Part 2

Sho could hear his phone ringing. He didn’t need to check who the caller was; he already knew it was his friends. There were tens of unanswered calls on his phone since the moment he left the hotel. He knew they were worried about him but he didn’t want to talk to them. It was their fault that he was like that right now, confused it was them that had brought that stripper in his life. It must have been a joke but it was a really tasteless one. He pressed his hands against his ears, not to listen to it anymore. It was enough that images were becoming clearer. He could still feel the other’s skin against his, so much that it made him shiver.

Sho kicked with power the small table in front of his sofa. He hated himself; he hated his body. He hated it because he could feel it turning hotter every time a moment from previous night would cross his mind. No matter how much he tried to suppress the flame of desire, it was still there and Sho could swear it was turning even stronger as the time was passing by. He closed his eyes, a trembling whine escaping his lips, as the image of the stripper’s flushed, beautiful face with the so deliciously looking half-opened mouth appeared in his thoughts again.

~.~.~

Sho’s mind had turned blank when he felt a hot tongue entering his mouth, moving so sensually against his. He could feel it move around his mouth, trying to taste every single bit of it in a hungry, desperate way he had never experienced in the past. If he had to be honest, he wasn’t a fan of French-kissing or so he thought at least. Because at that moment, his body felt as if it was in fire. Without realizing what he was doing, he grabbed the stripper’s head, holding it at place by the cheeks and tilted his head so that he could take control. He licked, sucked, bit the other’s lower lip, enjoying the way he seemed to surrender himself to him and his ministrations. He was in total control, his hands holding almost painfully the other’s hair.

The stripper had started letting out small whines and moans in their kiss that made Sho only crave for more. His lungs needed air but he wouldn’t compromise; not yet.  It would be the other that would beg him to let him go. He didn’t know how many minutes had passed by; the only thing he could think of was the way the stripper’s hands were now grabbing desperately his T-shirt on his back, his whole body screaming for attention.

At one point, the other pushed back, his breathing erratic, his lips red and swollen. Sho’s eyes fell on them, his thumb brushing teasingly the lower one, causing the other to open his mouth to let a soundless gasp. Sho could feel his cock hardening at the sight. The stripper was almost complete naked and he was there craving for his touch. He lowered his gaze seeing a wet spot on the other’s black briefs. A moan escaped from the back of his throat. The stripper was excited; because of him; Sho moved his eyes upwards again, meeting with the lustful ones of the other man who without breaking the eye-contact, took Sho’s hand that was still resting on his lips and took it in his mouth.

Sho gasped at the sight of his index and middle finger appearing and disappearing between these perfectly shaped lips, the tongue moving around them graciously, the cheeks hollowing as the other continued to suck hard. He could only imagine how it’d feel if it wasn’t his fingers but his cock fucking that so willing mouth. He had experienced a blowjob a couple of times in his life but nothing like this. This time he wanted to see the other choke as he’d hit the back of his throat, he wanted to see him taking him all inside while looking at him, his eyes showing how much he liked it having it in his mouth; he wanted to see him drink everything, till the last drop.

The sensation of teeth along with the playful swirl of the tongue on the tip of his fingers made Sho forget any restraints that may have left. Without saying another word, he took his fingers out of the mouth, smirking when he heard a small whine, and pushed the other on his knees. He grabbed the stripper’s hair making him look upwards. The latter didn’t need anything else, in one fast move lowered the pair of trousers and the briefs, Sho was wearing, and leaned closer to the leaking erection, the tip of his tongue touching feather-like the darkened tip. Sho’s grip got tighter, feeling a wave of pleasure passing through his body, making him shiver. His hips thrusted forward just to be engulfed in one go. The warmness was too wonderful but he wanted more. His thrusts were powerful and fast, not caring if the other was feeling uncomfortable or not. Sho was feeling ecstatic. His eyes were fixed on the other who obviously was trying to catch with him. He could only growl when the other finally started to suck hard moving his head properly on the rhythm of Sho’s hips.

Sho let out a scream when he felt one of the stripper’s hands working softly on his balls and the other brushing feather-like his perineum. He would have never guessed how much pleasure he could feel only by such small ministrations but he wanted more. He held the stripper’s head in place and started moving even faster, feeling the need to come closer second after second.

“You will drink it all; till the last drop; and you will moan as you do so, you will moan because you’ll like it” his voice raw, breathy.

It felt as if Sho wasn’t himself; as if someone else had taken control of his body but he couldn’t lie. He liked it… he liked the impact his words had, as the stripper’s hands rested on his thighs making sure he remained at his place. Sho could see the other’s mouth opening more; he was waiting for him to come…

Everything was too much for Sho. The hotness and tightness around his erection? The image of this hot stranger being on his knees waiting so willingly to taste his cum? He didn’t know… but he knew he couldn’t take it any longer. A couple of a few uncoordinated thrusts and Sho was sending his cum deep down the stripper’s throat, his body shivering from the intensity of his orgasm. He had never come this hard, his breathing uneven, his eyesight blurry, his body weak.

A lustful moan escaped from his lips as he saw traces of his cum running down on the other’s chin from the corner of his mouth. The stripper seemed to take notice of his look and without taking his eyes away, he brought his left hand to his mouth, taking the rest of the cum and licking it in a way that Sho wouldn’t miss the way his tongue moved around it.

“Delicious…” the stripper’s husky voice echoed in the room.

It only took a second before Sho crashed their lips together. He could taste the bitterness of his cum and under any other circumstances he would feel disgusted by it but not this time. This time it rather worked like an aphrodisiac.

In a blink of the eye, he broke the kiss, took off the rest of his clothes before throwing the other in a not so careful way on the king size bed. If he judged by his lustful facial expression though, he didn’t mind. Sho let out a growl as he climbed on top of him, his hands grabbing forcefully the stripper’s wrists securing them above his head.

“Your name…” he whispered, his hot breath hitting straight on the other’s parted lips.

“Masaki…” the stripper moaned arching his back as Sho was making small round moves with his pelvis, making sure his awakening member was rubbing on the other’s painful one.

“Tell me, Masaki… What do you want?”

The stripper moaned, his hands grabbing the sheets underneath, his knuckles turning white from the force.

“You want… me… perhaps?”

“YES!” the other screamed, Sho enjoying the needy tone of his voice. He liked it so much that he wanted to hear more…

“How?”

“I want you inside… now… hnn…”

“Inside?”

“Fuck me! Do me! Take me! Just hurry up!” the other snapped, his eyes looking straight into Sho’s.

The sound of every word spoken went straightly to Sho’s cock, making it get harder. He could tell the other was at his limits and he liked it. An evil smirk appeared on his lips as an idea crawled into his head. He leaned closer so that his mouth was a few inches apart from Masaki’s ear. He blew hot air, making the other shiver underneath him, before he pressed his pelvis downwards making sure their erections came into contact.

“Make yourself come and then you’ll get what you want…”

The stripper moaned in reply. Sho didn’t lose another minute. He turned them around, his back on the head of the bed and the other positioned on top of him in a way that his lower back would be in the perfect place for Sho to get stimulated.

“And your eyes will be looking at me… Ok, Masaki?”

The other did as Sho asked, his right hand wrapped around the darkened member, moving up and down fast, needy.

Sho could see his cheeks flushed, droplets of sweat running down his beautiful face, his lips agape, his voice huskier than ever. He could see the way his muscles were clenching and unclenching, as the orgasm was coming.

“Come for me!” Sho ordered in a low voice, his hands resting on Masaki’s hips while his hips were moving in a way that his erection was brushing against the latter’s buttocks.

Masaki came screaming on top of his lungs, spreading his white cum all over Sho’s chest.

“Lick off everything!” Sho said his mind not working anymore.

The sensation of the other’s tongue moving on top of him, made him stop thinking.

“Fuck… me… please… I want you…” Masaki managed to say between his heavy breathing, his eyes locked on Sho’s.

“Now?”

“Now!”

Sho turned them around, making Masaki be on his fours. He moaned at the view. Secretly, he had always wanted to try this position but his fiancée wasn’t someone who liked variation. He had tried to convince himself that it was ok. Seeing the small but so sexy butt offered to him like that at that moment though, made him realize that it wasn’t ok. He felt a sudden rush to start pounding in the other with a raw desire he had never felt before. The stripper lowered his head on the pillows making Sho gulp. It was more than he could handle. He pushed with the help of his knee the legs more open and took his place behind him, ready to move when he realized they had nothing for preparation.

“Your spit! Hurry!” the other said in a whiny voice as if he could read his mind.

Sho didn’t lose another minute. He spat on his fingers and slowly pushed the first one into the dark hole, enjoying the way the muscles felt around him. His cock twitched at the idea of being the one that would be surrounded by such tightness. He prepared him fast, knowing that both were at their limit.

“Shove it in me!”

“Cond-” Sho tried to speak just to be cut by Masaki.

“I’m clean, I bet you’re clean, just hurry up… please…”

Sho’s hands found the slim waist as he thrusted inside in one go. He had never dared to sleep without protection; especially when it was with a complete stranger but nothing this night made sense. For some weird reason, he believed him. He felt as if he could trust him. His moves were slow, almost exploratory in the beginning. It was when his tip brushed something that made the man underneath him mewl like a needy kitty and arch his back throwing his head backwards that caused him to move faster. All that could be heard in the room were sounds of slapping skin, the air feeling hotter having the smell of sweat and sex.

Sho’s eyes fell on the birthmark that made a beautiful contrast against the rest of the skin. It covered almost all his left shoulder and a part of his back and all Sho wanted to do was to press his teeth on top of it. His hands, that till then were holding the slim hips, got wrapped around the waist lifting Masaki till his back crashed against Sho’s torso. The stripper let his head rest on Sho’s right shoulder, exposing his neck, while his hands found Sho’s, holding them in place, as he moved along sending the hard member deeper inside of him. Sho’s lips moved from the birthmark to the neck that was offered to him so clearly, sucking and nibbling it hungrily.

“Touch me…” Masaki whispered close to his ear making the latter groan.

Sho could tell that the other was at his limit and he knew he wasn’t in any better state. He let his right hand be guided downwards, touching the hot cock that twitched at the first contact. He had never touched someone else’s member, let alone a hard one, but it didn’t feel weird; only hotter. He masturbated the other fast, his fingers tracing the veins, feeling them pulsing against his touch, his nails kept scratching teasingly the slit that glittered from precum causing his lover to let out the huskiest moan he had heard that night.

“You… like th… at?”

“Yeeeesss… AH!” Masaki screamed as he was pushed again down on the mattress with Sho’s hand gripping his nape in place while his hips moved faster and faster. The hand had left his painful erection but as his prostate was hit mercilessly with every powerful thrust, it didn’t seem so necessary anymore.

“Come for me!” Sho ordered and to his surprise he saw the other let out a soundless gasp, as he ejaculated hard all over the sheets.

It was what he needed to let himself go as well, sending his cum deep inside the stripper. Unable to keep his body due to the shuddering orgasm he had just experienced, he collapsed on top of the other who moaned.

They remained like that for several minutes before Masaki moved so that Sho was now on his back. His hand was tracing invisible patterns on Sho’s naked torso, his lips spreading feather-like kisses.

“You never get tired?” Sho asked chuckling while his hand brushed through the stripper’s hair.

“When I have such a passionate and hot guy… no… Why? Are you?” he said huskily, his hand moving slowly towards Sho’s spent member.

The touches were soft, slow but enough stimulating. Sho bit his lower lip, his eyes closing as he felt the hand closing around him. He was sure he didn’t have anything else yet his hardening cock was telling him differently. He was confused… Till then he had thought that he was someone not interested in sex, having it more like out of obligation rather than pleasure, yet with this man, he was insatiable, eager for more, he had felt an intensity he had never expected to feel and yet there he was, his body craving for more.

“Open your eyes, Sho…” Masaki whispered in his ear before he let the tip of his tongue play teasingly with his earlobe. “See how much you want it…”

Sho opened his eyes curiously meeting the smirking face of the stripper who shook his head.

“Not me… there…”

Sho followed his finger to realize that he was pointing at the full-length mirror across the room. He gasped when he realized his state. No… This man was a stranger… this wasn’t him… this couldn’t be him… but the hand that kept moving on his erection that was once again demanding attention was telling him otherwise. His eyes went on the naked figure of his new lover, his flushed cheeks and darkened eyes inviting him to explore him more. He felt an excitement passing through him; he wanted to experience more…

Without saying a single word, he grabbed Masaki’s writs pulling him out of the bed. He held him still in front of the mirror. A smirk appeared on his face, when he realized the other was getting aroused, as well.

“Here?!”

Sho raised his eyebrow, his eyes locked on Masaki’s, looking at him through the mirror. “It’s you who asked me to look and I realized that I want to watch you…” his hand started moving feather-like on Masaki’s arm moving towards his waist “while you are watching yourself getting fucked…” his hand was now on the side of Masaki’s hips getting dangerously close to the half-erected member. “You look so hot when you have my cock inside you… I want you to know that…”

Sho’s mouth was ghosting on Masaki’s nape as he thrusted forwards, sending his member inside the other in one go. The other screamed but Sho knew it wasn’t from pain. They started moving sensually together, not as fast as previously, wanting to enjoy the sensations to the fullest.

Sho had lost the count when he found himself be pinned on the wall with the stripper sucking and biting wherever he could. Their bodies had found their own way to speak where no words were needed…  There was no logic… only raw passion… eagerness… the need to feel more…

~.~.~

Sho let out a desperate groan. He desired him… he wanted to feel him again… He didn’t simply want him. He needed him… he needed to feel the warmth of his body against his… to hear him screaming out his name… his hands to clawing on his back… his lips to find his… he needed that man… whoever he was… he needed him.

Desperate, he grabbed his hair, with so much force that his knuckles turned white.

“Why?” he mumbled to himself for the nth time even though he couldn’t give a satisfying answer or more correctly he didn’t want to give a satisfying answer.

It seemed as if everything had turned upside down. He had never questioned his sexuality before. Now though he could see it clearly… he hadn’t dared to question his sexuality before but the signs were there… the sting he had felt in his heart when Jun had told them in the last grade of high school that he had found a boyfriend, the fact that he had teared up when he had gone with his friends to the cinemas to watch ‘Brokeback Mountain’, the fact that he would stare at his father’s previous P.A., the need to avoid the intense stares the vice director of human resources was giving him and many more…

But even if he was not completely straight, even if he preferred men, what would that change? By the end of the week he would get married and follow his father’s steps. His future had been already designed for him even before he was born. He knew all that, yet a small part of him, didn’t want to accept it. The experiences he had felt the previous night were enough to show him another part of himself; a well-hidden, till then, part of himself; a powerful, demanding one. Last night he had been the one in control and he couldn’t deny it… he liked it… more than he could say out loud.

He was still lost in his thoughts when he heard his door opening and steps coming towards him. He looked up just to see his friends’ looking at him with a mix of concern and anger.

“You didn’t leave us a choice!” Nino was the first one to speak.

Sho said nothing. He turned his gaze to the window.

“Even now you won’t speak?!”

Sho sighed and jumped up, going to stand right in front of Nino. “What do you want me to tell you, Nino?! It’s YOUR fault anyway! It’s thanks to YOU and your crazy ideas that I’m in that state!”

Nino was about to speak again but was stopped by Satoshi. “What happened?” he said in a calm tone, hoping that Sho would finally open up to them.

“You want to know what happened?! Because of you, I got to know that stripper! That’s what happened!”

Jun raised his eyebrow. “And so what? It was supposed to be funny!”

Sho looked at his friend and chuckled bitterly. “Funny?! You think it’s so funny that I ended up sleeping with him?! You think it’s so funny to wake up naked next to a complete stranger who happens to be a man?! Tell me!” his voice cracked up as he whispered the last words.

Jun could see the struggle inside Sho and sighed, lowering his head. “I don’t think it’s funny, Sho… I just hope it was what you needed to finally face the truth!” his tone serious.

Everyone gasped at Jun’s words. Not even Nino had dared to speak this openly.

“You don’t have to lie to anyone; not to us and above all, not to yourself. We all know, Sho, that you’re bi and let me say, with a clear preference to guys… You know… I wasn’t stupid not to see the way you were staring at me back at high school… I knew that you had a stupid crush on me, not because there were feelings… no… there were just hormones. I was the closest person to you who was into guys and I was ok with it… I could see the way you would behave if you caught a man looking at you intensely… It never passed through your mind that the reason why you clearly didn’t have a good sex life was that? And now we all see you getting married to that, pardon me, stupid woman who you don’t love and clearly doesn’t love you back. Why do you have to make such a mistake? You have proved yourself, Sho. You’re one capable man who doesn’t need to prove to his family anything more. You’ve already done more than necessary. You owe it to yourself to be happy!”

“Shut up…”

“You know I’m speaking the truth!” Jun insisted surprising everyone.

Sho was on the same spot, his hands clenched into fists at the side of his legs, his eyes closed tightly.

“Shut the fuck up and get out of my apartment!” he growled louder this time.

Jun sighed. Nino grabbed him and Satoshi dragging them to the door. “We will but Sho, remember something. We’re your friends and we really care for you… What we want is that you will be happy!”

“Now!” Sho growled again refusing to even look at them.

He heard the door closing behind him leaving him into a disturbing silence. He felt hot tears running down his cheeks. He knew his friends cared for him but he couldn’t do what they said; he wasn’t strong enough.

He fell on the sofa, thumping it with his fist. “Damn it!”

***

In the next few days, Sho felt as if he was a robot who moved around mechanically. In the mornings, he would go to the office, in the evenings, he would meet with Mariko to see the last details of the marriage and in the nights, he would remain awake, lost in his thoughts.

It was Thursday almost lunch time but he was in the conference room with his father and four important investors. They were discussing some details over a serious contract for ours, or more correctly it was the others who were discussing; he wasn’t listening. He couldn’t stand it anymore, so he excused himself; he needed to throw cold water on his face. He had made the first three steps towards the toilets when he saw the delivery guy giving his father’s secretary a large packet. He wouldn’t have noticed, if it wasn’t for a strangely familiar figure. It was when he heard the husky voice that he realized who this man in front of him was. Their eyes met and Sho could see the other stiffening for a few seconds before turning his back on him, walking towards the elevators.

Sho could see him walking away but he hated. In an impulse, he ran towards him, his hand gripping the other’s wrist and dragging him towards his office without paying attention to the tens curious pairs of eyes that were looking at the whole scene.

He pushed him inside and closed the door behind him, not being able to utter a single word.

“Can you open the door?”

Sho was still looking at him unable to either speak or move.

“Please, Sakurai-san. I have to go!”

The other walked towards him, ready to open the door when he was blocked by Sho’s body. A shiver passed through the latter’s body. This felt so familiar… Sho was lost in the beauty of the other’s eyes. Now that the sunrays were reflecting in them he could see their perfect chestnut color… Without realizing what he was doing, he cupped the man’s cheeks and tilting his head, he claimed his lips. They were feeling so hot against his but today there was a difference; they weren’t kissing him back.

Frowning, he stopped just to be met with coldness. “Get out of the way and let me pass, Sakurai-san!” his tone was the same cold, nothing like the warmness, the closeness he had felt that night.

Sho didn’t seem to move making the other sigh angrily. “What the fuck do you want from me?! You made it clear that that night was nothing more than a mistake! You ran away as if I was about to kill you… What the hell do you want now? You decided that it’d be ok to try your luck again?!” he leaned closer, his eyes still locked on Sho’s. “Sorry, not interested!”

“I…” Sho bit his lower lip. Why did he bring him into his office? He didn’t know himself. “I just want to apologize for…”

“There’s nothing to apologize for! It was me who initiated everything-”

“I never said that-” Sho cut him off just to be made to stop as well, as Masaki’s hand covered his mouth.

“You have to say nothing. I offered you a fuck. You accepted it. We fucked.  End of story. Let me pass!”

“Please, don’t speak like that…” Sho’s voice was almost trembling. “It’s just that I’m not...”

Masaki’s eyebrow raised. “What?! Gay?” his tone ironic, making Sho gulp. “Who do you try to fool?! Please, stop the bullshit. Message is well received!”

“Why are you this angry?” Sho asked before he could control himself.

He saw the other freeze, his hand holding the doorknob.

“I’m not. Have a nice day, Sakurai-san!” Masaki whispered in a low, sounding almost defeated, tone.

Sho saw the other leaving and his heart clenched painfully. He realized that he didn’t like to see him leaving; he didn’t like to hear him sounding like this, as well. It was obvious that his voice was trembling as he spoke the last words. Sho felt the need to run behind him, to grab him, to hug him, to whisper to him that it wasn’t just a fuck for him, that he didn’t want to see him like that, that he… Sho gasped.

It… it can’t be, right?! He shook his head fast. It’s impossible… We’re not living in some stupid fairy tale… This is impossible... impossible….

He walked towards the window, seeing the tiny, from up there, figure to leave. No; run away from their building. His heart clenched again. He lowered his head, trying to put his thoughts in order when his office door opened with a loud bang.

“Listen to me, son. I don’t know who the hell this delivery boy was or how you’ve met him but I won’t tolerate any kind of scandals in my company! It was enough that I had to send Aritaka away because of you! It took me too much time to make sure the lousy gossip would fade away; you won’t cause another one, especially now that you’re getting married! I don’t care about whom you fantasize over! What I care is that I won’t hear the words ‘Sakurai Sho and gay’ together again. Understood?”

Sho couldn’t believe his ears. His father had changed P.A. because of him? He was trying to make everything to have his father and his whole family satisfied just to be treated like that?! Jun’s words came into his mind. Now, he realized that he had been right. He grabbed his suit jacket, his leather bag, he put his phone in his pocket and stormed out of the office, coming across many employees, whose attention was on him.

He smirked. “Father?” he asked without turning around, knowing that the other would be behind him. “I have to tell you two things. One. This marriage won’t be taking place the day after tomorrow because I am in love with someone else; Masaki. The delivery boy I dragged to my office, a few minutes ago. Two. Go to hell you and your company. I’m quitting!”

He could listen to his father’s loud curses but didn’t care to look back. he felt alive; the same way he had felt alive during that night. He jumped into his car and texted Nino. He needed his friends.

***

“So, now you have no job, no place to live and no lover! Amazing job, Sho!” Nino said with a soft chuckle, making Sho narrow his eyes.

Satoshi sighed. “Stop teasing him, Nino. It’s not the time!”

“I will find a job. As for a place to live, thanks for your hospitality, Nino!” Sho said with a wide smile.

“WHAT?! I’ll be the one who’ll pay the price of your revolution?!”

Jun ignored their friend and sat by Sho’s side. “Are you sure, Sho?”

“When I heard him talking to me as if I was some piece of garbage, your words came to my mind, Jun. You were right. I’ve proved enough…”

Satoshi sat at the other side of Sho, placing his hand on his left shoulder. “You don’t sound happy, though, Sho…”

“I don’t know where to find him, Satoshi. I don’t even know his name… I only know that his name is Masaki…” Sho whispered lowering his head.

“You want to tell me you’re in love with him?”

“Yes…” Sho answered softly.

“Are you sure it’s not the afterglow of great sex?” Nino asked in a serious tone. “Don’t take me wrong, Sho, but you know it can be the case… I remember I was ready to propose to that sexy Latina lady who had given me three amazing orgasms! It happens!”

“I think I fell for him at first sight but I realized it when I saw him being tensed around me, his voice trembling… I saw him leaving and all I wanted to do was to stop him, to forbid him escape away from my life. I know it doesn’t sound logical but I need him… I need him in my life, Nino!”

“And what will you do if you find him?” Jun asked, his hands folded in front of his chest.

“Explain to him everything and tell him the truth…”

“Which is?”

“That I love him and I want him to become my… boyfriend…”

“Even if he’s a stripper?”

“I only want him, Jun! What don’t you understand?!” Sho spoke louder than he expected surprising himself.

“It seems that you’re a more passionate person than you believed!”

Jun ignored Nino’s comment and took Sho’s phone.

“What… what are you doing?”

“I’m giving you his number. His name is Aiba Masaki… here…”

Sho took the phone and looked on its screen. “You know him?”

“He works part-time at the catering company that Toma had cooperated in his previous job. He’s a dancer.”

“What?”

“Ballet dancer…” Jun continued. “If interested, you can see him in the Small Opera Theater tonight! See you!”

Jun dragged out of Nino’s apartment his two friends, leaving an astonished and surely perplexed Sho behind.

---

“Do you think Aiba-kun will tell him the truth?” Satoshi asked Jun.

“About not being a stripper, I think he will!” Nino exclaimed happily. “But about him being in love with Sho for eight months now, after that gala at New Front Co, I can’t swear… It depends on our boy, too!”

“You sound like a proud father!” Satoshi mumbled under his breath chuckling.

“While you’re not?!” Nino said with his eyebrow raised. “He needed to be happy. He had to. I hope he has his happy ending with Aiba-kun!”

“Nino is romantic! Unbelievable!”

“Why?! Because I love sex? I can love both! We need both! For now, I enjoy good sex, when she appears, I’ll enjoy romantic moments and even better sex! You are the one who lacks romance! I mean the most romantic thing you can think of is koi fish!”

Jun palmed his face sighing deeply. Sho may have decided to change but his two friends seemed to have stuck in their puberty and unfortunately, it wasn’t just their small figure.

***

Sho found himself sitting between two grandmas at the theatre. The lights turned low, making him turn his attention to the stage. He saw a couple of dancers appearing before the music turned to one of a faster and more intense rhythm. Then, he saw him… His body moving graciously, in complete harmony with the music. It was perfection. He felt mesmerized his eyes not ever losing him.

Before he could realize it, the performance was over, the theatre bursting into loud applauds. He couldn’t come to follow their example though. He needed to see him. He went to the usher and asked him for the backstage. The other seemed hesitant and Sho feared he wouldn’t let him.

“Please. I need to speak to Aiba Masaki. It’s important!” he begged, knowing that he sounded desperate but it was the last thing he cared about at the moment.

“Fine. Go from that corridor you see over there and then turn right. You’ll find him…”

“Thank you, Sir!” Sho exclaimed happily before he headed towards the curtains the older man had shown him.

Inside, he found pieces of stage design, clothing and people running up and down. Sho recognized one of the dancers and hurried up to him. “Excuse me… I’d like to speak with A- Aiba Masaki…”

The other looked at him from head to toe before making a small nod to follow him. He knocked on a wooden door with the number 2 on it and opened it.

“Hey, Masa…. There’s this man, here, looking for you!”

Sho gave a slight bow to the other dancer before closing the door behind him. Masaki was sitting in front of the mirror taking his make-up off. It was obvious that he didn’t expect to find him there. An awkward silence covered the room, making Sho feel even more nervous.

“What the hell are you doing here? How did you find out?” he finally asked, once he was recovered by the shock. His voice was even more distant than the last time they had met and Sho feared he’d be thrown away.

“It was Jun who told me the truth about you!”

“WHAT?! They had fucking promised me they wouldn’t say anything!” Masaki exploded in a way Sho didn’t expect.

“Why are you like this?”

“Why?! You tell me why! Aren’t you here to portray yourself as the smart-ass?!”

“What?!” Sho didn’t understand anything.

“So, you want me to say it…?! Very well!” Masaki came to stand right in front of Sho, letting the latter realize that he had tears in his eyes. “Yes. I decided to play the role of the stripper because I couldn’t bear the idea of having someone else touching you. It was your friends’ idea; to wake you up and Jun who came to me!” Sho couldn’t say anything. He kept looking at the other who chuckled angrily.

“You will continue on looking at me with this stupid gaze?! Cruel man! You want to hear it from my lips… Fine! He came to me because he knew I was stupidly in love with you for eight months now since I served at that Gala organized by Next… New Front…? Something like that. I had become good friends with his boyfriend Ikuta Toma and so he knew about my feelings for you. He told me this plan of theirs and I offered myself, knowing that I was taking a risk. There you are. I admitted everything. Happy, now?!”

Sho thought his ears were making fun of him. There were three particular words that kept replaying in his mind. He looked at Masaki’s face and the shining-due-to-tears eyes were telling me that this was no joke.

“You… you’re in love with… me?”

Masaki’s eyes bulged as he made a few steps backwards, stumbling on his chair. Sho was fast enough to catch him, bringing his weight on him. Masaki was now in Sho’s arms and the latter could feel the raising heartbeat in his chest.

“You didn’t know…” Masaki whispered in a trembling voice lowering his head. “They’re so right when they call me stupid…”

“You’re not! If someone’s stupid, that’s me! I was the stupid one for leaving as if I was chased down that morning from the hotel… I was the stupid one for not stopping you from leaving that noon from the office. I was the stupid one for not telling you that I fell in love with you since that night… since seeing your beautiful face looking at me... I didn’t say that I need you when I had the chance. If someone’s stupid that’s me, Masaki, not you!”

“Eh…?” Masaki seemed lost and Sho could only bring his hand to his cheek, whipping away the stains of the tears.

“I quit my job. I quit my ties with my family. I’m not getting married. The only thing that I want is to be able to yell at the world that I’m the happiest person on this Earth because I’m in love with you and I have the most talented dancer as my boyfriend!”

Masaki couldn’t speak. “No… it’s a lie… You can’t-” his words died out as Sho’s lips captured his passionately. He tried to resist; he tried to push him away but he couldn’t. Sho’s grip tightened around him, making it impossible to move.

It was after several minutes when they broke the kiss, both needing air.

“Will you become my boyfriend?”

Masaki was biting his lower lip nervously. He had this man in front of him, whom he was dreaming about for all this time, because of whom he had cried so much during these past few days, asking him to become his boyfriend. A part of him was afraid. What if the other got scared? What if he was hurt again?

“I’m not going anywhere, Masaki… I know it sounds… you can even call it funny… but I’m serious. I know that we don’t know each other very well. I know that there might be difficulties but I have never been more determined about a decision in my life. I was blind and you showed me the light… You made me feel complete… Please…”

Masaki couldn’t stop himself anymore. He crashed their lips together, dragging Sho into a more demanding, wet kiss.

“I love you…” he muttered on Sho’s lips.

“I love you, too… so much!” Sho whispered back and pulled Masaki back into another one, as if he was thirsty and the other’s lips were the oasis in the middle of the desert.
 

He could now say it with certainty. In that bachelor party, he didn’t do a crazy thing. For the first time in his life, he had taken the right decision. Thanks to that decision to follow his instinct and not listen to his mind, he was now holding in his arms this beautiful man, making him feel complete. Yes… he could now say that there was a serious chance for his life to be truly, fondly happy.

THE END