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

“All the strawberries. All the whipped cream.” I took the knife from him and made three more cuts. Wills had taken out the dessert plates, and I placed a slice on each one.


“You can never have enough.” He ran his fingertip along the edge of the cake, gathering up some of the whipped cream.


“Y’know, now that I think of it….” We hadn’t used whipped cream in any of our love play. I’d used the entire carton of heavy cream to make this for his cake, but I could go to the mom and pop store for more tomorrow—no, tomorrow was Sunday, and they were closed. Well, there was always Safeway.


“Now that you think of what, babe?”


“Huh? Oh, nothing. I lost track of what I was going to say.” I’d let it be a surprise.


Chapter 121