Xavier stripped down to his britches as he enjoyed a glass of wine. Preferring to sleep naked Xavier shed his britches and got into bed his mind still racing as he thought of Brodey in the next room. He liked Brodey he thought he had a lot of talent and skill and he wanted to protect him. He was too much of a pretty boy to live on the streets of London not that he seemed to have any problems surviving. His eyes alone were striking and fierce and well the most beautiful thing Xavier had ever seen.

Xavier questioned himself, he was an educated man of the world, why was he letting himself question how he felt. He knew it wasn’t like himself to bring a boy home hell, anyone, home, but why now, why this boy, what was it about this boy that was so attractive to him. Yes, the boy was a skilled pickpocket, the best he had ever seen in fact but was he worth bringing into his home.

Lying in bed, Xavier started going over everything he knew about the boy and thinking about the conversations they had shared. While thinking back Xavier remembered something Brodey had said about his father, play the part and play it well our lives depend on it. Once again, his mind drew a blank, damn if he didn’t like the boy hell just thinking about him made him smile.

The way Brodey looked at him made his whole body react. Remembering something Brodey had said he smiled; we all can’t be handsome and strong like you now can we. Hearing something coming from next door Xavier strained to hear, it sounded like someone moaning it went on for only a few minutes then he heard a muffled scream, after that it went silent. Xavier went back to thinking about the boy still unsure why, then as he pictured Brodey’s face it hit him and he sat up in bed, no wonder I’m sexually attracted to a boy, still unsure he jumped up and threw on his britches not wanting to wait until morning, when he reached Brodey’s door he paced a moment trying to decide if he would knock.

When he did knock, he heard her jumping out of bed and a loud crashing sound. Running back to his room Xavier grabbed the key to her door when he unlocked and opened it; it only opened a crack because of the chair propped in front of it. “Brodey are you alright?”

Brodey ran around the room in a panic as she tried to get dressed “What’s wrong is everything alright.”

Xavier smiled his heart was racing “I heard a noise are you sure you’re alright?” Brodey stumbled in her haste her voice cracking as she tried to sound manlier. “I’m fine Sir no problem here.”

Xavier smiled “Then move the chair and open the door.”

Brodey groaned “I’m naked Sir I didn’t want to wrinkle my new clothes, just let me get dressed.”

Xavier couldn’t help but laugh “Just cover yourself with a sheet.”

Brodey rolled his eyes “What is it you want?”

With no answer, he asked again. “What is it you want Sir?”

Xavier had already returned to his room and pulled out the hidden door and entered her room to find her covered with a sheet and peeking out the door. Xavier cleared his throat and Brodey turned around in shock, Xavier was half-naked and looked good enough to eat.

“So, I was lying in bed trying to figure out this obvious secret you have been keeping from me, wondering why I brought you home and why I was so attracted to you, being a boy and all. Then I heard the sweetest sounding moan coming from your room and it suddenly hit me.”

Scarlet shook her head as she backed away. “I’ll leave right now, just give me a minute to get dressed and you’ll never see me again.”

Xavier smiled making Scarlet feel giddy even though it wasn’t the place or the time. “I’d like to hear you say it.”

Scarlet walked over to the bed and lifted the mattress to get the spoils she had on her when she arrived. She shrugged “I had a good day last Friday.”

Xavier nodded “I’m sure you did, but I still want to hear you say it.” Scarlet shrugged “Might as well you already know, and I’ll be gone in ten minutes.”

Scarlet paused “I’m a girl.”

Xavier shook his head and smiled “No Brodey you’re not a girl.” Xavier paused “You’re a woman and you’re beautiful.” Scarlet smiled “My God I never thought I’d hear that from you.”

Scarlet started collecting her still soiled clothes. But decided to take the clothes Xavier had given her “I hope you don’t mind that I take these rather than my dirty ones.” Xavier shrugged then walked over and sat on the bed. “I don’t mind.”

Xavier watched Scarlet a moment then smiled “You play the part well how long have you been a boy?”

Scarlet shrugged then sat on the bed across from him. “Since I was ten and me and my father went on the run, before that he would dress me up in pretty dresses, he used to say no one suspects a little girl in a pink dress. After losing our coach gambling my father decided that it was time to move on, so he went and stole another coach while I packed our bags. When he came home, he disguised the coach and had me put on some boy clothes he had found then he cut off all my hair, it was very long before that.”

Xavier watched her as she spoke; her real voice was like music to his ears. “What is your real name?”

Scarlet smiled “Scarlet, Scarlet Brodey.”

Xavier stood up and walked to the other side of the bed and sat next to her. “Your real voice is so sexy; it must be hard for you to sound like a man or a boy all the time.”

Scarlet nodded “I’ve been Brodey for so long I guess I’m just used to it.”

Xavier couldn’t help but stare at her “It’s not sweet or high pitched like most women, its tone is pleasant to my ears and more than seductive.”

Scarlet adjusted the sheet she had covered herself with “No one has ever called me sexy and you’re the first person in so long that has even heard my real voice, not even Emmett.”

Xavier cringed at even the thought of Scarlet with Emmett “So how long have you and Emmett been together.”

Scarlet laughed at the face Xavier made when he asked about Emmett “Like I said he and I lived together for quite some time and have known each other for a few years.”

Xavier looked away “So he is and has been your lover for some time now?”

Scarlet waited until Xavier turned around and looked at her “We don’t have a relationship, hell he’s been with half the women in London, well maybe not half but trust me he has had his fair share.”

Xavier smiled looking relieved “So then you’re not lovers?”

Scarlet bit her bottom lip “No we are lovers on occasion just not in a relationship.”

Xavier looked disappointed “Not to pry into your business but when was the last time you two had sex?”

Scarlet gave a nervous laugh “Do you remember when Emmett was mad at me for avoiding him, well we had sex the Friday before that and unlike usual he saw me as Scarlet, all of me in fact.”

Scarlet paused “He was angry with me and jealous of you because, well never mind it’s not important.”

Xavier excused himself and went through the hidden door and returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I think I need a drink before we continue.”

Scarlet smiled as he handed her a glass then sat back down next to her. “Please continue I’d like to know why.”

Scarlet finished her glass and Xavier refilled it. “Well, the truth is.” Xavier smiled “I like the truth.”

Scarlet took a deep breath then took another big drink “Emmett was upset with me because I called out another man’s name in the heat of passion, so enough of that, I’ll get my things together.”

Xavier watched her as she went behind the screen to change, her silhouette alone made his body react. “If I ask you to stay, will you?”

Scarlet frowned as she peeked out from behind the screen “But why and as whom?”

Xavier shrugged “Stay as the real you, stay as Scarlet.”

Still only covered by a sheet Scarlet walked back and sat down next to him. All she could think about was the fact that Xavier was so close, he reached out and held her hand “You can’t return to London as Brodey your picture is all over town. Just stay with me please.”

Scarlet nodded “I will stay here with you for now, but I can’t promise you anything.”

Xavier smiled “If I promise to always tell you the truth will you also promise to be completely honest with me?”

Scarlet’s head was swimming with thoughts “I can promise to tell you the truth, but I can’t guarantee you will always like it.”

Xavier smiled “I think I can handle that.”

Scarlet scooted back onto the bed still clutching the sheet around her. “Well for one I’m not sixteen, I’m eighteen, nineteen in a few months. Not a big deal but I thought you should know.”

Xavier nodded “Do you ever plan on returning to your people, I mean the Gypsies of course?” Scarlet shrugged “I’ve wondered what it would have been, how my life would have turned out.”

Xavier couldn’t help but stare at Scarlet’s bare shoulders, “Being eighteen I’d imagine you would be engaged by now.”

Scarlet laughed as she thought about it “No I’d be married with kids by now.” Xavier frowned “Seems rather young.”

Scarlet laughed “I was betrothed before I could walk, he was my husband and I was his wife even as children, we were to be married on my fifteenth birthday as was our custom.”

Xavier gave her a sympathetic smile “Didn’t that upset you to marry a strange Gypsy you didn’t love?”

Just hearing Xavier say love excited her, “Nickalo was not some strange Gypsy he was my best friend and I loved him dearly and in a weird way I love him still, sounds strange I know but not once did I question him or our love even if I was too young to know lust and desire. But everything is different now and I’ve moved on and I’m sure he has too, he would be about twenty-one by now and if he grew up to look anything like his father he had no trouble replacing me hell he probably had to beat them off with a stick.”

Xavier couldn’t believe how sexy her voice was, just watching her talk made him want to kiss her. “Not to make you uncomfortable but damn honey you are irresistible, I can’t take my eyes off you.”

Scarlet gave an excited smile “Uncomfortable, just to have you look at me the way you’re doing right now puts me in stunned amazement. I never thought anybody let alone you would look at me like that, the first time someone talked sweetly to me was the first time Emmett saw me naked for the first time. Before that we basically had quickies, clothes on just sex, sounds impersonal but it did the trick at the time.”

Xavier ran a hand through his hair “I don’t know why but every time you mention Emmett I almost cringe.” Scarlet laughed “I wonder why that is?”

Xavier laughed “I have a few ideas on the subject.”

Scarlet laughed “Kind of like I feel when you’re with Luna and I can hear the sounds you two make, talk about depressing, hell it’s more like torture.”

Xavier frowned “I knew I saw you there but I had no idea you could hear us, I think I know how you felt, try hearing you have sex only to walk into Emmett as he snuck out half-naked. I had assumed you two were entertaining women and Emmett didn’t correct me.”

Xavier stood up and walked to the fireplace and kneeled as he added a log to the fire “This is all so weird, it’s like there are two of you split down the middle. Brodey, a boy I was immediately attracted to and very interested in, finding myself wanting to see you even if it was only for a moment. Then your true self Scarlet arrives, and I find myself shocked and amazed, not only are you beautiful but you ooze sex appeal, I can hardly take my eyes off of you. To have you and Brodey together is well perfect, not that I have you I just meant that I like your new look.”

Scarlet smiled “Well thanks for the compliment.”

Xavier took a deep breath then stood to leave, when he reached the hidden door he turned and smiled “What was that sound I heard coming from your room?”

Scarlet blushed “And you really want the truth?” Xavier smiled “Yes I’d like the truth.”

Scarlet shrugged “How do I say this, I was servicing myself you know masturbating.”

Xavier could feel his loin’s spasm and his heartbeat quicken. “And what exactly were you thinking about while you were masturbating?”

Scarlet licked her lips then bit her bottom lip. “This truth stuff may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.” Xavier opened the hidden door “What?”

Scarlet looked away then looked back at him their eye’s meeting “You, if you think stealing makes my mouth water you have no idea what thinking about you does to my body.”

Xavier paused trying to subdue himself. “And whose name was it that you called out during sex?”

At that moment Scarlet would have done and said anything to have Xavier stay with her even if the truth might blow up in her face. “Your name, I started to call out your name but caught myself, I guess not fast enough because Emmett heard me and mentioned it afterward and trust me, he wasn’t happy about it.”

Xavier nodded unsure what to say, “Well I guess I’ll go, sorry to have barged in earlier, but after I realized your secret, I couldn’t wait to see the real you.”

Scarlet shrugged “So you’re not disappointed with the real me?” Xavier smiled “Am I acting disappointed?”

Scarlet shrugged “No, I guess not.”

Xavier felt like he was stalling “My moods are usually hard to miss and trust me what I’m feeling is nothing like disappointment.”

They both were quiet a moment making Scarlet laugh “Funny you and I never usually have nothing to say, wonder why?”

Xavier walked over and poured himself another glass “A lot has happened in the last few days for the both of us. No harm taking some time to think, and as weird as it may sound, I don’t seem to have a problem sitting silently in a room with you, which is surprising, to say the least.”

Scarlet sighed “I’m fairly at ease myself.” Scooting back onto the bed she clutched the sheet around her watching as he poked at the fire a moment then stood up and smiled at her looking very seductive in the firelight.

“Guess I should go now, I’m sure you would like some privacy.”

Scarlet shrugged “It’s nice that you know my secret, it’s a relief I hate to lie to you, good night.”

All Xavier could think about was how badly he wanted to pick her up into his arms and kiss her, just the thought of her naked body under that sheet made him crazy with desire. It took every ounce of his self-control to walk away. After he left Scarlet fell back onto her bed trying to talk herself out of going to him. “If he wanted me, he would have said so.”

She didn’t know if she could handle his rejection, but she also knew tonight might be the last chance she had. When Xavier returned to his room it was dark, still very aroused he took a deep breath then stepped out of his britches and got into bed, his mind swimming with thoughts of her, his heart still racing. Scarlet stood by the hidden door still covered by only a sheet trying to make up her mind. “You wanted your chance Scarlet and now you have it.”

Scarlet dropped the sheet and opened the hidden door to Xavier’s room her whole body felt like it was calling out to him. Xavier lied in bed wide awake wishing he hadn’t of walked away from her. Hearing something, he looked up to find a naked Scarlet looking down at him then without saying a word she got up onto the bed and joined him between the sheets. Xavier welcomed her with a seductive smile; her soft naked flesh rubbing up against his own made him eager with want. Scarlet laid her head on his chest. “When was the last time you had a girl in your bed, actually I don’t want to hear that?”

Xavier laughed as his hands caressed her back “You mean a woman in my bed; never I haven’t brought anyone here let alone a woman.” “Is Luna your only lover?” Xavier nodded “She was my only lover but not since the last time you followed me to Stella’s.”

Scarlet laughed “I live there, and we just happened to be going in the same direction.” Scarlet paused “Although I must admit I sat and waited to see you leave.” Xavier smiled “I know I saw you.”

Scarlet sat up and looked down at him her full breasts shown through the faint moonlight. Leaning down she kissed him letting her hands run over his hot and muscular flesh, boldly reaching down she stroked him, her breath quickened as she went to her knees and straddled him. The feel of him as he entered her was complete bliss, riding him slow at first then faster letting her head fall back her soft moans making Xavier wild with want as he gripped her hips.

Just the sight of her riding him put him in a frenzy of excitement; she had more intensity than he had ever seen. She held nothing back her kisses alone took his breath away, their every movement bringing them both closer to their fulfillment. Sitting up as they moved together Xavier let his hands caress her breast taking her hard-pink nipples into his mouth causing Scarlet to cry out as she climaxed, every sound that came from her fueled Xavier’s hunger for her. With ease Xavier changed positions and put Scarlet on her back as he plunged into her hard and fast, she felt tight around him her squeals of desire growing as she climaxed again. Unable to hold back Xavier buried himself inside her one last time then released his seed causing him to shudder before pulling out and falling down next to her both out of breath.

“Damn honey you are incredible.”

Scarlet shrugged “Can’t live in a whore house without getting some education.”

Xavier stroked her hair “No wonder Emmett was so jealous and wanted you only for himself.”

Scarlet laughed “That’s why after I called out your name in bed, we decided to just be friends. He liked Scarlet a little too much and hated to see me turn back into Brodey and all I wanted was to get laid on occasion.”

Xavier frowned at the thought “After seeing Emmett slap you on the ass in front of me. I knew something was wrong it just didn’t look right and it pissed me off that I felt a sting of jealousy over a boy?”

Scarlet laughed “Emmett is quite the ladies’ man; it only took him seeing me twice before he figured out, I was a woman and only two days more after that to get me in his bed.”

Xavier shook his head “Let’s forget Emmett for now, I’d rather not picture you two together.”

Scarlet curled up next to him but got quiet then she sat up and looked down at him. “If you want me to leave, I will, Luna said you don’t like pillow talk or cuddling after.”

Xavier shook his head and smiled then pulled her back down into his arms “There is no way in hell I’ll let you out of my arms let alone my bed.”

Scarlet was in heaven as she lay in Xavier’s arms, the steady sound of his breath as he slept next her made her more than content. Unable to sleep herself Scarlet’s thoughts ran ramped, was this all really happening did Xavier want her as much as she wanted him, was it even possible for it to work. After all this time, would she just be his mistress, how could it work, what would the people in town think what would they say, the lie Xavier had given Joanna gave Scarlet idea’s but what next did Xavier think about their future, hell her future.

Scarlet knew Brodey had died that very night but could she really make it as Scarlet all alone, spending the night in Xavier’s arms could only bring a smile to her face and it made her heart soar, she had wanted this for so long she didn’t know what to think or what to do. Would this man at her side reject her in the morning would she wake to an empty bed and an uncomfortable silence? No matter what it had meant to her, she couldn’t imagine how he felt. Not knowing if she could handle his rejection Scarlet slowly left his embrace and got out of bed. After watching him for a moment she wiped her eye’s and slipped through the hidden door.