Angel slammed a fist into the wall, then winced.  His knuckles were already raw from pounding against the walls every day.  Despite his rather vocal protests, Kouda had decided the young man was going to stay at his residence permanently and he put him to work immediately with all manner of menial chores around the Mizuguchi estate.  In essence, Angel had become something of a maid.  Kouda had explained that it was his way of making the young man useful until the first job started.

“You just want to humiliate me,” Angel protested.

“Well, that is an added bonus.”

“Why do I have to stay here?  My apartment isn’t that far away.”

“I have no doubt you’d run off if given the chance—and I don’t take chances.  You belong to me now and this is where you’ll stay.”

The brunette’s few belongings were brought from his former residence.  It was depressing to see how little he had to show for himself.  Then again, the young man had deliberately lived sparingly; all the easier to make a quick get-away should he need to.  Moreover, he’d been planning to move overseas.  It was only natural that he would have very few belongings, but somehow, as Angel looked at the sad pile of possessions brought to him, his spirits sank.  He looked around his new living quarters and sighed.  The dark-haired young man had nothing—no attachments, nothing of special value.  He could disappear and nothing would be left to show he’d ever existed.  He might as well be a ghost.

While he was in the midst of these dismal thoughts, a knock came at his door.  Before Angel could respond, one of Kouda’s men was already stepping into his room.

“Don’t you knock?” Angel asked, annoyed at his lack of privacy.  He’d learned quickly that his door only locked from the outside—a decidedly inconvenient function.

“Mr. Mizuguchi needs you in his chambers.  The bathroom, specifically.”

“I already cleaned there yesterday!  What, does he want me to lick the damn toilet clean now?” Angel shouted.  Feeling trapped made him irritable and edgy.

The large man in the doorway snickered.  “I don’t think that’s what he has in mind, but I’ll definitely suggest it for next time.”

Angel wasn’t very appreciative of his humor and sat sulking until the man shoved him.  “Get going.”

Cursing under his breath, the young man obeyed, but he took his time walking down the long hall to Kouda’s private rooms.  He was quite familiar with the entire layout of Kouda’s lavish home, having cleaned every inch of it during the last several days.  As the young man let himself into the blonde’s enormous bedroom and walked toward the bath hall, Angel wondered why he was being called.  He had a sinking feeling in his stomach as he opened the door and saw the powerful man seated on the ledge near his huge bath.  Kouda wore only a robe and it was fastened loosely, displaying the wide, muscular expanse of his chest.  The man’s hair was dripping wet, sending small rivulets dripping down his skin.  Angel pulled his eyes away when he realized he was staring.

“What do you want?” the dark-haired man asked unceremoniously.

“I’d like you to attend me.”

“Huh?”

Kouda grinned, and Angel knew nothing good was going to come of this encounter—at least not for him. 

“Come here,” the blonde man ordered, pointing to the tile before his feet.

Rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest defiantly, Angel moved to stand in front of the other man.  He tried to remain calm, but his heart began to race.  Angel hadn’t seen much of Kouda since he had arrived and the young man had forgotten how overpowering the blonde’s presence could be.  Everything about Kouda exuded sexuality and prowess.  Angel knew that, even without wealth and political power, Kouda was the kind of man that others would obey.  His authority radiated from him like a physical force. 

Kouda stood, and Angel instinctively took a step back, daunted by the other man’s broad frame and commanding attitude.  The blonde smiled at him, then moved to sit at a marble vanity that was situated nearby.  Grabbing a towel, he rubbed his hair dry.

“First,” Kouda said, looking at the man in the mirror, “brush my hair.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Angel stepped up behind him and took the proffered brush, grumbling.  “What are you?  A five-year-old girl?”

“Careful,” the man snapped, when Angel yanked at a tangle.

“Then you should do it yourself,” the brunette muttered. 

“It is my pleasure that you serve me,” Kouda said sternly, and the steely tone in his voice made Angel reconsider instigating an argument with the man.

As Angel worked gently through his hair, he found himself mesmerized by the silky touch and lustrous shine of the other man’s shoulder-length locks.  The simple action of running the brush through his hair became somehow calming.  He was almost disappointed when Kouda signaled him to stop.

Turning the chair around to face Angel, the blonde shrugged out of his robe and stood, the sharp, seductive lines of his body begging for Angel’s attention.  The dark brunette swallowed, adrenaline rushing through his system as he wondered what on earth Kouda was about to make him do.

“Now,” said Kouda, handing the other man a small bottle, “you’ll rub me down with this lotion.”

Frowning, Angel grabbed the bottle, angered at the thrill that went through his chest as he thought of gliding his hands over the blonde’s naked skin. Kouda’s presence affected him in ways that it shouldn’t, and that set his mind and body against one another. 

Feigning indifference, Angel squirted a liberal amount of lotion on his hands and went to work as quickly as possible.  The entire time, he could feel Kouda’s eyes following him and struggled to force down his arousal.  However, touching the blonde man sent electric sparks of desire racing through him, despite his best efforts.  With an inward sigh of relief, Angel finished and pulled away. 

“What?” the brunette asked when the other man smirked at him.

“You missed a spot,” Kouda said, offering his prominent organ, which now stood out proudly from between his thighs.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Angel retorted.

Kouda bent down to bring his lips to the man’s ear.  “If you don’t use the lotion, then you’ll be using your mouth.”  As he spoke, one strong hand twined itself in Angel’s dark locks and yanked the hair painfully, letting the young man know that he was quite capable of forcing him to service him.

For a moment, Angel struggled against the grip, but it was useless.  “Sadistic fuck,” he said through clenched teeth.  “Fine!  I’ll use the lotion.  Let me go!”

With an amused gleam in his emerald eyes, Kouda released him. 

Slowly, Angel spread the silky liquid over the blonde’s shaft, his eyes shut and his face averted, hoping that Kouda wouldn’t be able to see the way his face flushed at the action.  He was half expecting Kouda to make him pump him to climax, but the man allowed Angel to pull back as he finished.  However, the blonde man had one more thing in mind for his attractive captive.

Sitting back in the chair, Kouda spread his legs and smiled up at the brunette.  “You’re still quite a defiant little slave,” he said.

“Don’t call me that!” Angel said hotly.

“Although I do adore that rebellious spark of yours, you also need to learn your place.  I don’t doubt that one of these days you’ll give me an excuse to paddle that lovely ass of yours raw.”

Angel shifted impatiently, irritated with the man’s arrogance and—what he assumed to be—an idle threat. “Whatever,” the young man muttered. “Can I go now, your Highness?”

 “I have one last task for you before you leave,” said the blonde.  “Kneel,” he commanded. 

When Angel remained standing, Kouda merely laughed, infuriating the brunette further.  Everything he did was a joke to this man.  He wasn’t even worth taking seriously.  It made Angel feel like a child.

“Come, obey me.  Otherwise I’ll lock you in your room like the naughty boy you are—or perhaps I’ll turn you over my knee for a good spanking.”

Angel considered refusing, but it didn’t seem worth it.  All he really wanted was to finish his task so he could leave as quickly as possible.

He lowered himself to his knees.

“Now,” Kouda said, crossing his legs, “clean my feet.”

“You just took a bath!” Angel protested.

“I don’t feel thoroughly clean,” he replied, smirking.  “Use your mouth to clean between my toes.”

Angel gritted his teeth and seethed in anger, but he knew Kouda would overpower him if he disobeyed.  Besides, he wouldn’t let the man know how much the humiliating request bothered him.  With determination, the dark-haired young man moved forward and ran his tongue along the length of the man’s foot.  He then began a thorough exploration with his tongue, darting between the blonde’s long toes and sucking them into his mouth. 

Kouda had only meant to embarrass the brunette, but the young man’s fervor for the project aroused him terribly.  Letting his head fall back, his hands moved to his groin and he began to stroke himself. 

The blonde moaned, and Angel grinned inwardly.  He’d found a weakness in Kouda: the man’s lust.  He tucked the information away, certain that a day would come when he would be able to exploit it. The brunette nipped at the sensitive skin inside the arch of one foot before moving his attention to the other.  His ministrations had Kouda panting. The blonde pumped his substantial erection faster as Angel playfully bit his ankles and dragged his tongue up his Achilles’ tendon. 

“Yes, pet!” Kouda groaned, his back arching as his entire body convulsed with the force of his orgasm.  Angel watched him with hungry eyes.  He’d never seen any rapture so primal or so arousing.  His eyes followed the copious arcs of semen as they spilled over Kouda’s hand and belly.  His own erection twitched in response to the blatant display of lustful gratification before him.

“Oh, dear,” Kouda said when he’d recovered.  “I’ve gone and made another mess.”  Looking down, he saw Angel still kneeling on the floor, the young man’s crystal eyes wide.  Kouda grinned.  He’d never met anyone who intrigued him the way Angel did.  There was something irresistible about the young thief.

Angel squirmed as Kouda’s jungle-green eyes pinned him.  In those eyes was a possessive and seductive passion he’d had never met before.  It was naked and raw and it called to something deep within Angel’s body—a primitive creature of instinct buried behind his conscious mind—that begged to be released.

Lifting his hand to Angel’s face, Kouda said in a husky tone, “Lick me clean.”

Feeling the creature within him stir, Angel complied.  He didn’t even hesitate to lap up the pearly come from the blonde’s outstretched fingertips.  He was too ensnared by his own lust. 

The breath caught in Kouda’s throat as he watched each digit disappear between the brunette’s rosy pink lips.  A vision of the slender brunette harnessed in a leash and collar appeared before him, and the man promised himself he’d purchase a set for his new pet.  At first, he hadn’t necessarily intended to have Angel service him sexually, but he did now.

Mere minutes later, the dark-haired young man found himself walking back to his own room, his encounter with Kouda somehow unreal to him, but his aching arousal was certainly real enough.  The moment the door of his room shut, he tore open his pants and pumped himself to a brilliant climax.  His essence fell unheeded to the floor as Angel slumped against the wall. His need had been so strong he hadn’t even made it the few steps to the bed.  And yet, he felt somehow unsatisfied.  The image of Kouda, moaning in the throes of his ecstasy, his elegant hands bringing himself to the brink, was burned in the brunette’s mind.  He wondered how those hands would feel along his skin, caressing his thighs and then moving higher…

“Shit,” Angel cursed, shaking his head.  He was letting this man get to him.  No matter how much his body wanted him, Angel had to remind himself that Kouda was, above all things, a dangerous man—and his captor. 

 

Later that day, when the heat in Angel’s blood had cooled and he was again bored and restless, Kouda appeared at his door.

“Come with me,” he said.  “We have some matters to discuss.”  His voice was clipped and tight, a complete contrast to the feverish, lusty man Angel had left earlier.  The dark brunette wondered what could have happened to alter his attitude so fast.  Kouda’s mood seemed volatile, a brooding cloud about to explode at any moment.  His polished shoes clipped along the tiled floors and echoed through the wide hallway as Kouda led him to his private office near the back of the building.

“Sit down,” the blonde instructed, as he moved to take a seat in the plush chair behind his desk.

“What crawled up your ass?” Angel asked, instinctively defensive in the face of Kouda’s brooding anger.

The blonde man ignored him and pulled out a large file folder, slapping it on his desk.  “I’ve learned a few things since we last spoke,” he said.  “After a more in-depth investigation on your background, I unearthed a very interesting piece of information.”

Angel sat before him, his expression guarded.

“No wonder you accepted my offer to avoid the police. But what’s a little robbery conviction when you’re already wanted for murder?” Kouda demanded, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.

“’Suspicion of murder!” Angel snapped.  “I haven’t been found guilty.”

“It makes no difference to me,” the other man replied coldly.  “What matters is that I unknowingly brought a wanted fugitive into my home.  Do you have any idea the position this puts me in?”

“I—” Angel started, but he was cut off.

“Do you know how much the police would love to have an excuse to search my home?  All they need is an excuse and they’ll be knocking down my door.  Getting me into jail for harboring a felon would be just as sweet as getting Capone on tax evasion!”

“Guess you’ll just have to send me on my way, then,” Angel retorted with a smug snort.  Kouda acted so damn high and mighty, but even he could make mistakes.  His amusement faded when Kouda suddenly leaned over the desk and slapped him hard across one cheek.

“You forget who you’re speaking to.  Don’t ever use that smug tone with me.”

Though his face stung and Kouda’s fierce tone of voice unnerved him, Angel felt he had achieved a small triumph: he’d made Kouda lose his damnably cool exterior.

“You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you, pet?”

Angel fumed, but wisely remained silent.

Kouda continued.  “You think you’ll find a way out of here, don’t you?”

“I don’t think, I know!” Angel spat, unable to hold back.  However, he immediately regretted admitting to his agenda.

“I thought as much, though I thank you for confirming my suspicions,” the blonde said with a grin.  “Do you know why I had you clean my entire home?  You probably thought I was foolish for letting you see so much, since I’m sure you were hoping to find a weakness in my security.

“That’s the only reason you haven’t really rebelled against me yet, isn’t it?” Kouda asked, his voice growing more serious.  “I’ll let you in on a little piece of information: I showed you my home so you could see for yourself that there are no weaknesses.  You’re here to stay until I desire otherwise.  You’d best get used to that.”

Determined not to seem defeated, Angel fixed his icy blue eyes on Kouda and their gazes locked.  For a long moment, they stared at one another until Kouda, unexpectedly, broke into a grin.  Frustrated with the man’s glib attitude, Angel looked away in disgust.

“You also haven’t seen my entire estate, but you’re about to,” the blonde said smoothly, his composure once again intact. In light of your criminal status, I’ve decided to change my plans for you.  I can’t use you for outside jobs now, so it seems you’ll have to work for me in a different capacity.”

“And just what might that be?” Angel asked, his cool blue eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“You’ll soon find out.  Follow me.”