Ceteris paribus
Latin expression for "other things being equal." The term is used in economic analysis when the analyst wants to focus on explaining the effect of changes in one (independent) variable on changes in another (dependent) variable without having to worry about the possible offsetting effects of still other independent variables on the dependent variable under examination. For example, "an increase in the price of beef will result, ceteris paribus, in less beef being sold to consumers." [Putting aside the possibility that the prices of chicken, pork, fish and lamb simultaneously increased by even larger percentages, or that consumer incomes have also jumped sharply, or that CBS News has just announced that beef prevents AIDS, etc. - an increase in the price of beef will result in less beef being sold to consumers.
Other Things Held Constant
Waking up in someone's, well, in Zihuan's arms is not a sensation that should be entirely unpleasant but...
"How was your sleep, Zhongda?"
Ah, so subject of my thoughts has noticed that I am awake, and he himself is also awake.
"Cao Pi, I need-"
He puts a finger over my lips momentarily as he speaks.
"It's Zihuan; remember?"
This is what I got myself into.
"Hush me again and I'll bite your finger off, Zihuan." I try to hold his hand or do some other affectionate gesture in order to soften the blow of my warning. Though I was serious in saying that.
"Is that foreplay I hear, Yi?" Pi brushes my bottom lip, and cheek.
"What- no. By the way, Zihuan, I really must to make use of your-"
Pi starts bothering my neck, speaking throatily between nips: "Hm,So you want to go for another round already?"
I place my hand on his chest and push Pi away to gain some distance.
The look of shock on his face is not what I had meant for. Great, at just a few hours old my relationship is already in damage control mode.
"What's wrong, Zhongda?"
I sigh and loop my hands around the back of his neck, brushing a few strands of hair.
"Zihuan, it's just that I am... covered in ...ah, how do I say this? Hours old semen. I need to bathe, now."
And a shit eating grin lights up his face:
"I need a bath, too. Let's be "efficient" and bathe together."
Does Pi really think that calling any random action efficient will make me approve of it? That is a terrible use of the word efficient. And, I need to pick my own words more wisely. But, remember, Yi, damage control.
"...fine."
For how insistent he'd been on getting his bath, Yi doesn't just get up and follow along. No, he sits up while clutching my blankets over his lap.
"Cao Pi, hand me my clothing?"
After how willing Zhongda was to flaunt that body of his last night, this modesty seems uncalled for.
"The shower is near by. And..." ...I want to stare at your bare ass "you can just walk over here in the nude; I don't mind, Yi."
"I do mind, so I won't. I'll just use your sheets to cover myself. Um, Zihuan, perhaps you ought to put on some clothes yourself."
"You do know that the shower is right behind this door, and that we'll be bathing naked." Yi gets up and walks over to me, a navy sheet wrapped tightly about his waist.
"Just open the door, Pi."
I hear Sima Yi pacing about the washroom while I adjust the waters's temperature. It's good enough now.
I step in, "Zhongda, come join me in here." He gives a mildly incredulous look to my beckoning hand before responding "remember that we're doing this in order to get clean, Cao Pi" and then dropping the cover down from his waist. Zhongda at least has the mercy to stand there long enough that I can get a good look at his body.
Yi tentatively sets foot into the shower holding onto the railing to avoid slipping.
"I'll assume that I can use these soaps?" Yi says motioning to some bottles Zhen had left.
"Actually those are- Well, yes. Use whatever you'd like.
...I'm sure you'll need some help in reaching your back. Let me take care of that,Zhongda."
"I... guess that's a offer I can accept." Yi slowly responds turning his back to me and starring at the wall that is now in front of his face.
Yeah, we'll get clean, eventually.
Yi silently gives in to my touches as I shift his neck and shoulders to better wash that black mane of his. I decide on a soap that smells to an almost sweet balsam. It suits him; realizing that I'll have control over how Sima Yi smells for the rest of the day is infinitely amusing. I think Zhongda finally trusts what I am doing- as I run my hands through his hair- he shuts his eyes to relax and props his forehead against the showers' stone.
I work my way further down. How far along will he let me go?
There's no complaints as I move to his neck and shoulders. I stroke the base of his neck and then trace his clavicle, to see how he reacts.
I'm hoping Yi will give me some of those sweet little shudders and moans of his, but no. His affect is too flat. I try harder.
I move closer, so that my chest is centimeters away from pressing against Yi's back. I slide my hands from his raised arms to his chest. Zhongda flinches slightly; his nipples start going stiff under my hands as I "wash" his chest.
"Cao P- Zihuan?"
"Yeah?"
"What exactly are you doing?"
"Relax. I'm just helping you get that sweat off your skin."
"Ah...alright." Yi doesn't ask what I'd need to scrub down his tits for,exhales and goes back to resting his forehead on the wall. His skin pricks in anticipation.
Finally.
Getting to see Yi like this- skin gleaming, droplets trailing along his spine and smooth thighs a bit parted- is still such a rush of blood. And it seems my body agrees.I grab his sides, letting my hands run down to hover above his waist. Zhongda finally lets out that moan I'm sure he's been holding all along.
Yi thrusts his hips forward as he feels my hand travel down south.
"What do you think you're doing, Zhongda?"
"Ugh... damn you, Zihuan. Don't pretend not to know what you're doing. Continue." Oh, so he's being demanding? I grab his thigh, press flush against his back and grind on his pert ass. Yi hisses a soft ahhhh in response. I'll play with him a little; speaking by his ear:
"Continue what, Yi? Getting you cleaned up? So, what do we need to scrub down after last night? Your legs? Your thighs? That sweet ass of yours?" I slap him, hard enough his flesh goes red.
Yi yelps and turns his head back: "Zihuan, you fucking idiot. Just, do something, now."
I squeeze his ass before slipping a finger into-
"Fool! I'm- that's dry. Just, touch me instead."
"Yi, I want you to let me put my dick in you. Please, just use conditioner as lube. Or something." I jerk him; he arches his back.
"Ohh- absolutely not." He moans and thrusts into my hand.
"Damn. Yi, I need you to do something. Spread your thighs."
Yi cooperates, cautiously glancing over his shoulder. He stops that when I start running my hand between his legs. I thrust between his thighs, rubbing against his balls and grabbing Yi's dick while at it.
"Mmm!" It sounds like now my Zhongda knows what I'm doing.
My face rests at the back of his neck. Zhongda moves his body back against mine, creating some warmth. Strands of his wet hair catch into my mouth as I speak. I should get used to that.
"Squeeze your thighs, Zhongda." I keep fumbling the head of his cock. He's panting, with his hands braced on the wall. Yi shakes his hair and clenches his thighs, just like I asked. I keep slamming against him, jerking Yi in time with myself. He gasps. My free hand somehow ended up entwined with his; our fingers interlocking as his palm rests on the wall. He moans beneath me. I continue, this will be a nice way to-
"We- we, ahh!- still have to, to clean. Oh, After- after this. Zihuan! Ah, ah. Again! Zihuan! Zihua-!" Yi spasms, and shoots himself into my hand while the muscles of his legs tremble and clench. I spill onto his thighs-
"Zhongda," I kiss the back of his neck and squeeze his hand, "Zhongda, why couldn't you have said something hot, or romantic?"
Yi heaves as he catches his breath.
"Cao Pi, shut up." Yi spins about to catch my mouth with his.
I can't say I'm complaining.
That... was an interesting turn of events. Unplanned, mind you, but pleasant. Staying over with Cao Pi isn't that bad, after all. I sit at his kitchen table, wearing some bath robe Pi gave me, and sipping some coffee that he also made for me. It's not that bad.
Cao Pi, or Zihuan as he now wants me to call him, gets back from the kitchen and sits by me. He touches my hair and shoulders a bit; I have no idea why. I look up to him, he just stares intently. I... should say something, make small talk.
"The park out your window certainly does seem empty for it being the weekend, don't you think?"
Pi pricks a brow before responding to me in a flat tone:
"Zhongda, its Tuesday."
"...shit, I'm late! Why didn't you warn me? Shouldn't you be getting ready for work!"
"Don't worry, I texted Dun that we would be out sick today, and tomorrow."
"We... you said we?"
"Yeah."
"Oh fuck- I need to get to the office."
There's nothing wrong per se with me sneaking into my office. I... still get the same work done, so it's no "issue" if I am a small bit late today. And it is no one's business as to why I am late. Except for one person, that I must talk to. I dial Zhang He.
"He, I order you to report to my office at once."
"Yiii~, weren't you and Pi out today?" He plays with a strand of his hair.
"What? No." This issue is a little harder to discuss than I'd thought it would be.
"But Cao Pi called in for you... Yi." He says, with an unnecessary grin. This is a bother. Why did I choose to talk to Zhang He about this again?
"I didn't know. That must be coincidence." I fidget, adjusting my cufflinks.
"Soooo... what happened?" And again, He is with that needless curiosity.
"Uh, nothing. Pi gave me the flu."
"That is a terrible choice of euphemism! The flu, really?"
"I wasn't using flu as a euphemism, He! Nothing really went on..."
"Oh, come on Yi, you have the cutest blush right now. Something big happened." He's... clever about this.
"That- that's a flu blush." What have I dug myself into?
"Yi~, don't bother trying to trick me about this. Come on, tell!"
I do need to talk; and that is why I called He here.
"Pi and I got together last night and we... also this morning, in the shower. I told him that I wanted to be with him. I think I am his... mistress now."
"You're a couple? That's adorable! What made you see Pi was the one? Why'd you confess your love?"
Is this serious? This would be the perfect moment to insert a face palm.
"He! I need help, that's my boss' son, and he's engaged to a woman who's your friend. And Cao Pi is... a dear friend of mine.
I- I just had to go and complicate my life's plans by spreading my legs like that.
Just tell, how badly did I fuck up?"
Things are still, for a moment, before He speaks up:
"Yi... we're Wei, all of our personal relationships are complicated like that. Just... take a deep breath and take this one step at a time: do you want to be with him?"
I follow He's instructions before answering.
"If this were ceteris paribus, then yes."
"Good. That's all you need to worry about when making your choice.
Oh, another bit of advice, Yi: Borrow my scarf. You have all these little love bites on your neck."
I think I just figured out how to make my writing into even more of a 24/7 Porn-Fest.
...Yi is such a girl, with how I write him during sex.
