17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

I slip inside my room, lock the door, and slide to the floor. I can't believe I agreed to work for Chai. But the opportunity was too good to pass on, especially if they can grant me a residency permit. Chai said the Akiyama Group can't exactly make my problem go away, but they can keep an eye out for me. That's better than what I could've done on my own.

We talked for a while at the shrine, gazing at the sleeping city. Chai really is the heir and future leader of the Akiyama Group. He's not just some lieutenant or a pawn. Aran, the prim man that showed up with the contract, used to be his personal bodyguard, but he can no longer dedicate that kind of time because of his other duties. Chai has tried finding someone to replace him, but prior to me, no one has been up to the task.

Or so he said.

Maybe he has some other motive, too?

A pleasant shiver rushes through me. I try to suppress it, but it's a little hard when it feels so good. I was too spooked at the shrine to appreciate the way being surrounded by Chai's strong arms and firm chest felt, but now that I've calmed down and am not questioning whether a ghost is stalking me, I'm having flashbacks.

My dick twitched in approval, and I frown at it. I'm sort of curious about his. I've never really cared about another man's dick, but I suppose there is a first time for everything.

With a sigh, I push myself off the floor and flick my room's lights on. Squinting, I wait for my eyes to get used to the brightness, just now realizing that I was sitting in the dark. Humidity sticks to my skin, so I walk over to my balcony and open the door. Outside, the air has grown even more suffocating, charged with that electricity before a storm. I can hear the thunder louder too, and when I look toward the dark patch of trees behind the houses across the street, I catch the zigzagging trail of a lightning bolt.

I prop my elbows on the metal railing and lean my head on my arms, gazing at the night sky. Chai accompanied me down the hill, then drove away in a black SUV once I emerged onto the main road. The car had tinted windows, but the passenger side one was halfway down. Our gazes clashed in passing, and I felt once again like prey about to be caught by a vicious predator.

I run my tongue over my lips.

What's Chai doing right now?

He must be back by now, surely. Is he working? Dealing with yakuza stuff and giving out orders? Maybe he's gone to bed… though, somehow, I don't see it. He struck me as the night owl type, like me.

I close my eyes and inhale the incoming rain. The air is stuffy and warm, sitting heavy in my lungs. It makes me want to rip my clothes off so my skin can breathe, but I don't mind it. I swallow, sweat rolling down my neck.

Maybe Chai is on his balcony like me. It would be three times the size of this one, higher up too, because he probably lives in a penthouse like all the rich people in movies do. Two cushioned chairs and a table sit on his left. A jacuzzi is on his right. But he's leaning against the ornamented banister with a glass of whiskey in his hand, gazing up at the sky in the same way I'm doing. He's left the room dark and the balcony door open. Sheer curtains ripple at the hands of the rain-carrying breeze and a wind chime clinks behind him.

My abs tighten as I pop the buttons of my shirt. My heart bangs against my hand when I place it on my chest. Flaring my nostrils, I slide my fingers down my damp body. Thunder rumbles in the distance.

Can Chai hear it too, wherever he is? Is he looking at the sky while drinking his whiskey like the imaginary version of him that I made up?

Fantasy Chai has taken a few more sips and lit up a cigarette. He's also gotten rid of his ruined shirt, exposing that firm chest and muscular arms. I've no idea how they look exactly, but I know how they feel . Strong, powerful… safe. His dark eyes are half-closed, gleaming with that titillating spark I caught earlier. He takes a puff, exhaling the smoke evenly through his full lips, and smiles slowly, lifting one corner of his mouth higher than the other. His dimples pop, making him even more charming.

I bite my bottom lip as my fingers graze along the hem of my pants. My nipples perk up and goosebumps spread over my body. Fuck, this made-up fantasy has no right to be so sexy. I try to shake it off, but I'm too wound up already. I swallow around a lump in my throat and focus on my breathing, trying to calm down. In through the nose, out through the mouth. In through the nose, out through the mouth. In, out, in, out, in…

I want to touch him. Is his skin damp like mine? Smooth? Scarred? Does he have tattoos? What about his hair? Is it silky or on the coarser side? If he's back to his place, would he have gone in the shower already?

I inhale sharply, shuddering. He smelled so good. Like sweat and woods and something dark. My skin tingles just remembering it. Heat accumulates at the base of my spine, my cock now semi-hard. I wet my lips, sneaking my fingers inside my pants.

"Do I turn you on, Leo?" Chai says in my fantasy. He's spun around, leaning his back against the railing, and he's palming himself through his ruined slacks.

I zero in on his crotch, mesmerized at the impressive bulge there. My pulse pounds in my ears. My breath catches.

"Are you wondering what my dick feels like?" he teases in a sultry and slightly hoarse voice. "How thick it is? How long? How… hard?"

Holy shit. I've lost it. But fuuuuuck , this is so doing it for me right now. Chai is too irresistible. He's not just handsome with his angular jaw and expressive eyes and stupidly charming smile. He's intriguing, even more so after tonight. He's mysterious, a little intimidating at first glance, but once you get him talking, he's pretty chill and a little goofy.

Is he like that with everyone or… is it just me? I kind of like the idea of being the only one he shows that side to. Why did he dance with me like that at the club? And why is he so set on me being his bodyguard? Is it only because of my skills and the fact that I make him comfortable? Or is— could there be more to it?

I shove my hand deeper and grip my erection, gasping. Fuck , I haven't been so turned on in ages. I know I need to and should get laid, but, man, hooking up with some random girl has lost its appeal. My attraction to a man is all super new to me, but my dick and brain both seem onboard already.

Thunder booms, closer now. The first drops of rain crash against the heated ground, releasing that intoxicating smell of wet soil. It jerks me out of my erotic daydreaming and reminds me that I am on my balcony where anyone could see what I am doing. I go inside and grab my towel, slipping into the small bathroom. I work myself out of my pants and brush my teeth, my curiously aroused mood taking me to a porn site. Scrolling through the categories, I click on the man-on-man action and choose the first thumbnail that grabs my attention.

Two very well-endowed dudes are getting it on in a barn. I think it's a cowboy setting. Or a cowboy and a milkman? It's honestly hard to say, but as they rip each other's clothes off and roll in the hay taking turns sucking dick, I am strangely enthralled. My dick jerks with interest and I lick around my mouth, swallowing hard.

Okay. I can get behind this. Can Chai though? Because I am half-interested in reenacting this badly done cowboy porn video.

Just as the milkman dude with the cow pattern crop top starts ramming into cowboy, I enter the shower cabin, groaning as the first thing I imagine is Chai shoving me against the wall. My dick is fully hard when I wrap my hand around it, straining for attention. I start with rough, slow strokes, but soon enough I'm pumping hard while the imaginary Chai encourages me in my head like the milkman is doing in the video.

My ass clenches. I'm not clueless, I know how it works with two guys. I've never had reason to care much about it, but that's no longer the case. In fact, I'm very much interested in finding out, if my rigid cock and galloping heart are anything to go by.

Experimentally, I reach back and rub my hole with a finger. I don't really feel much at first, but applying pressure as I keep jerking myself off kind of feels good. I don't have lube or anything I can substitute it with, so I use precum and just stick to teasing and rubbing, mimicking the way the two future porn stars were doing it. Sparks race down my spine the closer I get to the edge, but part of me doesn't want to get there yet. It wants to prolong this and get back to my fantasy of Chai.

Stifling a moan, I squeeze the base of my dick. But I can't really get myself to slow down because I'm almost there. All I can think about is that I want to come.

"I'd love to see that, Leo." Chai's hoarse voice encourages me in my mind.

Biting on my lip, I fuck into my hand. The friction adds to my pleasure, pushing me toward the goalpost. There is something missing though, something that I can't quite put my finger around. It's like this could feel even better, I just don't really know how. If I'm being honest, I don't really care at the moment either, not when I'm almost at the finish line.

The porn video finished some time ago, but I don't really need it anymore. I flick one hard nipple, then grab and twist it, curious if that would help. It does a little, so I keep doing it, switching from left to right as pressure builds up inside me. Just as I am sure a few more strokes will get me there, my phone pings from the sink. I stare at it, wondering who the fuck can be messaging me so late.

There are only a handful of people it could be—Naomi, who I'm positive is asleep by now, Chris, who's more likely in the middle of fucking someone instead of jerking off on his own like a sad loser, and—

My nerve endings buzz with electricity. Desire clutches my insides, freezing my hand mid-stroke. Shit . It could be Chai. We exchanged numbers at the shrine.

I scramble to get my phone, vibrating with the need to come. But I can't do that, not before satisfying the burning curiosity to find out if it really is him. My device has a waterproof case, but I keep it away from the stream of water just to be on the safe side as I unlock it and pull up the message.

Kwanchai: This is Kwanchai. I wanted to check in and make sure you made it back to your accommodation without any stalking ghosts following you. I asked Aran about the shrine, and he reached out to one of his contacts, who confirmed there were a few unexplained cases over the years.

Fuck. It really is him. But what's with this entirely unsexy message?

Grunting, I type a quick reply.

Me: OK. No ghosts. In shower now. U?

Kwanchai: In bed. But I couldn't fall asleep.

My stomach flips. I see an opening, a way to make this handjob feel even better. It's a bad idea and probably unfair to him, but I already made him the star of my erotic fantasy, so I might as well see if he'll bait, right? Slowing down my hand so I don't come too fast, I reply to his message.

Me: So u text me? I can think of better things to do .

I hold my breath, nerves swamping me as I see the three dots appear. Depending on what he says next, I'll either end up with blue balls or have an amazing time masturbating in the shower.

It takes Chai suspiciously long to reply.

Kwanchai: Like what?

I let out a soft groan as my fingers squeeze the tip of my dick. It's a little hard to coordinate texting and jerking off, but the anticipation building all across me is totally worth it.

Me: Idk. Watch porn or jerk off.

Kwanchai: Is that what you're doing?

Kwanchai: *normally do

Fuuuuck. Was this an honest mistake, or was it on purpose? Please be the second.

Me: Yes.

My pulse skyrockets as I send the message. When he doesn't reply immediately, I type another one, needing this conversation to go on.

Me: Do u wear pajamas when u sleep?

Kwanchai: I usually sleep naked.

Fuck. So, he's naked now? While I'm jerking off and telling him he should too.

My brain conjures up an image of him naked with his legs spread and his hand wrapped around his flushed cock in the middle of a massive bed. Luxurious silk surrounds him, dark blue to offset his warmer skin tone.

Kwanchai: How about you, Leo? If I had to guess, you sleep in your underwear. But I think you'd appreciate not wearing anything.

Is he flirting with me? He is, isn't he? I'm gonna explode .

I forget about the phone as I toss it aside and my hand speeds up, needing to come while I have that fantasy playing out in my head. My attention narrows down to my throbbing dick, to the glide of my fingers against the sensitive skin. Liquid desire licks the peaks of my spine, concentrating at the base.

A few more rough strokes and I spill, muffling a moan as my orgasm barrels through me like a tidal wave. I see stars, feel them too with my entire body. It's partially because it's been a while, but I'm positive the other cause is Chai. He's just too sexy in this new way I've never experienced toward another dude. My phone lights up with another notification, but I've gone boneless and can't bring myself to retrieve it.

I remain under the shower until my skin wrinkles up. By the time I've sprawled myself on the bed after toweling the water off my body, it's 3:30 a.m. I vaguely remember not replying to Chai or checking what his latest message is, but I'm already drifting off from post-orgasm bliss and in no condition to deal with it right now.

I don't get up until noon the next morning. Fortunately, it's the weekend and I have no classes. I go through my morning routine and head to the first floor in search of Naomi, whom I find in the lounge, watching a documentary about alien abductions.

"He wakes," she says with a hint of mockery and fake reverence in her voice, flicking stray hair behind her ear. She's wearing a red crop top and gray camo cargo pants today. "How late did you stay out? "

Creepy music plays on the screen as a woman heads down the stairs of a dark house. She goes to the kitchen, still not turning the lights on, and opens the fridge, not noticing the dark outline next to it. Classic.

"You won't believe what happened," I say, plopping on the couch. It creaks from my weight, but despite its wear and age, it's pretty comfortable.

Naomi glances my way, narrowing her eyes in an evaluating manner. They roam me from head to toe, lingering on my mouth where I'm pretty sure I fail to conceal an amused smirk.

"Did you get laid? Not to ick your yum, but necrophilia ain't really my thing."

I snort, throwing one of the cushions at her. "Asshole."

"Only sometimes," she chuckles. Angling her body toward me as the woman on the screen gets hypnotized by a two-meter gray alien, she crosses her legs under her and gives me an expectant look. "Ok, so what happened?"

I tell her about my near-death experience and Chai saving me. I omit the part about my past and the residency permit for now, feeling a little bad about it. I realize I don't want to keep it from her, but I'm also not ready to share just yet.

"So, let me guess. You took the job then?" she puts forth, hugging the cushion now in her possession.

"Yeah," I confess. She frowns at that. I hope she won't scold me. I'm not entirely sure if it was the right decision, and she also doesn't have the full picture yet, but I guess it would be nice if she didn't think I was a complete idiot for agreeing to work for a mafia group. "I want to give it a go. Plus… Chai isn't so bad or, you know, scary. He was pretty normal once we sat down and talked properly. "

I also had the best orgasm in a while jerking off to images of him naked and touching his dick.

Naomi hums, pursing her full lips while I contemplate whether to share that last bit with her. "Honestly, I don't know you enough to tell if you are a good judge of character or not, but… If you are sure. Just be careful and, like, don't get sucked into shit that might get you in trouble."

Yeah, well, I've no idea if I'll be able to do that. I officially start tonight, and my first task is accompanying Chai to some venue to sign a contract. He mentioned introductions to the Group too, but those aren't until Monday. Nerves twist my stomach just thinking about meeting a real actual mafia boss. I hope everything goes well.

"I'll do my best," I chirp enthusiastically and cross my hands behind my head.

"Oh boy, why is this only making me worry about your wellbeing even more?"

"My wellbeing or my sanity?"

We look at each other, the snort dying to make it out of me. Her eyes gleam knowingly as her lips quirk up.

"Both?" we say in unison, laughing.

"You are such a dumbass, Leo. I pity your employer already. They are in for a rude awakening."

"I think you are mistaking my irresistible charm and unmatched wit for idiocy. It's not the same," I point out, keeping my voice as serious as I can.

"Uh-huh, totally not the same." She smacks me playfully on the arm, shaking her head and trying to pull a stern expression. "So, you said you start tonight?"

"Yeah. He's got some business in some nightclub."

She abandons attempting to glower at me like a mother about to scold her child, and a conspiratorial but subtle smirk plays at her lips. "Which one? Maybe I can happen to swing by? Bump into him and you. I'm sure more than half the people are going out again, so we might as well go where you will be."

I guess they could. It's not like it matters if we end up running into each other while I'm on the job. I think. "I can ask him where we are go—"

Oh shit. I never replied to his message.

Naomi gives me a look as I shove my hand in my pocket and take out my phone. I offer her a small smile and no explanation and open the messages app. Chai's unread text waits for me, sent about ten minutes after the one that made me nut like crazy.

Kwanchai: I will leave you to your shower and try your advice :). Good night and sweet dreams, Leo.

Jesus. I should have replied. Did he jerk off? Or watch porn? Fuck , I want to know.

Me: Hey. Sorry I didn't reply. I fell asleep.

I hit send and wince. Fell asleep? In the shower cabin? What the fuck, Leo? Who does that? Whatever, it's not like he knows what my bathroom looks like.

Me: So, what club are we going to in the evening? I wanted to look it up, so I know what to expect in case… we run into any trouble .

I stare at the screen, compelling Chai to reply.

"Oh, you two texting already? And that's after you rubbed your ass against his dick, if I remember correctly. Are you sure you don't have ulterior motives for taking the job?" Naomi teases, nudging me in the side with her elbow.

I want to smack her for how right she is. My curiosity about Chai definitely helped me feel better about the decision to take on the bodyguard job. I mean, realistically, it was a no-brainer once I heard what Chai is offering, but I don't feel nearly as bitter about being low key baited into it as I should.

Then again, I also don't feel that guilty about using him as my jerk off material, so maybe there is something wrong with my moral compass. It's never quite worked the way that of normal people does. But it's also his fault for being hot and intense and licking his lips while his eyes are on me and— god, he just smells so good.

I clear my throat, my dick pressing against my pants. "No such thing."

"Uh-huh. Bet that's why you're blushing too."

I clasp my cheeks. No way. I don't blush .

"Oh shit. Something else happened, didn't it?" she squeals. "You gotta tell me, man. Big sis needs to know."

I worry my lips, not sure whether I should talk to her about my ongoing sexual awakening. Ah, fuck it.

Sliding my finger across the phone screen to keep it from going black, I chance a glance her way. "Ok, so. I might have… used him while, you know," I say like I'm some shy virgin and not a twenty-something year old with a raging libido.

"You jerked off to him?" she finishes for me, the abduction show she was watching completely forgotten.

I nod. "Yeah."

She grins. "Been there, done that." Scrunching her nose, she waves her hand. "Not with him, obviously. Don't even know how he looks. But I'm curious now what kind of guy's got you all hot and bothered when you were as straight as they come until yesterday."

Well, maybe I wasn't so straight after all. But I get where she's coming from. I'd be curious as hell, too.

"Who's straight what?" Chris' voice rings behind us .

We turn around and watch him walk into the lounge in his full goth glory, three others trailing behind him from the direction of the shoe rack. They must've just come back from wherever they ended up last night.

Naomi catches my gaze for a moment before beaming at him. "Nothing. We are just deciding where to go tonight. You guys look half-dead and half like you had the best time of your life."

Chris laughs, flopping into an armchair. "Oh boy. Don't even ask. We went to this place…"

My phone pings, snapping my attention away from their conversation. Heart galloping as I see Chai's name on the screen, I open the text.

Kwanchai: I like that you like to be prepared ;). The club's name is Evio. It's in an alley behind Osu Kannon.

Oh. I know where Osu Kannon is. It's the temple at the end of the Osu shopping zone.

Me: What time do you need to be there? I'll meet you in front.

Kwanchai: 9:30, but I want to stop by a few places beforehand. Meet me at the entrance to the Mirai Tower at 7.

I shoot back an okay and shift my focus to Naomi and Chris. Anticipation hums throughout me. I still don't know if this job was a good idea, but I'm excited. If I can pull it off, I won't have to worry about figuring out a way to stay abroad.

The only downside?

I think I might already have a crush on the man I'm supposed to guard.

"Hey, Naomi. The bar's name is Evio," I say, smiling like a fool. I stand and stretch my arms, suddenly itching for a run. "But I can't go with you, so you'll have to text me when you get there."

She whips her head at me. "Wait, why?"

Tucking my hands in my pockets, I shrug. "Chai wants to meet earlier. He's got some errands to run."

"Chai? Who is Chai?" Chris asks, furrowing his brow. "What did I miss?"

"Leo's new friend. He's… helping the guy with something," Naomi says, one side of her mouth arching up.

I nod in thanks and leave them to their conversation. Two minutes later, I'm headed toward the park with the lake I saw from the hill last night with my ‘edgelord Leo' playlist blasting in my ears.