Pleasures of the Mighty 7/?
Title: Pleasures of the Mighty 7/?
Rating: Mostly R, but some later chapters will be NC-17
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong/Junsu and implied Yoochun/Changmin
Disclaimer: If they were mine, I'd make them my slaves.
Summary: On ShinKi, slaves give you prestige, honor and a convenient hole to fuck. But Jung Yunho has never owned a slave. Heir to the Jung Empire, he has refused to follow standard practices and refused his father's wishes to follow the family tradition of political leadership.
But then his best friend Yoochun drags him to the slave traders, and sees the most beautiful man. When Yoochun shows an interest in buying him, Yunho is determined to keep the beauty out of his sadistic friend's bedroom.
It's a simple purchase, but soon, as he learns more and more about Jaejoong and his world Doushite, Yunho finds himself looking for answers buried deep in the anti-political underworld.
Poster Credit goes to my darling tarta (trshakespeare). I ♥♥♥ You!
Part 7: The Pressure
Yunho spent the weekend reading everything about Doushite. Jae had to pull him away from his computer to eat and to sleep.
There were eight royal families on Doushite; Jaejoong’s family controlled the most land, and had the largest population under their rule. The Shim family was next in amount of land owned, and according to the records, Jaejoong was betrothed to Changmin’s younger sister.
Angel was amazing. He had copies of transmittals, memos, company letters. Voice recordings of phone calls and conferences. Minutes from business meetings. Plans for attack and strategic maneuvers for barricades. Inventories of everything taken from Doushite and what it was turned into or used for. There were even lists of the death tolls, names of the deceased where available, and the number of Doushitens known to be sold into slavery.
There were so many videos. Videos of the initial landing and treaties and meetings. And then videos of the raids and murders and rapes of more than just Jaejoong’s family. And there were videos of what was happening now. Doushitens forced to work in gold mines, whipped beaten, raped. Yunho didn’t watch those. What kind of sick fuck made an official recording of him raping someone?
Monday morning, he stopped at Yoona’s desk and swallowed. “Yoona, do me a favor? Call Senator Bi’s secretary and let her know that I’d like to speak with him as soon as possible.”
Yoona nodded. “Sure thing, Yunho.” She didn’t quite meet his eyes.
“Yoona, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Na-Na.”
She looked up and blushed and said, “Is it true that you’re going to buy another slave?”
His eyebrows rose.
“It’s none of my business, Yunho. I’m sorry.”
Yunho sat on the edge of her desk. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Why?” And then she covered her mouth with a little eep.
Yunho debated. He trusted Yoona with his business affairs. Could he trust her with his personal ones?
“I always told my friends that there was no need for slaves and to look at you, who is the most sought after bachelor and you didn’t have slaves and now you’ll have two and I thought … I thought … I’m sorry, Yunho.”
Yunho grinned. “First off, Na-Na, I bought Hero out of a weird need to protect him from Yoochun, who was going to buy him, and you’ve seen how he treats his slaves.”
Yoona shivered.
“And second, I have a very specific slave in mind to buy right now, and it’s for similar purposes. I don’t use them for sex, or force them to work. Hero reads and studies. He cooks and cleans no matter how much I tell him not to, but he says he gets bored. If I could, I’d let him go to school.”
“I’m sorry I …”
“Stop it, Na-Na. Do everything you can to get Senator Bi to talk to me.”
“Okay.”
~}|{~
Yunho didn’t hear from Bi until Wednesday. He was about to leave for lunch when Yoona buzzed him and said, “Yunho-shi, Senator Bi is here to see you.”
Yunho’s eyes went wide. He checked everything to make sure his office was clean. He straightened his tie.
“Send him in, Yoona.”
The door opened, and Bi entered followed by Junsu on a metal leash. He wore tight blue jeans and an even tighter white wife beater. The two didn’t meet, a strip of skin showing off hipbones, abs and a pierced navel.
Yunho bowed. “You honor me, Senator. A phone call would have been sufficient.”
“I’m not imposing.” And his tone brooked no room for argument. He was Senator Bi, of course, his visit wasn’t imposing on anything Yunho had planned.
“The matter is not so imperative that a meeting was necessary. I hope this is not inconvenient for you.”
The Senator smiled. “I was nearby and remembered my secretary saying you wished to talk to me.”
“Please sit. Would you like tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yunho told Yoona to bring tea. The Senator sat, and Junsu kneeled next to the chair, not looking up. They talked of small things, business deals, the upcoming political election, Bi’s wife and children, when Yunho thought of marrying.
It wasn’t until after tea, that Bi asked, “So, what is it that you wanted to talk about, Yunho?”
Yunho sighed and looked at everything but Junsu. You can do this, Jung. Casual. Firm. At least get the idea in his head.
“You are aware that I’ve been shopping for a new slave.”
Bi smiled widely. “Yes, I’m very proud of you.”
“Well, it was at your party that I decided that one just wasn’t enough.”
“Oh, and you won’t be satisfied with two either. Before you know it, you’ll be backing me in my bid to change the law that allows you to have more than five slaves.”
Yunho forced a smile. “More than five? I’d have to move into a bigger place.”
“Yes, you would. Sources tell me that you’ve been unsatisfied with the choices from the traders and those offered to you.”
Yunho nodded. “It’s really hard, because Hero is perfect. I am constantly comparing the slaves to him.”
Bi sighed. “I wish I had your Hero. I would never let him out of my sight.”
“It’s difficult,” Yunho said. “I’d bring him to work, but I fear he’d be too much of a distraction. I don’t mind going home to him.”
“So what does this have to do with me, Yunho?”
“First, gratitude for inviting me to your party, and second.” Yunho nodded his head toward Junsu on the floor. “The only slave I’ve seen who is close to Hero’s perfection.”
The glitter in Bi’s eyes disappeared and he looked down at Junsu. “You can’t be serious.”
“Nothing I’ve been offered or seen matches his physique and demeanor.”
“Which is why I purchased him.”
Yunho sighed. “I am not looking forward to scouring the slave traders again. Those guys are pushy.”
Bi chuckled. “You wished to talk to me to offer to buy my slave?”
“Untoward, I know, but really, nothing else has even begun to interest me.”
“And what else can you interest me with, Yunho?”
Yunho fought back a cheer. That wasn’t a no. “I’m assuming you mean besides money.”
“Of course.”
“What do you want?”
Bi was quiet, calculating.
“Everything has a price, Senator.” Yunho held his breath.
“Yes, it does.” He stood up, the quick movement startling Junsu and jerking his neck. “Oh, sorry, pet.”
Yunho fought back a whimper as Bi caressed Junsu’s neck and placed a kiss against the red mark left by the metal leash.
“I will think of your request, and contact you before the end of the week.”
“Thank you for considering it, Senator.”
~}|{~
Yunho was a mess the next two days. Angel didn’t call, the Senator didn’t call. Jae was distant. Their occasional kisses stopped. Yunho barely noticed that Jae slept in his own bed the night before. Yunho refused to go running, or even eat anything more than coffee and toast. He spent most of the day pacing in his office, or pacing at home. Words were only spoken if they needed to be.
Friday night found Yunho wearing a tract in his hardwood floors. Five steps, about face, five more.
He almost had a heart attack when his phone rang, loud in the permeable silence of his condo.
“Yes,” he snapped into the receiver.
“Jung Yunho, a pleasure.”
“Se-Senator. Thank you for calling me.” Yunho’s heart was racing.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” There was a leer in his voice, and Yunho fought to calm his erratic breathing.
“No, Senator. I was exercising.”
“Good, good. Physical fitness is very important.”
“I agree.”
“I have a proposition for you, Yunho.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have been thinking over your request to purchase my Dolphin. I have had him a few months, and while he is pretty, he’s not quite what I need, so I believe we can come to deal.”
“I cannot tell you how happy that makes me,” Yunho said, knowing that the senator wasn’t through yet.
“He is gorgeous, but I also don’t want you to be dissatisfied. I feel that it would be best if you tried him out for a night, just to make sure he is what you need.”
Yunho stammered out a negation.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Yunho. This is going to be a huge investment for you. You should want to be sure.”
A huge investment meant that Bi was going to charge him at least twice what most slaves cost.
“You’re right,” Yunho said, mouth going dry.
“I know. But I do have one little request.”
“Yes?”
“Let me have your Hero. Just for a night.”
A definite protest was on the tip of his tongue.
“If you allow it, I’ll see that the price for my Dolphin is more reasonable.”
Yunho sighed. Looking at the ceiling for a moment. When he looked back down, Jaejoong was leaning against the wall watching him.
“Senator, can you hold on for just one minute?”
“Of course, Yunho.”
Yunho covered the speaker on the phone and then licked his dry lips. “Bi is willing to sell me Junsu, but he wants a night with you.”
Jaejoong’s eyes widened in shock, and then he shrugged. “Okay.”
“Okay, what do you mean okay?”
“Okay usually means that I’m agreeing to something.”
“But Jae-“
Jae smiled. “It’s okay, Yunho. I know how much you love him, and if I can help you get him, then I’ll consider part of my debt paid to you.”
“You don’t owe-”
“The Senator is waiting.”
Yunho frowned, but put the phone back to his ear. “Senator, that is a perfect idea. What night works best for you?”
“With the thought of your gorgeous pet in my bed, I’d say as soon as possible. How about tomorrow night?”
Yunho swallowed another lump in his throat. “Tomorrow night is fine.”
“Very well. I will be there at six.”
Yunho ended the call, and then stared, eyes wide at his phone. Tomorrow. He was going to get to see and talk to Junsu again tomorrow.
There was a derisive sniff. Yunho jerked up, but Jae had left the room.
“Jae?”
“What?”
Yunho went after him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I’m doing it for you.”
“You don’t owe me-“
“Shut up, Yunho,” Jae said, back to him. “I owe you more than you can imagine and this will only nick the balance of it.”
“But Bi is … well, he’s not as bad as Yoochun, but he’s going to hurt you and fuck you and -”
Yunho spun Jae around and hugged him tightly. It was really the first time he’d held Jae in almost two days.
Jae smiled against his skin. “You’re acting like I’m a virgin. Don’t worry. I can handle one night of it.”
Yunho held him more tightly. Tomorrow, could he hold Junsu like this? So tightly that their bodies were one? He hoped so. God, he hoped so.
“I’m sorry, Jae,” Yunho whispered. “I’ve been a dick the last few days.”
Jaejoong scoffed. “Yes, you have.”
“This is the first time in my life where everything has been so uncertain. Fuck, I wasn’t this nervous when I left my father and started my own advertising company.”
Jaejoong leaned away and after a brief peck on the lips said, “Would you like some advice?”
“Sure.”
“Junsu loved you once, I’m sure, but he’s not going to be the same as the boy who was taken from you.”
Yunho opened his mouth and Jae shook his head. “Just listen. Please.”
“Yes, master,” Yunho muttered and Jae smiled briefly before smacking Yunho’s shoulder and continuing.
“I know you like to think you know this,” Jae whispered, “but Junsu is different. He’s been beat down. You can see it in his eyes, Yunho. He may have been strong at one point, but he’s been at different men’s mercy for the last seven years. It affects you. It hurts. It …” Jae bit his lip. “You may have seen defiance when you bought me-”
Yunho flinched.
“-but everyone has a mask they hide their pain behind.” Jae shivered. “I will never, ever forget the first time I was raped. I won’t. It took something from me. I had been arrogant and proud. That first man enjoyed showing me I was little better than a piece of property.”
Yunho tightened his hold, but Jae put his hand on Yunho’s chest and kept eye contact. “Junsu has been doing this for seven years. He’s not going to be the same Junsu.”
Yunho’s eyes shut. “Yoochun …” He swallowed. “Yoochun said that he probably didn’t want me anymore.”
Jae scoffed. “Your best friend is a bastard.”
“I know. I’m so afraid, Jae. So very, very afraid. For him, and for you and what … what if he doesn’t want me anymore?”
Jae didn’t stop the hug this time. “If he doesn’t want you,” Jae whispered, “can I have you?”
Yunho held his breath, pushed Jae far enough away to meet his eyes. Deep, black eyes. A glimmer of fear, nervousness, and Yunho knew that Jae thought he was going to reject him.
Yunho kissed him, hard, insistent. Jaejoong meeped in surprise, but returned the kiss. Yunho pushed him back until Jae’s knees connected with the couch and they both fell. Jae’s breath was knocked away, but Yunho didn’t let him recover, kissing him harder, biting at his lips and sucking on his tongue. Jae moaned and arched up.
An aggravated growl tore from Yunho’s throat as erections pressed together. Jae broke away with a hiss. Yunho moved lips and teeth to his neck. Hands dug at his back muscles, tugging on his shirt, trying to get it over his head. Yunho moved enough to let the offending material slide over his head.
He had hands at the hem of Jae’s shirt when his phone rang. Another growl of frustration, but he ignored the call.
After the third call, Jae chuckled and whispered, “It’s probably important.”
“I don’t care,” Yunho muttered, lips attached to Jae’s neck.
“Yes, you do.”
Yunho sighed, body no where near calm pressed up against Jae. He looked over at where his phone had fallen to the floor. Too far away to reach for it.
It shrilled again, and Yunho got up.
“What do you want?” he demanded into it.
“I want you to answer your damn phone,” Heechul’s voice said.
“I just did. What?”
“Man, what the fuck, Yunho?”
Yunho took a deep berath. “Sorry,” he said, voice lower, “this is a very bad time.”
“Perfect time,” Heechul said. “Angel will be there in five minutes.”
“What?”
But Heechul had hung up.
“God damn it!” Yunho shouted, and almost threw his phone across the room.
Arms wrapped around his waist. Lips pressed against his bare shoulder.
“That was Heechul. Angel will be here in five minutes.”
“I’ll go make something to eat.”
Yunho shut his eyes as Jae’s body left his, his hands trailing along his sides. Yunho retrieved his shirt where it had landed behind the couch. He paced until his doorbell rang. He stalked to the door and flung it open.
Angel, looking fabulous in a white t shirt and black jeans, smiled at him. “Bad time?”
Yunho let him in. “Yes.”
He said something in Doushiten, and Yunho had to shut his eyes as he tried to remember what those words meant. Something about Jaejoong.
“Kitchen,” Yunho said, and then at Angel’s disappointed look, he said it in Doushiten.
Angel smiled. “You suck at it.”
“I’ve only been learning for three weeks. Give me a break.”
Angel laughed and made his way to the kitchen. Yunho followed. Angel and Jae greeted each other in Doushiten and then had a rapid conversation. Yunho only understood his name and the fact that Angel seemed pissed off, and that Jae was trying to reassure him. And then Jae slammed his spoon on the counter and practically shouted something, his eyes blazing, and Yunho’s breath caught at the power behind it. If nothing else convinced him of Jae’s royal status, that did.
“Whatever,” Angel said and sat at the table.
Yunho sighed and muttered, “I’m not even going to ask.”
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
“Your father is holding a press conference regarding the ‘exploration’ of Soshi, and I want you to be there.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t expect you to say anything. Just show your face. The media will eat it up and take away some of the spotlight from your father. It will piss him off to no end.”
“And wait. Exploration of Soshi. What is Soshi?”
“Think of it as the next Doushite. There are already battle ships in orbit, and negotiations with the locals on terms of trade. Soshi is a space faring race though, more technologically advanced than Doushite by a long shot. But they’re out gunned by us. It would be a space war and a land war. It’ll end up costing ShinKi more money than it’s worth, but pride will keep them attacking.”
“But they’re not attacking, just trading.”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Did you learn nothing from the information Heenim gave you?”
Yunho scoffed. “Heenim?”
Angel ignored that. “It’s only a matter of time before it starts.”
“Okay, so you want me to go. When is it?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Yunho shook his head. “Nope. Sorry. Not happening.”
“Why?”
“Because I just got off the phone with Bi and I’m going to be-”
“Don’t tell him, Yunho,” Jae said. “He’s just going to get mad again.”
Angel looked at them both and then crossed his arms. “Heechul says you’re buying Junsu back.”
“Yes.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Look, Teukkie-“ Yunho ignores his glare -“you can’t just think you have control over my life because of this, alright? I already have something planned tomorrow that is way more important than anything else in my life.”
Angel shook his head. “Fine. Then be at the one on Monday.”
“There are two?”
Angel shrugged. “It’s ShinKi. They like to brag about themselves as often as they can.”
“What time is the one on Monday?”
“One.”
“Okay. I’ll let my secretary know tomorrow.”
Two plates of food landed in front of them. Yunho grabbed chopsticks, but Angel stared at the food, sniffed, and then turned to Jaejoong.
“Just eat it,” Jae said, as he brought his own plate of food to the table.
“Jae is a great cook,” Yunho said.
“You shouldn’t be exploiting him like this,” Angel said.
Yunho choked on his food. “Exploiting him? I dare you to try to get him to stop cooking. He likes doing it. If you even suggest ordering take out within his hearing range, he goes ballistic.”
“It’s not right,” Angel said. “He’s a royal-”
Jae started talking in Doushiten, pointing his chopsticks at Angel in his vehemence. After a few moments, Jae said, “Now, eat.”
Angel grumbled, but picked up his chopsticks and ate.
Jae met Yunho’s eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that Yunho isn’t a bastard toward me, Angel. He doesn’t make me cook or clean. He doesn’t whip me or hit me. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not wearing any Jung Family tokens. I only wear those when we leave the house. And shit, Angel, this guy’s will power is insane. He’s had plenty of opportunities to throw me on his bed or on the floor or over the table and fuck me, but he hasn’t.”
Yunho’s face was hot. He kept his eyes on his plate, but he shifted, because fifteen minutes ago, he was ready to fuck Jae. On the couch. He sighed.
“That sigh means he wants to,” Angel snapped.
Jae smirked. “So? If I’m willing, that doesn’t make it wrong, does it?”
Yunho’s head jerked up and he met Jaejoong’s eyes. He was smiling. Coyly. And very deliberately, he licked his chopsticks.
Angel glowered at his food.
Jaejoong said something in Doushiten that made Angel’s face darken further, but then he mumbled an affirmation that Yunho understood.
Jae smiled and answered Yunho’s unasked question. “I pulled rank on him.”
Yunho laughed.
“Shut up,” Angel said. “You should be groveling at his feet.”
“I hate to break it to you,” Yunho said, “but I’m not Doushiten. I don’t have to worship him.”
“But you want to,” Jae said. He dropped his chin and stared at Yunho from under hooded eyes.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Knock it off.”
Jae laughed. “But it’s so much fun.”
~}|{~
Later that night, Yunho stared at his ceiling again, trying to see past the darkness. Jae lay next to him, close, but not touching. Yunho couldn’t tell if he was awake or asleep. Sleep alluded Yunho. Every time he shut his eyes, he was plagued by images of Junsu. The images made his heart race. Worry coursed through him. Hundreds of versions of “What if he doesn’t want me?” ran through his mind.
How would their night run out?
Yunho remembered their last night together, laying in bed, sweat cooling, lips kissing, and laughing because Junsu had almost fallen off the bed, a little to eager to climb on Yunho’s lap. Junsu’s smile, the way his eyes shone, their breaths mingling under the blanket as they talked; it was one of Yunho’s favorite memories of him.
And then he thought of Junsu now. Empty eyes, emotionless face. His heart ached. A pained noise escaped him. God, he just wanted to hold him again, hold him and never let him go.
“Are you still awake?” Jae whispered and shifted.
Yunho didn’t reply.
Jae rose to hands and looked down at him. “You need to sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“There’s some medication-”
Yunho shook his head.
Jae frowned, and then bit his lip. Very carefully he said, “There are more … physical ways to get you to relax.”
Yunho had no idea what he meant, until Jae’s hand landed low on his stomach. Fingers dug into the muscles. Yunho’s breath caught, and his eyes shut as his body responded. But as the hand moved lower, Yunho knew he couldn’t do this. It wasn’t Jae’s hand on his body. It was Junsu’s and Junsu’s breath in the quiet and his body moving closer.
Yunho snatched Jae’s wrist.
Jae hissed from the pressure.
“Sorry,” Yunho said, “but no. I … just no.”
Jae sighed. “Please try to sleep.”
Yunho stayed silent, not trusting himself to talk and not say something cruel.
Jae moved away from him, almost to the edge of the bed, and curled on his side, back facing Yunho.
Yunho sighed in the silence. He shut his eyes and took deep breaths, willing his body to relax.
Part 8: The Puppet
Part 6: The Politics
Part 5: The Party
Part 4: The Proposition
Part 3: The Problem
Part 2: The Prince
Part 1: The Purchase
.
Rating: Mostly R, but some later chapters will be NC-17
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong/Junsu and implied Yoochun/Changmin
Disclaimer: If they were mine, I'd make them my slaves.
Summary: On ShinKi, slaves give you prestige, honor and a convenient hole to fuck. But Jung Yunho has never owned a slave. Heir to the Jung Empire, he has refused to follow standard practices and refused his father's wishes to follow the family tradition of political leadership.
But then his best friend Yoochun drags him to the slave traders, and sees the most beautiful man. When Yoochun shows an interest in buying him, Yunho is determined to keep the beauty out of his sadistic friend's bedroom.
It's a simple purchase, but soon, as he learns more and more about Jaejoong and his world Doushite, Yunho finds himself looking for answers buried deep in the anti-political underworld.
Poster Credit goes to my darling tarta (trshakespeare). I ♥♥♥ You!
Part 7: The Pressure
Yunho spent the weekend reading everything about Doushite. Jae had to pull him away from his computer to eat and to sleep.
There were eight royal families on Doushite; Jaejoong’s family controlled the most land, and had the largest population under their rule. The Shim family was next in amount of land owned, and according to the records, Jaejoong was betrothed to Changmin’s younger sister.
Angel was amazing. He had copies of transmittals, memos, company letters. Voice recordings of phone calls and conferences. Minutes from business meetings. Plans for attack and strategic maneuvers for barricades. Inventories of everything taken from Doushite and what it was turned into or used for. There were even lists of the death tolls, names of the deceased where available, and the number of Doushitens known to be sold into slavery.
There were so many videos. Videos of the initial landing and treaties and meetings. And then videos of the raids and murders and rapes of more than just Jaejoong’s family. And there were videos of what was happening now. Doushitens forced to work in gold mines, whipped beaten, raped. Yunho didn’t watch those. What kind of sick fuck made an official recording of him raping someone?
Monday morning, he stopped at Yoona’s desk and swallowed. “Yoona, do me a favor? Call Senator Bi’s secretary and let her know that I’d like to speak with him as soon as possible.”
Yoona nodded. “Sure thing, Yunho.” She didn’t quite meet his eyes.
“Yoona, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Na-Na.”
She looked up and blushed and said, “Is it true that you’re going to buy another slave?”
His eyebrows rose.
“It’s none of my business, Yunho. I’m sorry.”
Yunho sat on the edge of her desk. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Why?” And then she covered her mouth with a little eep.
Yunho debated. He trusted Yoona with his business affairs. Could he trust her with his personal ones?
“I always told my friends that there was no need for slaves and to look at you, who is the most sought after bachelor and you didn’t have slaves and now you’ll have two and I thought … I thought … I’m sorry, Yunho.”
Yunho grinned. “First off, Na-Na, I bought Hero out of a weird need to protect him from Yoochun, who was going to buy him, and you’ve seen how he treats his slaves.”
Yoona shivered.
“And second, I have a very specific slave in mind to buy right now, and it’s for similar purposes. I don’t use them for sex, or force them to work. Hero reads and studies. He cooks and cleans no matter how much I tell him not to, but he says he gets bored. If I could, I’d let him go to school.”
“I’m sorry I …”
“Stop it, Na-Na. Do everything you can to get Senator Bi to talk to me.”
“Okay.”
~}|{~
Yunho didn’t hear from Bi until Wednesday. He was about to leave for lunch when Yoona buzzed him and said, “Yunho-shi, Senator Bi is here to see you.”
Yunho’s eyes went wide. He checked everything to make sure his office was clean. He straightened his tie.
“Send him in, Yoona.”
The door opened, and Bi entered followed by Junsu on a metal leash. He wore tight blue jeans and an even tighter white wife beater. The two didn’t meet, a strip of skin showing off hipbones, abs and a pierced navel.
Yunho bowed. “You honor me, Senator. A phone call would have been sufficient.”
“I’m not imposing.” And his tone brooked no room for argument. He was Senator Bi, of course, his visit wasn’t imposing on anything Yunho had planned.
“The matter is not so imperative that a meeting was necessary. I hope this is not inconvenient for you.”
The Senator smiled. “I was nearby and remembered my secretary saying you wished to talk to me.”
“Please sit. Would you like tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yunho told Yoona to bring tea. The Senator sat, and Junsu kneeled next to the chair, not looking up. They talked of small things, business deals, the upcoming political election, Bi’s wife and children, when Yunho thought of marrying.
It wasn’t until after tea, that Bi asked, “So, what is it that you wanted to talk about, Yunho?”
Yunho sighed and looked at everything but Junsu. You can do this, Jung. Casual. Firm. At least get the idea in his head.
“You are aware that I’ve been shopping for a new slave.”
Bi smiled widely. “Yes, I’m very proud of you.”
“Well, it was at your party that I decided that one just wasn’t enough.”
“Oh, and you won’t be satisfied with two either. Before you know it, you’ll be backing me in my bid to change the law that allows you to have more than five slaves.”
Yunho forced a smile. “More than five? I’d have to move into a bigger place.”
“Yes, you would. Sources tell me that you’ve been unsatisfied with the choices from the traders and those offered to you.”
Yunho nodded. “It’s really hard, because Hero is perfect. I am constantly comparing the slaves to him.”
Bi sighed. “I wish I had your Hero. I would never let him out of my sight.”
“It’s difficult,” Yunho said. “I’d bring him to work, but I fear he’d be too much of a distraction. I don’t mind going home to him.”
“So what does this have to do with me, Yunho?”
“First, gratitude for inviting me to your party, and second.” Yunho nodded his head toward Junsu on the floor. “The only slave I’ve seen who is close to Hero’s perfection.”
The glitter in Bi’s eyes disappeared and he looked down at Junsu. “You can’t be serious.”
“Nothing I’ve been offered or seen matches his physique and demeanor.”
“Which is why I purchased him.”
Yunho sighed. “I am not looking forward to scouring the slave traders again. Those guys are pushy.”
Bi chuckled. “You wished to talk to me to offer to buy my slave?”
“Untoward, I know, but really, nothing else has even begun to interest me.”
“And what else can you interest me with, Yunho?”
Yunho fought back a cheer. That wasn’t a no. “I’m assuming you mean besides money.”
“Of course.”
“What do you want?”
Bi was quiet, calculating.
“Everything has a price, Senator.” Yunho held his breath.
“Yes, it does.” He stood up, the quick movement startling Junsu and jerking his neck. “Oh, sorry, pet.”
Yunho fought back a whimper as Bi caressed Junsu’s neck and placed a kiss against the red mark left by the metal leash.
“I will think of your request, and contact you before the end of the week.”
“Thank you for considering it, Senator.”
~}|{~
Yunho was a mess the next two days. Angel didn’t call, the Senator didn’t call. Jae was distant. Their occasional kisses stopped. Yunho barely noticed that Jae slept in his own bed the night before. Yunho refused to go running, or even eat anything more than coffee and toast. He spent most of the day pacing in his office, or pacing at home. Words were only spoken if they needed to be.
Friday night found Yunho wearing a tract in his hardwood floors. Five steps, about face, five more.
He almost had a heart attack when his phone rang, loud in the permeable silence of his condo.
“Yes,” he snapped into the receiver.
“Jung Yunho, a pleasure.”
“Se-Senator. Thank you for calling me.” Yunho’s heart was racing.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” There was a leer in his voice, and Yunho fought to calm his erratic breathing.
“No, Senator. I was exercising.”
“Good, good. Physical fitness is very important.”
“I agree.”
“I have a proposition for you, Yunho.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have been thinking over your request to purchase my Dolphin. I have had him a few months, and while he is pretty, he’s not quite what I need, so I believe we can come to deal.”
“I cannot tell you how happy that makes me,” Yunho said, knowing that the senator wasn’t through yet.
“He is gorgeous, but I also don’t want you to be dissatisfied. I feel that it would be best if you tried him out for a night, just to make sure he is what you need.”
Yunho stammered out a negation.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Yunho. This is going to be a huge investment for you. You should want to be sure.”
A huge investment meant that Bi was going to charge him at least twice what most slaves cost.
“You’re right,” Yunho said, mouth going dry.
“I know. But I do have one little request.”
“Yes?”
“Let me have your Hero. Just for a night.”
A definite protest was on the tip of his tongue.
“If you allow it, I’ll see that the price for my Dolphin is more reasonable.”
Yunho sighed. Looking at the ceiling for a moment. When he looked back down, Jaejoong was leaning against the wall watching him.
“Senator, can you hold on for just one minute?”
“Of course, Yunho.”
Yunho covered the speaker on the phone and then licked his dry lips. “Bi is willing to sell me Junsu, but he wants a night with you.”
Jaejoong’s eyes widened in shock, and then he shrugged. “Okay.”
“Okay, what do you mean okay?”
“Okay usually means that I’m agreeing to something.”
“But Jae-“
Jae smiled. “It’s okay, Yunho. I know how much you love him, and if I can help you get him, then I’ll consider part of my debt paid to you.”
“You don’t owe-”
“The Senator is waiting.”
Yunho frowned, but put the phone back to his ear. “Senator, that is a perfect idea. What night works best for you?”
“With the thought of your gorgeous pet in my bed, I’d say as soon as possible. How about tomorrow night?”
Yunho swallowed another lump in his throat. “Tomorrow night is fine.”
“Very well. I will be there at six.”
Yunho ended the call, and then stared, eyes wide at his phone. Tomorrow. He was going to get to see and talk to Junsu again tomorrow.
There was a derisive sniff. Yunho jerked up, but Jae had left the room.
“Jae?”
“What?”
Yunho went after him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I’m doing it for you.”
“You don’t owe me-“
“Shut up, Yunho,” Jae said, back to him. “I owe you more than you can imagine and this will only nick the balance of it.”
“But Bi is … well, he’s not as bad as Yoochun, but he’s going to hurt you and fuck you and -”
Yunho spun Jae around and hugged him tightly. It was really the first time he’d held Jae in almost two days.
Jae smiled against his skin. “You’re acting like I’m a virgin. Don’t worry. I can handle one night of it.”
Yunho held him more tightly. Tomorrow, could he hold Junsu like this? So tightly that their bodies were one? He hoped so. God, he hoped so.
“I’m sorry, Jae,” Yunho whispered. “I’ve been a dick the last few days.”
Jaejoong scoffed. “Yes, you have.”
“This is the first time in my life where everything has been so uncertain. Fuck, I wasn’t this nervous when I left my father and started my own advertising company.”
Jaejoong leaned away and after a brief peck on the lips said, “Would you like some advice?”
“Sure.”
“Junsu loved you once, I’m sure, but he’s not going to be the same as the boy who was taken from you.”
Yunho opened his mouth and Jae shook his head. “Just listen. Please.”
“Yes, master,” Yunho muttered and Jae smiled briefly before smacking Yunho’s shoulder and continuing.
“I know you like to think you know this,” Jae whispered, “but Junsu is different. He’s been beat down. You can see it in his eyes, Yunho. He may have been strong at one point, but he’s been at different men’s mercy for the last seven years. It affects you. It hurts. It …” Jae bit his lip. “You may have seen defiance when you bought me-”
Yunho flinched.
“-but everyone has a mask they hide their pain behind.” Jae shivered. “I will never, ever forget the first time I was raped. I won’t. It took something from me. I had been arrogant and proud. That first man enjoyed showing me I was little better than a piece of property.”
Yunho tightened his hold, but Jae put his hand on Yunho’s chest and kept eye contact. “Junsu has been doing this for seven years. He’s not going to be the same Junsu.”
Yunho’s eyes shut. “Yoochun …” He swallowed. “Yoochun said that he probably didn’t want me anymore.”
Jae scoffed. “Your best friend is a bastard.”
“I know. I’m so afraid, Jae. So very, very afraid. For him, and for you and what … what if he doesn’t want me anymore?”
Jae didn’t stop the hug this time. “If he doesn’t want you,” Jae whispered, “can I have you?”
Yunho held his breath, pushed Jae far enough away to meet his eyes. Deep, black eyes. A glimmer of fear, nervousness, and Yunho knew that Jae thought he was going to reject him.
Yunho kissed him, hard, insistent. Jaejoong meeped in surprise, but returned the kiss. Yunho pushed him back until Jae’s knees connected with the couch and they both fell. Jae’s breath was knocked away, but Yunho didn’t let him recover, kissing him harder, biting at his lips and sucking on his tongue. Jae moaned and arched up.
An aggravated growl tore from Yunho’s throat as erections pressed together. Jae broke away with a hiss. Yunho moved lips and teeth to his neck. Hands dug at his back muscles, tugging on his shirt, trying to get it over his head. Yunho moved enough to let the offending material slide over his head.
He had hands at the hem of Jae’s shirt when his phone rang. Another growl of frustration, but he ignored the call.
After the third call, Jae chuckled and whispered, “It’s probably important.”
“I don’t care,” Yunho muttered, lips attached to Jae’s neck.
“Yes, you do.”
Yunho sighed, body no where near calm pressed up against Jae. He looked over at where his phone had fallen to the floor. Too far away to reach for it.
It shrilled again, and Yunho got up.
“What do you want?” he demanded into it.
“I want you to answer your damn phone,” Heechul’s voice said.
“I just did. What?”
“Man, what the fuck, Yunho?”
Yunho took a deep berath. “Sorry,” he said, voice lower, “this is a very bad time.”
“Perfect time,” Heechul said. “Angel will be there in five minutes.”
“What?”
But Heechul had hung up.
“God damn it!” Yunho shouted, and almost threw his phone across the room.
Arms wrapped around his waist. Lips pressed against his bare shoulder.
“That was Heechul. Angel will be here in five minutes.”
“I’ll go make something to eat.”
Yunho shut his eyes as Jae’s body left his, his hands trailing along his sides. Yunho retrieved his shirt where it had landed behind the couch. He paced until his doorbell rang. He stalked to the door and flung it open.
Angel, looking fabulous in a white t shirt and black jeans, smiled at him. “Bad time?”
Yunho let him in. “Yes.”
He said something in Doushiten, and Yunho had to shut his eyes as he tried to remember what those words meant. Something about Jaejoong.
“Kitchen,” Yunho said, and then at Angel’s disappointed look, he said it in Doushiten.
Angel smiled. “You suck at it.”
“I’ve only been learning for three weeks. Give me a break.”
Angel laughed and made his way to the kitchen. Yunho followed. Angel and Jae greeted each other in Doushiten and then had a rapid conversation. Yunho only understood his name and the fact that Angel seemed pissed off, and that Jae was trying to reassure him. And then Jae slammed his spoon on the counter and practically shouted something, his eyes blazing, and Yunho’s breath caught at the power behind it. If nothing else convinced him of Jae’s royal status, that did.
“Whatever,” Angel said and sat at the table.
Yunho sighed and muttered, “I’m not even going to ask.”
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
“Your father is holding a press conference regarding the ‘exploration’ of Soshi, and I want you to be there.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t expect you to say anything. Just show your face. The media will eat it up and take away some of the spotlight from your father. It will piss him off to no end.”
“And wait. Exploration of Soshi. What is Soshi?”
“Think of it as the next Doushite. There are already battle ships in orbit, and negotiations with the locals on terms of trade. Soshi is a space faring race though, more technologically advanced than Doushite by a long shot. But they’re out gunned by us. It would be a space war and a land war. It’ll end up costing ShinKi more money than it’s worth, but pride will keep them attacking.”
“But they’re not attacking, just trading.”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Did you learn nothing from the information Heenim gave you?”
Yunho scoffed. “Heenim?”
Angel ignored that. “It’s only a matter of time before it starts.”
“Okay, so you want me to go. When is it?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Yunho shook his head. “Nope. Sorry. Not happening.”
“Why?”
“Because I just got off the phone with Bi and I’m going to be-”
“Don’t tell him, Yunho,” Jae said. “He’s just going to get mad again.”
Angel looked at them both and then crossed his arms. “Heechul says you’re buying Junsu back.”
“Yes.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Look, Teukkie-“ Yunho ignores his glare -“you can’t just think you have control over my life because of this, alright? I already have something planned tomorrow that is way more important than anything else in my life.”
Angel shook his head. “Fine. Then be at the one on Monday.”
“There are two?”
Angel shrugged. “It’s ShinKi. They like to brag about themselves as often as they can.”
“What time is the one on Monday?”
“One.”
“Okay. I’ll let my secretary know tomorrow.”
Two plates of food landed in front of them. Yunho grabbed chopsticks, but Angel stared at the food, sniffed, and then turned to Jaejoong.
“Just eat it,” Jae said, as he brought his own plate of food to the table.
“Jae is a great cook,” Yunho said.
“You shouldn’t be exploiting him like this,” Angel said.
Yunho choked on his food. “Exploiting him? I dare you to try to get him to stop cooking. He likes doing it. If you even suggest ordering take out within his hearing range, he goes ballistic.”
“It’s not right,” Angel said. “He’s a royal-”
Jae started talking in Doushiten, pointing his chopsticks at Angel in his vehemence. After a few moments, Jae said, “Now, eat.”
Angel grumbled, but picked up his chopsticks and ate.
Jae met Yunho’s eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that Yunho isn’t a bastard toward me, Angel. He doesn’t make me cook or clean. He doesn’t whip me or hit me. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not wearing any Jung Family tokens. I only wear those when we leave the house. And shit, Angel, this guy’s will power is insane. He’s had plenty of opportunities to throw me on his bed or on the floor or over the table and fuck me, but he hasn’t.”
Yunho’s face was hot. He kept his eyes on his plate, but he shifted, because fifteen minutes ago, he was ready to fuck Jae. On the couch. He sighed.
“That sigh means he wants to,” Angel snapped.
Jae smirked. “So? If I’m willing, that doesn’t make it wrong, does it?”
Yunho’s head jerked up and he met Jaejoong’s eyes. He was smiling. Coyly. And very deliberately, he licked his chopsticks.
Angel glowered at his food.
Jaejoong said something in Doushiten that made Angel’s face darken further, but then he mumbled an affirmation that Yunho understood.
Jae smiled and answered Yunho’s unasked question. “I pulled rank on him.”
Yunho laughed.
“Shut up,” Angel said. “You should be groveling at his feet.”
“I hate to break it to you,” Yunho said, “but I’m not Doushiten. I don’t have to worship him.”
“But you want to,” Jae said. He dropped his chin and stared at Yunho from under hooded eyes.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Knock it off.”
Jae laughed. “But it’s so much fun.”
~}|{~
Later that night, Yunho stared at his ceiling again, trying to see past the darkness. Jae lay next to him, close, but not touching. Yunho couldn’t tell if he was awake or asleep. Sleep alluded Yunho. Every time he shut his eyes, he was plagued by images of Junsu. The images made his heart race. Worry coursed through him. Hundreds of versions of “What if he doesn’t want me?” ran through his mind.
How would their night run out?
Yunho remembered their last night together, laying in bed, sweat cooling, lips kissing, and laughing because Junsu had almost fallen off the bed, a little to eager to climb on Yunho’s lap. Junsu’s smile, the way his eyes shone, their breaths mingling under the blanket as they talked; it was one of Yunho’s favorite memories of him.
And then he thought of Junsu now. Empty eyes, emotionless face. His heart ached. A pained noise escaped him. God, he just wanted to hold him again, hold him and never let him go.
“Are you still awake?” Jae whispered and shifted.
Yunho didn’t reply.
Jae rose to hands and looked down at him. “You need to sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“There’s some medication-”
Yunho shook his head.
Jae frowned, and then bit his lip. Very carefully he said, “There are more … physical ways to get you to relax.”
Yunho had no idea what he meant, until Jae’s hand landed low on his stomach. Fingers dug into the muscles. Yunho’s breath caught, and his eyes shut as his body responded. But as the hand moved lower, Yunho knew he couldn’t do this. It wasn’t Jae’s hand on his body. It was Junsu’s and Junsu’s breath in the quiet and his body moving closer.
Yunho snatched Jae’s wrist.
Jae hissed from the pressure.
“Sorry,” Yunho said, “but no. I … just no.”
Jae sighed. “Please try to sleep.”
Yunho stayed silent, not trusting himself to talk and not say something cruel.
Jae moved away from him, almost to the edge of the bed, and curled on his side, back facing Yunho.
Yunho sighed in the silence. He shut his eyes and took deep breaths, willing his body to relax.
Part 8: The Puppet
Part 6: The Politics
Part 5: The Party
Part 4: The Proposition
Part 3: The Problem
Part 2: The Prince
Part 1: The Purchase
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