He awoke to the sound of the decanter against crystal glass, a resonant clink that enveloped the vast vicinity.

The air, heavy and unmoving, lay slick with a lingering heat that had the muscles of his body stiffening with tension, fingers grazing at the expensive fabric that gathered beneath; the precariousness of his state, too prominent to be ignored.

It was weighted, the sensation, featherlight as the silk blankets between his fingers yet notable. Pronounced in a way that only he, in his tranced state, could truly sense.

Too comfortable.

The room was too comfortable.

Far too welcoming to be safe.

Perhaps it was the flicker of fear in his chest that halted his breath, or perhaps the solemn silence that seemed to linger with every soft exhale, where his words left him with no meaning, no power to be voiced.

It was the scent that hit him hard when he realised.

Where he was.

What he had done.

How incredibly difficult it was to understand. To focus. To remain certain in the slightest about things that he possibly should have been familiar with. Not that it seemed to make sense in that moment. Not that it was dire.

He couldn't breathe.

He didn't have time to.

Detestable, was the act.

For he had taken advantage of the situation, such a simple wish, such a harmless motive. But he had crossed a boundary, had stepped over the line, had foolishly landed himself in the snake pit.

The boy's heart palpitated as he desperately tried to comprehend his state. The state of it all.

Perhaps if he had thought twice about the ordeal, he'd be in a better place as of now.

And as of now, it was too late.

Much too late.

"You're pretty in red." A husky velvet voice sang from the dressing table.

Against it, stood a proud man. Tall, fine, deplorable perfection. A man whom knew nothing but a spellbinding confidence, so elegant and brutally attractive that it rendered Jeon Jeongguk powerless.

His breath came in shallow pants, lips dry as sawdust as he cowered beneath the man's terrifyingly dim gaze.

A soft gasp left the boy's rosy lips as he scrambled to sit up in the sheets.

The sheets.

The sheets that smelled of him.

The sheets that were dripping with his strong masculine scent, a scent that clung to Jeongguk's skin, his scent, this gorgeous male.

Jeongguk was covered in it. Head to toe.

His cheeks burned with embarrassment as his master's words settled into his head. The sheer weight they held.

'Pretty in red.'

The boy dragged his hands down the soft fabric of his maiden's attire, pushing down the jet black skirt and lace apron that did little to conceal the glowing pale skin of his unmarked legs.

His fingers trembled as he fiddled with the frills on his socks, lowering his head with shame.

It was though he had stripped him bare. Fully clothed yet naked and exposed and out in the world, out in the open for him to devour. That's what his gaze felt like. The way it landed on him like icy needles, cold yet piercingly hot.

"L-Lord Kim," he rasped in faux surprise, a pathetic attempt to explain his obvious disposition. Were he to cover it up, the least he could do was to calm down the racing of his heart, the stutter in his voice. "You're home early."

Had he a reason to appear so suddenly? Jeongguk could not remember. He could not think. He wished he could. He wished his mind would settle on an answer that was ever so dire as of now. An excuse.

Just something.

"Save it." His master deadpanned, thick brows lowered and red lips settling into a disdainful smirk that he knew all to well. A smirk that could only bring trouble. "You have little motive to act so oblivious."

Jeongguk lowered his gaze, hoping to the lord that his master wouldn't notice the crimson that blossomed across his cheeks at the mere thought of the truth.

It was true.

There would be little use in covering it up.

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"Then what did you mean?" He left no room for explanation. His voice was dripping with impatience, taunting, sinful and clad with disrespect for him. Afterall, Jeongguk deserved it. "Its certainly obvious that what we provide for you isn't enough to satisfy you. Do we not pay you a humble amount?"

"My Lord, please, this isn't about money. You know I would be grateful for whatever you chose to give me." he pleaded.

"Rather bold thing for you to say considering how much of a little thief you are." Lord Kim replied smoothly, taking a delicate sip from his crystal glass. Jeongguk could smell it, the alcohol. It stung his nostrils.

The scent was strong.

But Kim Taehyung's scent was stronger.

Jeongguk couldn't say anything more now.

He'd seen it.

His master had-

"Turn around." He commanded hoarsely, slamming down his drink with a force that threatened his very existence.

He brought up his hands to his neck to loosen his tie, to undo the top buttons on his shirt, to reveal his honey skin, just enough to leave Jeongguk terrified of the fourth coming events.
His gaze had darkened then, had changed to something that Jeongguk was so accustomed to, he'd be a fool to have missed it. To have ignored it.

It was happening.

Again.

And he had no option but to comply.

Besides, it was what he wanted in the first place.

And Lord Kim- Lord Kim was willing to give it to him.

But first, he was in big trouble.

The man's footsteps closed in on him then, till he stood tall and towering over the younger's trembling frame. He didn't quite know as to why he was shivering. The look in his eye would possibly give him the answers to his questions.

The look in his eye only mirrored the countless others he had given him.

The countless number of times he's touched him.

Felt him.

Teased him.

His skin, his body, his most intimate areas.

The countless times he'd made him flustered from a mere stare, the countless times he'd groped him as he worked, the countless times he'd pulled him into a cupboard and attached his hot lips to the base of his neck and slid his hand up his thigh and his tongue across his collarbone.

Sinful purges to living such a proper, divine life. He had everything he could ever want. Money. Mistresses, possessions and riches beyond anything his low life mind could dwell upon.

Yet his masters who lived in the House of Lords always seemed to want more.

Jeongguk remembered then.

He remembered.

He remembered the flashes of skin and dark rooms and fingers braced against doors, hot pants and sighs and cries and groans of pure ecstasy, pleasure ricocheting down bodies like the adrenaline that would soar through their veins in those few, short snapshots of moments that flickered as his master's face neared his ear.

As his breath tickled his bare cheek.

Jeongguk's very own voice echoed through his mind as Lord Taehyung uttered his next words.

"Show me."

The maid lowered his gaze with deafeat, licked his dried lips and did exactly as he was told.

Ever so slowly, he shifted his position to turn on the bed, body positioned to face the wall behind him. He lay his palms flat against the silk sheets that shifted under his weight and soon enough, he was on all fours, breath stuck in his throat at the thought of listening to him.

Obeying him.

Fulfilling his needs.

"Was I not enough, doll," Lord Kim spoke roughly. Jeongguk flinched at his interrogative tone.

"M-more than enough, my Lord." he replied shakily.

He awaited the caress of his fingertips. His gentle touch.

It always began that way.

Safe, careful and controlled.

He'd touch him like he'd touch a flower. Steady and with utmost fragility and comfort.

They came.

Slowly, travelling delicately up his exposed thigh. Ice cold yet burning like fire, they left trials of warmth in their hazy wake, like he'd been scorched but it was an addiction, a hopeless addiction. An addiction that only grew as they travelled further, higher, slower till they neared the apex of his thigh and the garter belt that was wrapped firmly around his thick muscle. They grazed it, testing how tight it seemed to be.

Before his hand was removed from beneath his skirt.

Jeongguk tensed at the new found silence, nails digging into the silk sheets as he could only anticipate what Lord Kim was about to say.

What he was about to do.

"Seeing that one of us is insufficient to cater for you pathetic needs," he smirked ruthlessly above. "Perhaps we could all teach you a lesson."

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I unpublished this a while ago but ig we're back?? Anyways i hope y'all enjoyed that 😎👊