Sharing is Caring 4/4
Title: Sharing is Caring 4/4
Pairing: Junsu with Yunho/Jaejoong/Changmin/Yoochun AND Hani/Yuri/Sunny AND combinations of them all.
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: They aren't mine ... I wish I had a DBSK harem. Or a SuJu harem. More members in SuJu. Hell, while I'm dreaming ... OT20 anyone? I'll just casually toss SHINee into there too. And Taehyung (V) from BTS because he's super pretty.
Summary: Junsu acquires a new slave into his established harem. Max is quite pretty, but determined to keep his distance.
Warning: legal slavery, het
A/N: One of these days my plot lines will shut up and just let me write PWP.
Part 4: Accusation
Junsu could not stop shaking. Every time he figured that he was relaxed, he remembered Changmin’s cock inside him and moaned, twisting his hips against the bed. He was biting a pillow to muffle his moans to keep himself from waking up his harem, when a firm hand slipped over his ass, lips against his shoulder.
“Could have sworn we were sleeping,” Changmin whispered.
Junsu moaned at the possessive grip on his butt.
“Can’t, fuck ... can’t, relax.”
“Even after all that pleasure? Wow.”
Junsu whimpered. “So ... so good.”
Changmin chuckled, lips against his shoulder. “Yes, I am.”
“W-why, fuck, why?”
Changmin froze for a moment, and then moved away from him. Junsu was halfway through a protest when he was pulled to the edge of the bed, away from Hani’s body, and then lifted, in Changmin’s arms. Junsu bit his lip against a pain in his thigh. A cramp. Changmin had fucked him until his legs had cramped.
“So, so good,” Junsu muttered into his shoulder.
To his surprise, Changmin did not carry him to his bedchamber, but to the library, settling him on one of the longer couches. Also to his surprise, Changmin did not leave him there, but settled over him, one leg between Junsu’s, hands running through his hair. Junsu smiled and returned the touches.
“My father owned the most profitable brothel in our province,” Changmin said.
Junsu’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. I was to take over from him later. And one cannot run a brothel without knowing how to pleasure anyone. It is the first thing I learned, and the lord of our province was the first to bed me, the first to take me when I was only a boy. But I was to be a merchant as well as a whore, so I learned to read, learned numbers and history, and languages.”
Junsu ran his hands over Changmin’s shoulders. He sighed.
“Your brother thought of me as inexperienced because of my age and because I refused so much, but just because I can do something doesn’t meant I want to. I fought against everything he did to me, which he enjoyed at first, and then grew annoyed with. I could not be cowed. You will not be able to cow me either.”
“I don’t want to.”
Changmin lifted an eyebrow. “Such a lie. You want me in your bed. You want me in your harem. I give you that, and I have lost.”
“Lost?”
“The fight, the chance of returning to my kingdom. Your soldiers decimated my lands. I do not want to sit back and just say, well, that’s how life is, and let you do as you please to me. I do not understand how Uknow can do that. I want my life back. I want my family back. I want my province back. Your father has pulled the armies back to the river which is a good step, but not enough. It is still my land. It is still my people. I will never be satisfied here. I will never want to be here.”
Junsu sighed and nodded. “I understand that.”
“You do not.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I completely disagree with my father and my brother in terms of expansion? One day, we will meet an army that we cannot beat, and then what happens? The tables will be turned, and it will be our kingdom that we lose. It is much better to live at peace.”
Changmin sat up, ran his hands through his hair, and then got up, pacing in the moonlight from a window. “Servants talk ...” he started.
“They do.”
“Your harem are the only ones loyal to your family.”
Junsu did not believe that, but kept his mouth shut because Changmin was obviously battling with something. Knowing something important.
“I am unsure of what is the right course of action right now, with the knowledge that I have ...”
“Is this knowledge why you agreed to bed me tonight?”
“No. But it will change things.”
“For the better?” Junsu watched Changmin carefully.
The boy stiffened for a moment, and then sighed.
“And what is your part in this knowledge?” Junsu asked, already sure he knew what Changmin spoke of.
“Just silence, like most of your servants.”
“Then be silent,” Junsu said. “I am not going to ask you to make this decision.”
Changmin stared at him, eyes widening in understanding. “You already know.”
“I can already guess. When?” Junsu asked.
Changmin shook his head. “I do not know that. Just ... that it will happen. What will you do to stop it?”
Junsu shrugged, sitting up on the couch and stretching.
There were too many servants in their castle, too many hands, too many possibilities. Honestly, he was surprised that no one had killed his brother before now. Very few people liked him. Junsu did not. Maybe when they were younger, but Junho always used being the heir as a reason for getting away with things. He saw it as his right instead of as his responsibility. Junsu did not care if his brother died.
He did care about Ricky, so he hoped the conspirators did not add him to the list. For all he knew, Ricky was the conspirator.
“I am not sure I can stop it,” he finally said.
“You can.”
Junsu smirked, one that he hoped was just as worthy as Changmin’s. “Then I guess I will be honest and say that I am not sure I want to.”
“But--”
“Enough of this,” Junsu said and shook his head. “You’ve made your silence a choice and I have made my inaction a choice. The outcome will be decided upon by the gods.”
Changmin snorted. “You and your gods.”
Junsu laughed. “You and your dick. Come.” He twisted on the couch, enough to get his knees underneath him, his head pressed to the soft surface. He reached behind himself, spread himself open. “More. I want more.”
It was silent for almost too long, and then the couch dipped behind him, fingers touched his sore rim, and warmth molded over his back.
( o )( o )
Junsu watched more than just his harem now that he knew someone or someones were planning on murdering his brother. But his harem did not change. Their laughter did not change, their smiles and their touches. Maybe they did not know. Maybe Changmin only knew because he had been with Ricky before.
He thought of asking Micky about it, but did not want to implicate himself or Micky if his brother ended up dying. He battled with his conscious often, wondering if he should warn his father, or his brother. His brother would laugh it off. He was not sure his father would do anything to stop it either. He balanced the pros and cons. There were more pros to his brother dying, and that was hard to deal with.
As promised, Changmin went right back to being frustrating. Refusing touches. Refusing to touch.
Junsu huffed at him more than once while taking his own touches when Changmin was close enough.
“You have six others to pleasure you,” Changmin said, pushing him off his lap a couple weeks later. “Go and bother them.”
Junsu tried to pout but his was definitely not as good at that as Hero. Instead of moving away, Junsu stayed on the floor, curling up against Changmin’s leg, head at his thigh, while Changmin continued to read whatever book it was that was more fascinating than giving Junsu orgasms.
Changmin sighed, but his hand fell to Junsu’s head, fingers soft in his hair.
Junsu shut his eyes and enjoyed the touches.
Their peace was interrupted by the library door banging open, by first Hero, gasping out a warning, and then a horde of soldiers a moment later.
Junsu was on his feet before they noticed he had not been. “What is the meaning of this?”
One of the soldiers shoved Hero away, making the poor thing fall to the ground with a cry.
Changmin was also on his feet, hands at fists at his sides.
“Your brother is dead.”
Junsu’s eyes went wide. “D-dead?”
“Poisoned in the night. I have been told by your father that I must tell you before I arrest your harem.”
“You have no right! They’ve been--”
“Only for questioning,” the king said, behind the guard. “Really, Woohyuk, you’re much too dramatic.”
“And you are acting like this is not a national threat.”
The king smiled and said to Junsu, “Dress your pretty toys and bring them to the main hall. Ricky is there already, waiting until yours join him. We will question them together.” He looked at Changmin for a long time.
Changmin stared back until Junsu cleared his throat, and then Changmin looked down, half bowing as the king turned to the door.
“Do not treat my son’s servants as if they are insignificant,” he said in warning, and helped Hero stand up, straightening the soft robe around his body. “So very beautiful.”
Junsu opened his mouth to protest the touch that his father landed on Hero’s ass, but then he was gone, with the guards behind him. Junsu moved to Hero. “Are you all right, pretty thing?”
Hero swallowed and nodded. “F-fine.”
“Good, see that everyone is dressed. We will leave in five minutes.”
Hero bowed and scurried away.
Junsu turned to Changmin, who had not moved. “As always, you are already dressed. Are we still going for silence?”
“It was not Ricky.”
“I know that. If you wish to say that, you have to say who it was in his defense.”
Changmin took a deep breath.
“I will not pressure you either way. When you are questioned, as I am sure you will be, you can make your own choice.” Junsu held out his hand. “I at least can vouch for you because last night I would not let you go.”
Changmin snorted. “You won’t ever let me go.”
“I promise.”
Changmin stared at him a bit longer and then nodded, moving to him to take his hand. Junsu led them to the main room. The others were not ready yet, so Junsu stopped Changmin, used his other hand to cup his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. One that was returned. He smiled.
“I promise.”
Changmin gripped his wrist and nodded.
The others entered the room, and Junsu took a few minutes to kiss and hug each one of his pretty harem slaves. He hugged Micky for just a little longer. By his face, Hero had told him that his brother was to be questioned.
“You all belong to me,” Junsu said, running his hand over Micky’s hair. “I will protect you.” Junsu kept Micky close and held out his hand for Changmin. The others filed along behind them, Uknow and Hero curled together, and the girls all linking arms.
The first thing Junsu noticed in the main hall was Ricky, kneeling on the hard stone floor, completely naked. There were fresh marks on his back. His long hair was loose, hiding the eagle’s talon on his shoulder that was his brother’s sigil tattooed.
The second thing he noticed was his brother’s body, laid out on a white sheet.
No wonder Ricky was bawling his eyes out.
“What is the meaning of this?” Junsu asked and quickly moved to cover his brother with another sheet.
A soldier cleared his throat. “Woohyuk thought guilt ...”
“Ricky did not do this,” Junsu said, ignoring the fact that Micky had fallen to his knees next to his brother without anyone’s permission. Ricky cried harder. “It is completely disrespectful to my family and him. Even if he was a bastard, you will treat him--”
“Junsu, that’s enough.”
Junsu swallowed and turned to his father, staring at him.
“Ricky has not been able to tell us what happened,” the king said. “That is why I hoped your presence and that of his brother would assure him that justice would be done.”
Junsu nodded, looking at the brothers. The rest of his harem had kneeled behind them, and Hero had his hand on Micky’s shoulder in support. “What do we know?”
The king sat upon a magistrate’s chair and leaned forward. “Not much. Ricky woke up to him dead. One of his maids had gone into the room as normal to wake the pair. No one has seen anything. All of his maids and servants are being questioned.”
“There are too many hands.”
The king nodded. “Unless someone comes forward with what they know, well ...”
“I didn’t do it,” Ricky suddenly wailed. “I didn’t. I love him, I would never, ever hurt him please, I didn’t do it.”
Junsu moved to him and kneeled in front of him, cupping his cheek and wiping at his tears. He was younger than Micky, but just a few years older than Changmin. “No one thinks you did it,” Junsu said, “but we don’t know who did do it. So if you know who may have done this, you need to say something.”
“I don’t. He was ... sick, last night. A little. He complained of his stomach aching as we went to bed. But he was alive. When ... alive. And now--” He broke off with a wail, burying his face back into Micky’s neck.
“Your servants talk freely, your highness,” Changmin said suddenly.
Junsu was a bit surprised because Changmin had said he was going for silence.
“They do,” the king replied. “It is always a matter of what is overheard and always a matter of who hears it and always a matter if they will share such interesting information.”
“Ricky did not do this, your highness,” Changmin said.
“Did you?”
Changmin snorted. “I spend most of my time refusing the advances of your other son and his harem, leaving me without time to plan such a plot.”
The king laughed. “That is the most believable defense of the day.”
“Arrogant brat,” Junsu muttered.
“So tell me what you’ve heard,” the king said.
Changmin took a very deep breath. Hero squeezed his shoulder in support, and Junsu wondered if his entire harem knew. But if Uknow knew, he would have told Junsu. He was too honest to keep something this important to himself.
“I ...” Changmin looked over at Junsu. “I cannot say who it was exactly, but I’ve heard ... suggestions ...”
“Come, child, don’t be hesitant,” the king said. “You know more than you are letting on.”
“I know of whispers and money,” Changmin said.
“The two things you need to kill a member of the royal family. Who?”
“I do not know who it is that poisoned him, but I am sure if your alchemist ran tests, he would find that the poison is monkshood. It is subtle but deadly when taken in mass quantities, perhaps in a meal.”
“What did you eat last night, Ricky?”
Ricky shook his head. “Master told me I was not allowed. He ate both of our dinners. He ... I should be ... this isn’t fair. I ...”
“You seem knowledgeable about it,” the king said, voice laced with suggestion.
“Monkshood does not grow here, your highness. It is too cold for it to thrive. But it grows in your eastern forests.”
Junsu felt his face pale and his hand shook. “Eastern forests?”
Changmin nodded.
He met his father’s eyes, and his father had come to the exact same conclusion. “How long have you been hearing such rumors, Max?” the king asked.
“Many servants have always grumbled about Prince Junho’s behavior,” Changmin said. “Many have also said he had to be careful or he’d get himself killed. But there was no substance behind the threats.”
“Even within his harem?”
Changmin nodded. “Until ... until a couple months ago. The whispers changed. From warnings to ... actions. There was a lot of talk of money, servants who suddenly had more of it, or knew how to gain more of it.”
“Two months ago,” his father mused.
“I am missing the connection,” Woohyuk said. “Speak plainly, slave. You are weaving words to prove your own innocence when you are just as guilty as--”
“Calm yourself,” the king said. “The castle is on lockdown. No one has permission to leave. Guards are keeping the peace in the market square while everyone is questioned and released. But maybe we do not have to do that. Max, do you have any more information for me?”
Max shut his eyes and took a deep breath. “I guess bartering for my freedom is not going to happen.”
“No. But it will keep you and that boy in his brother’s arms from being beheaded right here for treason.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“If you spent more time in my bed,” Junsu said, “and less where you could hear things, you wouldn’t have such knowledge to share.”
Changmin growled. “Fine. The personal servants of Im Yoona talk freely when they are out of her hearing. I do not believe she had anything to do with it, but the most promising exchange I heard was between her head servant --”
“Minho,” Junsu said.
Changmin nodded. “Yes, that’s his name. I had only heard it once. It was between him and a few kitchen maids. All I heard was that for a substantial price, he’d give them enough money to buy their freedom if they put a plant into the prince’s dinner.”
“The two kitchen maids?”
Changmin bit his lip. “I do not know their names. I would recognize their faces.”
“I cannot believe you are believing this,” Woohyuk said.
The king waved him silent. “The boy has no reason to lie.”
“Except to save his own skin.”
“And your next orders are to go and find Im Yoona’s errant servants and arrest them and verify this information. If it ends up being wrong, you have my permission to slit the boy’s throat. Go. Now. Leave the princess and her family alone for now, but separate them. I don’t want them to be able to talk to each other.”
Woohyuk did not look pleased, but he left the main hall.
“This makes no sense,” Junsu said. “I am not doubting anything you have said, Max, but why would they do this? Im Yoona is to marry me. Why would they conspire to murder Junho?”
“If I may express an opinion,” Changmin said carefully.
Both Junsu and his father motioned him to talk.
“It may have just been the beginning of a well planned coup,” Changmin said. “Again, I have no proof that Princess Im Yoona is aware of it, but her brothers, her father ... if she is queen, even if that status does not mean much more than providing an heir ... that Heir becomes king. Ties are created with the Im family, now pulled into the royal house.”
“By the gods,” the king said and shook his head.
“We need proof,” Junsu said, “that they are planning this, to overtake the Kims.”
“I am not sure we will be able to find it. It is all conjecture.”
“I was just beginning to like her, too,” Junsu said and shook his head.
“We are the only ones that know of this. Keep it silent. Continue as you were. We cannot let them know that we suspect them.”
Junsu nodded. “I will go to their rooms and reassure them that it is only precautionary. And Woohyuk will interrogate their servants to see how far the plot goes, if it is as we now suspect.”
“Your pretty boy is quite smart.”
Junsu rolled his eyes. “And arrogant and sarcastic.”
“Ah, but you like him anyway.”
Junsu smiled over at Changmin. “I like them all.”
“Take Ricky with you.”
Junsu nodded. “I will.”
“You are all dismissed. Max, you make me wish it was proper to swap members of our harems.”
Changmin barely kept his sneer off his face, but his lip twitched.
The king laughed. “After you have settled them back into your rooms, meet me at the rooms of our conspiring visitors.”
“Yes, Father. Before lunch.”
The king left the hall first, and Junsu stared at the body of his brother. By the gods, he was to be king now. He did not know how to react to that.
One thing at a time, though. His harem first. His harem was always first.
A sudden cry echoed off the stone, and Ricky ripped himself from his brother and staggered to the sheets, pulling at them, and then collapsing against a chest that no longer breathed, listening for a heart that no longer beat. They all let him for a moment, let him press kisses to Junho’s slack cheeks, let him grip his hand for just a little longer.
And then Hero moved, pulling at him and hugging him tight with Uknow there a moment later, and then the girls. They all led him from the room, leaving Changmin, Micky, and Junsu alone.
Micky glanced up at Junsu, and then stood up. He was crying. He moved to Junho’s body, face harsh. And then he spit on him. The noise harsh in the quiet.
“Good riddance,” Micky muttered, kicking at the dead body’s shoulder, and then went right to Junsu.
Junsu hugged him. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. It appears that even in death, my brother is going to be a foul-smelling problem.”
Micky sort of laughed through the sobs he muffled on Junsu’s shoulder.
( o )( o )
At the end of the day, the long, sorrowful and productive day, Junsu climbed into bed with his pretty slaves. Normally, he would curl up against Micky, but Ricky was in that spot, still crying in his sleep, shaking. So very upset.
Only time would heal his heart. Junsu had forbidden his harem members of speaking ill of his brother, not while Ricky was there and especially not with him so upset.
Instead, he crawled into bed with his girls, their cool skin almost immediately pressed against his body. He chuckled, kissing bare shoulders and curling his arms around tiny waists.
“Where is Changmin?” he whispered.
Hani lifted her head and frowned. “I thought he was here. He was with Micky earlier.”
“He left,” Micky said from across the room. “I don’t know where he went.”
Even though Junsu wanted to do nothing more than sleep, making sure his rebellious slave was not in trouble took priority.
The girls protested as Junsu climbed from the bed. A few kisses did little to placate them. Promises that he’d be back were only met with Yuri’s tired accusation “And smelling like Changmin’s come, the lucky bastard.”
Unsurprisingly, Junsu found his possibly-favorite, can’t-let-anyone-else-know, slave in the library, pouring over a heavy historical tome.
“If you’re looking for ways to put you to sleep, I’m sure my mouth sucking you off will be more interesting than history.”
Changmin snorted. “Hardly.”
“Why are you here?”
“Looking for any instances of a slave given their freedom because they helped stop a massive plot to overthrow the kingdom. No such luck. Why are you here?”
“To drag you to my bed. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Later.”
“Earlier.”
“Later,” he stressed.
“Now,” Junsu mocked.
Changmin rubbed the bridge of his nose, before ruffling his hair, messing it up even more than it had been. “I will sleep when I can.”
Junsu sighed and moved closer to him. His shoulders stiffened, he held his breath, but as before, Junsu did nothing more than sit next to his chair and lay his head on his thigh. Changmin sighed and ran his fingers through Junsu’s loose hair.
“It upsets me that you are unhappy,” Junsu said.
“If that were true, you’d set me free.”
“It is true. I want you to be happy.”
“As a slave, as a whore, as a --”
“Yes,” Junsu said. “Because you do not like me. Without that, without you being a slave, you would not be here. It upsets me even more that you do not like me.”
Changmin tugged on his hair. “That is not true. I like you just fine. Under other circumstances ... but those aren’t the circumstances and I will never be happy here. I was raised to be proud of who I am, proud of my province and people, proud of my skills and my knowledge. I cannot be happy as a slave, without freedom.”
“But you do like me?”
“You are tolerable.” The touch softened.
Junsu smiled and rubbed his face on Changmin’s thigh. “I adore you, Changmin-ah.”
“I know that. What did you discover today?”
Junsu huffed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Humor me.”
“Only suggestions. Minho had fled, but he was found just outside the gates. The bodies of the two kitchen maids were found near the woods. Minho admitted to killing them, since dead bodies cannot speak. He admitted to orchestrating Junho’s death, but was silent on any larger plots. He did not survive his interrogation.”
“Weak,” Changmin muttered.
“Perhaps. Princess Im Yoona is very apologetic. She had no idea her favorite servant had such plans.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Yes. She is grieving much like Ricky is grieving right now. They had been lovers.”
“Has your wedding been called off?”
“No. If we send them home, we lose access to our intel.”
“Smart decision.”
Junsu hummed. He ran his hand up Changmin’s leg, the material of the pants doing nothing to hide the muscles underneath. He had such strong legs, such a tall frame. When he grew into himself, he was going to rival Jaejoong in best muscles of his harem. If he was here that long.
Junsu did not want to set him free. He had never considered the notion. “I do have to think of the safety of my kingdom too,” he said. “You are angry still. If I were to set you free, what are the chances that you would return to your home and start planning attacks, gather your people under your banner and use the knowledge you have gleaned from my leniency to topple my kingdom to the ground?”
Changmin stilled. “Okay, fine. That is very true.”
Junsu chuckled and continued his exploration up Changmin’s thigh.
“I do wonder what your people would think seeing you on the floor and touching me like a slave touches his master.”
Junsu rubbed his face against Changmin’s thigh. “I do not much care. If this is the only way I can touch you,” --and he did, cupping Changmin’s cock and balls and giving them a squeeze-- “then it is what I will do.”
“It is not the only way you touch me. You touch me all the time.”
Junsu laughed. “I guess I do. I cannot help myself. Come to bed. Rest and sleep. You do know that if I were able to free you that I would.”
“I understand why you can’t.”
“Good. Let’s go to bed.”
Changmin huffed, but pushed away from the table, dislodging Junsu’s hand on his dick. He stood up, hauled Junsu to his feet by a firm grip on his arm, and then bent over and blew out the candle on the table, shadowing them in darkness. Junsu wrapped his arms around Changmin’s waist, leaning his head on Changmin’s shoulder as they walked back to the harem’s bed chambers.
Epilogue: Devotion
Part 3: Seduction
Part 2: Conversation
Part 1: Distraction
.
Pairing: Junsu with Yunho/Jaejoong/Changmin/Yoochun AND Hani/Yuri/Sunny AND combinations of them all.
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: They aren't mine ... I wish I had a DBSK harem. Or a SuJu harem. More members in SuJu. Hell, while I'm dreaming ... OT20 anyone? I'll just casually toss SHINee into there too. And Taehyung (V) from BTS because he's super pretty.
Summary: Junsu acquires a new slave into his established harem. Max is quite pretty, but determined to keep his distance.
Warning: legal slavery, het
A/N: One of these days my plot lines will shut up and just let me write PWP.
Part 4: Accusation
Junsu could not stop shaking. Every time he figured that he was relaxed, he remembered Changmin’s cock inside him and moaned, twisting his hips against the bed. He was biting a pillow to muffle his moans to keep himself from waking up his harem, when a firm hand slipped over his ass, lips against his shoulder.
“Could have sworn we were sleeping,” Changmin whispered.
Junsu moaned at the possessive grip on his butt.
“Can’t, fuck ... can’t, relax.”
“Even after all that pleasure? Wow.”
Junsu whimpered. “So ... so good.”
Changmin chuckled, lips against his shoulder. “Yes, I am.”
“W-why, fuck, why?”
Changmin froze for a moment, and then moved away from him. Junsu was halfway through a protest when he was pulled to the edge of the bed, away from Hani’s body, and then lifted, in Changmin’s arms. Junsu bit his lip against a pain in his thigh. A cramp. Changmin had fucked him until his legs had cramped.
“So, so good,” Junsu muttered into his shoulder.
To his surprise, Changmin did not carry him to his bedchamber, but to the library, settling him on one of the longer couches. Also to his surprise, Changmin did not leave him there, but settled over him, one leg between Junsu’s, hands running through his hair. Junsu smiled and returned the touches.
“My father owned the most profitable brothel in our province,” Changmin said.
Junsu’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. I was to take over from him later. And one cannot run a brothel without knowing how to pleasure anyone. It is the first thing I learned, and the lord of our province was the first to bed me, the first to take me when I was only a boy. But I was to be a merchant as well as a whore, so I learned to read, learned numbers and history, and languages.”
Junsu ran his hands over Changmin’s shoulders. He sighed.
“Your brother thought of me as inexperienced because of my age and because I refused so much, but just because I can do something doesn’t meant I want to. I fought against everything he did to me, which he enjoyed at first, and then grew annoyed with. I could not be cowed. You will not be able to cow me either.”
“I don’t want to.”
Changmin lifted an eyebrow. “Such a lie. You want me in your bed. You want me in your harem. I give you that, and I have lost.”
“Lost?”
“The fight, the chance of returning to my kingdom. Your soldiers decimated my lands. I do not want to sit back and just say, well, that’s how life is, and let you do as you please to me. I do not understand how Uknow can do that. I want my life back. I want my family back. I want my province back. Your father has pulled the armies back to the river which is a good step, but not enough. It is still my land. It is still my people. I will never be satisfied here. I will never want to be here.”
Junsu sighed and nodded. “I understand that.”
“You do not.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I completely disagree with my father and my brother in terms of expansion? One day, we will meet an army that we cannot beat, and then what happens? The tables will be turned, and it will be our kingdom that we lose. It is much better to live at peace.”
Changmin sat up, ran his hands through his hair, and then got up, pacing in the moonlight from a window. “Servants talk ...” he started.
“They do.”
“Your harem are the only ones loyal to your family.”
Junsu did not believe that, but kept his mouth shut because Changmin was obviously battling with something. Knowing something important.
“I am unsure of what is the right course of action right now, with the knowledge that I have ...”
“Is this knowledge why you agreed to bed me tonight?”
“No. But it will change things.”
“For the better?” Junsu watched Changmin carefully.
The boy stiffened for a moment, and then sighed.
“And what is your part in this knowledge?” Junsu asked, already sure he knew what Changmin spoke of.
“Just silence, like most of your servants.”
“Then be silent,” Junsu said. “I am not going to ask you to make this decision.”
Changmin stared at him, eyes widening in understanding. “You already know.”
“I can already guess. When?” Junsu asked.
Changmin shook his head. “I do not know that. Just ... that it will happen. What will you do to stop it?”
Junsu shrugged, sitting up on the couch and stretching.
There were too many servants in their castle, too many hands, too many possibilities. Honestly, he was surprised that no one had killed his brother before now. Very few people liked him. Junsu did not. Maybe when they were younger, but Junho always used being the heir as a reason for getting away with things. He saw it as his right instead of as his responsibility. Junsu did not care if his brother died.
He did care about Ricky, so he hoped the conspirators did not add him to the list. For all he knew, Ricky was the conspirator.
“I am not sure I can stop it,” he finally said.
“You can.”
Junsu smirked, one that he hoped was just as worthy as Changmin’s. “Then I guess I will be honest and say that I am not sure I want to.”
“But--”
“Enough of this,” Junsu said and shook his head. “You’ve made your silence a choice and I have made my inaction a choice. The outcome will be decided upon by the gods.”
Changmin snorted. “You and your gods.”
Junsu laughed. “You and your dick. Come.” He twisted on the couch, enough to get his knees underneath him, his head pressed to the soft surface. He reached behind himself, spread himself open. “More. I want more.”
It was silent for almost too long, and then the couch dipped behind him, fingers touched his sore rim, and warmth molded over his back.
( o )( o )
Junsu watched more than just his harem now that he knew someone or someones were planning on murdering his brother. But his harem did not change. Their laughter did not change, their smiles and their touches. Maybe they did not know. Maybe Changmin only knew because he had been with Ricky before.
He thought of asking Micky about it, but did not want to implicate himself or Micky if his brother ended up dying. He battled with his conscious often, wondering if he should warn his father, or his brother. His brother would laugh it off. He was not sure his father would do anything to stop it either. He balanced the pros and cons. There were more pros to his brother dying, and that was hard to deal with.
As promised, Changmin went right back to being frustrating. Refusing touches. Refusing to touch.
Junsu huffed at him more than once while taking his own touches when Changmin was close enough.
“You have six others to pleasure you,” Changmin said, pushing him off his lap a couple weeks later. “Go and bother them.”
Junsu tried to pout but his was definitely not as good at that as Hero. Instead of moving away, Junsu stayed on the floor, curling up against Changmin’s leg, head at his thigh, while Changmin continued to read whatever book it was that was more fascinating than giving Junsu orgasms.
Changmin sighed, but his hand fell to Junsu’s head, fingers soft in his hair.
Junsu shut his eyes and enjoyed the touches.
Their peace was interrupted by the library door banging open, by first Hero, gasping out a warning, and then a horde of soldiers a moment later.
Junsu was on his feet before they noticed he had not been. “What is the meaning of this?”
One of the soldiers shoved Hero away, making the poor thing fall to the ground with a cry.
Changmin was also on his feet, hands at fists at his sides.
“Your brother is dead.”
Junsu’s eyes went wide. “D-dead?”
“Poisoned in the night. I have been told by your father that I must tell you before I arrest your harem.”
“You have no right! They’ve been--”
“Only for questioning,” the king said, behind the guard. “Really, Woohyuk, you’re much too dramatic.”
“And you are acting like this is not a national threat.”
The king smiled and said to Junsu, “Dress your pretty toys and bring them to the main hall. Ricky is there already, waiting until yours join him. We will question them together.” He looked at Changmin for a long time.
Changmin stared back until Junsu cleared his throat, and then Changmin looked down, half bowing as the king turned to the door.
“Do not treat my son’s servants as if they are insignificant,” he said in warning, and helped Hero stand up, straightening the soft robe around his body. “So very beautiful.”
Junsu opened his mouth to protest the touch that his father landed on Hero’s ass, but then he was gone, with the guards behind him. Junsu moved to Hero. “Are you all right, pretty thing?”
Hero swallowed and nodded. “F-fine.”
“Good, see that everyone is dressed. We will leave in five minutes.”
Hero bowed and scurried away.
Junsu turned to Changmin, who had not moved. “As always, you are already dressed. Are we still going for silence?”
“It was not Ricky.”
“I know that. If you wish to say that, you have to say who it was in his defense.”
Changmin took a deep breath.
“I will not pressure you either way. When you are questioned, as I am sure you will be, you can make your own choice.” Junsu held out his hand. “I at least can vouch for you because last night I would not let you go.”
Changmin snorted. “You won’t ever let me go.”
“I promise.”
Changmin stared at him a bit longer and then nodded, moving to him to take his hand. Junsu led them to the main room. The others were not ready yet, so Junsu stopped Changmin, used his other hand to cup his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. One that was returned. He smiled.
“I promise.”
Changmin gripped his wrist and nodded.
The others entered the room, and Junsu took a few minutes to kiss and hug each one of his pretty harem slaves. He hugged Micky for just a little longer. By his face, Hero had told him that his brother was to be questioned.
“You all belong to me,” Junsu said, running his hand over Micky’s hair. “I will protect you.” Junsu kept Micky close and held out his hand for Changmin. The others filed along behind them, Uknow and Hero curled together, and the girls all linking arms.
The first thing Junsu noticed in the main hall was Ricky, kneeling on the hard stone floor, completely naked. There were fresh marks on his back. His long hair was loose, hiding the eagle’s talon on his shoulder that was his brother’s sigil tattooed.
The second thing he noticed was his brother’s body, laid out on a white sheet.
No wonder Ricky was bawling his eyes out.
“What is the meaning of this?” Junsu asked and quickly moved to cover his brother with another sheet.
A soldier cleared his throat. “Woohyuk thought guilt ...”
“Ricky did not do this,” Junsu said, ignoring the fact that Micky had fallen to his knees next to his brother without anyone’s permission. Ricky cried harder. “It is completely disrespectful to my family and him. Even if he was a bastard, you will treat him--”
“Junsu, that’s enough.”
Junsu swallowed and turned to his father, staring at him.
“Ricky has not been able to tell us what happened,” the king said. “That is why I hoped your presence and that of his brother would assure him that justice would be done.”
Junsu nodded, looking at the brothers. The rest of his harem had kneeled behind them, and Hero had his hand on Micky’s shoulder in support. “What do we know?”
The king sat upon a magistrate’s chair and leaned forward. “Not much. Ricky woke up to him dead. One of his maids had gone into the room as normal to wake the pair. No one has seen anything. All of his maids and servants are being questioned.”
“There are too many hands.”
The king nodded. “Unless someone comes forward with what they know, well ...”
“I didn’t do it,” Ricky suddenly wailed. “I didn’t. I love him, I would never, ever hurt him please, I didn’t do it.”
Junsu moved to him and kneeled in front of him, cupping his cheek and wiping at his tears. He was younger than Micky, but just a few years older than Changmin. “No one thinks you did it,” Junsu said, “but we don’t know who did do it. So if you know who may have done this, you need to say something.”
“I don’t. He was ... sick, last night. A little. He complained of his stomach aching as we went to bed. But he was alive. When ... alive. And now--” He broke off with a wail, burying his face back into Micky’s neck.
“Your servants talk freely, your highness,” Changmin said suddenly.
Junsu was a bit surprised because Changmin had said he was going for silence.
“They do,” the king replied. “It is always a matter of what is overheard and always a matter of who hears it and always a matter if they will share such interesting information.”
“Ricky did not do this, your highness,” Changmin said.
“Did you?”
Changmin snorted. “I spend most of my time refusing the advances of your other son and his harem, leaving me without time to plan such a plot.”
The king laughed. “That is the most believable defense of the day.”
“Arrogant brat,” Junsu muttered.
“So tell me what you’ve heard,” the king said.
Changmin took a very deep breath. Hero squeezed his shoulder in support, and Junsu wondered if his entire harem knew. But if Uknow knew, he would have told Junsu. He was too honest to keep something this important to himself.
“I ...” Changmin looked over at Junsu. “I cannot say who it was exactly, but I’ve heard ... suggestions ...”
“Come, child, don’t be hesitant,” the king said. “You know more than you are letting on.”
“I know of whispers and money,” Changmin said.
“The two things you need to kill a member of the royal family. Who?”
“I do not know who it is that poisoned him, but I am sure if your alchemist ran tests, he would find that the poison is monkshood. It is subtle but deadly when taken in mass quantities, perhaps in a meal.”
“What did you eat last night, Ricky?”
Ricky shook his head. “Master told me I was not allowed. He ate both of our dinners. He ... I should be ... this isn’t fair. I ...”
“You seem knowledgeable about it,” the king said, voice laced with suggestion.
“Monkshood does not grow here, your highness. It is too cold for it to thrive. But it grows in your eastern forests.”
Junsu felt his face pale and his hand shook. “Eastern forests?”
Changmin nodded.
He met his father’s eyes, and his father had come to the exact same conclusion. “How long have you been hearing such rumors, Max?” the king asked.
“Many servants have always grumbled about Prince Junho’s behavior,” Changmin said. “Many have also said he had to be careful or he’d get himself killed. But there was no substance behind the threats.”
“Even within his harem?”
Changmin nodded. “Until ... until a couple months ago. The whispers changed. From warnings to ... actions. There was a lot of talk of money, servants who suddenly had more of it, or knew how to gain more of it.”
“Two months ago,” his father mused.
“I am missing the connection,” Woohyuk said. “Speak plainly, slave. You are weaving words to prove your own innocence when you are just as guilty as--”
“Calm yourself,” the king said. “The castle is on lockdown. No one has permission to leave. Guards are keeping the peace in the market square while everyone is questioned and released. But maybe we do not have to do that. Max, do you have any more information for me?”
Max shut his eyes and took a deep breath. “I guess bartering for my freedom is not going to happen.”
“No. But it will keep you and that boy in his brother’s arms from being beheaded right here for treason.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“If you spent more time in my bed,” Junsu said, “and less where you could hear things, you wouldn’t have such knowledge to share.”
Changmin growled. “Fine. The personal servants of Im Yoona talk freely when they are out of her hearing. I do not believe she had anything to do with it, but the most promising exchange I heard was between her head servant --”
“Minho,” Junsu said.
Changmin nodded. “Yes, that’s his name. I had only heard it once. It was between him and a few kitchen maids. All I heard was that for a substantial price, he’d give them enough money to buy their freedom if they put a plant into the prince’s dinner.”
“The two kitchen maids?”
Changmin bit his lip. “I do not know their names. I would recognize their faces.”
“I cannot believe you are believing this,” Woohyuk said.
The king waved him silent. “The boy has no reason to lie.”
“Except to save his own skin.”
“And your next orders are to go and find Im Yoona’s errant servants and arrest them and verify this information. If it ends up being wrong, you have my permission to slit the boy’s throat. Go. Now. Leave the princess and her family alone for now, but separate them. I don’t want them to be able to talk to each other.”
Woohyuk did not look pleased, but he left the main hall.
“This makes no sense,” Junsu said. “I am not doubting anything you have said, Max, but why would they do this? Im Yoona is to marry me. Why would they conspire to murder Junho?”
“If I may express an opinion,” Changmin said carefully.
Both Junsu and his father motioned him to talk.
“It may have just been the beginning of a well planned coup,” Changmin said. “Again, I have no proof that Princess Im Yoona is aware of it, but her brothers, her father ... if she is queen, even if that status does not mean much more than providing an heir ... that Heir becomes king. Ties are created with the Im family, now pulled into the royal house.”
“By the gods,” the king said and shook his head.
“We need proof,” Junsu said, “that they are planning this, to overtake the Kims.”
“I am not sure we will be able to find it. It is all conjecture.”
“I was just beginning to like her, too,” Junsu said and shook his head.
“We are the only ones that know of this. Keep it silent. Continue as you were. We cannot let them know that we suspect them.”
Junsu nodded. “I will go to their rooms and reassure them that it is only precautionary. And Woohyuk will interrogate their servants to see how far the plot goes, if it is as we now suspect.”
“Your pretty boy is quite smart.”
Junsu rolled his eyes. “And arrogant and sarcastic.”
“Ah, but you like him anyway.”
Junsu smiled over at Changmin. “I like them all.”
“Take Ricky with you.”
Junsu nodded. “I will.”
“You are all dismissed. Max, you make me wish it was proper to swap members of our harems.”
Changmin barely kept his sneer off his face, but his lip twitched.
The king laughed. “After you have settled them back into your rooms, meet me at the rooms of our conspiring visitors.”
“Yes, Father. Before lunch.”
The king left the hall first, and Junsu stared at the body of his brother. By the gods, he was to be king now. He did not know how to react to that.
One thing at a time, though. His harem first. His harem was always first.
A sudden cry echoed off the stone, and Ricky ripped himself from his brother and staggered to the sheets, pulling at them, and then collapsing against a chest that no longer breathed, listening for a heart that no longer beat. They all let him for a moment, let him press kisses to Junho’s slack cheeks, let him grip his hand for just a little longer.
And then Hero moved, pulling at him and hugging him tight with Uknow there a moment later, and then the girls. They all led him from the room, leaving Changmin, Micky, and Junsu alone.
Micky glanced up at Junsu, and then stood up. He was crying. He moved to Junho’s body, face harsh. And then he spit on him. The noise harsh in the quiet.
“Good riddance,” Micky muttered, kicking at the dead body’s shoulder, and then went right to Junsu.
Junsu hugged him. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. It appears that even in death, my brother is going to be a foul-smelling problem.”
Micky sort of laughed through the sobs he muffled on Junsu’s shoulder.
( o )( o )
At the end of the day, the long, sorrowful and productive day, Junsu climbed into bed with his pretty slaves. Normally, he would curl up against Micky, but Ricky was in that spot, still crying in his sleep, shaking. So very upset.
Only time would heal his heart. Junsu had forbidden his harem members of speaking ill of his brother, not while Ricky was there and especially not with him so upset.
Instead, he crawled into bed with his girls, their cool skin almost immediately pressed against his body. He chuckled, kissing bare shoulders and curling his arms around tiny waists.
“Where is Changmin?” he whispered.
Hani lifted her head and frowned. “I thought he was here. He was with Micky earlier.”
“He left,” Micky said from across the room. “I don’t know where he went.”
Even though Junsu wanted to do nothing more than sleep, making sure his rebellious slave was not in trouble took priority.
The girls protested as Junsu climbed from the bed. A few kisses did little to placate them. Promises that he’d be back were only met with Yuri’s tired accusation “And smelling like Changmin’s come, the lucky bastard.”
Unsurprisingly, Junsu found his possibly-favorite, can’t-let-anyone-else-know, slave in the library, pouring over a heavy historical tome.
“If you’re looking for ways to put you to sleep, I’m sure my mouth sucking you off will be more interesting than history.”
Changmin snorted. “Hardly.”
“Why are you here?”
“Looking for any instances of a slave given their freedom because they helped stop a massive plot to overthrow the kingdom. No such luck. Why are you here?”
“To drag you to my bed. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Later.”
“Earlier.”
“Later,” he stressed.
“Now,” Junsu mocked.
Changmin rubbed the bridge of his nose, before ruffling his hair, messing it up even more than it had been. “I will sleep when I can.”
Junsu sighed and moved closer to him. His shoulders stiffened, he held his breath, but as before, Junsu did nothing more than sit next to his chair and lay his head on his thigh. Changmin sighed and ran his fingers through Junsu’s loose hair.
“It upsets me that you are unhappy,” Junsu said.
“If that were true, you’d set me free.”
“It is true. I want you to be happy.”
“As a slave, as a whore, as a --”
“Yes,” Junsu said. “Because you do not like me. Without that, without you being a slave, you would not be here. It upsets me even more that you do not like me.”
Changmin tugged on his hair. “That is not true. I like you just fine. Under other circumstances ... but those aren’t the circumstances and I will never be happy here. I was raised to be proud of who I am, proud of my province and people, proud of my skills and my knowledge. I cannot be happy as a slave, without freedom.”
“But you do like me?”
“You are tolerable.” The touch softened.
Junsu smiled and rubbed his face on Changmin’s thigh. “I adore you, Changmin-ah.”
“I know that. What did you discover today?”
Junsu huffed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Humor me.”
“Only suggestions. Minho had fled, but he was found just outside the gates. The bodies of the two kitchen maids were found near the woods. Minho admitted to killing them, since dead bodies cannot speak. He admitted to orchestrating Junho’s death, but was silent on any larger plots. He did not survive his interrogation.”
“Weak,” Changmin muttered.
“Perhaps. Princess Im Yoona is very apologetic. She had no idea her favorite servant had such plans.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Yes. She is grieving much like Ricky is grieving right now. They had been lovers.”
“Has your wedding been called off?”
“No. If we send them home, we lose access to our intel.”
“Smart decision.”
Junsu hummed. He ran his hand up Changmin’s leg, the material of the pants doing nothing to hide the muscles underneath. He had such strong legs, such a tall frame. When he grew into himself, he was going to rival Jaejoong in best muscles of his harem. If he was here that long.
Junsu did not want to set him free. He had never considered the notion. “I do have to think of the safety of my kingdom too,” he said. “You are angry still. If I were to set you free, what are the chances that you would return to your home and start planning attacks, gather your people under your banner and use the knowledge you have gleaned from my leniency to topple my kingdom to the ground?”
Changmin stilled. “Okay, fine. That is very true.”
Junsu chuckled and continued his exploration up Changmin’s thigh.
“I do wonder what your people would think seeing you on the floor and touching me like a slave touches his master.”
Junsu rubbed his face against Changmin’s thigh. “I do not much care. If this is the only way I can touch you,” --and he did, cupping Changmin’s cock and balls and giving them a squeeze-- “then it is what I will do.”
“It is not the only way you touch me. You touch me all the time.”
Junsu laughed. “I guess I do. I cannot help myself. Come to bed. Rest and sleep. You do know that if I were able to free you that I would.”
“I understand why you can’t.”
“Good. Let’s go to bed.”
Changmin huffed, but pushed away from the table, dislodging Junsu’s hand on his dick. He stood up, hauled Junsu to his feet by a firm grip on his arm, and then bent over and blew out the candle on the table, shadowing them in darkness. Junsu wrapped his arms around Changmin’s waist, leaning his head on Changmin’s shoulder as they walked back to the harem’s bed chambers.
Epilogue: Devotion
Part 3: Seduction
Part 2: Conversation
Part 1: Distraction
.