Lea Michele's New Boyfriend is a former gigolo...

Lea Michele is getting for free what other women pay good money for -- her new beau has been moonlighting as a gigolo.

Lea has been quietly dating Matthew Paetz for the last few months ... she has very consciously kept the relationship on the down low.

Sources close to the couple tell us ... Matthew has been a hired gun for Cowboys4Angels under the alias, Christian.

Cowboys4Angels -- which offers male "companionship" to lonely women -- is featured on Showtime's, "Gigolos." 

According to the website ... Matthew is a certified life coach, dating expert and massage therapist ... charging $350 for one hour and up to $6,000 for a weekend. For $17,500 you can get a whole week.

Matthew's profile is now hidden on the site.



We're told Lea and Matthew met on the set of her music video, "On My Way."

Sources tell us ... Matthew most recently took on a client for a weekend during the Stagecoach music festival in April. He's gone on hiatus since he started dating Lea.

Reps for both Lea and Cowboys4Angels had no comment.