A Cup of Lust, Beauty and Affairs
Summary: Taichi, a photographer and artist fascinated by the beauty of the world, becomes captivated by the beauty of a customer at his parent's coffee shop. Innocent desires soon blaze into an unforgettable, insatiable affair.
D-Angel: Well hello! Here I am again with a lovely little update for you guys :) I was hoping to finish it and upload it sooner, but my computer's decided to start playing up over the past couple of months, where it basically keeps turning itself off all the time, and I've been trying my best to find out why (I'm suspecting there's an issue with the motherboard). Hopefully I can fix it so I don't have to keep writing the chapters on my netbook (it's four years old and soooo slow).
As always, here are my responses to your reviews :)
half-life-of-42 -I love Isamu too xD I'm glad I chose to develop his character. Takumi... yeah, he is a bit of an obstacle! You're probably going to like him even less after this chapter...
HIKED- If I was really mean I would have left it a year before the next update, lol. Hope you enjoy!
TheSecretUchiha - Aw, I'm glad you gave it a chance (I'm curious as to why you almost didn't though?). Bwahaha, a Taichi/Yamato/Takumi threesome would be rather hot xD Maybe if there wasn't so much conflict and drama going on...! I won't say anything else in case I give something away, but there are a few character developments to follow ;)
PinkBrideGoneBad - I left you hanging longer than I wanted (Sorry!), but here you go ;)
That's all :) Please read on and enjoy!
Chapter 19 - Basic Arithmetic
'It's so clear, I can hear, and I'm not gonna share you with no one.'
I surfaced from the darkness, head throbbing, in a bed that felt unfamiliar: the mattress plump, but firm; the duvet, soft against my bare skin. Forcing myself to sit up, my mind felt oddly calm, although I had no idea where I was or how I had got here. Recalling faint snippets from last night's antics in the VIP room with Takumi and Isamu, I could only conclude that drink was to blame for my memory blank.
Still, something didn't feel quite right.
Gazing around, the dimly lit room was spacious; the layout, familiar. Nausea stirring in the depths of my stomach, it took several more seconds to realise that I was in The Park Hyatt, a similar suite to the one Takumi had invited me into before.
The door besides the bed clicked open. Takumi emerged from the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around him, hanging low off his hips. I noted the tattoos inked on his hips, both were roughly the same size as a tennis ball. On the left was the silhouette of a wolf standing on a hill, head tilted up, howling; on the other, the silhouette of a crow, or a raven, perched on a thin branch, beak peering down.
"Water?" Takumi's deep voice made me jump. Looking back up, I nodded, my mouth too dry to speak. For of him to have asked, I must have looked like shit.
Takumi ventured over to a small wooden cabinet besides the plasma television (opposite the foot of the bed), flicking the doors open as he knelt down in front of it. Inside was a mini-fridge filled with various bottles of soft drinks and snacks.
Grabbing what he needed, he stood up, whipped off his towel and then launched himself onto the bed, landing straight beside me; his eyes gleaming with mischief as he handed me over a ice cold bottle of water, alongside two white circular pills.
"Aspirin," Takumi clarified when he noticed me squinting in suspicion at the tablets. Happy with his explanation, I popped the painkillers into my mouth and gulped down several hasty mouthfuls of water, breathing out a sough of relief as the liquid trickled down my throat, quenching my thirst. Once satisfied, I placed the near enough empty bottle onto the bedside cabinet.
"Did we do anything last night?" I asked, hoping Takumi would be able to fill in some of the blanks for me. He answered by shaking his head.
"You passed out the moment I got you onto the bed." There was a despondent note to his voice, which lightened when he added: "Where's the fun when you're unconscious?"
My eyes swept across Takumi's delightful physique as he stretched his body across the bedcovers, like a playgirl model. His hair was messy and fluffy, making him appear more youthful, not to mention enticing. The urge to draw him like that was tempting. I envied his ability to look so fresh-faced after a night out; he must of had his fair share of the whiskey considering Isamu hadn't drunk a drop.
"What about Isamu?" I asked, the realisation dawning that we must have parted ways last night.
"I did tell him he was more than welcome to join us back here," Takumi said, lips coiling up into a playful smile. I rapped my knuckles against his arm and he rolled his eyes.
"He got home safely, don't worry." Takumi sat up and shifted over to the edge the bed. He spoke again before I could ask another question. "Ne, I've got rehearsals in a couple of hours, and I need to check on a few things with the Nanami twins beforehand. You're free to use to bathroom if you want."
Taking Takumi up on his offer, I slipped into the bathroom as he made his phone call and ran a lukewarm shower to wash the invisible grime from my body. The illusion of feeling clean was better than nothing. Once content, I stepped out of the shower cubicle, the warm tiles soothing the soles of my feet as I walked across the room to grab a towel from the radiator. Heated flooring; this was a novelty I could get used to.
Drying the rogue droplets of water off from my body, I could tell that the aspirin had already kicked in, although I still felt a bit delicate. I hoped a greasy breakfast would sort that problem out, then I could contact Isamu and find out how we'd ended up parting ways.
The moment I re-entered the bedroom, Takumi was waiting, eyes hungry. Grabbing me by the wrist, he dragged me across the room, towards the window, and roughly pushed me up against the icy cold pane, my body making a dull thud. I winced as the air escaped my lungs; anger bubbled within my blood, ready to erupt. I was about to spin around and strike him across the face, that was until he pressed his body up against mine and planted a single kiss on the back of my neck, completely paralysing me.
I shuddered as he un-fastened my towel, kicking it out of sight the moment it dropped to the floor. Bending me over, he stretched me out with his wet fingers; I bit down on my inner cheek, my head spinning as his digits rubbed the same sensation spot over and over. Removing his fingers, Takumi positioned his lower body close to mine, hands holding onto my hips before he glided in to me. He paused for a moment, savouring the sensation; I breathed in sharply as his hand wrapped around my erection, then he started to thrust.
His hips pounded against my lower back as we established a rhythm, I rested the flats of my hands against the frosted glass and focused on the stunning snow coated cityscape presented in front of me, the morning sunrise seeping onto each tiny element. As Takumi's movements grew more aggressive, the cars and people continued to pass by below; I was too enthralled to close my eyes. I loved it, the voyeuristic thrill, knowing all too well that someone, somewhere, could possibly see what was happening. It added a spicy element of danger which made sex that little bit more thrilling.
As my orgasm gripped me and the usual warmth enveloped me, I visualised Yamato gazing up from the streets below, his blue eyes wide as he witnessed the scene of Takumi screwing me. At the same time, I felt Takumi's fingers curl around my neck; not tightly, but enough to cause a wave of unease to creep across my skin.
Moments later, Takumi shuddered and sighed out loudly before his arms harmlessly flopped down over my shoulders, his cheek resting against my upper back as we both struggled to regain our breaths.
"See why I always request a room with a view?" Takumi panted against my ear. A cold shudder worked its way across my body.
I cleaned up in the bathroom as Takumi got dressed. By the time I had stepped out the bathroom (this time with caution) he was ready.
"Rest up, treat yourself to some room service. I'll be back before you know it."
Takumi winked, then disappeared around the partition. Moments later, the front door opened then shut. I quickly located my scattered clothing and got changed, hands shaking. Finally, after grabbing my coat, which had been thrown across the small coffee table in the living area, I hurried out the door.
The moment I set foot into the corridor, I patted down my coat pockets, then my jeans pockets, and then my coat pockets again, before frowning. My phone was missing. Turning around, my stomach sunk when I realised the door to Takumi's suite was shut tight. Thumping my fist against the heavy oak, I swore under my breath. I had little doubt the reception desk would hand over a spare key to me without Takumi's consent.
Rubbing my hand against the back of my neck, I made my way down the corridor towards the lift, and somewhere, along the way, my optimism returned. Amongst the drinking and debating last night, Isamu had borrowed my phone; there was a possibility he still had it. I kept that thought at the front of my mind as I stepped into the elevator and descended to the ground floor.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
On my journey back home I grabbed a greasy chicken ramen takeaway, only managing a few mouthfuls before nausea stirred in the depths of my stomach. I tossed the rest away and sat through the rest of my train journey, concentrating hard on my breathing in hope it would prevent me from throwing up.
I felt less queasy by the time I reached the path leading to my apartment complex. Dipping my hand into my pocket to retrieve my key fob, I heard the scuffle of hurried footsteps behind me and spun around, my lips parting with surprise when I saw him.
Like last time, Yamato was wearing his glasses, and his golden hair was dishevelled. He looked so much worse than before, yet my desire for him was still as fresh than ever. Mindlessly, I reached out, but he shoved me away, a frown settling across his brow. For the first time that day, I felt the coldness of the wind biting against my exposed skin.
"How long have you been waiting here?" I asked, fingers curling around my keys as I spotted his car in the parking lot.
"That doesn't matter," Yamato replied.
He followed me up to my apartment in silence. The living room a complete mess: boxes partly packed, half-painted canvases and neglected photography equipment were scattered everywhere.
"I need to phone Isamu," I said as I stalked across the room and reached out to grab the landline from the coffee table.
"I spoke to him last night," Yamato said, voice flat. "He got home ok, if that's what's troubling you."
Lowering the phone back onto the cradle, I suddenly lacked the strength to look up again. I knew where this conversation was heading, even before he asked the question.
"Why Takumi?"
Isamu had told him. My heart started to beat rapidly against my chest. It was likely he knew about Takumi offering to take over the lease for my flat. Regardless, there was definitely an underlining factor to his apparent anger. I knew he couldn't just be mad at me because I'd spent the night with Takumi. Then again, it really wasn't any of his business.
"What's your problem with him?" The words viciously spewed from my mouth as my head snapped upwards, my eyes meeting his. He flinched at my abruptness.
"I know him better than you do- I'm worried he's going to hurt you." Yamato's trembling hand squeezed against the back of my sofa, nails digging into the leather. My eyes widened; I didn't anticipate such a straight answer from him, especially not after all the previous attempts I had made to get him to talk about Takumi.
"Hurt me?" As I echoed his words, they sounded so absurd, but then I saw it: the harrowing look that was caught in the depths of Yamato's irises. Within their reflection I saw myself bent over in front of the window in the hotel suite, Takumi taking me from behind, his fingers coiling around my neck. I desperately wanted to shake that thought off. It terrified me, even if Takumi had been caught up in the heat of the moment.
"He'll do it just to spite me." His eyes were serious, yet I couldn't wrap my head around what Yamato was saying. Takumi had offered to help me out; there was nothing malicious about that.
"Why would he?"
"He's already taken so much from me, you have no idea." His voice, so broken.
"What do you mean?" I continued to instigate, my arms hanging loosely down by my sides as I studied him. My heart continued to ache as he remained silent. "What's he taken?"
"Anything that's ever mattered," Yamato soon replied, his eyes staring vacantly ahead, straight through me. "Back when we were in The Wolves, I was approached by a major record label at the end of our last gig; Avex Trax. They offered me a deal then and there- lead vocalist for a new and upcoming band. The only catch was that Makoto, Naoko or Takumi weren't included. I was, supposedly, the only one with the right image."
Yamato's brow crinkled as he continued to recall his story. "I flat out refused their offer; if they weren't interested in the entirety of our band or our talent, then screw them. Makoto and Naoko appreciated my sacrifice. I thought Takumi did too."
Now Yamato was looking directly at me, both hands gripping onto the back of the sofa. "But then, he went behind our backs and contacted the label, putting himself forward for the place I turned down. Despite his voice wasn't that strong, he had the looks and the charisma; that's all they truly cared about. That's all Vertical Illusion is about."
Tilting my head to the side, I tried to absorb Yamato's words. True, all of Vertical Illusion were ridiculously good-looking, but I had always thought each member possessed a high level of talent too. It was hard to believe that their band had been manufactured to such a degree, and that Yamato could have potentially been the lead singer. Wealth and fame, he had turned it all down to remain loyal to his band. I admired him for that.
Still, something didn't explain the bitterness clinging onto Yamato's voice. I knew he wasn't just jealous of Takumi's success; things were far more complex than that. Reviewing what I already knew about Takumi, he had never really gone into depth about his old band; in interviews he had always shrugged and admitted it was an uneventful time in his life. Even in his autobiography he had glazed over it, like it was a merely a childish hobby he had once tampered with.
"So what you're saying is that Takumi chose to follow his dream," I said, resting a hand on my hip. "He probably didn't go the right way about it, but what exactly did he do wrong?"
"Stop defending him," Yamato said, jaw clenched. "You hardly know him."
"I know that he had every right to chase his dream," I retorted. I thought my opinion was fair enough; even I had been guilty of 'adopting' clients from other photographers in the past in order to etablish my own career.
"Oh really?" Yamato stepped away from his position behind the sofa. "Did he have a right to steal my lyrics as well?"
My body tensed as he started to approach me, but before he did he stopped and snatched the latest Vertical Illusion album off from my coffee table- which I had only found the time to listen to the other day- waving it up in the air like it was a crucial piece of evidence to a murder mystery.
"These songs you admire, the lyrics, they're all mine."
Frowning, I folded my arms across my chest as my heart rate increased. I shook my head slowly, lips parting with disbelief as Yamato nodded.
"Before our band split, he stole two of my notepads, both filled with songs I had written. There's probably still enough material to last him another two or three albums."
As his eyes scanned the back of the album case, my mind drifted back to the conversation we had back in the coffee shop, when Yamato had first expressed his dislike for Vertical Illusion. I had gushed about how amazing Takumi's lyrics were whilst Yamato had winced in discomfort. If what he was saying was the truth, then the reason behind his harsh attitude that day was now crystal clear.
Yamato dropped the album back onto the table.
"If this is true, Why isn't this public knowledge?" I asked.
"If this is true?" Yamato echoed, his voice wounded "Don't you believe me?"
"Yamato…"
"I did consult a solicitor, but since my lyrics aren't copyrighted, it's my word against Takumi's." Yamato rested his hand against his forehead. "I would have been fighting a losing battle. Much like I am with you."
Discomfort prickled behind my ears, easing its way to the back of my neck. Until now I had been too blinded to realise he was frightened of losing me to Takumi. I'd thought I could appease both of them, that somehow things could remain as they were and no one had to get hurt. But now, as images of Yamato gliding down the aisle with Sora plagued my thoughts, the sickening sensation in my stomach intensified. The prospect of losing Yamato altogether was more terrifying than I ever could have imagined.
Rushing over to him, I shoved him backwards onto the sofa. Seconds later, I had him pinned against the cool leather, my lips hard against his as I kissed him.
"Idiot," I growled against his mouth, before he could attempt to push me off him. "I would kill to have you all to myself."
Yamato's eyes widened as he exhaled sharply. My heart ceased for just a moment. It was the first time he had heard me confess how I truly felt about him, about our situation. His arms held onto me tightly. The feel of his warm body against mine, and the delightful rhythm of his soothing heartbeat.
He was all I wanted.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Song lyrics (At the beginning of the chapter)
Jimmy Eat World - "Spangle"
D-Angel: So yeah, Tai's finally realised what he wants xD True story, I made sooo many edits with the scene between Tai and Yama... It was going to end quite differently too. Didn't really work though. I like this chapter ending a lot better, lol.
Anyways, next chapter should be out sharpish since I'm unemployed at the moment, but focusing on looking for a job that involves a bit (or a lot) of creativity! Writing chapters is a nice break away from writing out covering letters, haha.
As always, thanks for all your awesome support so far :) If you ever want to chat, or wish to make any one-shot requests, feel free to PM me or say hi on Twitter.
Much love! See ya next chapter :)
D-Angel
4/08/14