Hesitant Heart Read Free

the neighbor girl Molly pregnant when they were both only sixteen. They’d had what his father had said was a ‘shotgun wedding’. Sam didn’t remember seeing any shotguns when they got married, so he figured his father must have been mistaken. The memory was upsetting to him for another reason, but he didn’t have time to worry about it right then. He had other more immediate problems.
    Mr Larsen grabbed him roughly by his upper arm and dragged him toward the exit of the changing area.
    “Here’s some fresh towels. Now get in there and do your goddamned job.”
    His legs shook so much, he wasn’t sure he could walk on them. He gulped in air, his breath coming in short pants as he carried the neatly folded towels in front of him as if they were a sacrificial offering. He’d thought he’d loved his job, but not anymore. The terror in him was so sharp that any of the good parts of it had been wiped away.
    As he approached the closed door of the room that contained the man he’d fantasized would want him for more than sex, he caught a sob in his throat. He would take whatever wages he still had and leave town first thing. Louis had been right. Hollywood was a very bad place. Men didn’t love one another because they wanted to love. They only did it for the right price.
    He bumped the latch down with his elbow, a practiced move that he’d used since his first day working at the bathhouse. Trembling, he crept inside, his eyes cast down. His cheeks flushed from within and not from the high temperature. The heat was oppressive. He was certain it was no different than usual, but Sam couldn’t seem to catch his breath.
    “Ah, splendid. Our favorite towel boy is here.”
    Without looking, Sam recognized the voice of the older man. Saul? That’s what Mr Larsen had said.
    “That he is. Young man, would you bring us some fresh towels please?”
    “S-sure.”
    He didn’t feel right. He wasn’t sure if it was the steam, the heat, his nerves or everything all mixed up together. Even though his feet seemed as if they were made of giant rocks, Sam forced himself to go in the direction of the two men, go toward the strong gentle voice of the man he was supposed to give himself to.
    With his gaze still cast down, the first thing he saw was the feet of the beautiful man. There was a fine layer of hair covering the top of them, dark and alluring against the man’s ivory skin. He tracked the path of the hair up the long legs that were lean, yet sculpted. Sam inhaled sharply at the sight of his full sac, the magnificent view of his manhood.
    It was then that he raised his eyes and locked them for the first time with the man of his fantasies. There was a kindness in his expression, the barest hint of a smile. Sam swayed. Right as the room fell away, he saw the look on the man’s face change to one of fear.

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    Aaron cradled the sweet, unconscious boy in his arms. The young man had been eyeing him rather blatantly from the moment Aaron had first noticed him working at the bathhouse. He seemed so innocent, yet it wasn’t possible being that he worked in such an establishment. Towels were never the main reason the patrons of the Temple of Eros availed themselves of the services of the fetching boys who were employed there. Unfortunately, the small lad was likely no different than the others who worked at the barely veiled queer brothel. Instead, he was gifted with the appearance of being untouched and also seemingly possessed of the incredible ability to act as if he were completely pure.
    Perhaps I should have Saul introduce him to his good friend, Vincent, the studio fellow.
    A moan escaped the lips of the boy as he stirred in Aaron’s arms, yet he didn’t awake.
    Such a pretty little thing. Awful the way someone so young has already been corrupted.
    There was a twinge in Aaron’s gut as he thought of the many men he’d paid to have sex with him, to submit to him. But he’d never taken anyone’s