chapter 3

After abruptly leaving his initial session, Rudolf arranged for Alphonse to be his and only his with the owner of the bathhouse, Deidrick Schroeder. He made it explicitly clear that Alphonse was not to be forced to copulate with any others before exiting the bathhouse.

It did not happen often, someone wanting to pay for exclusivity. It was extremely expensive, and the arrangements did not tend to last longer than a few weeks or so. Rudolf left Schroeder with enough money to cover any sessions Alphonse would be missing for the upcoming week. He cared not about the cost, only about protecting Alphonse from other men.

Word spread quickly about Alphonse’s auction and the arrangements Rudolf had made. The other men were unsure of what to say to Alphonse. Some were kind, even if they disapproved of long-term homosexual relationships, and wished him great happiness; others were more vocal with their disapprovals, letting Alphonse know they believed Rudolf to be an extreme sexual deviant who would expect special sexual favors. They theorized that the businessman wanted nothing more than to hurt Alphonse. Thinking about the way things ended at their initial meeting, Alphonse worried that what they said was true. Rudolf had been quite forceful. If he’d wanted to, he could have seriously hurt the smaller man.

Dorian was the most upset. He had lost the one thing that had made him happy, his title as best earner. “You know you’re not special,” he’d said the morning after the auction.

“I did not claim to be,” Alphonse replied. “I’ll never be able to make as much as you after this.”

“I’m glad that you know it.” Dorian walked away, so upset that he didn’t even want to look at Alphonse anymore. This was all that he had to bring him joy in the world. His family wouldn’t have him back after working in the bathhouse for so long. Dorian couldn’t believe it when they’d turned him away. They were the reason he was there. How could they abandon him after he’d done what he had to do to make sure they thrived? He threw himself into his work at the bathhouse. The sex making him feel good about himself, wanted. Making him feel like he had some sort of control over his life.

It took Rudolf five days before he was able to work up the nerve to return to see Alphonse. He still felt terrible about their last encounter. Rudolf had purchased a silk shirt and a box of expensive chocolates. These small tokens of affection did not harm him financially, but he’d hoped they would show he sincerely regretted how he’d behaved. He was not an old man, at twenty-seven years of age, but a smart businessman. He’d taken the small sum of money he’d inherited after the deaths of his parents and grew it into a sizable fortune in the oil business.

Alphonse was informed of his visitor and stood nervously in the same room from a week earlier; the only difference was that he was fully clothed. Rudolf entered the room a bit nervously. He knew his size and demeanor made most people feel threatened. They were welcome qualities in the boardroom, but not when looking to build personal relationships.

The businessman placed the presents on a table near the door and walked further into the room towards where Alphonse stood. He reached out his hand as he would in the office; his face reddened noticeably as Alphonse shook his hand. He was being much too formal.

“Would you care for something to drink?” Alphonse asked, his voice trembling. He could not afford to mess this up like he had last week. Rudolf nodded. “What would you care for? Wine, tea, or water?”

“Water would be fine.” Alphonse scurried about getting the beverage prepared. He grabbed a silver pitcher and poured cool water into a large glass, filling it almost to the brim. Alphonse held the glass of water as still as he could in his shaky hand and walked it over to where Rudolf stood in the middle of the room.

Alphonse lifted the glass, trying to hand it to Rudolf, but he accidentally tilted it forward, causing water to spill all over Rudolf’s jacket. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” he said in a petrified voice. “I—I am sorry.”

Alphonse could only think about the rough way he was reprimanded last time. Rudolf wouldn’t have asked for anything if he had known it would have caused such an ordeal.

“It’s only water,” Rudolf said with a gentle smile. “It’s fine, really.”

“Thank you for your kindness, sir.”

“I wanted to give you something,” Rudolf said, trying his best to sound pleasant. He walked over to the small table near the door where he’d placed two gift-wrapped boxes. He first handed Alphonse the parcel with the shirt.

With unsure hands Alphonse took the box from Rudolf. He’d heard of people receiving tokens from patrons, but they’d put in the work to receive those gifts. He couldn’t fathom why Rudolf would be so kind. He’d mentioned before wanting to get to know one another, but Alphonse never considered he was being serious.

Alphonse carefully removed the fancy paper, wanting to hold onto it as a keepsake. He opened the box and took in a shirt made of extravagant emerald green fabric. His mouth fell open in surprise. This was the most luxurious thing he’d ever received. He looked up at Rudolf, unsure of whether or not this gift was truly meant for him.

“Won’t you try it on?” Rudolf asked.

Alphonse unbuttoned his white cotton top and stood before Rudolf shirtless for a moment. Rudolf could feel his pulse quickening. This man was absolutely gorgeous, with smooth russet-brown skin that had been incredibly warm the last time he’d touched it. His broad shoulders and lean arms gave him a statuesque appearance. They couldn’t be more dissimilar. Rudolf thought of his own thick limbs and round stomach.

Alphonse pulled on the silk top. The size was a bit large, as Rudolf had no measurements to give his tailor, but he still looked incredibly handsome in it. It brought out the richness of his skin and made him look truly elegant. He took in his appearance in a mirror positioned in a corner of the room. What wonders a piece of cloth could provide.

“Thank you, sir,” Alphonse said gratefully.

“You should call me Rudolf—or Rudy if you’d prefer. My mother called me Rudy.” He handed him the chocolates. “I hope you like chocolate.” Alphonse smiled brightly, making Rudolf extraordinarily happy.

Alphonse strode over to the bed excitedly and took off the shirt, laying it out to make sure it didn’t wrinkle. He didn’t want to chance a stain. He grabbed the chocolate and walked back over to Rudolf.

“My mother used to buy me chocolate on my birthday!” Al smiled again. “She would say, ‘Here’s a little treat that’s almost as sweet as you.’” He opened the box and ate one. The flavor seemed so foreign to him now. Chocolates weren’t given in the bathhouse.

“Do you like them?” Rudolf asked. Alphonse nodded and took another chocolate from the box. He put it up to Rudolf’s mouth. He quickly realized his oversight and moved his hand. He had just wanted to convey his overflowing happiness. “Can I have my chocolate?” Rudolf asked.

Alphonse placed it to his lips and felt Rudolf’s mouth cover his fingers for a moment, sucking on them gently. “Do you like chocolate?” Alphonse asked, his entire body tingling.

“I love chocolate.” Alphonse laughed in appreciation of their newfound friendliness. He reached into the box and brought another to Rudolf’s lips. “I bought these for you,” he said, laughing softly.

“I like sharing with you,” Alphonse replied. They stood like this, eating the chocolates together. For every four he fed Rudolf, Alphonse would have one. Before long, the twenty pieces of chocolate had been consumed and the fires of lust and romance had been fanned beyond containment.