The Kiss Quotient

Stella, impatiently waiting for Michael, decides to investigate his apartment. She looks at his custom suits, exercise equipment, and refrigerator before she finds a pile of bills. She discovers that Michael’s real last name is Larson and realizes that Michael has been working as an escort to pay for his mother’s medical bills. She starts to cry at this kindness and sits down on his couch. He returns and is concerned with her tears, but she claims that she is obsessed with him and is worried about what will happen when their arrangement is over. Instead of responding, he kisses her. Stella performs oral sex, then the two have intercourse. When done, Michael invites her to stay the night, and she agrees.

Over the next week, Michael and Stella find a pattern for living together. It occurs to Michael that Stella is both the best “girlfriend” and best lover he has ever had. By the end of the week, Michael realizes he is in love with her. They watch movies together and Michael draws comparisons between himself and the characters, worrying about his own inherent goodness and believing that he is a bad person. The next week, Stella arrives home before Michael and is overwhelmed by how empty the house is without him.