It didn't feel right.
Nothing was fun anymore, nothing felt thrilling… probably because it wasn't Jason.
Lein stared back at his reflection, what he saw made him sick to his stomach. He wanted to hurl.
The corner of his lip was busted, there was a bruise forming on his cheek, finger imprints marred his neck, he could only imagine what ugly marks and bruises lay beneath his shirt.
He gagged when he caught the scent of some random person's pheromone on his body. He was repulsed by everything. He longed for him, even when Jason was right next to him, he missed him desperately, but Jason was gone, he left the country for business but said he would be back in less than ten days. That meant he would be back soon. Lein unlocked the faucet and splashed some water on his face. He was feeling agitated, he needed Jason back, that was the only way this wretched feeling eating at him would go away.
He washed his hands and shut off the tap. He could only hope that all these marks would fade away before his return.
Jason could tell two things with a single glance.
One, whatever Alexei was whispering into Ethan's ear, was something he most certainly did not want to hear.
Two, Ethan was just about on the verge of dying from embarrassment.
Did he fly all the way here to witness this rubbish? He turned around to give Dawson a questioning look, the man seemed immune to what was going on.
He coughed twice.
Nothing.
"Alexei." His voice echoed his impatience.
Alexei frowned, clearly unhappy with the interruption "You're finally here." He said dully.
He had been standing there for almost five minutes. His gazed was fixed on the person being held in his brother's embrace. He couldn't help but be impressed, Alexei had always had a thing for fragile looking beauties.
"My baby is weary of strangers, don't stare at him."
He looked away "My bad."
Alexei turned to Ethan "This is my brother, Jay." He patted the other's butt lightly "Say hi to Jay."
When he stood to greet him, Alexei pulled him back and held him in place with a firm hand "You can just say hi from here."
"But that's rude."
"He doesn't care. Jay lacks basic decency."
Jason cast another questioning gaze at Dawson, again.
Dawson shrugged.
"Should I... Should I just come back another time?" Jason asked, it seemed Alexei was determined to test the limits of his patience.
"You're already here, why should you come back another time?" He replied.
"We have a meeting."
"I know."
He regarded him with a raised brow "Your companion?"
"He's cute, right?"
During their exchange, Ethan had been trying, rather fruitlessly, to free himself from the other's hold but Alexei did not let go. He also had to return to his own office.
"I'll be late." He protested with a pout "I have to go."
"Dawson will take you back."
He tried to stand again but his efforts were wasted.
"Aleeeeex!" He hissed, quietly.
The man's chest rumbled as he stifled a laugh, rather than loosening his hold he pinched his chin and kissed him.
Jason mumbled a curse before stomping out of the office in annoyance while poor Dawson remained firmly fixed in place.
"Why didn't you take him back with you?"
Alexei tapped a finger on the window "Not everyone is a control freak like you." He sat up suddenly, eyes blazing with excitement "Besides I much prefer that he comes to me on his own than drag him around."
Their business in XX country was finally concluded, right now, both brothers were seated on a plane heading for home.
"Has your wild flower ever done that?"
Jason snorted. He couldn't say for sure, it was true that Rosalein had done many things to make him happy but the reason he did it was always up for debate. "Do you think he'll come find you?"
"Probably." Alexei answered, feeling a little smug.
"He doesn't seem like the type."
"I thought so too but my baby's pretty decisive, once he wants something he goes for it. Even if he's so scared, he's pissing himself." He snickered "It's rather cute."
Jason looked to the person at his side with sheer disgust, the memories of the days that had just passed flashed in his mind. He got irritated again "You're a fucking pervert."
"Are you really in a position to be throwing around names?"
"Speaking of perverts, you used Three?" He asked, pulling out his phone to check his emails.
"Yea..." he leaned over to sneak a peek "...some little fucker was dishing out my whereabouts to those geezers. I had to make a statement, or I would have never been able to go on dates with Ethan."
"Hmm..."
"Hey!" Alexei got excited again, as his eyes locked on a particular email "Do you think Ethan would get super embarrassed if I cuffed him to the bed?"
The look of disgust and pure exasperation made a comeback. He decided to change his seat, there was no saving the man.
"Rosalein!" Jason, threw everything in his hands to the ground without hesitation and covered the distance between them with wide strides "What the fuck happened to your face?"
Lein was nervous, Jason had returned much earlier than anticipated and the bruises he sustained from that day had yet to completely disappear.
"I asked you a fucking question."
He averted his eyes, too ashamed to face him "There was… there was a fight at the bar." He answered, taking a few steps away from him "It's not as bad as it-"
Jason grabbed his shirt, pulling it off his body as Lein put up a futile struggle. And thus, the other bruises hidden beneath his shirt were on full display. He remained frozen in place as his trousers were dropped to the ground, hugging himself to keep out the sudden chill.
Jason was appalled. Lein was a mess, his body was marked all over with ugly distasteful shades purple and blue of varying sizes. His heart broke. He felt suffocated. "Who?" His voice, hoarse and heavy with emotion.
"Jay, it's fine. It's no-"
He took a firm hold of Lein's jaw, his fingers, trembling as they dug deep into his skin. He swallowed, it wasn't good to lose control, so he took a few breaths to calm his raging anger "Rosalein..." He started with a calm voice "...when I ask you a question, you answer. Okay?"
"Jay, please wait. Let me explain."
Jason ignored his pleading "Who is the fucker that touched you?"
Lein avoided his eyes, choosing to stare at his feet.
His reaction ignited a new wave of anger. He released him, took a step back "You will quit your job, right now."
"You can't do-"
"I have been more than patient with you regarding this matter, not anymore. I don't understand what your attachment to that shithole is, but it ends now."
Lein felt the finality in his words. There was no conversation to be had about the matter, he felt foolish but a part of him felt relieved. He bent over to retrieve his phone from his pocket and under Jason's watch, drafted a message declaring his desire to no longer work at Sayer's, the place he had been a bartender for years, but it was fine. It was probably better this way.
"Don't even dream of stepping in that place ever again. If you do, I'll raze it to the fucking ground." He turned on his heels, snatched up his car keys and phone of the ground and headed for the door, "Don't take a fucking step out of this house before I get back."
"Soooo..." Alexei stole a glance at the man lying lifelessly on the couch a few feet away "...you rushed home only to barge into my office. Why?"
Jason grunted.
Alexei turned to Dawson "Do you have any idea why he is that way?"
"Sir, we returned from the airport at the same time."
"So, you don't know? Make a guess Dawson."
"Sir..." Even if he knew he wouldn't say it, he couldn't understand why he boss was always making him participate in other people's relationships "...I would rather not."
Alexei let out an exaggerated gasp "Dawson! Shame on you. You don't care at all about my brother."
"Alexei, knock it off." An irritated Jason put an end to the exchange, an action that filled Dawson with gratitude. He retrieved the documents that brought him into the office and made a quick escape.
"So... Pricked by a thorn?" Alexei asked again after Dawson left.
"He said he got beat up at the bar."
"Well... Fights do happen at bars."
He turned to him with raised brows "That's what he says happened." He sat up, vexed "I want to burn it down."
"Now, now, my dear brother, we may be rich but not invincible. I imagine arson and probably murder would require quite a bit of funds." He pushed himself out of his chair and came to sit beside him "Shall we share a drink, it's been a while."
"I'm curious, if you saw Ethan bruised and battered what would you do?"
He laughed, mirthlessly. Frankly, it was an unsettling sound. "That list already has someone's name on it. I'm just waiting for him to ask." He said with a snarl. His earlier jovial mood disappeared.
Jason nodded. He felt validated, his rage was indeed justified. Also, the fact that his question managed to put Alexei in a bad mood was a plus.
"So, where is the injured rose right now?"
"He's grounded." Suddenly feeling energetic, he jumped up scouring the office, returning only after he found the bottle of whiskey and two tumblers. Alexei was right about sharing a drink. He decanted generous amounts into both tumblers, placed the bottle on the coffee table and handed off a glass.
"You grounded your boyfriend?" He asked with a suppressing a laugh as he accepted the drink "You're dating someone seven years younger than you so you can ground them?"
He gasped incredulously "Ethan is nine years younger than you."
"Touché." He clinked their glasses and took a sip.
The two drank in silence for a few minutes, both lost deep in their own worlds.
Alexei swirled the liquid around "Did I tell about the time Ethan got drunk and made a scene at the restaurant."
"Yes..." Jason massaged his temple "...I'd say you've shared that story more times than necessary."
"I have pictures."
"I don't want to see that you fucking pervert." He emptied his tumbler and reached for the bottle "Why the fuck would I want to see that?"
"But he's cute."
"Dude, I don't want to look at your pet."
His clear refusal did very little to deter the other man. It was… it was a long afternoon for Jason.
The passage of time did very little comfort Jason. He was still very angry. His empty eyes settled on the man at his feet "It's not a punishment if you're enjoying it, Rosalein."
Lein shivered when he met his eyes. The newly acquired cuffs and urethral sound found their use in this moment. When Jason stormed out of the house and didn't return for almost a week, Lein felt like he was going to die. He sat by the door, anxiously waiting for the man's return. Every hour was nothing but pure torture, especially, because he didn't know where the man had gone. The possibility that Jason might go to the bar to enquire about what had happened that day made his mind numb.
So, when Jason returned and he saw that the way the other had looked at him had not changed, his mood soared. He threw himself at him "Look Jay, I've been good. I quit my job and I stayed at home. So… so don't be mad, okay? Please, don't be mad."
And so here they were, a hogtied Lein lying at the feet of a royally pissed off Jason.
Jason clicked his tongue, he had lost interest. He undid the restraints, the urethral sound was retrieved. "Go clean yourself up."
Lein was disappointed, clean up and aftercare was something Jason cared a great deal about, he always took it upon himself to do a thorough job of the whole process. He was disappointed but he meekly did what he was told. Taking a rushed shower, all the while afraid that Jason would leave again, he didn't want that.
"Come here." Jason beckoned to him when he returned from the bathroom.
When he saw the ointment laid out on the bed, he felt a little pleased.
"Rosalein..." Jason started after a long moment of heavy silence, his focus solely on covering what bruises remained with the ointment "...if I ever happen to find out that you let some fucker touch you, I just might kill you myself." He glanced at him "Do you understand?" Jason had a vague suspicion that filled him with uneasiness but decided against delving deeper into the matter. Sometimes it's best to just let sleeping dogs lie, no need to beat up dust.
Lein nodded meekly and the matter was put to rest. The days that followed were strained and quiet but ultimately and like always… Jason's anger fizzled out. He couldn't bear to have Lein tiptoeing around him, the other was much better being his usual carefree self.