11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

To say that I am grumpy the next morning would be inaccurate. The erection I wake up with is both annoying and amusing, and while I don't exactly remember what caused it other than the fact that it involved a dream about feudal Japan and Leo pretending to be a samurai, I can guess where things went.

Curious, I browse through a porn site on my phone, clicking the thumbnails that intrigue me. All of them include blond guys. I've never really watched gay porn, but as I skim through some of the content mostly for research purposes, I realize that it turns me on as much as regular porn usually does.

I take care of my hard-on while imagining Leo is the one in the video I've loaded up, then get on with my day. As much as I try not to fixate on him, I can't help but wonder what he's up to and when I might see him again, so we can talk .

It turns out I don't have to wait long for a second chance to convince the bratty exchange student that he most definitely wants to be my bodyguard.

I run into him in the evening at the club I'm visiting. He's with a group of eight or nine others and he hasn't noticed me yet. My skin crawls with goosebumps as he laughs and his entire face lights up, even if I can't hear what his laugh sounds like because of the loud music.

Aran is sitting across from me in the VIP booth on the glassed-off second floor, the two of us here to negotiate with the owner about the security contracts renewals next month.

"Don't even think about it until the contracts are signed," he warns me, craning his neck so he can get a better look at Leo.

"But I can after that?" I follow up with, tearing my eyes from Leo as the elevator dings and the club owner heads our way. He's a stocky man with glitter across his cheeks and a velvet suit.

"I doubt you'd listen to me even if I said no."

Aran's so right. With my prize just downstairs, there's no way I'll sit still once I've closed the deal.

"Hello, gentlemen," the owner says, sliding into the booth. "How have you been?"

We go through the mandatory small talk before we get down to business, my leg bouncing the entire time. I'm good at handling clients because it's part of the job, and I usually don't mind it. My charm and intimidation do half the hard lifting, but I'm a little out of it today, finding it difficult to keep my focus on the conversation when the man I can't stop thinking about is here.

He's moved on from the bar to the dance floor and is currently swaying his body to the rhythm of a j-pop song. His motions are fluid and I can't help but imagine how it would feel to have him pressed against me.

"So, you want to increase the number of security personnel?" the club owner asks, pulling me out of my wandering thoughts.

I turn my attention to him and smile. "Yes. The Nebisu and Haikei Groups have been more active lately. We're increasing security numbers across all the Akiyama establishments."

"Oh? Are they targeting the Group's assets?"

I smile, crossing my legs as I lean back into the plush couch. "I wouldn't go as far. We merely wish to avoid any disruptions to the businesses in our care. Or unpleasant encounters."

The club owner hums, batting glitter-infested eyelashes at me. "I expect to keep the same retainer."

He's ballsy, this one. But since my father didn't order a higher rate, I've no reason to pressure him. For now, anyway. Honestly, it shouldn't even have been me coming here tonight, but Murata, the lieutenant who oversees this area, was too busy roughing up the Star Hotel chain CEO. Something or other about the smartass trying to steal funds from our casino.

"Of course," I say. "The rate will remain the same."

"Splendid." The owner claps, giving me a sultry smile as he picks up the contract I've left on the table. He gives it a quick scan and takes his name stamp out of his pocket. A further minute and the document is signed and back in my possession. "Pleasure doing business with you. Help yourself to anything from the bar. It's on the house."

I appreciate the offer, and I'd have taken advantage of it any other time. But getting wasted doesn't interest me tonight. I've got way more exciting things in mind .

Once the owner has left, I turn to Aran and toss him the contract. "We'll stick around for a bit. Try and chill. I'll be downstairs."

He knits his eyebrows and opens his mouth to say something, but just waves me off in the end. "Just don't do anything stupid."

I wink at him. "I'll try."

I slip out of the booth, opting for the stairs. They are partially glassed-off like the VIP floor, with light strips running along the side corners. Since they are situated behind the bar, they don't offer a good vantage point, but I find a spot about halfway down that offers a decent view of the dance floor. Immediately, my eyes are drawn to Leo. I don't even know how I manage to pick him out of the massive crowd of clubbers so fast, but I don't dwell on it. He intrigues me and that's enough of a reason for me.

Grinning, I trace his shape on the glass with my finger. He's shown he has bite. That he's not afraid to turn my offer down and oppose me. The question is whether he is ready to suffer the consequences of that and the interest he sparked in me.