A/N: Got this chapter together faster than I expected, but fair warning... the next may take some time... no guarantees.


Chapter 3

Standing on the enormous rooftop deck of the penthouse, sharp platinum eyes peered out into the city night. A sea of pinpoint lights mapped the metropolis below, mixed in with the colorful neon signs and dull red-green street lamps. Nimble fingers dialed a number he had become all too familiar with this past week. A ring tone began… once… twice… three times…

He envisioned a hand somewhere out there, picking up a receiver.

"Hello?..."

"Hello again…"

He 'saw' a sultry smile grace itself upon a well chiseled face.

"Byakuya…"

His lips edged up in the smallest of smiles… he was addicted to the way this man said his name… the rough edge of it, rumbling up from the depths of an unseen chest.

"…I'm so glad you called me… I missed you last night…"

The Kuchiki chucked softly, "I have so far called you every night this week, save for last… have you not gotten tired of me?"

"Never."

Byakuya was a little taken aback in the adamant sincerity he could hear in that response. He paused a moment, for once unsure of what to say…. luckily the man on the other end picked up where he left off.

"What do you feel like tonight, Byakuya?"

I feel like just listening to you say my name. No... scream my name.

"I believe a little domination is in store for you tonight… are you comfortable with that?"

"I'll take anything you got, tiger…"

"Mmm… well, Ren-chan… start stripping... and do not leave out any details…"

What do you look like?

Renji quirked his brow, 'Ren-chan'?... Japanese? He hadn't caught any hint of an out-of-country accent… perhaps the client was American educated? Or in an occupation that required flawless English without bearing on national origin? His curiosity was piqued. I knew manga would come in handy one day.

"Well, Bya-kun…" he began, taking his cues from his client, "I'm gonna start by unzipping my sweater; and as luck would have it, I have nothing on underneath... I'm shrugging it off one shoulder... now the other."

Bya-kun… the heir's smile got a little wider. So his operator did know a little bit of his world. Excellent. Normally there'd be no way in hell the Kuchiki would allow anyone to get away with an intimate and casual use of his name like that… but currently he was in America, free of the restraints of his homeland; both physically and mentally… and, well… he had started it, after all… The endearment was so full of sexual promise that Byakuya rather liked the way his name rolled off the other man's tongue. Mmm… what he would want that man to do with that tongue.

He closed his eyes and tipped his head to the side, allowing the cool night breeze to blow his hair back, away from his neck.

"...my chest is now bare... and my skin is hot, and I can't help but rub up against you..."

As the zephyr caressed his skin, he pictured strong lean fingers brushing against his pulse; trailing down his neck to the open collar of his dress shirt.

"...slowly I finger each metal button on my jeans... I pop them open... one at a time..."

He envisioned soft, warm lips pressing themselves against his alabaster skin; that sinful, verbally aggressive tongue exiting a smirking mouth to lap at his collarbone.

"...as the cool air hits my skin I shiver... but it's only because you're touching me..."

Through it all, Byakuya lost himself in the hypnotic timbre of sensual aural seduction. He felt the stirrings deep in his belly; felt his cock start to rise up and press against first soft silk, then the constraints of the rich fabric of his Armani suit.

"...I am naked now, Bya-kun... waiting for your intstuctions..."

His empty hand came down off the railing of the deck, he slowly undid the fabric covered buttons of his dress shirt; skimming his hand inside to rub over an already hardened nipple.

"...I'm going to kneel on the bed... wrists behind my back, head down... until you touch me..."

Byakuya hissed quietly as he gently scraped a fingernail over the sensitive nub.

An answering murmur on the other end of the phone informed him that Renji had heard his arousal. "You like what I'm saying, Byakuya? I'm waiting for you to touch me... I'm hard and ready for you... touch me..."

The pristine hand ventured lower, rubbing over a taut abdomen. Agile fingers effortlessly unfastened the closures to his suit pants allowing more room for him to maneuver. He ran his palm down over the rapidly hardening erection, groaning softly at the wave of accompanying pleasure that rolled through his body at that satisfying stroke.

"Tell me Ren-chan... are you a 'big boy'?" Byakuya whispered provocatively.

"Oh.. hell yes..." came the growled response, "In every way. Fuuck... Byakuya. Touch me..."

"No... " he ground out, "Change of plans... I want you to watch me instead... hear me as I pleasure myself... while you kneel in submission."

All he heard in response was a soft moan and a light string of curses.

"Talk to me Renji..." it was Byakuya's turn to purr, as he gave himself a light squeeze and began a slow stroke. He breathed into the phone, letting Renji hear his increasing excitement.

"I... I'm kneeling on the bed, and I can see you standing in front of me. I'm aching because you won't let me touch you... " his voice was hoarse, "...if you just come a little closer, Byakuya... "

"No..." the heir smirked briefly as he gave himself a rougher stroke, faster... he moaned quietly into the phone.

He was pleased to hear an echoing moan in response.

"Renji..." he prompted.

The CEO was not surprised when he heard panting on the other end of the line, getting just a loud.

"I... uh, fuck... Byakuya... I... let me touch you... with my hands... with my tongue... anything..."

"No..."

Another litany of quiet curses lit up the line.

"Are you ready for me, Renji?..." the Kuchiki felt the heat pooling at the base of his spine...

"...yeah... oh, yeah..."

Freely vocalizing his pleasure, Byakuya pivoted his hips into his hand, his grip tight, the sensation fantastic... a vibration rose in the back of his throat. Swiping his thumb over the tip of his cock at the end of every stroke... he groaned as he experienced the quickening, and gasped harshly as he climaxed; pumping himself through the aftershocks of release.

In his ear amidst stifled moans, he heard his name whispered quietly... and Byakuya smiled in satisfaction.


Shuhei found his roommate out on their balcony. It was a small deck, basically with enough space for a small table and two chairs. Renji was out there, long legs propped up on the metal grail railing, four empty beer bottles on the table next to him. The redhead's face gazed out over the city... not that they had much of a view... but the introspective expression on his face meant heavy thoughts were circulating in that head of his.

Without words, the brunette walked out there with two beers; placing one next to the other's elbow as he sat in the other chair.

Renji looked over, slightly startled at the intrusion, but recovered quickly. "Hey, thanks..."

Shuhei merely nodded in response; raising his own beer in salute and drank quietly. They sat there, drinking side by side in silence for the next few minutes.

Renji surreptitiously looked over at Shuhei. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.

"What?... just spit it out…" Shuhei had seen Renji this way before, he needed prodding sometimes...

"... How'd you know?..."

"How did I know what?!" he spoke slowly, this time a little exasperatingly…

"How did you know…youpreferredguystochicks…."

Shuhei paused, beer halfway to his lips, and looked over to his roommate in astonishment.

Renji continued to look into his beer like it held the secrets of all things… not wanting to meet the other's gaze.

A Cheshire's grin broke out on the brunette's face, "Fuck, Renji… you don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that…. You've been fuckin' holding out on me!"

The redhead snorted indifferently. "Don't yank my chain here, Shu..." he trailed off, brows furrowed, a slight shake to his head, "..I don't know..."

Unused to the vulnerability in Abarai's voice, Shuhei took a good look at him… quite honestly, the guy looked confused.

"You are, like... the biggest idiot in the history of ever!" Hisagi began, "…what's the big deal?"

Renji looked over at him, eyes narrowing in anger. It was short lived however, as his frustration was exhaled through a giant sigh and a disappointed shake of the head. He brought the beer to his lips again, drinking in silence.

Not getting another response, Hisagi finished his own, and was about to stand up and leave the redhead to his own brooding; when Abarai finally gave in to expressing the thoughts weighing heavily in his mind.

"It's this new client... It's a guy that calls. I… don't know what the fuck it is, Shu. I look forward to his calls... when he doesn't, I'm disappointed. When I talk to him, it's like... it's easier than it's ever been with anyone. I can tell him everything I want to do to him, or listen to everything he wants to do to me… and… I … like it..." he finished off quietly.

Shuhei just looked at him, listening… Renji continued talking; picking at the label on his beer.

"You know, I've been doing this for a while now, and I've never gotten attached to any of these clients. Hell, I can usually do the fuckin' crossword puzzle while talkin' to these pervs. I've even had a couple of male clients before, none of them interested me in the least." Fuck, he wasn't even going to mention the fact that lately he'd been gettin' off while talking with Byakuya... Renji ran a frustrated hand over his brow, rubbing away the tension he felt there, "But this guy... shit, I wanna know who this guy is, Shu... I wanna ask... but... I can't... I don't wanna freak him out so he never calls me back..."

Renji emptied out the last of his beer, placing the bottle next to the others. Another large sigh leaving his lips. "I'm asking... 'how'd you know' ... because I don't get squicked out by all this guy on guy stuff, like some normal guy would...I want to know why it's like this with him... is it just him?"

"Did you just call me abnormal, you asshole?"

"No! Fuck! Shu, this ain't about you. It's about me, okay?" the aggravation was evident in his voice, "Is that the only thing you've heard me say here?"

"Look, Renji," Shuhei began consolingly, taking a bit of pity on his best friend; frustration from Renji was rare indeed. The guy had a love of life and an easy going attitude that was bountiful and usually contagious... so he knew this was serious to have affected the man this much, "We are who we are. I don't think anybody knows why we're attracted to certain people, and not others."

Shuhei looked out to the rapidly fading sunset, "I've known you since we were in grade school together… I think of you as my kid brother, Renji, if I actually had one... What I'd say to my own flesh and blood if I had the chance, is this -- don't be afraid to be what you are. Don't let your sexuality define who you are, you define it. You're young and vibrant; if you're curious, go ahead… you might like it, might not. Girls, guys, straight, gay, bi… should it matter? Life is a contact sport… go out there, touch somebody; hopefully they'll want to touch you back." God, he felt like such an old man after that speech… "Besides, as long as it doesn't venture into other species…" Hisagi looked over at him, smirking slyly, "I won't shun you."

Renji stared at his roommate; glad that this crazy fucker was in his life. His shoulders slumped, finally relaxed; and the redhead smiled... and snorted, "Thanks, Shuhei… you're like the idiot-savant introspective philosopher and easy-going jack-ass brother I'd always hoped I'd have."

"No problem, Renji, I'm always here to help."


"If I let you... do whatever you wanted to me, Renji... what would you want?"

The redhead didn't even have to think about it. He'd already had fantasies of what he'd like to do to this man... the disembodied voice he had come to know so intimately. The instinctive way his body reacted to simple sound... his voice.

"I'd want you to ride me, Byakuya... I'd be sittin' up in bed, leaning against the headboard, with you in my lap... You would have your arms wrapped around my shoulders, my neck... hands threading through my hair... you'd push down, impaling yourself on me while I thrust up into you... and I'd be biting at your neck, under your chin... I'd lick into your mouth, to taste the sweetness there... I'd suck on your skin... your nipples... marking you as mine, as I go... and oh god... I'm moaning because you are so tight, so hot... I'd want to last, but you're so good, I can't hold on... you grind down harder, because you can feel me pumping up faster... and we are both so close... I start to stroke your cock... it's hot and heavy and dripping... I fist you hard and fast... because it's too good... and I can't... I... fuck... we're coming at the same time..."


Entering the apartment, Shuhei noticed extra pairs of shoes at the doorway. Renji's worn pair of leather boots, a pair of tiny delicate black sling back sandals, and a pair of red high-top Converse.... Ichigo. He looked toward the kitchen, where he heard voices, and assumed that's where they all were. Toeing off his running shoes, Shuhei headed towards his room; peeling off his tee-shirt in the process thinking to get a quick shower out of the way as not to offend. He was surprised as he stepped through his open bedroom doorway, to find someone else there.

They had all just returned to Renji's apartment, and as Renji and Rukia headed to the kitchen, Ichigo took the opportunity to scope the place out. As was habit for him, he needed to know the exact layout of a place that had only one exit. He was good at what he did, a professional... it didn't hurt that he was borderline paranoid either.

That's where Hisagi found him. Ichigo has his back to him, but immediately upon feeling a new presence in the room, turned quickly while dropping his stance in preparation. The bodyguard froze for a second, a light blush pinking his cheeks for being caught in someone else's bedroom... and for the fact that a very attractive man was standing in front of him... sweating... wearing only a pair of loose running shorts and ankle socks. Ichigo couldn't help but stare an extra second at the owner of the room he was currently standing in. The man was tan and lithe; tight muscle and sinew. The scars and tattoos on his face were exotic to Ichigo; who, like his boss, was constantly surrounded only by the management type looking for upward mobility.

"Hey." Shuhei greeted his intruder with a smile. He liked catching Kurosaki by surprise, he found Ichigo's blushing.... cute.

"Hi... uh, didn't mean to intrude..." Ichigo smiled back and relaxed; waving his hand about as he tried to explain his circumstances, "I, uh, was just mapping the place out..."

Hisagi raised an eyebrow, "...and you're in here... in case there are kidnappers in my closet?"

Ichigo winced, he deserved that one. He was caught red handed here... but never one to back down from anything, Ichigo gave as good as he got-- or tried to, "Yeah, you know... just checking to see.. uh, what else you wanted out of the closet." Oh, that was lame.

Both Shuhei's eyebrows arched into his hairline in surprise... a soft laugh escaped his throat as a wider grin broke out over his face. ". Are you finally going to give in to all my flirting with you, Ichigo?" Hisagi finally walked into his room, closing the space between them; although he did stop a few feet away, still giving Ichigo a way out, if he wanted it. The boy was still younger than him, and less experienced; he knew it.

Ichigo understood his gesture too. Shuhei had been an enigma to him. Aggressive in his flirting in the handful of times they had seen each other, but never crowding him or touching him... only letting the bodyguard know that he was interested. Gentlemanly in the sense that he waited for Ichigo to reciprocate, which Ichigo really hadn't, until now... and really, was that lame comeback really anything that could be termed as flirting? Those other times, without any reciprocation from him, they had all just hung out and talked about other things.

Ichigo smiled warmly and walked up to Shuhei, effectively closing the distance. "Yeah, you're just so persuasive..." The guy was a few inches taller than him, so Ichigo tipped his head up for a tentative kiss, and was rewarded when Shuhei leaned down to meet him.

If he thought he was going to get an easygoing kiss of greeting, Ichigo was thoroughly mistaken. Shuhei had been waiting a long time for this; longer than he was used to, at least. Although Shuhei had wiped his face and neck off with his tee-shirt on the way to his room, he was still sweaty from his two mile run.

Warm and salty lips came into contact with a soft, yielding pair; moulding together... Shuhei took another step closer, pressing his heated skin against the smaller man; leaning in to devour the redhead, as Ichigo opened his mouth to him.

Shuhei's tongue pushed into the other's, exploring, tasting... seductively nudging the other warm muscle to dance. When he felt the other rub against his own, a soft groan escaped his throat. He felt a surge of heat race up his spine and brought his hands up to cradle Ichigo's jaw, tilting it to his liking; plundering the pliant mouth beneath him. Needing air, he pulled back to gaze into dazed half lidded eyes, his own blazing with desire.

"I've been wanting to do that ever since I saw you, Ichigo," Shuhei admitted huskily.

"Holy fuck... if I knew you were that good," Ichigo replied softly, "I'd have kissed you that first night, instead of picking a fight with Renji."

Hisagi laughed gently; fingering his tattoo lightly, "You think this ain't bragging rights?"

Ichigo pinked again and snorted, "... you're so full of it, asshole."

Shuhei stared at him for a suspended second, "God, you're so cute when you blush... I wanna just eat you up," he growled softly.

"Don't call me cute." Ichigo growled back at him.

In response, mischievousness and a fair amount of lust flared in Shuhei's eyes and he leaned down to captured Ichigo's mouth again. This time rougher, hungrier... he wrapped his hands around Ichigo's hips and started bodily pushing him towards his bed.

The sound of fake coughing had Ichigo pulling away from Hisagi quickly, breaking physical contact . Renji stood leaning in the doorway, a smirk on his face.

"Oi! This ain't a free show!" Shuhei snapped to the redhead at the door.

"Yeah? Well, you're the one that left the door open. Bystanders will stop and stare when there's free entertainment... Anyways, Rukia asked me to look for you two. She wants to go out for dinner. You up for it? Dinner that is." Renji made a point to stare at Shuhei's crotch at that point in his invitation.

"Yeah, I can do that," he grinned back at his roommate, "I gotta shower though, can you wait ten minutes?"

"You can take longer than that," Renji purposefully gestured toward Ichigo, "I can keep Rukia company if you two need more time." he grinned, glancing between them.

Ichigo scowled, a pink flush dusting his cheeks, again... "Don't be an asshole..." he mumbled as he walked out of Shuhei's room.

Renji shrugged and looked back at his roommate, "What? I was totally serious!"

Shuhei went to his dresser to grab a clean pair of boxers, "I think the guy's shy, dude. Not everyone's comfortable with sex out in the open like that."

"Ahhh..." Renji had the decency to look contrite, rubbing the back of his neck, "...sorry, sorry... I keep forgetting with my job, and you being... you... that not everybody's like us."

"Don't sweat it, Ren..." Shuhei said as he walked past him to get to the bathroom, "but you can make it up to me by treating me to dinner."

"What?!... but you're the one with the steady job..." he hadn't meant for it to sound quite so whiney.

"You're not the one who just got cock-blocked by their best friend and roommate." Shuhei fired back, rather nicely.

"Point taken." Renji sighed; he pulled out his wallet and counted the meager bills held within, "...just... just don't order anything with meat in it, okay?"

"Cheap ass..." Shuhei snorted good-naturedly as he headed off to the shower.


"Nii-sama..."

The elder Kuchiki was elbows deep in contracts and blueprints for the hotel renovation. He could hire other management personnel to take care of such matters for him, but Byakuya preferred to have first hand knowledge in most aspects of the Kuchiki empire; especially this one, his pet project. This of course, contributed to his twelve hour plus working days.

"Rukia... why are you calling me at this late hour? Is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine, Nii-sama. I'm calling to remind you that the artisan exhibition is tomorrow."

"Yes, and..?"

"You agreed to go with me."

"Rukia, I have several important meetings tomorrow... I will have to forsake our previous arrangement."

"Nii-sama... you are always in your office, day in and day out. We rarely see each other. This will be a good opportunity for you to step out of the box for a while and at the same time, take a look at some art prospects for the Senbonzakura."

"Rukia..."

"Please, Nii-sama? You agreed..."

It was difficult for the heir to deny his younger sister much, especially when she asked for so little. He could envision that look of 'pleading adoration' she wore so well; he swore, it was like little sparkly bits circled around her head.

"Very well, Rukia. I will rearrange my schedule to rendezvous with you there for one hour."

"Thank you, Nii-sama! I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow!"