The Evening Poppy may have been one of the more middling establishments in the small town of Clear Creek, but everyone knew it was where you’d find the best lay. Everybody who pushed those slatted saloon doors open was welcome- unless their coin ran out, or they got a bit too comfortable handling goods that they hadn’t yet paid for.

All in all, it was a fine place to work; Theo McGrath had very few complaints. A handsome young man in his mid-twenties on the run from his past, Theo was no stranger to the road or its lodgings. The Poppy numbered among his favorites so far. His boss was fair, and he had housing as long as he desired to work. And there were… benefits, to the work. Benefits a boy lonely from the road appreciated more than most folks.

Benefits he was happy to share- for a price.

—————————————————-

With a bundle of firewood under one arm, Theo knocked on the door labeled BATH. He’d been sent up with a nod by the madame- that usually meant one of two things: the guest was reputed to be violent, or the guest had a certain preference.

Theo never gave himself to hope much, but if he did, he’d always hope for the second one. He raised his fist and rapped on the door.

“Come in.”

It was unsurprising to hear a gruff voice around these parts, but this one might have been one of the lowest Theo had ever heard. With that bundle of firewood in his arms, he pushed the door open.

“Hey!” Ah, Theo thinks to himself. The violent kind, then. He’d been expecting a prettier face.

“Sorry, sir,” Theo puffed apologetically, hiding partially behind the firewood- both to block his face, and to give the man now upright in the bathtub his privacy, “just here to stoke the fire, that’s all. Won’t be a minute.”

“Oh.” The naked stranger sounds mollified. Water sloshed as he returned to a reclined position, though not nearly as relaxed as he was before another man entered the room. It’s some minutes before he spoke again, quieter this time; Theo, on his knees by the fire, hardly heard him.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Didn’t know they hired men for that kind of work.” There was a particular strain in the stranger’s voice when asked to repeat himself, especially at an audible volume.

“Sure they do.” Theo’s hands work quickly- he’s nearly done with the fire, it should be some time before it burns low enough to need attention. “Though they mostly keep me around to reach the top shelves- something in the water, kept all the womenfolk short.”

The stranger laughed. Theo smiled, snickering softly to himself at his own joke. Humor usually softened even the most brutal of clients, and it helped that the stranger’s laugh was as handsome as his face. Shame he hadn’t been looking for company. There’s a moment of warm silence before the stranger spoke again.

“They keep you around for anything else?”

Oh? Perhaps Theo had misjudged…

“Muckin’, cookin’, the usual sort of stuff, yeah.” Theo stood, first brushing off his knees, then his hands- it didn’t do to have dark spots on his trousers. He missed the stranger’s appreciative look to his bent-over body. Theo kept his voice casual- it wouldn’t do to trust his gut on this one. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“Hmm.” As Theo passes by the bath, eyes averted, a dripping hand comes up quick as lightning to take his wrist. It’s not a crushing grip, just a firm one- with the promise of more, if needed. “Stay, boy. I think I might get more out of you than reachin’ high shelves.”

A delightful shiver runs through Theo’s body, and he returns the stranger’s simmering gaze with a slow smile. “I hope you know what you paid for.”

—————————————————

Good evening cowpokes! I hope it’s treating you well. Find my kinks and limits below, and send me a DM should you be interested in writing together.

This prompt is open, and to all genders.

Some kinks: softness, breeding, breathplay, bondage/predicament bondage, name calling, degradation & praise, fondly condescending doms, non/dubcon, pup play, voyeurism, age gaps, light humiliation, power differentials, being exposed or fucked in front of a crowd, overcoming reluctance, seduction, genuine romantic gestures, a balance of soft and rough, and many more I can’t remember.

Limits: extreme gore, shit, underage characters, solely cruel/degrading characters.