Archive of Our Own ^beta

Kinn sprawled himself across a couch, tapping out a message with his thumbs. “Ai’Tae, I invited a new classmate over.” He reached out to draw a hand over Tae’s shoulder, where his friend was lounging almost close enough for their arms to touch. “He’s fun.”

Tipping his head up from the black notebook he was studying with a furrowed brow, Tae pursed his lips. “What for? I’ve got the two of you.” He leaned into the touch, wiggling to get more comfortable. Tae frowned when Kinn scooted away, hand still drifting across Tae’s shoulder, but far enough that they wouldn’t be pressed together. “Oi,” he muttered, but settled back, recognizing Kinn’s restraint for what it was.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor by the low table, Mew sighed down at the spread out school work. “Fuck’s sake, Kinn. We’re on a deadline.” Tae’s studious just-a-friend flipped a piece of paper and started scrawling notes again. “Stop flirting.”

“I’m not-- I’m definitely not flirting,” Kinn let go of Tae’s shoulder and slid forward to pick up a print-out. “Definitely not.” He shot a wry glance at Tae, who huffed and turned back to his notebook.

Shooting a concerned glance at Tae, Mew pressed his lips together. “Sure.”

Tae flipped a page, pressing his finger to the paper. “We’re not doing that anymore. Kinn can’t get it up when he’s got a cock in his ass.” He ignored Kinn’s grimace and Mew’s raised eyebrows.

Opening his mouth and then closing it again, Mew eventually let out a long sigh. “Fine, if that’s how it is, that’s how it is. Help me work on this project so we can graduate high school on time, and then find someone who wants your cock in their ass.” Mew’s ears went pink when he repeated Tae’s words, always the stuffier of Tae’s childhood friends. Kinn laughed at him and got a sheaf of papers to the face.

Half an hour and a quarter of their group project later, a sharp rap sounded. “Khun Kinn, Khun Time is here,” the bodyguard at the door announced, waiting for Kinn’s sound of acknowledgment before ushering in a stranger.

The boy-- Time-- grinned a charming, broad smile. “P’Kinn! Hi. Thanks for inviting me.” He looked around the room, sizing up the small group. “I’m Time. Time Ratanapakorn,” he said, giving a shallow wai to Mew and Tae. He didn’t seem fazed by the way Mew’s thick eyebrows pulled together judgmentally, nor by the sharp, thoughtful look Tae gave him over the notebook. “What are you working on?” Instead of sitting near the table, Time sat himself on the arm of the couch closest to Tae.

“Mew,” said Mew, introducing himself shortly. “That’s Tae. We’ve got a major social science project for midterms coming up.” He wrote something on a print-out and handed it to Kinn, who threw Time a crooked smile.

Time leaned over to try and look at Tae’s notebook. “Great. I’m transferring in next month, so maybe you guys can help me figure things out. My dad’s got some business in Bangkok. I’m probably going to be here for a while.”

Tae closed the book, setting it aside before Time could get a glimpse and smiled up at the taller boy. “Maybe we can.” The pair eyed each other. Tae’s gaze was half-lidded and considering. Time’s lips turned up in a smirk.

Scoffing as he scribbled away, Mew said, “it looks like you’ve got all the answers in your notebook. Just put us all out of our misery and let us check over your notes.” He waved at the notebook half-hidden beneath Tae’s hands.

Without looking away from Time, Tae smiled, showing his teeth. “Don’t be silly. That’s not schoolwork. Ma thinks since I’m the same age as some of her workers, I might as well start getting to know how to schedule out her call girls.” He drummed his fingers on the cover of the book, looking pinkly pleased at the way the three boys jolted. Kinn and Mew both looked back to their work immediately, knowing Tae well enough not to rise to the bait. Time’s eyes went dark, though, and Tae watched the other boy’s gaze linger when he licked his lips. “It’s confidential information. I’d have to punish you for corporate espionage.”

Time swallowed hard, his smile growing. “Oh, I’d hate for you to have to punish me,” he lied.

Tae leaned close enough that they were sharing body heat. “What if I want that? Kinn said you’re fun. Will you be fun for us?”

Mew slammed his hands on the table and stood, stalking to the door with the disgusted look of a person who needed a reason to be somewhere else. “I’m going to have the guard get us something to eat before this headache gets worse.”

When he’d closed the door with a loud click, Kinn just rolled his eyes. He hadn’t stopped going through their notes. “Leave me out of your games, Tae.”

Tae reached out to tangle his fingers with Time’s and laughed. “If that’s what you really want.”

The night was chill, a light evening breeze making Time shiver. He leaned against the wall outside the business faculty building, staring down at the curt texts from his boyfriend. It wasn’t as though Time didn’t also have plenty of school work and family business, but he hadn’t seen his boyfriend in nearly a week. He’d rather ditch everything else and take Tae out to dinner. And after dinner, lay him out on a bed and devour him. He dropped his head back, knocking it against the concrete.

He was being unreasonable, he knew he was being unreasonable. Tae’s family was extremely hands-on, insisting Tae take on real responsibilities alongside his coursework. Which meant that even if Time decided to surprise Tae with dinner, it was likely he’d spend most of it ignoring Time in favor of whatever he felt was most important to finish. But it didn’t make Time feel any better knowing Tae had reasons for shutting him out. Tae’s attention was like a shot of heroin directly into his veins sometimes, so Time couldn’t help but feel lethargic and sullen without him. He knocked thoughtlessly on the wall behind him, wallowing.

“Oh! P’Time? Is that you?” A semi-familiar voice chirped nearby, jerking Time out of his reverie. He looked up to see a younger man walking up to him, hand up in greeting. “Hi!”

The man was slight, a few centimeters shorter than Tae, with pale skin, narrow shoulders and a pretty, sharp fox-like face. It took a moment, but Time finally placed him-- “N’Lek, right? In the Journalism faculty?” He managed a smile, and stuck his phone in his pocket.

Lek’s face lit up, eyes going wide with pleasure. “You remembered!” He stopped in front of Time, hands clasped together and fingers fidgeting. “I’m, yeah. Hi,” he said again. He shuffled his feet, and Time watched, a little amused.

They’d met only twice before-- once to take photos of business majors for an article on college students who already worked for their own companies, once at a cross-faculty event he’d attended because Tae was consulting on a fashion show-- but there was something about his bright gaze and long, slender curve of neck that lodged Lek in Time’s memory. Time stood straighter, enjoying the way that Lek’s eyes trailed over his shoulders to the narrow strip of skin shown by his partially-unbuttoned shirt. That expression was bad news, but instead of feeling chilled over it, it felt like the morning sun warming him.

“Nice to see you again,” Time said. He tried to keep it simple. Polite. “How are your classes?” He stood, shifting a little so his shirt opened wider.

Lek shrugged and moved a bit closer. “Not bad, but I have an assignment and can’t find the right subject. You know?” Time let him, knowing he should make an excuse and leave, and knowing with just as much certainty that he wouldn’t. “I’ve been looking for the right person to interview, but I just can’t find a good story.” Lek bit his lip.

The look in his warm hazel eyes was like a knife. Time could feel the urge to walk right into it growing. He wanted-- he wanted Tae, but Tae wasn’t here, and wasn’t looking at him. Lek was. The brightness in Lek’s expression fizzled along Time’s veins, and he smiled at the younger man in return.

“Oh yeah? What kind of story are you looking for? I know plenty of interesting guys to introduce you to,” he said. It was all still innocent. He could still back out. Even though Time knew from experience that he couldn’t. He knew there was still time to stop, but there was no time left at all. Time moved away from the wall, crossing into Lek’s personal space.

The younger man didn’t pull back, he just smiled wider. “Something about an important businessman who also happens to be one of the most popular guys on the school’s cute boy facebook page, maybe.” He batted his lashes, and Time laughed unkindly at the way Lek was trying to serve himself up. It was heady to watch a sweet, inexperienced guy like this play at flirting, focusing all his minimal skill on making Time feel like the center of attention.

He shrugged, playing cool, and reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind Lek’s ear. Casually, as though he’d just noticed and was being friendly. “Oh, maybe Kinn Theerapanyakul? He’s been making million baht deals for years,” he said with a teasing smile.

Lek shook his head rapidly, paleing a little, and Time laughed again. Kinn’s reputation, never great in the first place, had taken a nosedive after he broke up with Tawan. Tawan, obnoxious brat though he had been, softened Kinn’s harsher edges. Without him, Kinn prowled the school like a predator, and most people gave him a wide berth. It was easy to use him as a prop to burnish Time’s own reputation as a fun, safe way to play with fire. He was a bad boy, always doing bad things.

“Okay, okay,” Time said. “Who, exactly, did you have in mind, then?”

Letting out a breath of relief, Lek gave Time a hopeful look. “I thought maybe you’d be willing to come by the third floor journalism lab so I could record an interview and get some photos.” He fidgeted with his fingers again, betraying the nervousness he so clearly wanted to hide behind his flirtations.

“I’ve got a better idea. I was planning to head out for dinner soon. Why don’t you come with me, and you can record your questions on your phone. My treat, since you’ll be writing something nice about me.” He let his hand rest on Lek’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. The way Lek brightened and leaned into the touch made Time’s insides simultaneously glow with enjoyment and twist violently. He needed to stop.

Time let his hand drop, but only to gesture Lek along. “My car’s this way,” he said.

Lek let himself be led.

Time didn’t let himself think about Tae for the rest of the night.

Shuffling through pictures, Tae sneered down at the little black book his mother gifted him his freshman year of high school. She still took care of the call girls, but the stable of boys was smaller and, she told him with a fond smile, easier to handle. If only his fucking boyfriend was as easy to handle as his employees.

Time smiled charmingly from a photo in the school newspaper that sat on the corner of Tae’s desk. In the picture, Tae’s hip was cocked and he leaned casually against a desk that Tae recognized from the blue vase half out-of-frame as the one in Time’s bedroom. Tae imagined cutting the image out and sticking it in the notebook with all his measurements, contact info, free times, and every piece of blackmail he had. He imagined calling Time and demanding he service the old rich men that reserved the hotel penthouse suites. He imagined calling Time and telling him it was over. He imagined cutting out the photo and tearing it into tiny pieces.

It wasn’t a sure thing that Time fucked someone before the photo was taken. Even if Tae recognized the relaxed expression and the lazy arch of his back as post-coital, he couldn’t be certain. This time he couldn’t be certain, at least. It felt like paranoia. Time was the only one who could make Tae feel like he was going out of his mind, even when Tae knew with complete certainty he was right.

Mew would shake his head in disappointment if he could hear Tae’s thoughts. Always the most reasonable of Tae’s friends, he’d be the first to tell him that setting up cameras in Time’s apartment was a terrible idea. That Tae probably didn’t even want to know the truth. Kinn, on the other hand, would encourage it. If Tae asked, he might even lend out Arm to set them up properly and everything. Impulsively, Tae reached for his phone and flipped it over to look at the screen.

He huffed, forcing his hand away from his phone and went back to skimming through his black book. Tae knew all his boys by heart, but it was good to refresh his memory. He stopped, tapping a forefinger on one page, and unclipped a photo, setting it on top of the newspaper next to Time’s face. Tae continued flipping through his book, taking out a few more polaroids and setting them aside.

Finally done, he spread the photographs out in front of him. Time’s tastes were predictable. Young, delicate, naive. Of course, none of Tae’s boys were exactly inexperienced. His clientele expected a certain level of skill. But some of them were less experienced than others. And some of them were very good at faking it.

After a few more minutes of consideration, he sighed and picked up his phone again. He hesitated, though, fiddling with it between his fingers.

The chime of a message cut through his thoughts and he looked down.

From: Time (🐶)
ey babe! thot u might like a spa day tmrw! play hooky w me 😘😘😘😘

Tae stared down at the screen, eyes cutting back to the newspaper sitting innocently on his desk. He swallowed a corrosive sob and threw the phone across the room.

Tae had too much self-control to slump at the bar, but it was a near thing. He played with the cocktail glass with determined nonchalance, as though his boyfriend wasn’t half-undressed and leaning over Kinn’s newest conquest like a lion with a gazelle. Time couldn’t even be bothered to give Tae some face in front of everyone. Tae sipped his drink aggressively. Out of the corner of his eye he watched the pair of idiots he somehow still liked. Kinn raised a hand to order another bottle of offensively expensive champagne for a boy who was almost certainly not old enough to enjoy it properly.

He licked the rim of his glass and put it down. He pressed his hands flat to the bar top. They weren’t shaking. He shook his head, blowing a lock of hair from his lips. Tae’s hair was fashionably feathered, giving him what he thought was a disarmingly sweet look, but it did get in his way.

Shifting so he could watch Kinn and Time without obviously turning his head, Tae wondered why he didn’t just get up and leave. He didn’t trust Time with-- what was the boy’s name? It didn’t matter-- with Kinn’s little morsel, but he did trust that Kinn was far too selfish to share. So Tae could easily go home, and know that Time wasn’t going to be fucking that boy.

Several tables away, Time tipped his head to laugh at something Kinn said as he wrapped an arm around the back of the booth. His fingers dangled barely a few centimeters from the boy’s bicep. Kinn didn’t act to dissuade Time, leaning over to refill flutes of champagne instead, and saying something with a wicked twist of his lips. Tae couldn’t see the expression on the boy’s face, but he could see Time leaning closer and saying something next to his ear, like a secret.

Tae turned back to the bar, raising a finger sharply to call over the bartender.

“Trouble in paradise?” The low purr of English was unmistakable. Tae didn’t look over, but Vegas leaned past him to the bartender. “Two cognacs. The Louis XIII, I think.” The smile he slid Tae’s way was slick. Tae didn’t believe it for a second, although he accepted the drink anyway.

Turning on his stool, Tae faced his best friend’s cousin. Even though he was pledged in his heart to support and love Kinn, he had a soft spot for the younger man. He’d watched Vegas’ obsession with Kinn grow alongside the pair’s introduction to the more violent aspects of the family business. He’d also marked the way that Vegas inevitably requested the same escorts as Kinn. Sometimes even before Kinn did, like he was trying to collect all of Kinn’s possible lovers as quickly as possible. He lifted the glass in a toast and returned the insincere smile. “Only the best for you, princess,” he said.

The annoyed flash in Vegas’ eyes made Tae’s smile a little more real. He didn’t often indulge in the games between the Theerapanyakul men, but he was feeling prickly all over. Annoyed at Time. Annoyed at Kinn for humoring Time. Annoyed at Kinn for having the bad taste to be a top. Annoyed at Vegas for getting in the way and making himself a target.

Vegas was trained to hide his claws and fangs until they were called for, so he simply raised his own glass back, taking a slow swallow to savor the 100-year cognac.

Tae watched the movement of his throat, sliding his gaze down the expanse of softly glowing chest Vegas habitually left bare. As much as his tastes usually ran towards broader chests and thick, muscular thighs, he could admit that Vegas was easily one of the most handsome men he knew. Tae knew a lot of extremely attractive men. It was fine to let himself look.

“It’s fine,” Tae said eventually. It wasn’t fine. Everyone could see it wasn’t fine, and Tae was so fucking tired of the pitying looks from socialites whose own relationships were nothing but froth, distaste, and transactional finance. He hid his expression behind the glass. It was a very good cognac, at least.

Vegas made a neutral sound, just taking another drink.

Although Tae tried to focus on the alcohol in his hands and Vegas in front of him, his attention kept getting tugged back towards Time and Kinn. Every movement. Every boisterous noise. He jerked himself back, and stared down into his glass instead.

Slim fingers brushed down his jaw and tapped lightly under his chin to make him look up. “Why don’t we get out of here? I brought my bike and it’ll piss them both off if you leave with me.”

It seemed somehow very cute to Tae how Vegas carefully avoided suggesting he take Tae home with him. He wondered if Vegas was worried about Tae’s reaction to the idea or Kinn’s. There were so many strange lines to be crossed in that family, and even after a decade Tae wasn’t sure where all the trip wires were strung. But he shrugged and let the almost-real smile blossom again. “Sure, why the hell not?” He finished his drink with less attention than it deserved and slid from his stool. With the lifts in his boots, Tae was just a tad taller than Vegas, which made him feel strangely smug. “Lead the way.”

Vegas led them outside. Tae took a deep breath of the fresh air and stretched. His back arched pleasantly in a way he knew would show off the slim line of his waist. The look in Vegas’ eyes said he knew what Tae was doing, and also that he wasn’t bothered by it. It was an odd little dance they were doing.

The Ducati was parked neatly in an out of the way alley, helmet somehow still sitting on the handlebars. “You take the helmet,” Vegas said, picking it up to pass over.

“And mess up my hair?” Tae ran the tips of his fingers through flyaway locks.

Vegas shoved the helmet insistently at him. “If you get hurt, P’Kinn will actually shoot me.”

Tae swallowed a giggle. He wondered if Vegas realized just how obvious he could be. He took the helmet with a feigned sigh and held it up to look at. At least it might make him look dashing. “Don’t take me home,” he said. And then, giving in to the urge, “take me home.”

“What?” Vegas frowned.

“I don’t want to go back to my place. I’m tired of Time and I’m tired of Kinn and I’m tired of their useless dick-waving bullshit. I’ve seen all that before. Take me home with you,” Tae said.

Vegas sucked in a breath through his teeth, really looking at Tae for the first time that evening. The older man enjoyed the regard, a rush of pleasant energy filling his chest. “I might scare you off, once you see what I’ve got in there,” he said, voice going low and a little husky.

Tae enjoyed the sound, although it still seemed a bit unnatural from Kinn’s baby cousin. He shrugged up one shoulder. “Kinn might be much too vanilla, but I’m not easily scared off. Maybe I want to see what’s under your bed.”

“My bed? P’Tae, don’t insult me. I have a whole closet.”

Tae couldn’t stifle the laugh this side of Vegas drew out of him. “Show me your closet, then. Maybe you’ll teach me some new tricks.” He lifted an eyebrow. “You see what kind of chaos I deal with. Could you teach me how to keep a tighter rein on my men?”

With an answering bubble of laughter, Vegas said, “start with ropes and go from there.” He took the helmet from Tae’s hands and settled it over Tae’s head, adjusting the straps with the kind of familiarity that said this was a common pick up trick for his little nong. Tae smiled behind the dark plexiglass of the visor, mounted the motorcycle behind Vegas, and let Vegas think he was leading their dance.

Tae watched his boyfriend enter the room, stepping through the door behind a large bouquet. His lips pursed as he took in the massive spray of flowers-- hibiscus, torch lilies and krachiao hedging pink and red roses in a stunning display. Time offered it to him with a crooked smile, and Tae reached out to take them.

Time rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. “Hey, babe. Got you a present.” He flicked it open to show Tae the pretty little diamond tennis bracelet laying neatly on green velvet.

Tae stared down at it, his stomach twisting. He stood, ignoring the way the chair legs screeched with the sudden movement, turning away from Time without a word to retrieve a vase. He let Time dangle a few minutes, listening to him shift uncomfortably without acknowledgement before murmuring a soft, “They’re lovely. Thank you.” The flowers were quite pretty, if ostentatious in a way that said Time had asked for help from the florist. And the bracelet was nice enough, although Tae already had three just like it. Guilt always made Time generous.

Bringing the vase back into the living room, Tae set it on a small, low table beside a recessed reading alcove and stepped back to scrutinize it. He turned the vase a little, adjusting the position of a lily before turning to glance back at his boyfriend.

Time could never hide his emotions from Tae, even if Tae usually pretended ignorance. The way his gaze flicked from Tae to the flowers to the jewelry box he still held, and then up to the side as he took in a calming breath-- Tae took the jewelry box out of his hands and then dropped back down into his chair again. He ran a finger over the diamonds and looked up at Time through his lashes. Silence settled between them.

As Tae knew it would, his refusal to speak unnerved Time more than accusations would have. The bigger man shifted from one foot to the other for a few moments, licking his lips. “Uhm. Tae. There’s something I should tell you,” he started and cleared his throat.

Tae fastened the bracelet around his wrist. “Mm-hmm?”

“I, ah, I had a check-up today. At the doctor. He did some blood tests and I was,” Time paused and took a breath, the last words coming out in a rush, “positive for chlamydia.”

Tae jolted, gaze jerking from the bracelet to his absolutely atrocious boyfriend. “You what?”

“Since we don’t use condoms, he said you should get treated too. He gave us both prescriptions, at least. So you don’t have to go to the clinic.” Time’s smile was weak. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and Tae could see the way Time was forcing himself mostly still from the way his feet shuffled and shoulders hunched.

Without conscious intention, Tae found himself on his feet, hand stinging from a slap which had Time stumbling. “You fucking prick! You couldn’t even use a fucking condom when you stick your disgusting dick into one of those empty cocksluts?” His throat had gone tight. The diamonds around his wrist flashed. He grabbed Time by the front of his shirt and dragged him close.

In the back of his head, Vegas murmured, sometimes the ropes are the least of the things tying you down, and Tae shook himself, shoving Time to put space between himself and the source of his anger.

“I’m sorry,” Time said, sounding shaken. Tae glared at him, hating that he could tell Time was actually being sincere for once. “It was a stupid-- I was being stupid. I only like going raw with you. Blue was a mistake. He begged for it and I--”

This time Tae punched him. Time tumbled to the floor, holding his cheek and staring up at his lover with wide eyes. His shirt gaped open where he left buttons undone, showing a sliver of tanned flesh that normally had Tae’s mouth watering. “Strip,” Tae said, his voice shaking slightly. He shook it off, thinking about the dark look in Vegas’ eyes when he’d pulled out a toy box. What would it be like to channel that violence into Time? “Strip,” he said again, stronger this time.

Time began to pull himself back to his feet, but Tae stopped him.

“I didn’t say get up. I said strip.”

“Tae, I--” Something in Tae’s expression made Time swallow his words, and he swiftly unbuttoned his shirt the rest of the way, letting it drop off his shoulders in a puddle. Taking off his pants without standing was awkward, but with Tae standing over him, Time didn’t even try. He wriggled out of his pants quickly. He’d probably had plenty of practice taking clothes off in awkward positions, Tae thought uncharitably.

“You know how to get naked. Don’t act stupid now,” Tae snapped. He ran his fingers over a smooth facet of his bracelet. “Underwear too.”

Time was shivering under Tae’s regard as he did as he was told. “I’m sorry, Tae. I really didn’t mean to fuck up like this. I never wanted to get you sick.”

“And you won’t fuck up like this ever again.” Tae said, finding the conviction in his words. “I’ll make sure of it.” He looked around, thinking about the items he’d purchased after his evening with Vegas. He hadn’t expected to use them so soon, or exactly like this, but he was glad he’d decided to quickly start his own toy box. “I’m getting some things from the bedroom. When I come back out, I expect you to be kneeling for me.” He pointed at the reading alcove where he’d left the bouquet. If the plush reading chair was moved to the side, Time would fit the alcove like a painting in a frame. Without another word, Tae ducked into the bedroom.

By the time he returned, Time had moved the chair to the other side of the table and was kneeling where he’d been told. Tae paused in the bedroom doorway, giving himself a chance to look over his lover. Time was beautiful, there was no denying it. The younger man always made an effort to appear powerful but in truth his muscles were for show-- carefully sculpted for beauty, not use. They existed to be put on display, and Tae made an internal note to put him on display more. Time’s golden skin gleamed with a thin layer of sweat, giving away the nervousness he was making an effort to hide.

Time was watching Tae with pupils blown wide. “P’Tae,” he started.

Tae crossed the space between them quickly. “Did I say you could speak?” he asked, a warm ember glowing in his stomach when Time’s mouth closed with a little click. “Speak out of turn again, and I’ll gag you.” Time nodded jerkily, licking his lips. “Good boy.”

Turning to the side table, Tae laid out neat coils of rope, a narrow teak paddle, and a newly acquired item he was certain Time wouldn’t be able to see properly from where he sat, nor recognize even if he could. He drew a hand over the shiny, polished wood and smiled to himself. Settling himself into the chair, he beckoned to his boyfriend. “I want you over my lap now, Time.” He smoothed the wrinkles from his slacks and patted his lap. “Come here.”

Time opened his mouth as if to ask a question, but caught the look in Tae’s eyes and just nodded. He glanced around, then back at Tae, and Tae’s mouth went dry when his lover, beautiful jackass that he was, crawled to him. Maybe Time was trying to manipulate him, wiggling his admittedly fantastic ass as he moved, but there was something unfocused about Time’s expression. Like most thoughts had already been knocked from his head.

When Time bent himself over Tae’s lap, Tae could feel the slight tremors rocking his boyfriend’s body, and he ran a hand possessively over the swell of his ass. Maybe on some other night he’d have wanted to soothe his boyfriend’s worries. Today, though. He gave Time no warning before landing a hard hit to his ass. Time rocked forward, hands coming up as though he wanted to reach back and protect himself. Tae grabbed one wrist and held it tight enough to bruise. “You wanted to make your dick and ass hurt? I’ll give you exactly what you want so you don’t have to crawl into some miserable whore’s bed for it.” He hit the same spot again, his palm tingling as he coaxed a bright red handprint. “You can cry and beg if you want, Time. But I'm not going to stop.”

Without waiting for acknowledgement, Tae brought his hand down again. He lost time a little, landing vicious hits on Time’s ass, trying to get a nice even red glow all over. Neither of them were accustomed to this kind of play, and soon Time was writhing in Tae’s lap, swallowing his cries into stifled whimpers. Tae’s hand and arm were aching now, but he didn’t want to stop. Anger fueled him, urging him on, taking aim at the delicate flesh where thigh and ass met. “This isn’t even going to be enough, is it,” he said-- not a question, but a statement. He knew Time better than that. A spanking wouldn’t get under his skin well enough or long enough to change his shitty behavior. Tae reached out and snatched up the paddle, once again giving Time no warning before the solid wood hit his already burning flesh.

The new sensation finally dragged a yell from Time, and soon each hit was accompanied by a desperate cry. He reached out again, and this time Tae grabbed his wrist, pinning Time’s arm to the small of his back. Time might be taller than Tae, but he had little leverage with Tae leaning down, using his own weight to hold Time in place. He didn’t want to stop. Even when Time’s cries turned wet and sobbing, Tae found a spot that wasn’t darkening from red to purple and smacked the paddle down again and again.

Eventually what little fight he had went out of Time and he slumped, face pressed into the plush side of the chair to hide his tears. Tae slowed down, letting go of Time’s wrist to rub soft circles in the bruised skin. Time shifted. “We’re not done,” Tae said. and pinched the side of his hip, making Time go limp again. He set the paddle down and took up the new item.

It was awkward to pick up like that, too big for him to hold easily in one hand. In fact, it was long enough to span the back of a man’s thighs and curved so it would fit neatly there. Made from two pieces of darkly-stained wood hinged together, with magnets to hold it shut and a hole at the top, its use wasn’t immediately obvious. Tae set it down on Time’s back, and shifted his boyfriend’s legs so they were folded, ignoring his pained whines. Time hadn’t attempted to speak since Tae told him not to, and the pleasure of his obedience made Tae feel warm. “This is called a humbler,” he said, petting Time’s side. “I think we both know you deserve this.” He opened the humbler, concealed hinges swinging wide, and reached between Time’s legs. Tae wasn’t surprised to feel Time’s dick half-hard, and getting harder when he rolled Time’s balls in his hands. He tugged them teasingly, letting Time get used to it, and then jerked, a rough, mean motion that made Time yelp and tense.

Tae didn’t let go. Instead he pulled the lovely handful of Time’s balls into the hole at the top of the humbler and snapped it shut. The pressure on Time’s balls forced him to stay bent over, kneeling across Tae’s lap with his sack soft and vulnerable. “Do you have anything to say for yourself, Time?” When his boyfriend took a breath, Tae slapped his hand down on the sensitive flesh, knocking the air from Time’s lungs. Soft whimpers made Tae’s dick stir in his trousers, and he pulled at Time’s balls, making it easier to flick the edge of his well-manicured fingernail into the soft skin.

“Please, I’m sorry,” Time sobbed, unable to move more than a few millimeters without pulling painfully on his balls. “Tae, I’m sorry, I swear, I’ll never-- I won’t--” He was babbling, words interrupted by cries of pain when Tae continued to pinch and hit spots he’d only ever touched with affection before. “Tae, Tae, I’m sorry, phi, please phi,” he sobbed.

It was almost musical, the way Tae could draw the chorus of sounds. He hummed, pleased, and reached for the paddle again. He was more gentle this time, but only a little, enjoying the way Time’s balls jiggled when he hit them, and the way Time jumped and pulled on his own flesh when Tae hit harder.

Eventually, though, Tae’s arms got fatigued. He huffed, rolling his shoulders and shoved Time off his lap. Time hit the ground with a grunt, unable to roll with the impact, and his legs jerked, making him sob again. Tae stood, staring down at Time’s tear-streaked face and felt another stab of anger. Why did he have to be the one to forgive every time? Impulsively he kicked Time in the stomach, sneering when his boyfriend curled in on himself and pressed a kiss to Tae’s foot.

“I’m sorry, phi, phi, please, I didn’t mean to-- I love you, phi, please, don’t hate me, don’t leave.” Time was slurring his words, the look in his eyes somehow both unfocused and focused only and entirely on Tae. He squirmed forward despite the humbler, pressing kisses to the sides and tops of Tae’s feet. Tae pressed his foot against Time’s cheek, feeling cold and hot at once. Time turned his head to kiss the bottom of his foot too.

Tae sucked in a breath, feeling too seen, and stepped away. Time made a low sound of desolation. The sound reverberated through Tae’s body and he picked up the ropes he’d brought out. “Don’t be a brat, Time,” he said, returning to kneel next to his lover. He grabbed Time by the hair, tugging him into position without any protest besides soft whines, even though forcing him up onto his knees, back into the alcove, was certain to be pulling on the humbler. And if Time was in pain, it was entirely his own fault, Tae told himself sternly. It had nothing to do with how hard Tae was getting from the way Time swayed towards him with every movement.

Taking a moment, Tae sucked in a deep breath to calm himself. “You’re so pretty, nong. It’s a shame you’ve made yourself a disgusting, diseased slut.” He uncoiled one of the ropes, a thick jute that was guaranteed to rub red lines into Time’s skin, and folded it in half. “Don’t move.” Carefully, slowly, he wrapped the rope around Time’s chest, smoothing it down so it lay flat as he wrapped it around and across. In another situation, he would have stopped to enjoy the way the rough rope framed muscles Time worked so diligently to sculpt. They outlined his pretty tits, and made his sweet brown nipples stand in sharp relief.

But instead, Tae tied the ropes down his arms, and then pulled them roughly back to force Time’s back and chest to arch painfully. He smoothed his hands down Time’s arms, checking the tension on the ropes before cupping Time’s vulnerable throat in one hand and squeezing lightly. Time didn’t say a word, just moaned and tipped his head back, tears drying on his cheeks. Tae retrieved another coil of rope, this one soft and red, and used it to weave Time’s arms back tighter, giving him the look of a butterfly in a web. He tightened them, hoping Time wouldn’t be able to go to the gym until the bruises faded. He stepped back to look at his boyfriend, who watched him with a dark, unfocused gaze.

“There’s something missing,” Tae muttered to himself. Time didn’t respond, knew he didn't need to do anything but take what Tae was giving him. After a moment, Tae’s gaze swept the room, and he knew the final brushstrokes. He swept back into the bedroom to grab lube and a kit from under the bed.

The kit was Vegas’-- the man said he never used it, and Tae was fine with finding a use for it so quickly. Unzipping the case, Tae pulled out a narrow steel rod and nodded to himself. Sound and lube in hand, he knelt in front of Time again. “I’m going to make your dick hurt,” Tae said, and Time blinked at him, as though the words were only slowly making their way into his brain.

Heedless of the humbler, Tae took hold of Time’s dick and, squirting some lube on it, began to stroke. It didn’t take long for Time to get hard, despite how the intensity of pain had made his earlier erection flag. Tae smiled. He rubbed the lube onto the thin sound and pressed it to the tip of Time’s dick. The sensation made Time whimper, another incoherent plea which Tae ignored. He pushed inexorably in, forcing Time’s dick to open up to him. Time’s hips rocked up despite his restraints. When the probe was as far in as Tae could get it, he let go, watching the way Time’s dick twitched and oozed around it. “You like that? Of course you do. You’re a shameless slave to your cock.”

He stood and went to the table, pulling one of the hibiscus flowers out of the vase. He held it up, although he was sure Time was much too out of it to understand Tae’s artistic vision. Tae stripped the leaves from the flower as he moved, smearing the stem with lube. Time’s gaze followed him, uncomprehending until Tae reached out to pull free the metal sound, replacing it with the thin tip of the hibiscus stem. With his free hand, he pet Time’s hair, soothing, and leaned in to draw his tongue along the line of barely-dried tears. “I think you’re pretty like this, nong. I think I’ll keep you as an art piece.” Time leaned into the touch, turning to kiss Tae’s fingers. “You don’t have to worry about me leaving. You’re mine. A vase doesn’t worry when it will be emptied.”

Tae rested his head on Time’s chest, feeling sticky and a little gross from the humid atmosphere in the bar. He let the noise of voices and music wash over him. It was all nonsense anyway. Tankhun made too much noise with too little sense behind it at the best of times, much less when he was off his head from Yok’s ya dong. Tae only had one shot, but he could feel the blurring edges of tipsiness too. He shifted a leg out of the way of the crowd, uninterested in getting dragged into the fray.

Beneath him, Time wriggled a little, waving his free arm to the music. Tae could tell he wanted to get up and dance, but felt selfish. He clung just a little harder, fingers tightening in the woven fabric of Time’s jacket. It wouldn’t work-- Time’s attention had drifted out towards Kinn, Porsche and the laughing group around them.

“It’s too quiet,” Jom declared, even though it was already much too rowdy for Tae’s taste. He was dragging a pink-cheeked Tem out onto the dance floor with a demand to ‘liven the place up’. Porsche, ever the party animal, quickly joined in. The combination of his drunkenly hedonistic chaos and Tem’s actually fairly competent dancing did whip up the energy another couple of notches.

Time leaned forward, dancing along with the music as far as he could without getting up. Tae grumbled to himself, finally letting go of his boyfriend. Pillows shouldn’t move. But it was nice to watch Time shimmy, his jacket coming open and chest gleaming under the neon lights. Tae suppressed the urge to drag him back down onto the couch, trying to ignore the jealous churning in his stomach that Time didn’t want to stay with him. On the sidelines. He wished absently that he’d brought along a pair of handcuffs. Maybe then he could just lash Time to him.

“Gotta go to the bathroom, babe,” Time said. He leaned down to speak, breath blowing cool against Tae’s overheated cheek. He didn’t follow it up with the kiss Tae expected, and Tae had too much self-respect to beg for one in front of so many people. He watched Time move through the crowd with ease, his shoulders and hips swinging along with the music. If he stopped to grind against a dance partner, it was just dancing.

It took five songs to change over before Tae started getting suspicious. It wasn’t impossible that Time got waylaid in a conversation, but Tae didn’t really believe that. Hum Bar wasn’t the sort of place that catered to people Time needed to have long or deep discussions with. He stood, looking around. Still no Time. For lack of a better idea, he headed towards the bathroom. He brushed past Porsche, who turned to watch him go, drunken smile fading. Tae felt the concern like a hot coal on his back. He was so fucking tired of being pitied.

The door creaked when he pushed it open, but the sound wasn’t loud enough to disturb Time and Tem, curled around each other like they wanted to crawl into each other’s skin. Time’s face was pressed to Tem’s throat, Tem’s long, pale arms clutching Time’s back. Time was saying something, the words lost against the other man’s skin.

Tae’s throat closed. Knowing what Time did was something he’d almost found a balance with. Seeing it in person-- and of all people it was Porsche’s lanky, pretty swimmer friend wrapped up in Time’s embrace, being held with a heat that was Tae’s by right-- something in Tae’s chest splintered. It felt like ice shards working their way into his marrow.

“While I’m with you, in the next room? Really?” Tae’s voice felt thready but somehow he kept it from shaking. He couldn’t feel pleased by the way Time and Tem jumped apart. Couldn’t feel much of anything but numb about it. “I want– you know I want to trust you,” he said, throat tight around the words. “Why is it that every time I close my eyes or turn around, I feel like I find you’re with someone else?” He blinked tears back. “It fucking hurts, Time!” But when he lunged forward, it was because he wanted to dig his nails into Tem’s eyes, into his face, into his lying fucking mouth. He’d thought Porsche’s friend, at least, had some decency. When Time got in the way, pressing hands to Tae’s chest, Tae nearly screamed. He shoved at his boyfriend and turned away.

“Wait, wait. Tae, don’t go!” Time reached for Tae’s hand, and Tae slapped it away.

Time’s touch felt like crawling insects against his skin. Time was saying something, but it was inconsequential. A lie, probably.

“I’m going home,” Tae said, lengthening his strides to get away from the pair faster.

Time was fast and his legs were longer, so he closed the gap between them, dragging Tae back. His arms wrapped around Tae’s biceps in a tight back hug that trapped Tae’s hands against his own chest. “Wait, don’t. Please. Just listen to me,” Time stammered.

Tae tilted his head back, swallowing a sob. “Let go!” he demanded, flexing his arms to force Time to let go, his fists hitting Time squarely in the sternum. Time stumbled back, and Tae bit back another scream of fury when Tem stepped up to steady him. “It feels like you’re killing me,” he said, quiet enough that he wasn’t sure it would even be audible.

Time barely seemed to notice Tem’s hands, immediately moving back towards Tae. One hand wrapped around Tae’s wrist. Time’s fingers were trembling. “I love you,” he said, the words rushed and despairing.

One of the icy shards stabbed itself right where Tae’s heart should be. In pain, he drew back and punched his lover in the face. “You bastard!”

He didn’t stay to watch Tem pick up what was left of Time. Instead Tae stalked out of the club, ignoring Porsche’s concerned look trailing after him.

Standing alone in the cool evening air, Tae chewed on his lower lip and tried not to notice that his face was wet. He felt like he was about to shake out of his skin. He felt awful and feverish and like he wanted to make Time hurt. He didn’t want to see Time ever again.

He wanted to make Time understand that no matter what he did, he’d never be able to scour Tae out from inside of him.

Tugging his phone from his pocket, Tae shot a message to the hotel staff to prepare his personal suite for a longer stay than usual. He needed space to think before he let Time think he was forgiven.

It took longer than Time anticipated to convince Tem he would be alright. He didn’t want to just shrug off the other man’s concern. Tem’s hands on his arm were grounding; they kept him from throwing himself into his car and getting into an accident speeding after his boyfriend. Tem guided him to a seat at the bar, the crowd parting around them. Time was used to critical looks, but when they passed by Porsche, the judgment in his expression was damning. Time dropped his gaze and sat back on the stool.

Tem was talking to Yok, but Time’s mind was elsewhere. He kept replaying the wan look on Tae’s face, the way his lips thinned, the pain in every line of his body. Tem’s fingers brushed through Time’s hair, soothing. Normally Time would have relished the touch but his body buzzed.

Something cold was pressed to his cheek and Time startled, blinking up at Tem. Tem held out an ice pack wrapped in a dish cloth. His smile was weak and shaky around the edges, matching Time’s mood but better at concealing it. “P’Yok’s used to bar brawls,” Tem said, holding it gingerly to the slowly forming bruise. Time reached up to take the ice pack. It burned coldly against his skin, discomfort giving way, not to cessation of pain but to a numbness that seemed to mirror the sensation resting in his chest.

“Are you okay?” Tem asked, one hand stroking Time’s arm. Time didn’t pull away but it was a close thing.

He managed a raw smile. “As I can be,” Time said in non-answer.

Tem continued to fret and, for lack of anything better to do, Time let him. He let Tem take care of him, let the younger man murmur soothing words, and get a glass of water to put in front of Time. It was always nice to be pampered, but Time was in no condition to enjoy a lover’s fussing. He kept thinking about the straight line of Tae’s back when he stormed off. The bruise throbbed in reminder and he held the ice pack harder against his cheek. He drank the glass of water when it was put in his hands and waved at Yok. “Give me something harder, P’Yok. Please.”

Yok looked at Tem, standing in Time’s personal space, and the lack of Tae’s presence. Her brows pulled together, but she poured a shot of ya dong and pushed it across the bar. Time threw it back and pushed the glass back in silent request. She poured a second one and deliberately put the bottle away. “That’s all for you, broken-hearted boy.”

“You’re turning down my money? Shouldn’t you be enabling my bad decisions with alcohol?” Time turned the glass in his fingers before drinking it in one swallow. Tem flinched beside him.

Yok snorted and gestured at Kinn behind him with her chin. “I’m not hurting for money. But you’re hurting and more herbal spirits aren’t going to fix it. Go home.” She eyed Tem and Time. “Together or not. Go home.”

Time swayed a little as he turned in his stool. He spread his legs and pulled Tem between them, reaching up to cup his cheek in one palm. “I gotta. Gotta go home. You understand, right?”

Tem’s face dropped, but he nodded like he’d expected that. “Yeah. I understand.”

When he pulled away, Time gave in to the impulse and pulled him back by his wrists. He leaned in and brushed a slow, careful, and not entirely chaste kiss to Tem’s lips. “Thanks,” he said.

The sound Tem made was a weird cross between a laugh and a moan and he leaned his forehead on Time’s shoulder, heedless of the crowd around him. “Anything for you, phi,” he mumbled into Time’s jacket.

It took a while for Time for disentangle himself from Tem’s warmth, but the heavy, cold weight in his chest grew heavier and heavier. Eventually he pushed Tem gently back and stood. “I’ll text you,” he promised. He nodded to Yok, who offered him an encouraging little smile, and made his way out to his car.

If he broke a few laws driving home, who was going to tell?

Time fumbled his keys into the lock, hands shaking. “Tae? Phi, let’s talk, okay?” he called out. But the apartment was dark and empty. His heart sank, and Time shut the door behind him. “Tae? Talk to me, please.” But Tae wasn’t there. Not sulking on the couch, or reading in bed, or soaking in the tub. None of the places he would normally be when trying to shrug off Time’s shitty behavior. Time did a circuit of the apartment, turning on all the lights as though that would bring Tae back. He stood in the doorway to the bedroom, staring at the neatly-made bed which hadn’t been touched since the maid cleaned up that afternoon. He leaned against the doorjamb and knocked his head against the wood. “Fuck. Fuck.”

Without undressing, Time threw himself onto the bed and covered his eyes with his arm.

A few days later, Time stood in the lobby of Tae’s favorite of his family’s hotels. None of the staff even glanced at him, as he made his way, flowers and a box under his arm, to a penthouse elevator. He considered calling up, but decided he didn’t want to give Tae a chance to tell him to fuck off ahead of time. Instead, he punched in the floor number using the card Tae had (thankfully) not deactivated yet, staring blankly at the gold finials bordering the number display above the elevator doors.

He knew better than to let himself into the suite, rapping his knuckles on the door instead. Time buzzed from the inside out.

The door swung open and Time felt the numbness ebb from his body for the first time in days. Tae looked awful, dark circles under his eyes unconcealed and frown lines carving into his usually flawless face. Time was sure he didn’t look much better, but the expression on Tae’s face made Time crumble. “Babe. Phi. Tae,” he stammered over his words, but moved forward, forcing Tae to either close the door in his face or let him into the suite.

Tae moved back, letting Time in. His eyes went wide, surprised, and then narrowed.

Time watched despairingly as an uncaring mask descended over Tae’s expression. He couldn’t handle that. He hated that cold look, hated knowing there were burning emotions under the ice that Time couldn’t touch. He pushed forward again, dropping his gifts onto a table by the door, and took Tae by the waist, pulling him back. “Don’t hide from me, phi. Please. I fucked up so bad. I brought--” he didn’t turn, managed to partially free one hand to wave at the box and bouquet on the table. But he didn’t want to let Tae go long enough for him to open the box. Instead, he dragged his unresisting boyfriend against him.

“Why are you here?” Tae’s voice was rough, like he’d been yelling. Usually so controlled, there was a sheen of tears in his eyes. “Are you going to beg me to take you back?”

Time huffed a hoarse laugh, feeling on the edge of tears himself. “Yeah. Please don’t leave me, Tae. I couldn’t stand it. You’re-- fuck, you know I’m no good with words. You’re everything.”

Jerking himself away, Tae went over to look at what Time had brought. The flowers were a restrained spray and, for once, all flowers Tae actually liked. Tae fingered the petal of a noble orchid-- pale yellow fading to white at edges. Tae didn’t pick the bouquet up, just let it sit. If some of the flowers got crushed, that would be alright. “If I’m everything,” he said, “why can’t you help fucking other people?” His hand hovered over the gift box.

“I don’t know,” Time answered honestly. He slid his arms around Tae’s waist, reveling in the feel of getting to hold him again. “I can’t explain it.” The casual contact invigorated him, though, made him press his face to Tae’s neck and breathe in his scent.

Finally, Tae opened the box, and his soft gasp of pleasure sent sparks out through Time’s limbs. “I lost this at the auction,” Tae said. Laying prettily in the box was a matched set of sapphire earrings with a star sapphire brooch, all in deep saturated blue with silver filigree settings. He ran one finger over the brooch’s face, enjoying the feeling of the smooth stone.

Time shrugged, kissing Tae behind the ear. “Yeah. You were really upset about it. I tracked down the buyer and convinced him to sell them.”

“You just feel guilty. Don’t try and bribe your way back into my good graces,” Tae said, but Time could hear the slow smile. It trickled warmth down his spine.
Dropping the jewelry box back on the table, Tae turned in Time’s arms so they were face to face. Some of the upset had lifted, although the turn at the corner of Tae’s lips was still sad. He scrutinized Time, and Time felt raw under the regard, flayed open.

It felt... good. Good to have Tae really, honestly looking at him. Tae had seen the worst of Time, was looking at the worst of him, and Time would do anything to keep that knowing look on him. “I wouldn’t come to you empty-handed. Next time I’ll bring you river rocks instead,” he said, trying for a teasing grin, and knowing it wasn’t quite there. He did laugh at the disgusted expression Tae made and reached out to press his thumb to the edge of Tae’s grimace. “I’m an awful boyfriend, the worst, I know. But I want to make it up to you. Please let me make it up to you.”

“What about Tem?” Tae said.

“What about him?” Time didn’t want to talk about that. The arm still around Tae’s waist squeezed. “You’re the one I love.” His love for Tae was a raw wound, the other men just scar tissue he compulsively tore open.

Tae wrapped his arms around Time’s neck, still staring at him as though mentally breaking his lover down to component parts. But his fingers were tugging at the short hair at the nape of Time’s neck. “Tem and Jom belong to Porsche. Were you trying to break up Porsche’s friend group or ours?”

“I wasn’t.” In reality, Time had never even considered those ramifications. That it would have a ripple effect through the few actual friends he and Tae had. “I’m sorry,” he said again, fully meaning it.

With a soft sigh, Tae put some space between them. Time shivered, feeling colder, until Tae wrapped a hand around his wrist and squeezed lightly. He took the bouquet and dragged Time along in his wake to fill a vase with water. He did the work one-handed, never letting go of Time.

The physical contact left Time’s blood feeling carbonated, a constant, pleasantly painful fizzing.

“You’re still messaging with him,” Tae predicted, and handed the now-full vase to Time.

It was true-- Time and Tem were still texting, although they’d both agreed that they couldn’t continue what they had been doing. Time ducked his head. “I don’t like hurting you,” he said.

Tae laughed at that, sharply, but the look he gave Time was softer. “Put the vase over there.” he instructed, letting go of Time only briefly to adjust the bouquet on the lounge table. Then he turned and grabbed both of Time’s wrists, pulling them flush together with a powerful tug. “I haven’t forgiven you,” he said, looking into Time’s eyes with a brutal energy that built heat in Time’s stomach. “But I’ll graciously allow you to make it up to me.”

Time couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face as he leaned into Tae’s warmth, feeling his boyfriend relax into the embrace. Not forgiven, not yet. But Tae hadn’t cut him out of his life. He crossed the centimeters between them.

The kiss began slowly, a gentle brush of soft lips, Tae’s a little tacky from chapstick and Time’s cracked from chewing on them for days. It deepened almost against Time’s will, going from sweet and soothing to deep and hot, Tae’s tongue licking in, tasting him. Time groaned, and his arms tightened around Tae’s waist. They lost themselves in the kiss, and then lost themselves together on the couch of Tae’s penthouse suite.

“N’Art,” Tae smiled and lifted his hand to wave the young man over. “Time, this is Art. He started working at the hotel as a bellboy last month.”

Time eyed the boy as he bounced over to drop into a seat beside Tae, accepting the glass of water with a chirped thanks and tipping his head back to take a long swallow. It wasn’t like Tae to act so close with the staff-- he always preferred to keep some distance as the heir to the hotel chain. He was friendly, of course, but too used to being treated as someone on a higher social rung. It wasn’t like him to flag down the waiter and order a drink for a new bellboy.

Art bit his lip, and Time’s gaze was pulled to that plush mouth. “Aowh, well, I’m not, you know, old e--”

Tae waved a hand to stop him. “Are you planning to rat me out to the police, nong?” The smile he offered was a thin gloss of sweetness over sharp teeth.

Art’s soft doe-brown eyes went wide and he shook his head vigorously. “No, of course not, Khun Tae. I’d never, I mean, I just meant that I’ve never drank. With someone cool. Like you.” He stammered, glancing from Tae to Time and back again, worrying harder at his lip. Time wanted to reach out and pull the soft flesh free.

Art wasn’t Tae’s type. Time flattered himself that he knew what Tae liked, and it was tall, muscular, and powerful. More like Kinn or Porsche, or Time himself. Art, on the other hand, was soft and apple-cheeked with floppy hair and lithe body that begged to be folded in half and pounded. Time’s type. He looked at his boyfriend again, trying to figure out what he was planning. Tae was a jealous man who knew exactly what Time liked, so he shouldn’t be unaware of the thoughts running through Time’s mind. The irritated glare Tae threw Time’s way once Time managed to stop looking at Art’s lips was much more in-character. Time smiled wryly back. Tae knew better than to put temptation in his way.

“I hope Tae isn’t running you too ragged,” Time said, leaning an elbow on the table and giving Art a casual smile.

The boy blushed and glanced at Tae with a shy look. “Not at all. He’s been very flexible about my school schedule. He even said he might have a higher-paying job working more closely with the rich clients!”

Time hid a frown behind a sip of his whiskey tonic, taking another look at the boy before shooting Tae a questioning look. Tae had an anodyne smile firmly fixed, although his gaze had a sparkle to it. The hotel’s gray-market businesses included a number of staff whose jobs involved working “closely with rich clients”, but given the boy’s looks Time had a quick and dirty guess which role Tae was measuring Art for. “That so? He must trust you a lot already, to be considering putting you in the books.”

“I was hoping you’d help me test him out. I want to see if he has what it takes to work with the high rollers,” Tae said, running a finger through the condensation on his glass. The glance he sent Time’s way made Time’s breath catch, all smug and heated. What the hell was he planning?

A heavyset bartender set a violently pink and orange drink in front of Art. “Thank you, Ai’Bpui,” Tae said and turned to Art with a sugary smile. “I had him make you something special, since you’re not used to the taste of alcohol.”

“You can taste mine if you decide that’s too fruity for you,” Time offered, ignoring the flash of annoyance in Tae’s eyes. “A whiskey tonic might be too bitter right now, but some people work hard to acquire the taste.” He grinned, watching Art look from him to Tae and back again before lifting the bright drink to his lips.

Art took a sip and then another, longer swallow, his expression lighting up. “Oh wow! That’s good, thank you Khun Tae.” His little pink tongue flicked out to catch a stray drop.

Time was fucked. Tae was going to be pissed if Time fell in bed with this cute little slice of temptation, even if Tae was the one who put him on Time’s plate to begin with. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way Art’s dark eyes stayed on him. Desperate to find something else to focus on for a minute, Time threw his gaze back at Tae. But Tae was watching him with his own dark look, not angry or annoyed for once, but knowing. As though he’d expected this. Which, given how well he knew Time’s bad habits, he must have. For once it wasn’t upsetting him. Time stared at his boyfriend, trying to figure him out, but Tae had always been good at hiding his thoughts. Was Tae trying to compromise by vetting his flings?

He cleared his throat with a forced laugh. “I’m rich, but I don’t know if I’m a high roller. Why not ask Mew? You know if Art can work with your favorite stick in the mud, he can work with anyone. And heaven fucking knows that guy needs someone to loosen the pole in his ass.” It was a weak deflection. Their friend had always been Time’s only competition for Tae-- the serious, thoughtful workaholic still spent time at Tae’s hotels. Ostensibly so he could get work done without his family bothering him, but Time wondered. Whether he hired on Tae’s boys. Whether he still had eyes for Tae.

Tae rolled his eyes with a long-suffering look. “You’re holding a grudge because he took me to the festival last month. I’m not asking Mew to help me vet my boys because I don’t want to watch him vet my boys.” He took a drink of his cocktail and pursed his lips at Time. “Are you so mad about him that you don’t want to go upstairs and help me with Art?”

Following Tae’s look to Art, Time swallowed hard. Art held his glass in front of his mouth, taking little sips and looking a bit strained around the edges. He seemed aware that there was a conversation happening over his head, but was unsure how to ask about it. Time wasn’t even certain Tae had explained what role they’d be trying him out for. Time wasn’t sure how to tell Art that Tae thought he’d make a good sex worker, although thankfully that was Tae’s job. “No, of course not. I’ll help you with anything you need, babe,” he said. Tae wanted to watch him, and that extra excitement on top of this temptation gave Time courage. He knocked back the rest of his whiskey tonic, though.

Art watched him do it and tried to mimic the quick toss back. Unfortunately, the boy wasn’t used to the burn of alcohol even when masked by sweet liqueur and juice. He burst into a coughing fit, dropping the glass back on the table and doubling over to try and catch his breath.

Not bothering to hide his snicker, Time glanced again at Tae, trying to read past his lover’s blandly pleasant smile. The smaller man watched Art cough without anything more than a slight twitch of his lips.

Tae didn’t finish his cocktail. He simply set it aside on a napkin and stood, reaching over to pat Art’s shoulder. The coughing fit subsided, leaving Art half-laying on the table with tears glistening at the corners of his eyes. “We’ll have to work on your ability to swallow without choking,” Tae said. He could have been commenting on Art’s penmanship for all the emotion in his voice, but Time choked a little at the words himself. “I’m sure Time can give you some pointers.”

Pulling himself up, Art wai’d deeply to Tae and Time. His cheeks were pink, whether from the coughing spell or embarrassment wasn’t entirely clear. “I’m happy to take instruction, Khun Time, Khun Tae,” he said, his voice a little hoarse.

After waving to Bpui to take care of their table, Tae led Art and Time to a penthouse elevator up to the floor with Tae’s suite. Time liked those rooms, with their expansive view of the city, large lounge area, and massive bed. He cherished the memory of Tae fucking him up against the window, whispering nasty things about how easy he showed himself off.

Unlike Time, Art wasn’t used to the kind of hotel rooms reserved for the rich or famous. He stumbled in behind the couple, eyes wide as he took in a foyer and lounge probably bigger than his own apartment. Time turned back, smiling at the young man’s expression. Realizing he was being observed, Art straightened, trying to pretend not to be awed. “This is a, uh, a nice place. Are all the rooms up here like this?” He coughed, ears going red when Tae turned with an eyebrow raised. “I usually only help with the lower floors?” he said. His anxiety turned the statement into a question.

Tae nodded lightly, reaching out to take Art’s wrist and draw him further inside. “The richer you are, the more space you want for yourself,” he said. “No point in being rich if you have to mingle with the peasants, after all.” He drew Art past Time, heading towards the white double doors Time knew led to the bedroom.

Time watched him, feeling a heat begin in the pit of his stomach. His boyfriend didn’t touch many people without reason. In fact, Time could count on one hand the number of people Tae would voluntarily touch, and most of those were close friends, people he’d had sex with, or both. It meant Tae was serious. Time watched the way Tae rubbed his thumb on Art’s pulse point, and licked his lips. He stretched his legs to catch up, sweeping open the door for his boyfriend and the young man tugged in his wake.

“There’s an en suite bathroom,” Time said. He waved towards a partially open door on the other side of the room, where marble tiles peeked through the gap. “You want to clean yourself up first?” He didn’t mention that the bathroom included a shower head with an attached enema nozzle. If the kid didn’t know about that kind of thing yet, he’d learn.

Art glanced between the two older men, lips parted. Time wondered again if Tae had actually bothered to inform the boy what kind of job he was trying out for. Finally he nodded. “Khun Tae, do you need me to wash up?” he asked. Realization seemed to be dawning, and thank heaven for that.

“The shower can be a little tricky,” Tae said, “let me show you how it works. After you’re done, you can come out and we’ll get started.” He lay a hand on Art’s back, guiding him towards the bathroom.

Time watched the way Tae’s elegant hand drifted lower, laying just above the slight curve of Art’s ass and swallowed hard. He couldn’t wait to see his beautiful lover take the pretty boy to pieces. Tae looked so fragile but he could fold Time in half. He would annihilate Art.

Time dropped onto the bed, legs spread to give room to his quickly hardening dick. He pressed the palm of his hand against the front of his pants, trying to relieve a little of the pressure. But the idea of sharing with Tae-- teaching Art to swallow his dick properly while Tae fucked him mercilessly, or diving in to fuck Tae’s sloppy seconds, or fuck both of them taking the boy in the same hole together-- Time hissed, his slacks suddenly too tight.

At that moment Tae came storming out of the bathroom, a mutinous look on his face. He had his phone in hand and was snarling at it. “Fine, I’ll come down and deal with it, since you’re too goddamn incompetent to handle something this banal,” he was saying, venom dripping from every word. “Hold them in my office for five fucking minutes.” He jabbed the Call End button violently and glowered at his phone as though it had offended him personally. “I’m sorry, babe. I have to go downstairs and deal with some fucking government inspectors because apparently the director is inept and can’t handle basic paperwork.”

He was furious, but Time couldn’t help finding the pout screwing up his expression cute. Time grabbed Tae’s hands and tugged him close for a kiss. “How long do you think it will take?”

Tae frowned harder. “I don’t know. There’s some mix up about our licenses so it could be fifteen minutes or it could be five hours depending on how anal the inspectors are.” He leaned in for another kiss that Time happily gave. Tae leaned back away from the kiss after a few moments. “Don’t do anything with Art until I get back. I told him, and I’m telling you! I want to be here. You know I don’t trust it when you’re alone with other guys,” he said.

Ignoring his hard-on to focus on his boyfriend’s words was a little difficult, but Time nodded along. He couldn’t exactly call Tae’s complaints paranoia when Time had a difficult time suppressing his impulsive behavior even without Tae serving him a pretty boy all tied up like a gift. He pulled Tae back in for a kiss. “You know I love you, baby.” It wasn’t a promise. Time knew better than to make a promise.

“Good,” Tae said. He didn’t seem to notice the hedge, already distracted by the emergency dragging him away.

A few minutes later, Time was alone in the penthouse bedroom, listening to Art finish his shower. He hoped that Tae would be back soon. Flopping back on the bed, Time closed his eyes, thinking about all the ways he and Tae could wreck the young man in the next room. He remembered the way Art choked on his drink and imagined fucking his cock into that pretty mouth and making him hold it as far down his throat as he could. Deep throating was an important skill.

The sound of the door opening jolted Time out of his reverie. Art stood in the doorway to the bathroom, looking clean and pink. A towel hung low on his hips, showing off the pale, narrow expanse of his chest. He looked like he’d take marks so well, it made Time’s mouth water. Time imagined biting down on those exposed collarbones and giving the boy a necklace of purple bruises. “Hey,” he said, sitting up.

“Khun Tae isn’t back yet?” Art walked over to the bed and sat down next to Time. Time got a whiff of the expensive body wash Tae kept in the bathroom and swallowed to keep from drooling.

“Nah, he said it could take hours if he’s unlucky,” Time said.

Art made a moue of disappointment and leaned against Time’s side. “That’s too bad. I’m feeling,” he paused, smacking his lips, “good. Sexy, you know?” He rubbed his cheek against Time’s shoulder, smiling tranquilly up at him. “Never used that kind of shower thing. And you’re really hot.”

Time knew he should make an excuse and go downstairs. Find Tae and tell him to pick a different time for the job interview or whatever the fuck this was supposed to be. Just pick up and run. Time was still dressed. He still had a chance to not do whatever he was about to do. But Art was smiling at him, his expression soft and warm and pleased, and he rubbed his face against Time’s chest like a cat, humming happily.

“What about,” Time started a protest, but couldn’t make himself finish. Instead he huffed a laugh, feeling like a moth about to fly directly into a bonfire. Like he was pulling a scab open, painful and satisfying. “Yeah, I guess I am pretty hot,” he said instead. He reached out and tipped Art’s chin up, looking into the hazy doe eyes.

They stayed like that, a crystallized moment of possibility before their lips crashed together. Time gave up his self-control, as he’d done so many times before, letting himself fall into a vast and euphoric hell of his own making.

Art fumbled with Time’s buttons, helping him undress in a manner that was less than helpful but cute in a way that made Time's dick even harder. Soft hands drifted across Time’s chest to shove his shirt off, and then down to cup his hard dick with the cautious touch of a virgin. Time huffed a laugh, reaching down to wrap his hand around Art’s, showing him how to stroke it properly, as he shimmied out of the rest of his clothes.

The younger man was easy and pliable, happy to let Time take the lead. He lay back on the bed, eyes half-lidded and lips puffy from kissing. His towel ended up on the floor somewhere, neither of them cared. Art gracelessly arched and ground against Time, movements slow but enticing.

Time lost himself in the body beneath him. He sucked marks everywhere he could reach, bending the boy in half and biting bruises into his thighs.

Art sighed, dropping his head back, eyes closed as though it was too much effort to do anything more than ride out Time’s sudden and urgent need to fuck him senseless.

When Time came back to himself, Art’s cum drying on both their chests and lube smeared between their bodies, he grimaced. Art didn’t stir, either asleep or unconscious. Time stripped the condom from his dick, tying it off and tossing it in the wastebasket. He grabbed Art’s towel and tossed it over the boy’s body before ducking into the bathroom for a quick rinse.

If he got dressed and took off, it wasn’t likely Art would tattle to Tae. After all, he still needed the hotel job.

It wasn’t until a few days later that Time found out just how wrong he’d been.

Time closed the apartment door with his hip, holding up a bag of takeout. “I got curry from the place that doesn’t make it too spicy for you.” He smiled and set the fragrant package down in front of his boyfriend. Sitting at the table, Tae glanced up from under his lashes, and went back to copying some notes out of his notebook onto a legal pad.

“Thank you.” He paused, flipping the legal pad over and setting his pen down. He sighed, and Time got a cold feeling in his stomach. “Right. Time, about Art.”
Scrounging up a smile that mostly hid his nerves, Time started to unpack the food he’d brought for dinner. “Yeah? Did you put him in your little black book?” He hadn’t heard from the boy again, which wasn’t much of a surprise, since they hadn’t exchanged contact information, and Time had no interest in following up with him anyway. He’d been a cute diversion, nothing more.

The look Tae gave him made the cold feeling grow. His eyes were dark and thoughtful, as though Tae was seeing past Time to something else. It was a look that spoke of hard decisions, harder decisions than whether to employ an inexperienced sex worker. “No,” he said, “not at all. I couldn’t do that to you.” He drummed his fingers on the cardboard back of the legal pad. The staccato sound grated on Time’s spine, even more because he wasn’t even sure what about the situation was making him nervous.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

Tae pushed himself away from the table and stood. His brows were drawn together, and he still wasn’t quite looking at Time. A long pause stretched into the distance between them. Finally Tae took a deep breath. “He came to me and said he was pressing charges,” he said, grasping his hands in front of him like he needed something to hold onto.

The words jolted unpleasantly through Time’s body, squeezing the air from him. “What? What charges? Tae, what are you--?” His back was cold from sudden sweat. He hadn’t done anything that wrong. Had he? What did Tae think Time did?

The older man dropped his head, hair falling to hide his face. “You hurt him pretty bad, Time. I saw the bruises you left. And just leaving him there unconscious and drugged,” Tae clicked his tongue. “I can’t believe you did something like that. I don’t know if I can be with-- no, that’s not fair.” Time saw the gleam of Tae’s eyes through the curtain of hair, tears or something else, he wasn’t sure.

Time felt blank and disoriented. “Drugged? He wasn’t drugged, he had one drink!” He was certain of that. Could the bartender have doctored the drink? Why would he, though?

Moving around the table, Tae reached out to cup Time’s face, thumbs brushing over his cheeks in a soothing motion. “Time. He was insistent that you raped him while he was fucked up,” he said. The words were flat, the emotion in them indecipherable.

Time’s breath was coming in short, ragged gasps. “No! I didn’t, I--” He’d fucked up, sure. But he hadn’t hurt the kid. Art had liked it. He’d thought Art had liked it. But the boy had been pretty deep unconscious when he left. Time shook his head rapidly.

The grip on his cheeks constricted painfully, holding him still. “Sshh, don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you,” Tae said, and there was a tiny, nasty smile that curved at the edge of Tae’s mouth like a knife. “I had Kinn take care of it before he could try going to the police or your parents.” He let go and smacked his palm to Time’s cheek, although not very hard. It stung a little and Time rocked with it.

“Kinn? You didn’t. Tae, tell me you fucking didn’t ask Kinn to, to-- fuck, oh fuck.” Realization hit him like a strike behind the knees. If Tae had asked Kinn for help, there would be only a few reasons why. Tae had always been more comfortable with those parts of Kinn’s life than Time. Time‘s lungs weren’t working. He struggled for air, staring at Tae as though he could make his lover take the words back by force of will. Of course, Time’s willpower had always been minuscule compared to Tae’s.

“Kinn helped me clean up. I wouldn’t let some washout whore hurt you like this,” Tae said. “No matter how pissed I am that you fucked him when I asked you not to, I’m going to keep you you safe. N’Time, I’ll always keep you safe. Even if I don’t know if I can take this anymore. Even then I’ll still keep you safe.” He patted Time’s other cheek.

The words burrowed into Time’s brain with the force of a bullet. He wobbled, feeling like his body had gone numb, unsure if he was even still on his feet. He must be, because Tae was still staring up at him with that awful combination of sadness and determination. He opened his mouth to beg Tae to say it was a lie, a joke, something, anything but the words that floated in the air between them. He’d had sex with the guy, sure. He remembered leaving bruises, enjoying the way his skin had blossomed with reds and purples. But the boy hadn’t ever complained, and seemed to enjoy it himself.

Tae made a pacifying sound, running his fingers down Time’s jaw. “I’m sorry, Time,” he said.

But Tae didn’t elaborate, just cupped his boyfriend’s cheek with gentle fingers, and all Time could think was ‘this is goodbye’. He’d finally fucked up badly enough that Tae was going to leave. He’d forced Tae to call in a favor from fucking Kinn, from a man for whom violence was second nature, whose favors were inevitably covered in blood. He’d made Tae kill a man for him. There were no words when he reached for them, his body and mind all pins and needles and fragmented phrases of his complicity.

When Tae moved him he went, unaware and uncaring that his lover was guiding them to the bedroom, even when he closed and locked the door behind him. Whatever Tae wanted to do, it would only be what Time deserved. If he wanted to strangle or shoot Time behind a closed door, that would be fine too. At least Tae hadn’t ended it yet. At least. Time wasn’t sure he could live without Tae anyway.

“Please,” Time said, the word cracking in his throat. He didn’t know exactly what he was asking for, just that only Tae had the ability to offer him absolution. “Please, P’Tae.” As long as Tae was nearby, he wasn’t being abandoned. As long as Tae was nearby, maybe he could make amends. Maybe Tae didn’t despise him.

Those gentle, familiar hands floated across his body. He knew, in an absent sort of way, that Tae was undressing him. But it felt like cobwebs being brushed away, so that the warm solidity of Tae’s touch could find him. Hold him. Time made a low sound that might have been a sob. He wasn’t sure.

It was easy to let Tae do what he wanted. The gentle hands pushing him down to his knees gave way to stiff rope wrapping across his chest and around his neck. Tae didn’t need ropes to hold Time still, not when he couldn’t think to move his body without Tae’s direction. Still, the rough hemp wound tightly around his upper arms and crossed beneath his pecs. Tae urged his arms up, tying his wrists neatly at the small of his back. And if it felt good to be forcibly kept where Tae put him, so that he couldn’t disappoint his lover any further, he had no words to communicate that or anything else.

“Open up, Time,” Tae said. He tapped a finger to Time’s lower lip and Time opened his mouth obediently. Tae stood over him, expression unreadable and then. Something warm and wet hit Time’s tongue. Tae had spat in his mouth. Time’s face was burning. His body was hot. He closed his mouth and swallowed.

He watched, mind all static, as Tae pulled himself out of his trousers– his cock was already hard, pressed against the delicate, lacy fabric of his underwear. Even like this, Time’s body understood what would come next. Saliva pooled in his mouth. He wanted to beg for it, but his tongue was thick with anticipation.

Spit trailed down Time’s chin when he tried to swallow around Tae’s cock. Normally, Time liked to take it slow, lick the head and mouth on Tae’s balls for ages. Make his boyfriend squirm and tug his hair viciously. Here, now, there was nothing but Tae pushing his dick down Time’s throat and taking his pleasure by force. Time couldn’t think. It didn’t matter that Tae held him down so far Time couldn’t take a breath. Time couldn’t breathe. There was no point in struggling against it when Tae was using his throat the way he deserved. Taking what he wanted and hollowing Time out.

Tae pulled Time back with a handful of hair, dragging him harshly up so that he blinked up in confusion. Time was a mess, face covered in tears and spit, mouth gaping open dumbly. Tae smiled down on him like a beneficent buddha before pulling his phone out with his free hand. “You look like such a dumb bitch like this, nong. Such a pretty, stupid little slut.” The unmistakable sound of the phone’s camera clicked above his head, but Time just blinked slowly, tongue lolling out in invitation. Tae scoffed and took another picture. “Can I really give up an eager mess like you?”

If Time had any thoughts in his head besides Tae’s dick, he would have begged Tae to keep him no matter how much of a mess he was. Instead he strained against Tae’s grip on his hair, mouth open for Tae to shove his cock in.

Tae hummed in pleasure. “The worse you are, the more I can ruin you,” he said before dragging his boyfriend back down onto his dick and fucking his throat fast and hard. “I hope you won’t be able to speak properly for the next week. I want everyone to know how I use you.” Tae held him down, whispering horrible praises until his words cracked and he came down Time’s throat, refusing to let him up until the last aftershocks had passed.

When Time was finally pulled off, he sobbed for air, coughing and gasping and barely conscious, somehow feeling even more pliant in Tae’s hands. Tae’s fingers carded through his hair, soothing after the violence. Time relaxed into the sensation, sighing through a battered throat. He let Tae guide him onto the bed, bending over his boyfriend's lap, mind blank of expectations. He was pitifully grateful that Tae hadn’t thrown him away yet. Not yet.

Stinging fire blossomed across Time’s skin. The pain of the spanking wrapped itself around him, his body trembling from ache that made all his nerves light up in a confused mass of sensations. When Tae paused, he would caress the places he had just hit, or leave gentle kisses to the nape of Time’s neck, or lace his fingers with Time’s bound hands-- and none of it contradicted each other, becoming a cocoon that Tae was building for Time out of pain and pleasure, insults and sweetly whispered compliments about how well Time took his punishment. How fucked out he looked when Tae hadn’t even broken him on his dick.

Time realized distantly that he was begging, a husky litany of “please” and “phi” and “no more” and “too much” that didn’t matter to either of them. They weren’t really words. They were nothing but mindless sound because Tae was going to do what he wanted, and Time was going to let him. Time was going to thank him for all of it.

“You’re so pretty when you cry for me,” Tae said, pressing dry fingers between Time’s cheeks and circling his hole. Time shook his head desperately when Tae dipped a finger in too far, a dull ache that presaged worse. “Not like that?” Tae laughed and pulled his hand away. “You’re right. I have a better idea.” He manhandled Time onto his side, leaving him there abruptly as he hopped off the bed and hurried away.

Time’s broken mind struggled. Suddenly alone, he felt cold. He couldn’t make his limbs move, he couldn’t get his thoughts to move faster than chilled honey. What if Tae didn’t come back? What if Tae had decided to abandon him, give up and leave, now that he’d taken what he needed. He whimpered, trying to get his mouth to form coherent noises, to beg Tae to come back. He blinked his eyes open against the dim light, a film of tears making everything hazy.

Before Time could manage anything more, Tae returned, a sweet smile curving his lips. The bed dipped when Tae sat, trailed his hand down Time’s side. “Oh, baby. Did you miss me already?” Absently, Time noticed that it wasn’t warm skin against his hip, but something thin and rubbery-- the nitrile gloves they kept in the kitchen for emergencies. It didn’t matter much, as long as Tae kept touching him.

With a little pat, the hand disappeared. There was the familiar sound of a lube cap popping, so Time wasn’t surprised when Tae’s fingers returned to his ass. Two slick fingers rubbed at his hole and then pushed in, opening him up with a rough sting that made him groan and spread his legs. “You’re only obedient when you’re like this,” Tae muttered, twisting his fingers. Time pressed his cheek to the comforter, tears dampening the soft material.

Tae pulled his fingers out far too soon, but they were replaced by something new. It was rough and a little wet, smaller than Tae or even most of the toys they owned, and Tae gave no warning before he was pushing it in. It felt strange sliding in, narrow but long and textured in a way that rubbed oddly as it slid into place. Time wriggled, clenching experimentally around the new item, and Tae’s laughter above him set a warm heat in his stomach.

The sweet warmth of Tae’s pleasure settled in Time’s stomach. But it quickly transformed into confusion as the toy began to tingle inside of him. Not a vibration, but a chemical heat that swiftly began to build. He whined in confusion, pressing his face to the cold, damp blanket to hide bewildered tears. He clenched again, and the heat stung, inescapable and so so deep inside him already. Time managed to slur out a questioning sound, pressing himself back against Tae as though by some miracle his lover would have mercy on him.

Instead, Tae brought his hand down on Time’s already bruised ass, making him startle and his body seized around the intruder. Another wave of burning pain washed through his ass and Time sobbed, but pushed himself back into Tae’s hands. “It’s ginger,” Tae said. His thumbs rubbed at sensitive skin, pulling Time’s cheeks apart to look down at his handiwork. “If you tighten up, it’ll hurt worse.” The words were gentle but Tae’s hands weren’t, finding sensitive places and torturing them. Time wailed when Tae brought his palm down for a blistering series of slaps that made his body spasm. Every part of him hurt, inside and out, like Tae had set him on fire to cleanse him.

“Fuck,” Tae whispered from above him, squeezing handfuls of Tae’s ass in a way that made the larger man arch into the touch despite the pain. “You’re so hot like this. Let me keep you like this, Time. Let me break you so you never think about anyone but me again.”

Time nodded desperately, rubbing his face into the halo of fabric wet from tears and drool. He somehow managed enough coherency to agree, disconnected pleading words that he wanted that, he deserved that. He would do anything if Tae just wouldn’t leave, would love him even though he fucked up, even though he was a fuck up. Tae was right, he was right and Time was lost in a maze of pain that he would gladly accept as long as Tae still loved him.

Tae’s hand slipped down beneath Time’s body, wrapping around his dick. Gone from the sensations, Time hadn’t even noticed he was hard and grinding against the bed. Tae, however, made a pleased sound, the fist he wrapped around Time’s cock just the wrong side of too tight. Neither of them cared. Tae jerked him fast and hard, making Time writhe, tense, so the burning in his ass became inextricable from the pleasure forced out of him. When the orgasm hit it was like being electrocuted, searing every nerve on the way out.

Time slumped to the bed, half curled and tears flowing freely. This was it, a shattered and broken voice said in the back of Time’s mind. It was done. Over.

Tae let him lay like that for a moment, both of them catching their breath before he spread Time’s ass and tugged the long plug of ginger free. The tingling didn’t subside immediately, and Tae swallowed a moan at the strange stinging burn making him feel even emptier. The warmth of Tae’s body disappeared, so Time curled himself tighter, listening for the door to open and close behind his boyfriend.

A moment later, though, Time found himself being tugged to lay properly on the bed. He sometimes forgot how strong Tae was, but the older man easily scooped him up, readjusting their positions so that Time could lean against Tae’s chest. “There, you see. You can be good.” Tae must have left to get a towel, because there was one in his hands, one of the soft ones that Tae bought specially, and he was using it to clean the cum and lube from Time’s thighs. “Of course I love you. I wouldn’t do any of this if I didn’t.” He murmured soft affirmations, dropping light kisses on Time’s cheeks and shoulders. “I love you. That’s why I won’t let you leave. That’s why I’ll make sure you understand who your dick belongs to. You’re mine, Time.”

That was good. It was perfect. Time nodded, sniffling a little and turning to press his face to Tae’s neck. “Love you,” he managed to mumble.

Tae scoffed quietly, but he pulled a clean sheet over them and pet Time’s hair until they both fell asleep.

Porsche put down the folder of financial documents and knuckled his eyes.”Thanks for giving me a hand,” he said, dropping back in his chair with a groan.

Tae luxuriated on the long couch, warming himself in the sunlight from the bank of windows in Porsche’s office. “Glad to see you’re settling in okay. Gun was a bastard to negotiate with.” The packet of paperwork in front of him was organized with neat post-it notes, and Porsche really, truly appreciated his boyfriend’s best friend. Sure, he looked like the prissiest bitch Porsche had ever met, and his taste in men was awful, but he understood business and-- more importantly-- was much better than Kinn and Vegas at explaining shit.

“I bet. Shit-- how a guy that gay could be so homophobic is beyond me. I found a couple of his journals and I wanted to bring the asshole back to life so I could punch him in the face a few times.” Porsche leaned to pick up his coffee. He thoughtlessly tapped his ring finger, the edge of the minor family ring clinking against the bottom of the cup.

Tipping his head in a slight shrug, Tae pushed the paperwork away and settled himself more comfortably. “Masks on top of masks. Easier to throw on a layer of asshole before you leave the house than risk someone seeing the real you.” His own cup of coffee steamed on the table, but he didn’t move to pick it up, just let his head tip back, vividly blue earrings catching sparks against his neck. “I’ve seen you do it too.”

Porsche suddenly, uncomfortably, remembered that Tae had been there through the awkward early phases of his relationship with Kinn. Usually with a judgmental expression on his pretty, pursed lips as he watched Porsche fail to fit in with the rich society he was now expected to be part of. Porsche had never thought of it as a mask to throw on, though. It was a part of him he strengthened as a weapon-- like he’d swallowed a blade after the supposed car crash, so he’d always be able to protect himself and Porchay. He made a noncommittal sound and drank his coffee.

They sat in silence for a little while, Tae pulling out his phone to type out a message. A fond smile pulled at his lips when the phone squeaked quietly from a LINE sticker.

“I hope this isn’t too personal, but,” Porsche paused a moment before diving ahead, “I don’t get why you’re still with that guy.” He did his best to look earnest when Tae’s eyes flicked up to him, narrowing. “You’ve been a good phi. You deserve someone who treats you well. You deserve friends who don’t hurt you.”

Tae huffed a laugh. “Unfortunately, Kinn’s a stone top.” At Porsche’s frown, he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Porsche. I took Time back because he showed me he would work hard to get back in my good graces. Let it go.” He waved a hand, as though dispelling smoke from the air. “And I would hate to break up your friend group. You and Tem are close.”

Porsche and Tem were close-- less so now, though. Tae may have forgiven Tem, but Porsche was annoyed on his phi’s behalf. He wasn’t sure he’d forgive Tem so easily. “I just thought he had more decency than that. If you ever need me to put the squeeze on him, though...” Porsche trailed off and flexed his bicep-- which looked even more impressive in the nicely tailored suits he now wore than it had in his old, cheap t-shirts.

That elicited a giggle, which Tae covered with a hand to his mouth, and he finally sat up to get his drink. “Don’t worry,” he said again, but his gaze was warm. “Tem and I have an understanding. He’ll keep his hands to himself when he doesn’t have permission from now on.” The older man took a long drink from his cup. “But I don’t mind you keeping him nearby. It’s nice to know which alley my dog is sniffing around in.”

The words jolted Porsche a little unpleasantly. He could never get used to vulgar things coming out of Tae’s mouth. “I, uh. I guess. Thanks.”

“You’re always welcome, nong.”

Tae finished off the last of his coffee. In the last few months, while Tae and Time rediscovered each other, mending their broken and battered relationship as best they could, the Theerapanyakuls went to war. At the end-- Tae watched Kinn and Porsche try to pick up the pieces, hampered, as always, by Kinn’s smiling monster of a father. Porsche was kind. Far too kind for the game Kinn’s father had him locked in, so Tae didn’t mind offering a hand. And if that put Tae’s own business contracts in a better spot, no one would even blame him.

Porsche stood as Tae made his excuses and goodbyes, sweeping in close like he had no sense of personal space. Strangely, though, Tae didn’t feel the need to shrug him off. Porsche’s energy was warm and soothing, and even Tae, who didn’t generally like having people in his personal bubble, felt a bit helpless in his gravity well. It was only because of that, that Tae noticed the scent as he slipped out the door. The sharp spice and animal musk cut through the gentle lily of Tae’s own cologne, familiar. Kinn, Tae knew, smelled of lavender and vetiver. Vegas, on the other hand.

He closed the door behind him, keeping his mean amusement safely contained in his chest. Tae wished Porsche good luck in his heart, half-sadistic warmth, half-genuine pleasure that someone was willing to pull at the threads tying up the Theerapanyakul cousins.

Tae’s phone chimed, and he pulled it out of his pocket, tucking his work folder under his arm. Swiping out of his chat with Time, he opened up the new conversation.

From: 🎣Tem 🎣🎣
ty 4 forgiving me p. can we talk??

The smile he’d only barely been holding back pulled his lips up. Sliding into the car waiting for him at the front door of the Theerapanyakul family compound, Tae told the driver to head back to his favorite hotel.

From: TaeTae
You’re sweet. Someone might try to eat you up. Suite 34, Penthouse.