Chapter 9

After another drunken hour of revelry, Pierre bid farewell to Josephine and her friends, stumbling out into the alley behind the bar, his coat slung loosely over his shoulder to begin the blurry walk home to his boarding house. He only made it a few steps before a man in the darkness stopped him. Pierre didn’t look up, too intent on returning home to his bed to fall asleep. He was too drunk to resist as the stranger pinned him up against the wall. A familiar voice whispered in his ear.

“Can I interest a man in a spot of pleasure?” the stranger said as his hand brushed against the front of Pierre’s trousers.

Pierre’s eyes widened—he knew that voice. As his eyes adjusted to the low light, he recognized the man that he had been searching for weeks. Antoine smiled before kissing the corner of his mouth sweetly. Pierre strained forward to kiss him back, desperately needy and relieved to see him again.

“Antoi—” he whispered.

“Shh...Just enjoy this private moment be