In Regency London, where proper behavior is de rigueur, Sir Rudoph Shaw anything but proper. Born to wealthy parents, he loses everything after his father dies when he is only fourteen years old and, now going by plain Rudy Shaw, he is forced to make his own way on the cruel streets of London.
But Rudy’s fortunes are changing. He runs into a childhood friend who pulls him back into the world of the rich and powerful, giving Rudy a second chance at the life he should have had. That is, if Rudy can keep his darkest secrets hidden from the world -- first, that he is only a lowly destitute laborer who has sold his body in the past to put food in his belly and, even more devastating if it is revealed, he prefers men in his bed.
Upon Rudy’s debut back into the shining world of well-off Londoners, he learns the man whom he has been having a year-long affair with is none other than the affianced husband to his friend’s cousin. If this secret gets out, Rudy will be ruined for sure. Can the two men stay away from each other? Or will their passion and love destroy them both?
As he walked, Rudy thought about his first encounter with the cit. They had initially met a year ago, when the man walked by the pub as Rudy leaned against the outer wall of the building, smoking an inexpensive cigar.
He had been contemplating what it would be like to find someone who was yours and you were theirs. After losing his father at fourteen he had no one in the world to care for or to care about him.
The inn he was at was known for attracting men who preferred other men and there were frequently boys hanging around outside hoping one of the patrons would give them a shilling to suck their cock, but none were around this evening. Rudy had done similarly himself as a youth for a few years after his father had died, to put food in his belly and sometimes even a roof over his head for a few nights.
Fortunately, he had been able to get out of that trade before it pulled him in and ate him up as it did so many. Now, however, he looked at those boys and realized how sick the men were who used them. Many of them were younger than he had been at the time. He frequently tossed them a shilling without using their services and a few of them would come to him regularly when they were in need of coin.
His friends teased him for it, saying he was the only man in London paying for the services of a whore without getting anything in return. Rudy just laughed at their ribbing. He had been where those boys were and knew how much better a small beer and a hot pie tasted when you weren’t trying to wash the taste of some toff’s spend from your mouth.
Rudy had straightened to put out the cigar he was smoking and head back inside the Red Cock for another pint when he looked up. Some cit had stopped and was staring at Rudy. He watched Rudy for several moments, then looked at the sign above the door. He then looked around the street and back at Rudy before talking a few steps towards the younger man.
There must have been some shift in Rudy’s posture or countenance because he suddenly froze and held up his hands in a gesture of peace. He continued to examine Rudy for several more moments before speaking.
“How much?” he asked gruffly, seeming as if getting the words out was difficult.
Rudy considered ignoring the man’s rudeness and returning to the pub, but the man’s queer behavior had him curious. Besides, he was one of the most handsome men Rudy had ever seen. He was probably six or seven years older than Rudy, well built, with broad shoulders tapering to a trim waist. His face boasted aristocratic features despite the fact his clothing was more suitable for a cit, and he had thick, sandy brown hair fashionably styled a la Brutus. He looked like someone you could rely on to get you out of trouble and then deliver a lecture about it afterward.
“For what?” asked Rudy, nonplussed.
Looking around again, the cit took another step closer and lowered his voice, “To let me suck your cock.”
Rudy’s unruly prick was instantly at attention, twitching in interest despite the anger flaring at being mistaken for a common doxy.
“A guinea,” he answered belligerently, naming an outrageous sum. It was more than Rudy earned in a week. He expected the man to hit him, or try to bargain, or walk away in disgust but the cit did not seem the least surprised and nodded without hesitation before he started walking toward the alleyway. Rudy stared after him.
“Show me the money, first,” he said to the man’s back, not believing anyone would pay so much to suck another man off. Not when any number of men would be more than willing to let you do it for free.
Turning around the man responded, “Of course,” looking a little abashed, and pulled out a leather purse. He produced four crowns and a shilling, handing two of the crowns to Rudy. “I will give you the remainder after our ... transaction is complete.” He then turned back around and walked into the dark recesses of the alleyway.
Rudy considered for a moment. It had been years since he had taken coin for sexual services, although then he was usually the one on his knees. He wondered if the cit would expect Rudy to suck him off after Rudy had spent.
He had been intending to try to entice the good-looking blonde fellow who had been eyeing him from the end of the bar ...
Not completely understanding why, Rudy followed the man into the darkness.
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