'We ended up getting married': The escorts and clients who fall in love

'Good communication and honesty is the key'

Kashmira Gander
Thursday 17 November 2016 05:47 EST
Comments
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Few professions are as intimate as sex work, and relationships between clients and escorts can take a Pretty Woman turn when business becomes pleasure.

This boundary is among the topics explored on Saafe, a website where escorts can seek support and advice. To those outside the industry, it offers a fascinating insight into how these women balance their professional and personal lives.

One anonymous escort who has been in a relationship with a former client for several years invited others on the Saafe forum to speak honestly about their views on dating customers. Was hers the only success story? Did escorts hide their relationships from clients in case it affected their trade?

“I've done it, we ended up getting married”, wrote one member called Mirror.

“Is it because he understood it was just a job?" asked the anonymous commenter, flagging a common concern for sex workers.

“I'm dating one of my ex punters. We're only four months in and it's going well. He's really supportive and let's me talk about my day and the way he copes with it is by separating the two people in his head. Anna works her job and when we see each other then I'm ***** who's just his girlfriend. He does go through 'wobbles' as he calls them but we talk about how he's feeling and I just have to give him some reassurance. Maybe good communication and honesty is the key," said Loubyloo.

But others weren’t so convinced.

What marriage would be like if we followed the bible

Red KB feared her business wouldn't survive if she fell in love with clients.

"I haven't done it but if I felt I clicked with a client well enough I'd put a strict no sex for a month rule in place to make sure they weren't just after a freebie," she said.

"I think a lot of them just like the idea of having their own personal free prostitute and once they are bored of you they'll move on,” said TrashAzn.

“I take my hat of to you all for having the physical energy and mental capacity to have or sustain a relationship whether its with an ex customer or civvie," wrote Naughtyforty, referring to clients as "civilians" or "civvies". "I couldn't even think about it."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in