I don't see a man buying you a drink or taking you out for dinner as "paying for sex". I think that is the wrong attitude. You are just spending time together, getting to know each other and figuring out if there is future potential or not.
Men pay as they want to show they are interested and it is seen as normal for him to spoil her a little bit.
Id have no problem returning the favor and buying him a drink..
Sex has nothing to do with any of that. For me if I trust him, really like him, see future potential and feel comfortable with him-id sleep with him because it feels right-not because he bought me dinner..
And if I don't trust him, like him, see potential or feel comfortable-sex will not happen no matter how much money he spends. As soon as I figured out that its going nowhere Id stop seeing him..