr. Winters said, redirecting my attention, “tell me about your first interaction. How did it go?”
I hesitated, picking at a loose thread on my robe. “It was... fine.” Damn, those words felt inadequate, like trying to fit a giraffe into a Volkswagen.
Dr. Winters waited, his expression open. When I didn't elaborate, he tried another approach. “Many companions find their first client experience challenging, regardless of the specific activities involved. It's a significant psychological threshold to cross.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” I mumbled. “One minute I'm mixing drinks, the next I'm on my knees with a duke's... you know.”
“Let's try a simple exercise,” Dr. Winters suggested, shifting slightly in his chair. “On a scale from one to ten, where one is 'completely negative' and ten is 'completely positive,' where would you place your emotional response to the experience?”
I thought for a second, grateful for the framework. “Maybe like... a four? Or five? Parts of it felt fun, but the ending sucked.”
“That's helpful,” he nodded. “And what specifically moved the needle toward the positive side?”
“I guess...” My face flushed. “I kind of didn't hate the power dynamic stuff. Being told what to do was kinda hot in the moment.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “God, is that messed up?”
“Not at all,” Dr. Winters replied. “Many people find role dynamics arousing precisely because they're different from their everyday experiences. It can be liberating to temporarily set aside decision-making responsibility.”
That made a weird kind of sense. With Casey's care consuming all my mental bandwidth lately, maybe there was something freeing about someone else calling the shots for once.
We spent the rest of the hour kicking around coping mechanisms and boundaries. Dr. Winters explained that as a companion at The Ranch, I had the right to refuse any request that made me uncomfortable. Good to know, but I couldn’t see me ever doing that, not when I needed this job so bad.
By the time our session wrapped up, I felt a tiny bit better. Not great, but at least I had some clarity about what had happened with the duke. “Same time next week,” Dr. Winters said as I stood to leave. “But remember, my door is always open if you need to talk before then.”
“Thanks, Doc,” I said, meaning it. I paused at the door, turning back to him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“How long have you been doing this? Counseling companions at The Ranch, I mean.”
Dr. Winters smiled. “Going on five years now. I was in private practice in Houston before Vincent and Ibrahim approached me.”
“And you don’t... judge us? For what we do?”
His expression softened. “Theo, I'm here to support you, not judge you. Sex work is work. What you choose to do with your body is your decision, and my role is to help you navigate the psychological aspects of that choice in a healthy way.”
I nodded, oddly comforted by his no-nonsense response. “Thanks again.”
“Take care, Theo. I'll see you next week.”
Stepping out of Dr. Winters' peaceful office into the bright sunshine was blinding, the sounds of The Ranch reminding me where I was.
“There you are!” a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Kaiden waving from a bench beneath a mesquite tree, his flamboyant personality practically spilling over. He wore a loose pink tank top and tight white shorts that left little to the imagination.
Kaiden Ginsberg was a whole-ass presence at 6’2”, the kind of chubby that somehow made him look more powerful, not less.
His dark hair was slicked up in this retro pompadour that should've looked ridiculous, but somehow worked on him.
What really got you, though, were those deep brown eyes, warm as hell and totally genuine, paired with a smile that could talk the devil into going to church.
The guy was like a human magnet, pulling everyone into his orbit without even trying.
Seriously, the charisma was unfair. “Hey,” I said, walking over. “You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“Of course I did, honey. That’s what roomies are for.” Kaiden stood up, engulfing me in a bear hug. “Besides, Carter's been texting me every five minutes, asking if you’re done yet.”
I smiled, touched by their concern. “You guys are acting like mother hens. I’m not that fragile.”
“Someone has to,” Kaiden replied, linking his arm through mine. “Now, how was your first therapy session with Dr. Dreamy?”
“Dr. Dreamy?” I laughed.
“Have you seen those forearms? The man could crush walnuts.” Kaiden fanned himself dramatically. “But seriously, was it helpful?”
“Yeah, I think so. He’s easy to talk to, at least. I didn’t really open up much, though. Guess I’m still working on that ‘vulnerability’ thing.”
“That’s okay. It takes time to build trust.” Kaiden squeezed my arm. “When you’re ready, don't hold back. I cried in his office for three hours straight after my first scene. Brought up all sorts of issues with my father.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I said, unsure how else to respond.
Kaiden waved a dismissive hand. “Ancient history now. The point is, don’t be afraid to use those sessions.”
We walked in companionable silence for a moment, the sounds of the resort growing louder. In the distance, I could see guests lounging by the pool, drinks in hand, some getting into way too much PDA. It was such a bizarre mix of paradise and awkwardness here.
“Listen, Theo,” Kaiden said, his voice serious. “I want to apologize again for not going over the post-client checklist with you sooner. I didn’t expect them to assign you so quickly, you know? Usually, they give new companions at least two weeks of adjusting before putting them on the roster.”
“It’s okay, Kaiden. Really. Not that big a deal. I mean, who doesn’t love diving headfirst into a pool of emotional turmoil? All part of the fun, right?”
Something in his expression shifted, and he stopped to look me in the eye. “Something's bothering you, though. I can tell.” He squeezed my arm. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I’m here if you need an ear.”
I hesitated, wondering how much to unload on Kaiden. Like, we'd only known each other a week. Was I really gonna trauma-dump on him in the middle of the garden?