13
The jet engines’ roar filled the cabin, a constant hum vibrating through Jason’s plush seat. He stared out the window, the clouds below blurring into a white canvas as the plane cruised south toward Taiwan. He still couldn’t shake the image of Tae Hyun’s tear-streaked face the day before. He hadn’t seen Tae Hyun that shaken since the kidnapping, and it twisted his gut with guilt and protectiveness. But it was Jason that Tae Hyun had been afraid of. It hadn’t mattered how often Jason assured him he wouldn’t act jealous. Tae Hyun’s fear was insurmountable. But they’d argued, Tae Hyun confessed, and the pair emerged from the ordeal stronger than they’d started.
A small, satisfied smile pulled at the corner of Jason’s lips as he glanced over at Tae Hyun, curled up in the seat beside him, fast asleep. His fatigue from the past few days had taken its toll on him, but the peaceful serenity of his slumber smoothed away the worry lines. He reached for Tae Hyun, his fingers lightly brushing against his cheek. Tae Hyun softly sighed but didn’t stir. It was almost like they weren’t in the middle of a brewing tabloid scandal at all.
Jason inwardly sighed, the brief moment of peace evaporating. All it took was the thought of Ren for the knot of tension to reform in his back. Jason wished he knew more about him. He’d skimmed the report that Seong Woo’s team at Vital had put together but retained little more than the basics. Tae Hyun had gushed about him at first. Until the kiss. Jason automatically clenched his hand into a fist at the thought. Tae Hyun insisted it was a mistake and that Ren had apologized. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d thought kissing his very unavailable boyfriend was okay. There wasn’t much Ren could do to earn Jason’s trust at that point. But, if Tae Hyun forgave him, there wasn’t much Jason could do, either. At least until they finally spoke.
Jason forced his hand to relax, flexing it as he considered what he wanted to say to Ren when they finally met. He’d tried to catch him before they left for Taipei, but the band’s chartered flight left too early. So, he had to wait until they were all in Taiwan. And that time worked against him. Despite how much he wanted to shout and threaten, he’d promised Tae Hyun to do his best to go easy on his new friend. That would’ve been so much easier early in the day. The more time he had to think about it, the more he wanted to make a scene.
Seong Min appeared from the forward compartment where he’d been sitting with his brother and the new guys, a concerned look clouding his usual unbothered expression, nodding to get Jason’s attention.
“What’s up?” Jason whispered.
“Naomi’s been trying to reach you,” Seong Min quietly responded.
Jason frowned as he sat up. If there was one thing he could count on from Naomi, it was finding ways to reach him when he absolutely didn’t want to be found. “For real? This can’t wait until we land? ”
“I don’t know, sir. I’m just passing on the message.”
Jason grumbled under his breath as he stood and followed Seong Min into the forward compartment. Carlos was watching a movie on his tablet while Andre chatted with one of the attendants in the galley. Jason pulled his phone out, about to switch it from airplane mode, when he noticed Seong Hyeon asleep in his seat. He emphatically gestured toward the elder Song brother. “You didn’t tell me he was asleep, too,” he whispered.
“He slept through my call,” Seong Min offered. “I don’t think you’ll wake him.”
Jason shrugged and let his phone connect to the plane’s WiFi. A stream of messages came through right away, but he ignored them to dial Naomi instead. She picked up almost immediately.
“Seriously, Jason?”
Jason rolled his eyes. “Please, don’t start with me.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you for two fucking days, Jason.” Naomi’s barely concealed panic was unmistakable. “If it wasn’t for Seong Hyeon, I wouldn’t even know where you were.”
“Look,” Jason impatiently replied. “Let’s just skip past the part where you scold me and get to why you made my bodyguard wake me up.”
Seong Min raised a questioning eyebrow, but Jason shook his head.
Naomi let out a frustrated sigh. “I didn’t ask him to wake you. I asked him to have you call me. There’s a difference.”
“Fine. But we’re already getting off track here. You called because–” Jason trailed off.
“Why do you think? It’s about Brightstar. ”
“You’ll need to be more specific,” Jason replied, trying and failing to keep the edge of impatience from his voice.
Naomi huffed. “Okay, fine. It’s that contract audit report from David. After he turned it in, his team somehow found every missing contract addendum.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” Jason asked, feeling the beginnings of hope.
“It should be. But Seong Woo and I personally reviewed every one of them.” A nervous tremor crept into Naomi’s voice. “Guess what we found.”
Jason frowned with sudden worry. “What?”
“Nothing, Jason. Not a goddamn thing. A bunch of throwaway clauses–shipping exceptions, customs notices–the kind of boilerplate legal junk no one ever reads.” Naomi loudly huffed. “None of them were the same, and none of them were consequential.”
Jason didn’t understand the problem. “That still sounds like good news to me.”
“Of course, it does. But it doesn’t fit with this place.” Naomi loudly sighed. “I’ve been digging through Gerald’s files. Your father was meticulous. He’d keep receipts for a pack of goddamn printer paper. Then, suddenly, important contracts start getting turned in with missing addenda? It doesn’t add up.”
“Okay. I guess I’m wondering what you want me to do about it,” Jason said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. With everything going on, that was the last thing he needed to deal with.
“I–” Naomi started, then paused. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just looking for support.”
Jason leaned back against the walnut veneer cabinet behind him, its surface pleasantly cool. “Look. I’m in the middle of an actual unfolding crisis right now. I can’t take my eye off that ball. But you’re in charge there, Naomi. You’ve got the power to do whatever the hell you want. So, call a company meeting. Hire an outside auditor. Shut the whole fucking place down and make everyone turn out their pockets. If you think something’s off, do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of it.”
The call fell silent long enough that Jason thought it had dropped. “Alright,” Naomi finally replied. “That’s oddly comforting. Thank you.”
“Good.” Jason stood. “We’ll be in Taipei soon. Do you want me to call again later?”
“No,” Naomi breezily replied as she recovered her missing confidence. “I’ll handle this. Just let me know when you’re headed back to LA. And give Tae Hyun my best.”
“Will do. Talk to you later, Ms. Bell.” Jason disconnected, his chest still tight with unease. Returning to the main cabin, he found Tae Hyun awake. A flight attendant had brought him a glass of champagne and a steaming towel.
Jason caught the attendant’s eye. “Hey, can I get another Kingston?”
The attendant, an attractive young Latina woman with long, dark hair pulled back in a tight bun, nodded. “Of course, Mr. Park.”
Tae Hyun grinned as he sipped his champagne. “I don’t think I can ever fly commercial again.”
Jason chuckled. “And just a few days ago, you said this was excessive.”
Tae Hyun playfully shrugged. “I’m a global superstar, remember? I can do excessive. ”
Jason took his bourbon from the attendant, plopped into the seat beside Tae Hyun, and downed half of it in one gulp. Tae Hyun frowned.
“How many of those have you had?”
“Including this one?” Jason tipped his glass back and drained the rest. “Two. Why? It’s not like I gotta drive the plane.”
Tae Hyun rolled his eyes. “No, but I noticed yesterday that you smelled like cigarettes, too.”
Jason sheepishly nodded. He’d noticed one of the valets loading his luggage at Haneda had a pack and asked for one without thinking about it. He was halfway through it before he remembered that he’d quit smoking. “Sorry. Just the stress, I guess.”
“It’s okay. I’m not mad. Just wondering.”
Jason let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah, well, I hated it. That should make you happy, at least.”
Tae Hyun’s frown returned. “Are you trying to pick a fight?”
Jason sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. “No, sorry. I just talked to Naomi. She’s freaking out about something, and it’s got me a little freaked out, too.”
Tae Hyun rested his hand on Jason’s thigh. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Jason shook his head. “I don’t even really understand it. Something to do with contracts and a power struggle between her and my lawyer.”
“Bernie?”
Jason snorted. “No, my other lawyer, David. Brightstar’s Chief Legal Counsel. Some young hotshot who’s been steadily testing Naomi’s boundaries.” He smiled and rested his hand atop Tae Hyun’s. “But that’s why I’m paying her such an insane salary. To deal with it. ”
Tae Hyun’s frown deepened. “And you’re stuck here with me instead.”
“No way.” Jason grabbed Tae Hyun’s hand and squeezed. “I’d rather be here with you than dealing with all that.”
“Are you sure?”
Jason leaned in close, his lips lightly brushing against Tae Hyun’s. “Positive.”
Tae Hyun’s ears turned bright red as he grinned. “Okay. I love you. But I have to use the washroom.”
By the time Tae Hyun returned, refreshed and ready, the pilot’s voice echoed through the cabin, announcing their descent into Songshan Airport. Unlike their arrival in Tokyo, no fan club was waiting to greet them. Jason was fine with that, given the circumstances. After breezing through customs, they were soon in the back of a gleaming black limo, gliding along the bustling streets on the short drive into Taipei.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cityscape, bathing the towering skyscrapers above in a molten glow. Below, a chaotic ballet of scooters darted through the dense traffic, their reckless maneuvering mirroring Jason’s racing thoughts. He fixated on the upcoming conversation with Ren. His anger and simmering resentment still gnawed at him.
Jason clenched his jaw, his fingers nervously drumming against the plush leather seat. He knew he couldn’t approach things fists-first, no matter how much he wanted to. He needed to get answers–and be certain Ren wouldn’t do it again. But first, he had to get a handle on his anger before he made things worse.
“Mina wants to have dinner with us tonight,” Tae Hyun announced, dragging Jason from his chaotic thoughts .
Jason turned to see Tae Hyun, phone in hand. He shrugged. “Sure, if you want.”
Tae Hyun nodded, his fingers flying across the screen. “Great. She reserved the private dining room at the hotel restaurant. We can meet her after we check in and get settled.”
Their hotel, the Xinyi Grand, towered over the bustling Xinyi district–right in the heart of Taipei and close to the Xinyi Dome, where Tae Hyun was performing. After using the hotel’s private VIP entrance, they were escorted to the penthouse suite, where a chilled bottle of champagne awaited them.
The sprawling suite was everything Jason had hoped it would be. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a 270-degree panorama of Taipei, transforming the city into a living work of art. Rich textures–silk, marble, and plush carpets–combined with dark woods and designer furniture to set the tone. But a modern, open fireplace dominated the living room, the highly polished slab of black granite creating a striking focal point. Even jaded by a lifetime of five-star hotels, he was a little impressed. But the fully-stocked bar was his primary focus. There was no hiding the longing in his eyes as he reached for the gleaming bottle of Kingston.
“Drink?” Jason asked, the word barely a question, as he twisted the cap.
“I’d love one,” Tae Hyun replied as he drifted towards the balcony.
Jason poured himself three fingers of bourbon, swallowed half of it, and refilled his glass. Then he mixed a gin and tonic for Tae Hyun just how he liked them, even adding a fresh-cut lime from the bar. He picked up both glasses and joined Tae Hyun on the balcony. The early twilight painted the Xinyi District in a magical glow, transforming the neighboring buildings into shimmering towers of light. A gentle breeze carried the cooler evening air in a welcome reprieve from the day’s heat.
“This is a nice suite,” Tae Hyun remarked, breaking the comfortable silence. “Even nicer than the one in Tokyo.”
Jason mischievously grinned. “That’s cuz I bought the hotel.”
Tae Hyun nearly spit out the sip he’d just taken. “What?”
Jason playfully chuckled. “I’m kidding. But seriously, I called ahead and asked for the room. Privacy isn’t cheap, and this is about the best we can do in Taipei.”
Tae Hyun snorted, a good-natured roll of his eyes betraying his amusement. “Good. I’d rather not end up in some grainy new paparazzi photo looking like this. Speaking of which, I think I need a shower before dinner.”
“Or,” Jason countered, low and suggestive, “you could take a bath. I might have requested they have the main bathroom’s jetted tub ready for us when we arrived.”
Another flash of playful shock crossed Tae Hyun’s face. “Hyung! Seriously?”
“Yeah. Let’s go check.”
Jason reached for Tae Hyun’s hand, gently tugging him back inside. The penthouse’s main bedroom suite was upstairs. Their luggage was already deposited beside the massive bed. Rich silks adorned the walls, accented by polished dark wood and gleaming bamboo finishes for a calming, zen-like atmosphere.
But the bathroom was the true star–a marble and glass masterpiece. The oversized tub, easily accommodating two, was filled to the brim, steam invitingly rising from the water stirred by the gentle pulse of the jets. A generous window framed a stunning view of the lush green slopes of the Nangang Mountains in the distance, stained in the warm hues of the setting sun, transforming the bath into a private, luxurious oasis.
Jason set his drink on the counter, quickly peeled off his clothes, and slid into the water. Tae Hyun followed suit, his movements slow and deliberate as he shed his clothing, a teasing smile on his lips. Jason watched, a familiar desire stirring as Tae Hyun lowered himself into the water, settling opposite Jason. The heat and gentle massage of the jets immediately went to work, easing the tension in Jason’s aching muscles.
“How’s your back, hyung?”
Jason shrugged. “Better, I guess.”
“You guess?” Tae Hyun slowly sighed. “Come over here. Let me work on it again.”
“Oh?” Jason grinned, a spark of anticipation in his chest. “I won’t say no to a little hands-on attention.”
Jason slid forward, bracing himself against the tub’s edge as he shifted position. He settled between Tae Hyun’s outstretched legs, a flash of heat surging through him at the intimate contact. Tae Hyun’s hands immediately went to work, his fingers firm and sure as they kneaded Jason’s shoulders. Jason quietly moaned as the tightness in his muscles began to loosen.
Warm hands worked down Jason’s arms, smoothing away the lingering ache before sliding across his back. Tae Hyun’s thumbs found their way to the tight muscles on either side of his spine, applying pressure in slow, deliberate circles. Each press drove a delicious surge through him, momentarily chasing away the worries and frustrations that had dogged him all day.
Then those incredible hands shifted, tracing the contours of his chest, kneading the well-defined muscles. Jason closed his eyes, groaning low and deep. Soft, warm lips pressed against the back of his neck before marching a fiery path along his jaw, sending shivers down his spine. All the while, Tae Hyun’s insistent erection pushed against his back. He pressed himself against it, a welcome thrum of arousal deep within, both tender and primal. Even after all their time together, he was surprised at just how badly he needed the simple intimacy of Tae Hyun’s touch–how much he’d craved Tae Hyun’s closeness after everything they’d been through.
Tae Hyun finished his trail of kisses just below Jason’s ear. The caress of Tae Hyun’s warm, soft breath on his neck almost made him squirm. “Do you want me to fuck you, hyung?”
Jason nodded, trying to find the words but only managing a simple moan.
“I need to hear you say it.”
Jason snorted, softly chuckling as he heard his usual request for consent repeated back to him. “Fuck me, Tae Hyun. Please.”
Tae Hyun moved his hands to Jason’s hips, gently lifting up to properly position his cock against Jason’s ass. The pressure made Jason briefly wonder if he’d spoken too soon. Then the tension eased, and Tae Hyun slipped inside.
Jason gasped, arching his back, as Tae Hyun’s cock filled him. “Oh, shit.”
Tae Hyun froze in place. “Are you okay?” The words were edged with concern.
“I’m fine,” Jason panted. “Keep going.”
Tae Hyun grunted, pushing himself further inside. He quickly fell into a rhythm of firm, confident strokes. Jason loudly moaned, his head falling back as waves of pleasure radiated through him. Then Tae Hyun’s fingers found Jason’s nipples, gently twisting and teasing them, sending sparks of electric fire coursing through Jason’s body.
“Fuck, yeah,” Jason cried out, grabbing hold of his cock. “That’s it. Keep doing that.”
“You like this?” Tae Hyun breathlessly asked, tweaking Jason’s nipples as he plunged himself inside.
“I fucking love it!”
Jason squeezed his cock, timing his strokes to Tae Hyun’s thrusts, ecstatic pressure rapidly building and seeking release. The fingers on his nipples. The cock in his ass. His hand on his own. Each moment of delicious torment threatened to send him over the edge. Then his orgasm came, fireworks bursting in his mind as he shot his load into the water.
Tae Hyun grunted as Jason’s ass clamped down on him. “Hyung! I’m gonna cum soon. Do you–”
“Inside me,” Jason interrupted. “Always inside me.”
Tae Hyun moved his hands from Jason’s nipples to his thighs, bracing himself as he pushed deeper inside. Jason’s cock twitched with each thrust, prolonging his chemical bliss for a few more seconds. Then Tae Hyun finally came, crying out as he pressed down on Jason’s thighs and unloaded in Jason’s ass. He held Jason in place for a long, delirious moment as the pair panted almost in sync. Jason laid his head back on Tae Hyun’s shoulder, reveling at having Tae Hyun inside him.
Then Tae Hyun softly chuckled. “You were right, hyung.”
“About what?”
Tae Hyun leaned forward to kiss Jason’s cheek. “I really needed a bath.”