Change comes to all of us. For Theo Bascopolis, the first time is when he's fifteen. He finds his life falling apart when his father discovers Theo is gay and orders him to become straight or leave. Having no choice, in spite of what his father might think, Theo leaves. But where can a fifteen-year-old go? Especially when it starts to rain. He thinks things are looking up when he meets a striking man named Franky, who seems very attracted to him. However, once again Theo's life changes when he learns all Franky wants is for him to hustle. And so Theo becomes the rent boy Sweetcheeks. However, Franky underestimates Sweetcheeks, and the results of the ensuing fight sees Sweetcheeks fleeing to Washington DC, where he crosses paths with a group of rent boys who take him in. Finally Sweetcheeks has a family, a home, and an additional source of income in the form of apartments they're able to rent out. His life changes again a few years later when a mysterious tenant by the name of Mark Vincent becomes the reason behind the assault on one of Sweetcheeks's boys. Vincent visits the boy in the hospital, bringing with him his equally enigmatic trainee, William Matheson. The instant attraction blindsides Sweetcheeks. In spite of knowing love isn't for rent boys, he hopes Matheson can see beyond the body he's offered to so many. But Matheson has secrets of his own. Can Sweetcheeks overcome his insecurities enough to believe in the quiet man who's come into his life? Can Matheson keep his actual occupation a secret without it jeopardizing their budding relationship?

Pick Up the Pieces

“Jar said you’re going swimming! I want to go too! I just wanted to make sure you’d wait forme!”


“Okay, but you’d better wait!” She skipped out, and Wills shut the door behind her and locked it before we could be interrupted again.


“Sorry about that, babe. My sister tends to speak in exclamations.”


“She’s a cutie. You have a great family, Wills.” And I envied him that.


“Glad you like ‘em, because they’re yours now, too.” He laughed when he saw my dropped jaw and wide eyes, obviously tickled to have stunned me. To finally have a family again after all these years….


He was still laughing when I pounced on him, but once I began kissing him silly, that laugh changed into a breathy moan.


The sun was shining, the pool water was warm, and we all went in, joined by JR’s and Marti’s friends, including the ubiquitous Damien, who kept the width of the pool between him and Wills.


Chapter 81