Sex, Emergency Exits, and Plan Bs

By James Cox

When death was near, a man in clockwork wings saved his life...

The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners. The Gentlemen brothers lived in such an airship with their father until the night men came to steal them.

Logan Gentlemen thought he lost his family that night. Despite the age or class difference, he fell in love with Lucius, the man that saved his life. Logan fears the lust is one-sided—after all, who wants sex with him and his mechanical arm? That thought is soon shattered by a passionate kiss. As Logan and Lucius try to figure out their feelings, they discover the horrible truth about the past.

Traitors lurk in the palace. Lies grow between the new lovers. And at the end of it all, it’s brother vs. brother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Jun 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781772338980

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2016 James Cox

ISBN: 978-1-77233-898-0

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Carlene Flores

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To my readers, thank you for your messages, your reviews and your support. It means the world to me. Enjoy!

A Bit o’ Help with Steampunk Slang:

Barmy or Nutter: crazy

Bounder: dishonorable man

Dandy: stylish man, an insult

Dodgy: dangerous

Flue: chimney

Gack: mess

Git: stupid, childish

Gobsmacked: astounded, astonished

Grub: food

Three Penny Upright: prostitute

Toff: rich or upper class person

Tosser: obnoxious, usually a male

Social Order in the New World:

King Albert Edward and Queen Alexandra

Lord and Ladies – Land owners. High class.

Detectives – Law men and women. Middle class.

Citizens—Those without land who live in Dirigibles. Low class.

The world as we know it according to me father…

The world used to be an amazing place. Trees that changed color, snow and rain used to pile on the ground, rivers ran through forests where little boys played, and there was enough land to hold millions of people. Then one day, the ground rumbled and shook. Big holes opened up—in the woods, in towns, and the beautiful cliffs that hugged the ocean crashed down. The water gobbled up everything in its path. A wave rose, higher than most mountains, and when it finally returned to the ocean, there wasn’t much left. The people who survived cried for those lost as they scrambled to lay claim on the last of the land. Some people, the very smart ones, started to build. They used whatever they could and created ships that didn’t float on the sea but glided in the air. Many people bought those dirigibles to survive and avoid the big battles for land.

The earth never gave back what it took.

And so, the survivors of the Great Wave of 1848 continued on. The wealthy or ruthless claimed whatever land was left, only the highest mountain peaks remained. The poor folk, like us, found ourselves a dirigible and took to the sky. Over the years, the land never returned, but humans carried on. We created ourselves trade and work in the skies, some on the rich man’s land. Of course, there were always dangers. My three favorite boys in the world. Remember that. When the sun goes down, stay hidden, stay quiet and never, ever let go of each other.

SEX, EMERGENCY EXITS, AND PLAN Bs

The Gentlemen Brothers, 2

James Cox

Copyright © 2016

Prologue

I wanted the cookie. Alex always got the damn things. He was only a year younger than me at eleven, and he was given everything. It wasn’t fair! So, I waited for Alex to look away before snatching that yummy, round sweet grub out of his hand. The git got all wide-eyed and teary. Years ago I flew over the railing, caught only the net to keep from plunging into the water below us, and I didn’t shed a tear. Alex was a baby, crying over a bloody cookie. Maybe that’s why they gave him all the good stuff. I sunk me teeth into the treat as Alex stormed out of the room. A room I had to share with him and our older brother, Joshua. I didn’t mind them too much but because of our father’s work lately, we’d been cooped up in the bloody dirigible. I took in large bites until all that was left were crumbs. I brushed me hands together over me brother’s bed. If he got bugs it’d just make me day. Then I laid on me bed, staring at the ceiling.

Logan.

I groaned. I can’t believe you told on me. I wiped me mouth with the back of me hand to make sure there was no evidence. He couldn’t prove a thing and Father said without proof there was nothing. Like all those stories people say to scare us. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was twelve, telling me stories about missing kids and fire breathing dragons was just … lame.

You ate it?

No, I shoved it up me arse. Of course I bloody ate the cookie. But I couldn’t say that to Joshua. Father could curse but when I said it, everybody was gobsmacked.

The next cookie is his.

No. Why should it be? He got all the treats.

Don’t be a… Joshua paused and his eyes went a bit wide. Logan, take Alexander.

I sat up and crossed me arms. No. I was always stuck with Alex.

We’ll teach you new words later, Joshua joked, but he didn’t grin.

Me brother sounded … worried. I reached out and pulled Alex to me and he stared up with his lips pinched. You ate me cookie, he said, hands at his sides as Joshua rushed out of the room.

Because you never share. I wanted the cookie and they gave it to you.

Alex’s angry expression softened. Next time I’ll break it in half.

Bloody hell, now I felt bad. Fine. I held him close.

Father? Joshua spoke from the stairs. I heard them creak, the second to last one did that for everybody but Alex. Father? Then Joshua came flying down the stairs so fast I thought he’d fall and break his nose.

That’d be pretty funny. I wanted to see what he looked like with his nose all crooked. I was about to tell him that but his eyes went so wide I thought they’d pop right out of his head.

What is it? What’s bloody wrong? Where was Father?

Watch your mouth. He nearly spat the words. Joshua was never angry. Even when I was being a right foul git to Alex, Joshua just joked and talked all calm-like. Something was very wrong. To the backdoor now.

The … the backdoor? That was our emergency exit. Father installed it in case we ever had to leave the dirigible without him. I couldn’t catch me breath as Alex pushed away from me and faced the door to our bedroom. The one Joshua closed and I guess locked. What was beyond it?

I said now! Joshua ran past me to the small trapdoor between our beds. Get it started and strap Alexander in. Bloody hell.

Did he just … he just cursed? He said bloody. He didn’t say bloody. I’d never heard him say that. What was going on? Terror made me clench me hands into fists and I couldn’t stop the tremor that ran through me body.

And where do you think you’re going?

I jerked me head to the stranger’s voice. There was a strange man on our dirigible. Where was Father? Where was he?

Joshua slammed the door shut to our bedroom and engaged the clockwork lock Father created. The one I broke last week by stuffing in a bit of vegetable I didn’t want to eat.

Run, Alexander. Joshua gave our little brother a push. He was so much smaller that the shove nearly sent him sprawling onto his face.

I ran toward them.

Get inside! Joshua yelled, pointing to the door that led to our only escape.

What were we escaping from? I’m not leaving without you.

Father always said to stick together. I didn’t care if Alex ate all the cookies. He and Joshua were me brothers, I loved them but I promised not to tell them that. Joshua placed a hand on each of our backs and pushed us forward. That was when there was a horrible noise from behind us. A creaking followed by a small explosion and then the snapping