Work Text:
Hold your hair in deep devotion (I'll be)
At least as deep as the Pacific Ocean
Now I wanna be yours
Artic Monkeys - I wanna be yours
The small boat made a thudding sound as it bumped against the side of the old pier. It shook under Taehyun’s feet, but he remained steady, used to the rocking of a floating surface.
The smell of rotten fish was so familiar in his nose, he easily ignored it, jumping in firm land for the first time in weeks. It brought a sudden rush of awkwardness to his steps and he had to make an effort to not stumble.
Soobin had no such luck and his feet tripped slightly before he managed to find his ground.
“If the rum wasn’t over I’d think you were drunk, hyung.” Kai commented, not faring better himself.
A few of his other crewmen came into land, looking around suspiciously.
This side of Singapore wasn’t exactly attractive. Nightfall made it look even more eerie, what with the repetitive sound of water dripping on water, shots into the distance, cries of the vagabonds lurking around and the distinct whisper of the ocean and death.
“At ease, men.” Taehyun called out, noting the apprehension of his crew, “This is only the entrance, soon you’ll be able to delight in rum and pork.”
“Aye captain, wanna check some upskirts.” One of the men said, spitting on the ground crudely.
Taehyun scrunched his nose in disgust, but the expression soon turned into a smirk. He wouldn’t mind spending time with some pretty thing himself. The sea was his first lover, but she could be cruel and make him feel lonely at occasions.
They walked tranquil but alert, hiding when a group of british soldiers crossed the bridge, over their heads. Damned be the Eastern India Company and their greed. The portuguese and spanish had taken the new lands west of the map and now England wanted a piece of the same kind of fame and fortune.
Upon arriving by a nondescript door, Taehyun scanned the surface until his eyes came across a sakura, carved discreetly by the handle. He knocked once, paused, then three times in a roll. The little hole in the middle opened with a clack and a man with yellow orbs stared at him with a sneer.
“Red…” He asked in mandarin.
“Tiger.” Taehyun answered with no hesitation.
The sound of the lock echoed and the door was opening, showing the thin and ugly doorman and a narrow corridor, guarded by another fellow who could very well be a Sumô master.
“Payment first.” The scrawny doorman spoke, wiggling his dirty fingers.
“Passage for twelve people.” Taehyun addressed, not needing to know the price, only pulling the golden pieces from his belt and giving them to the man. The guard and doorman stepped aside and their group passed by.
They walked down a set of long, narrow stairs for what seemed like minutes before it came to an end, a curtain separating them from Singapore’s underground market.
“Alright, have fun, men. Don’t cause me trouble or I’ll shoot your ugly faces. Tomorrow we’re restocking and leaving by midday.”
A choir of “Aye aye captain!” was his answer, and the crew stepped beyond the curtain and spread.
Taehyun sighed in consternation. Even with the warning, he knew there would be trouble. Pirates couldn’t be trusted. Soobin chuckled and patted his back before pushing him out into the underground street.
What greeted him was noise and smells. There were many different songs being played from various establishments, accompanied by the screaming of vendors and shouting or laughing. Food and alcohol and vomit, all formed a nauseating mix in the humid air.
With Kai and Soobin on his calves, Taehyun walked down the large streets, watching out for barracks that had anything interesting. Passing by a tavern, he ordered the cabin boy that had meekly followed them to take some fruits and other grubs back to the ship.
The boy scrambled to bow at him and ran for the establishment, eager to complete his task.
Teahyun remembered being like that, under the great Captain Min, flourishing into who he was under his attentive and sometimes harsh care. They hadn’t met in years now, and he wondered if he would eventually run into him, perhaps at the meeting of the Court of the Brotherhood.
The night passed by slowly. At some point, a chill had settled over the streets, but the party did not stop. Sailors would remain in the taverns while rum was still being served, merchants would keep offering all kinds of products while sailors still had money and whores would keep opening their legs while men remained as horny as animals.
A particularly clean establishment caught Soobin’s attention and he stirred their little trio in that direction. By the entrance, two women welcomed them with sultry smiles, touching their arms and throwing compliments.
“You can buy us for a night or for forever, if you wish.” One of them whispered, caressing his jaw.
“You can call me noona…” The other pulled at Kai’s arm, causing the younger to smirk.
Perverted brat, Taehyun thought.
They entered the building, guided by the pulling hands. The room was long but narrow, with a counter right beside the entrance and surprisingly well-kept couches, where customers sat, with boys and girls alike leaning up in their space. There was a passage beyond a back door and rooms up the stairs from where moans and groans could be heard.
“I’d personally recommend my experienced flowers. Young fellas like yourselves might prefer that.” A woman spoke.
She was old, scratching the mandarin with an apparent japanese accent. Her whole face was painted in white, but it did little to hide her wrinkles. Despite the small height, her presence was strong and authoritative, demanding ultimate respect.
Taehyun bowed his head shallowly as she eyed him curiously.
“Very young for a captain, but a captain nonetheless.” The woman observed, “Perhaps not a used flower, then, but trained. For you and your men.”
With a commanding wave of her hand, she beckoned them to follow the trail of her long yukata. They were led through the back door and to a room. The walls were draped in expensive linen of pastel colors, the floor was hidden under a red carpet and pillows were thrown around. Everywhere, boys and girls were sitting and chatting, posing sensually despite the casualness.
When their group entered, they all quietened down and perked on their spots.
“I must warn you, virgins are expensive. Even if just for one night.” Soobin snickered, knowing money wasn’t a problem. When he turned his uncovered eye, examining the faces presented to them, Taehyun saw the moment the escorts became intimidated by the intensity of his gaze.
“Yeonjun, dear.” The mistress called, and a boy stood up, pretty long legs exposed by the slit on his silky robe, foxy eyes downcast.
Kai gasped under his breath, Soobin shifted by his side, and Taehyun knew the woman had nailed their taste. She was good. Too good, if anyone asked, because the next boy she called made all air get stuck in his lungs.
“Beomgyu, honey, come too.” The referred boy took careful steps closer and plastered himself to Yeonjun’s side, fixing the fallen shoulder of his own robe.
“I think these boys are to your liking, gentlemen.”
It was ironic. She called them gentlemen, but there was nothing refined about them. They were pirates, tortured by poverty during childhood, only to fall into the disgrace of criminality when adults. Dishonesty was in their blood. Stealing and pillaging were their pastimes. By all gods of the sea, they were looking to buy whores at a pleasure house on the undergrounds of Singapore.
Yet, the mistress called them gentlemen with conviction, as if she saw something they weren’t aware of.
“Go put on your shoes, boys.” The mistress instructed and they all watched the two retreat further into the building. Beomgyu’s sleeve fell down his shoulder once more and Taehyun caught a glimpse of a pretty poppy flower tattoo, decorating the line of his spine between his shoulder blades. He had seen the same tattoo on other escorts when entering the place.
After that, the payments were quick to settle. Taehyun couldn’t believe how much he had spent on a single boy, for one single night. But when Beomgyu approached, looking pristine in his expensive robes and clean semblance, he couldn’t help but think it would be worth it.
“Have you walked around?” Soobin asked when their little group stepped outside. The two escorts shook their heads, looking around with nervous curiosity, “We’ll take our time then.”
Taehyun wasn’t surprised by the wonderment in their eyes as they walked back to the ship. Beyond possibly never leaving the city before, they likely spent most of their time hidden away. Were born and raised for this life, prepared for this night and what would happen after.
It did not escape him how people around stared, either. He did not blame the lustful gazes and leering mouths. Beomgyu and Yeonjun, with hands clasped, walked with gracefulness. Long legs almost gliding on the dirty ground. Clean and beautiful, in complete contrast to their surroundings.
Otherworldly.
When entering one of the boats that would take them to the ship, Taehyun offered his hand as support for Beomgyu to embark. The difference was striking. While his own palm was rough from long hours of labor and sword fighting and his skin was sun kissed, the escort was pale and so so delicate. It made Taehyun weaken his hold, as if a minimal scratch would cause irreversible damage.
They sailed into the night, to the short distance where the ship was anchored by the bay, away from spying eyes. When arriving, Taehyun saw Kai making useless effort to not look under Yeonjun’s loose robes as the escort climbed the steep stairs. Soobin had no such decorum, his eyes hadn’t left the boy since the pleasure house, only straying away to glare at those who attempted to approach.
It was difficult not to look, when one is not used to so much effortless allure.
The deck was silent and dim, only a few lanterns alight to illuminate the path leading to their quarters. Besides himself, Soobin and Kai were the only ones to have a private cabin, while the rest of the crew slept on the quarters underdeck.
A man sat at the lookout spot, positioned strategically at the top of the main mast. He saluted them, before going back to his post, watching for any signs of danger. Inside the quarters, they ran into the cabin boy, who scrambled to bow at them and show where he had put away the things acquired at the market.
Taehyun nodded his approval, giving him the rest of the night off and indicating with his head for the lad to leave. While Soobin was roughly messing the assistant’s hair, Taehyun observed Yeonjun whisper something into Beomgyu’s ear, squeezing his hand. The duo shared a kiss, sweet and chaste and Taehyun recognized the action for what it was, reassurance.
He averted his gaze, not wanting to intrude in their private moment, but couldn’t help imagining how those soft lips would feel against his own chapped ones. When, from the corner of his eyes, he saw them separating, he quickly took Beomgyu’s hand and directed him to his cabin, closing the door behind them with a silent click of the lock.
Once more, Beomgyu looked around, taking in the room with inquisitive eyes. Taehyun realized he was naturally curious, and probably would take great advantage of traveling around. This realization made him think that, despite the education and all affluence he possibly grew up with, perhaps his true desires were discarded. The good life came at the expense of his freedom, he wasn't the owner of his own body, he wasn’t a master of his own destiny.
Taehyun wondered if Beomgyu would accept a life at sea if it meant freedom. And he caught himself wanting to offer it to him. For what reason? He could not phantom.
Jades and rubies clinked together when Beomgyu let his thin fingers touch an ancient ornament. The noise shook Taehyun out of his wanderings and reminded him of the price paid for the escort's intriguing presence.
He reached out, caressing the exposed shoulder, where the robe had stubbornly fallen from, revealing the poppy flower in permanent ink. The touch caught Beomgyu’s attention, prompting him to turn around. It was the closest they had been throughout the night and Taehyun was finally able to read the expression on the boy's gorgeous face.
Apprehensive.
It wasn’t surprising, really. No time on earth could prepare one to give away something they’re not ready to offer. Not a lifetime of training would make Beomgyu less afraid, but Taehyun was sure it taught him to remain pliant even if unwilling.
He was confirmed of the fact when his hands took hold of Beomgyu’s trembling one and guided him to the bed with no fight whatsoever.
“You don’t need to be afraid. I won’t do anything you don’t want to” The statement must’ve surprised the escort, because his shy eyes went wide and his mouth opened and closed like a fish, but even after a while he didn’t answer and Taehyun took it as a no.
He turned to leave the cabin and go on a wild search for his secret rum stache, when a hand caught his wrist and Beomgyu spoke for the first time.
“No! If you don’t do anything they…they…” His voice was a melodic baritone, smooth and timid, but the surge of wonderment it brought to Taehyun was lost to the words being said, “I was bought for my virginity, if I go back untouched they might pun-punish me.”
“But you don’t want this.” Taehyun deadpanned, expecting another hesitant answer from the boy. Instead he was greeted with a glimpse of something. A flare of annoyance passed by Beomgyu’s eyes, so quick he wasn’t even sure it had actually been there. It was replaced by the predictable demure look.
“If you don’t do it, someone else will and they won't be as nice.” It was an intelligent argument, it just wasn’t clear if the escort was trying to convince himself or the captain. It really didn’t matter, because Taehyun thought it would be much more convincing if it was said with that vexation that for a moment was so clear in those pretty eyes.
“This is becoming annoying. I don’t think I want to deal with it.” Taehyun settled for answering, pretending to turn around, not sure if his dismissal would work.
Fortunately he was right and the half rejection seemed to strike a chord with Beomgyu, who jumped from the bed and pointed a finger with a frown. “You can’t do this! You bought me, so you have to take responsibility!”
His voice rose and the soft baritone became almost shrill. His hands, which so far had always rested, dainty and prettily by his side or on top of his thighs, gesticulated widely. But the most striking change of all were his features. Where previously they had been regal and timid, now contorted into the cutest scowl Taehyun had ever seen, topped with a stubborn pout of rosy rosy lips.
“Calm down, don’t turn your panties in a twist, love.” Taehyun spoke, entirely amused and slightly endeared.
“I’m not wearing…” The escort seemed to catch himself as his voice grew silent, red dusting his whole face.
Taehyun had to take a deep breath to not let the knowledge distract him from the serious question he had. “How do you know I won’t be cruel?”
Biting his delicious lips and unknowingly making Taehyun suffer, Beomgyu blinked once. Silence stretched between them as the escort really pondered about the answer.“Because you stopped before I even said anything.”
A different sort of pride spread in his chest and Taehyun resisted the urge to rub over his heart. It wasn’t the kind of delight he felt when winning a fight nor when a loot went well. It was the same feeling associated with the moments he helped his friends or when he was a boy and did something impressive enough to earn a small smile from Captain Min.
It was dangerous, because it felt addictive. He wanted to feel like that more times. Because of Beomgyu, specifically.
In the stillness of the moment, Taehyun could feel a strange sort of resolve settle within him. It was too early to understand what exactly it entailed, but he knew of one thing, it would lead him to decisions he never thought would cross his mind.
Typically, like the well versed and responsible captain he tried to be, Taehyun would spare time to think about the situation and understand what was happening in his own mind and heart. However, looking into Beomgyu’s mesmerizing gaze, so full of trust and a shy kind of want, he decided to ignore rationality for once.
Beomgyu was truly remarkable. In minutes and with minimal amount of words, he had seen right through his facade. Taehyun was actually amazed by his perceptiveness and felt it was only fair to show his appreciation.
“You really want this, don’t you?” Taehyun chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving Beomgyu. "I must admit, I've never met anyone quite like you."
Beomgyu's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, and he looked away momentarily, but his eyes soon found their way back to Taehyun's. "You're not as terrifying as you pretend to be," The escort said with a daring little smile.
And once again, there it was. That fire Taehyun had previously caught a glimpse of. So small, but bright, ready to be fed until it became an all consuming inferno.
Since becoming captain, no one had ever dared to speak to him so candidly, let alone read him so accurately. But instead of feeling exposed, he found comfort in Beomgyu's understanding. With every passing moment, the escort was weaving his way into the captain's heart, like a star steadily finding its place in the night sky.
“You don’t know what I am capable of, love.” Taehyun said, his voice tinged with both mystery and allure. He hoped Beomgyu would grasp the cautionary undertone, yet also respond with the same intensity, like a firewood thrown into a burning pit.
He didn’t disappoint. With sparkling eyes , his pretty dainty hands reached out, touching the strings of Taehyun’s open shirt, “Show me then, captain.”
A thrill shot through Taehyun’s body at the prospect of being given permission to unravel Beomgyu. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension, as if the universe itself recognized the significance of this moment.
Without breaking eye contact, Taehyun's lips curled into a smirk, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, you have no idea what you’re asking for." he purred, his voice laced with promise, “But I'll show you.”
He wrapped his arms around that thin waist that had been taunting him for so long. Pulling the escort closer at the same time they spun and soon Beomgyu was pressed against the wall. Leaning closer, Taehyun captured Beomgyu's lips in a heated kiss.
The sudden move had Beomgyu gasping into his mouth and Taehyun breathed in his air gladly. At first there was no response, until the escort was regaining his foot and fingers clutched onto Taehyun's shirt, pulling him closer as if unwilling to let him go.
Taehyun's hand trailed up the curve of Beomgyu's waist, caressing his hips and allowing himself to palm the perky ass under the expensive gown. His lips accompanied, marking a blazing trail down his tempting pale neck. The sleeve of his robe fell down once more, exposing his collarbones and Taehyun let himself mark it up with possessive bruises.
Beomgyu responded beautifully to the touches, breathing heavily until his panting became low whimpers. When their lips connected again, their groins aligned and a groan made its way out of Taehyun’s mouth unabashed at the feeling of their cocks rubbing against each other.
When they separated for air, Taehyun caressed the soft skin of his cheek, noting how his dirty nails stood out against the ivory surface. He frowned, thinking how could he finger Beomgyu like that. It had never been a problem before, but the escort was so fucking pure, like a blank canvas and if he was going to taint it he should with the utmost reverence. Just thinking about touching the boy with such hands made something revolt in Taehyun’s mind.
He decided then and there, he would not finger him, but he could eat him out, worship him like he deserved.
Their eyes met again and for a moment they just stared at each other, panting in want. Hands that were reveling in the suppleness of a perky ass traveled up to fiddles with the belt’s knot until it loosened and allowed the robes to fall open, exposing Beomgyu’s beautiful body. He was completely naked under the attire and clearly shivered as the cool air touched his sensitive skin, nipples standing to attention just like his cute cock.
The robes pooled down at their feet, but Taehyun paid it no mind, too busy admiring Beomgyu’s beauty. The escort was leaning against the wall, looking at him with half lidded eyes as his hand slowly caressed a path from Taehyun’s chest all the way to the waistband of his pants where the shirt was still tucked in.
Beomgyu pulled the clothing up until it was free and then further until Taehyun had to lift his arms to slip it off. His chest was exposed, revealing the inked marks of a life spent at sea, instantly capturing Beomgyu’s attention.
His eager fingertips traced each mark and intertwined scar with curiosity, going from the Leviathan wrapping around his toned right arm and the sword through a skull on his left. Bemgyu’s delicate fingers skimmed over raised or darkened patches of skin that held stories of violence. The touch over the whales swimming on his ribcage made him want to shiver as the spot was sensitive. It was when Beomgyu reached the swallows which decorated both his muscled pecs, that he was caught by surprise. After tracing the inked lines, the escort cheekily let his nails scratch lightly over the skin until they reached Taehyun’s nipples.
Heat surged through his body and Taehyun cursed, closing the space between them and pressing Beomgyu against the wall once more. They shared another kiss, wet and desperate, bodies needly rutting against one another, seeking for much needed friction.
Taehyun still had his pants on and Beomgyu moaned when his cock got caught on the folds of the baggy material. Sounds growing louder when Taehyun moved so he could fit a leg between his delicious thighs, providing a solid surface for Beomgyu to grind against.
For a minute or two he seemed to lose himself in the pleasure, tipping his head back and exposing his pretty neck for Taheyun to mark up. But then he was looking straight into Taehyun’s eyes again, biting his bottom lip sexly before a mischievous smile overtook his face.
“You know, sometimes the older escorts at the pleasure house would teach us how to pleasure someone.” With that enigmatic information, he reached down, wrapping his hand around the obvious bulge that was Taehyun’s erection and squeezed, just tight enough to make him groan.
Satisfied with the reaction, Beomgyu let go and instead let his fingers caress the line of his abs, down his happy trail and into his pants, where he made a point of pressing against his wet tip and then just took hold of his cock. Another groan was ripped from Taehyun and he rested his forehead on Beomgyu’s shoulder, thrusting his hips up.
“Fuck, love. You’re full of surprises.” While still moving his hips, Taehyun opened his eyes and dove down, until his mouth could reach one of Beomgyu’s nipples. He sucked the nub until it grew even harder, bit it and then soothed the sting with his tongue.
Wanting to hear more pretty noises from the escort, Taehyun took hold of his small waist and forced his body to press down, while lifting his own thigh. Beomgyu gasped at the feeling and let his hips roll, searching for more friction on his dick, all the while pumping his delicate hand even faster. He twisted his palm in this toes-curling way and swept a finger over the tip, massaging the right under the head of his cock.
Taehyun felt burning at the pit of his guts, his balls drawing up and he knew he was about to cum. But he didn’t want to, not yet. Not with Beomgyu’s body offered to him on a silver platter.
So he grabbed Beomgyu’s wrist and paused his motion, cursing the seven seas for the loss of such a good sensation. Beomgyu looked at him with confused eyes, tilting his head like a puppy, making Taehyun’s heart flutter for a completely different reason than lust.
“Don’t wanna cum now.” he explained briefly, trying to catch his breath.
Beomgyu nodded, pulling his hand out of his pants and resting it on Taehyun’s waist. It was wet with precum, but warm and tightened when he grinded particularly hard on his thigh. That’s when Taehyun had realized he had never stopped moving, chasing the delicious feeling of his orgasm.
The picture he painted, riding Taehyun’s thigh, lips spit-slick and open around tiny whimpers. Beomgyu was gorgeous, so pure and yet tailored for the most sinful things. Taehyun wanted to wreck him.
Beomgyu was like a feather when Taehyun gripped his soft, supple thighs and lifted him up. A cute startled noise left him, before hands reached for his shoulder and Taehyun felt the bite of nails sinking there. He couldn’t resist and started another kiss, using his tongue to part Beomgyu’s lips and lick into his hot mouth.
Quickly, Taehyun made his way to the bed and carefully deposited Beomgyu on the messy sheets, where he stayed, displayed like art. His long legs were bent, looking perfect to wrap around his own waist, devastating eyes peering from under sexily messed bangs and delicate hands feeling the softness of the sheets.
Before stopping by Singapore, Taehyun had invaded some ports in India where he found some luxury silks. The color he had picked was of a deep blue, just like the ocean and contrasted beautifully against Beomgyu’s porcelain skin.
He was a sight and Taehyun couldn’t avert his eyes as he slipped off the remains of his clothes and rummaged the side table for his special oil. Once he successfully retrieved it, Taehyun couldn’t waste anymore time, he climbed the bed like a predator stalking its prey, ready to eat him whole.
Beomgyu squirmed under his intense gaze but went pliant as his limbs were repositioned, thighs thrown over Taehyun’s shoulders as he massaged his sides. “I’m gonna eat you out, love, and then I want to watch you play with yourself.” A shudder wrecked Beomgyu’s body and he fisted the sheets in anticipation. “Tell me you understand.”
A yes escaped Beomgyu’s pouty lips, small and shy. But the way he wiggled his hip showed how eager he truly was and Taehyun felt the need to give him everything he wanted, so he lowered himself, capturing his mouth in another wanton kiss, so wet spit dripped a little from the corner of their lips. Once he was satisfied with the little desperate noises he managed to earn, he went lower yet, planting open-mouthed kisses on Beomgyu’s neck and sucking harshly on the protruding bone of his delicate clavicle.
Beomgyu was delicate all over, but Taehyun knew there was potential somewhere hidden. As if the pirate in him could feel the beautiful and resistant diamond behind the fragile porcelain of his skin.
Slowly he traced a path of purples from his shoulders to the junction connecting Beomgyu’s delicious thigh to his body, and Taehyun couldn't help but bite the thin skin. He had to tighten his grip when Beomgyu jerked with the sensation and delivered another bite to the bone marking his v-line.
A breathy noise filled the room and Beomgyu was tangling his finger in Taehyun’s hair, pulling at it lightly. “You can’t- you shouldn’t mark me.” He spoke, not seeming to actually care about, lost in the pleasure of being worshiped. And Taehyun knew he shouldn’t mark an escort, but he felt extremely possessive. He would be Beomgyu’s first and wanted - no, needed - everyone to know.
“I want you to remember.” He spoke, laving his tongue over the base of Beomgyu's pretty shaft, fondling his balls and using his hand to part his thighs for more access. “Whenever I wreck a ship, I leave my mark. Tonight I will wreck you, so I’ll also leave my mark.”
With that Taehyun dove in, licking over the pucker of Beomgyu’s hole, coating it in saliva and teasing the opening until it was relaxed and welcoming his tongue in.
At first it was so tight, clearly eager but still hesitant, but the more he gently forced his tongue in, the deeper he was allowed to go. Everything was warm and velvety, pulsing with need. Taehyun flicked his tongue this way and that, trying to frantically taste the walls, and he couldn’t care less for the mess he was making, dripping spit everywhere and making slurping noises. He was acting like a castaway, desperate for a drop of sweet water, after spending so long surrounded by the salty and cruel ocean.
Above him Beomgyu couldn’t stop whimpering. The gentle grip he had on Taehyun’s hair had turned vice and he used it to move Taehyun’s head as he pleased. Without even realizing, he had pressed his heels against Taehyun’s back muscles and used the support to push his hips up, searching for more.
Wanting to go deeper, Taehyun let go of Beomgyu’s thighs and slid his hands around the back and up, letting his callouses caress the soft skin. He positioned his palms against the perky ass presented to him and positioned his thumbs near the entrance and then parted Beomgyu’s buttcheeks. At the same he pressed his face further, his tongue slipped in a little bit more and he flicked it hard. Beomgyu jolted and moaned high, shivering in pleasure.
He had found his special spot.
Taehyun was barely brushing it, but Beomgyu was responding beautifully, head thrown back, exposing the marked column of his neck and clamping his glorious thighs around his head. So Taehyun flicked his tongue one more time and then once more, teasing the escort.
When his tongue was getting tired, Taehyun backed away, chin wet with saliva and a satisfied smirk decorating his handsome features.
“Let me see how you touch yourself, love.” He ordered, speech slurred from the stiffness in his tongue and from being drunk in Beomgyu’s allure and pleasure.
Beomgyu’s lashes fluttered, heavy with the same haze that clouded Taehyun’s mind. For a moment he only breathed, chest rising and falling in quick little pants, thighs trembling where they still rested over Taehyun’s shoulders. Then, slowly, like someone waking from a dream, one delicate hand slid down the pale plane of his stomach, fingers skating through the sheen of sweat and the faint smears of precum already drying there.
Taehyun watched, mesmerised, as those pretty fingers wrapped around Beomgyu’s cock, flushed darker than the rest of him, the tip glistening. The first stroke was tentative, almost shy, but the second made Beomgyu’s back arch off the silk like he’d been shocked. A broken little “ah” slipped past his swollen lips, and Taehyun felt the sound in his bones.
“Good boy,” he rasped, voice gravel-rough. “Just like that, fuck.”
Beomgyu’s cheeks burned hotter, but the embarrassment only seemed to spur him on. His grip tightened, wrist twisting on every upward stroke the way he’d teased Taehyun earlier— slow, deliberate, thumb sweeping over the wet head to spread the fresh bead of precum. The fingers of his other hand reached up, dipping between his lips and coming out wet, then they wandered lower, cupping his own balls, rolling them gently, then further still until one slick finger traced the stretched rim where Taehyun’s tongue had left him open and soft, circling, pressing just the tip inside alongside nothing but air.
The muscle fluttered, hungry, trying to clench around the intrusion that wasn’t there anymore and Taehyun’s mouth went dry. Beomgyu’s breath hitched and he pushed the finger deeper, knuckles brushing his perineum, forcing out the sweetest, filthiest whimper Taehyun had ever heard.
Another finger joined the first, now two were sliding in to the second knuckle with obscene ease thanks to Taehyun’s spit still coating him. Beomgyu’s hips rolled lazily, fucking himself on his own hand while the other kept stroking his cock in that same maddening rhythm. His head lolled against the pillow, long hair fanning out like spilled ink, mouth open around silent pleas.
He was gorgeous like this. Legs spread wide, body on display, performing for Taehyun like the most expensive treasure in the on these seas. But something was off causing Taehyun’s eyes to narrow.
Soon Taehyun came to the realization Beomgyu was purposefully avoiding his special spot and an idea came to him.
Taking hold of his thin wrist, Taehyun used the momentum of Beomgyu’s thrusting movements and guided it just so his fingers would brush the area where he remembered his spot was.
The reaction was immediate and devastating. Beomgyu’s entire body seized, a sharp, keening cry ripping from his throat as his back bowed off the silk sheets. His fingers curled instinctively, trying to retreat, but Taehyun’s grip was unyielding, keeping those slender digits pressed right where they needed to be.
“There we go,” Taehyun murmured, voice low and rough with satisfaction. He could feel the way Beomgyu’s thighs trembled against his shoulders, the way his hole fluttered desperately around the shallow intrusion of his own fingers. “Knew you were hiding it from me, love. Too much for you to handle on your own?”
Beomgyu’s head thrashed side to side, damp hair sticking to his flushed cheeks. Tears clung to his lashes, catching the dim lantern light like scattered pearls. “N-no. Please-” he gasped, the words broken by another helpless whimper as Taehyun forced his hand into a slow, deliberate circle, dragging those fingertips over the swollen gland again and again.
Leaning in until his lips brushing the shell of Beomgyu’s ear, Taehyun whispered “Don’t lie to me now. You’ve been teasing yourself this whole time, staying just shy of it. Thought you could keep that pretty little secret?” He twisted Beomgyu’s wrist ever so slightly, pressing harder, and the boy’s cry pitched higher, sounding so so raw, wrecked and utterly undone.
The escort tried to pull himself free from the grip but failing miserably.
The sound cracked something open inside Taehyun’s chest, both savage and tender. He tightened his fingers around that slim wrist, forcing the angle higher, deeper, until the pads of Beomgyu’s own fingers dragged hard over the swollen bundle of nerves inside him.
“There it is,” Taehyun growled against his ear, breath hot. “Stop pretending you don’t want to fall apart, love. I felt you milking my tongue when I found it. Do it again.”
Beomgyu sobbed, thighs clamping around Taehyun’s arm, but he couldn’t escape, not the iron hold on his wrist, not the relentless pressure now rubbing mercilessly against his prostate. He had long abandoned his grip on his cock, which now jerked against his soft belly, leaking steadily.
“T-too much!” he choked, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes, sparkling like tiny diamonds. “I’ll- I’ll break!”
“You won’t break,” Taehyun promised darkly, nipping at the shell of his ear. “You’ll sing for me. Come on, darling. Give me one more before I split you open on my cock.”
He twisted Beomgyu’s wrist just so, once then twice, and the boy shattered. A broken cry tore from his throat as his back bowed clean off the bed, cock pulsing weakly, only a few more translucent drops spilling over his knuckles. His hole clenched rhythmically around his own fingers, body shaking through the aftershocks like a sail in a storm.
Taehyun let him ride it out, lowering himself so his lips could whisper crooning soft praises against sweat-damp skin until the trembling eased. Only then did he gently pull those spent fingers free, bringing them to his mouth to lick them clean while Beomgyu watched with glassy eyes.
“Perfect,” Taehyun whispered. “So bloody perfect.”
He didn’t give Beomgyu long to recover. The oil, which he had plucked from a drawer nearby, was already warm in his palm when he slicked himself, the sound wet and obscene in the quiet cabin. Beomgyu’s legs were pliant as Taehyun folded him nearly in half, knees almost touching his shoulder, that flexible little body bending like it was made for him. The blunt head of his cock nudged that puffy rim and they both groaned when he pushed inside in one slow, relentless glide.
Tight. Burning hot. Pure heaven.
Beomgyu’s nails scrabbled at Taehyun’s shoulders, leaving red crescents. “Big-” he choked, voice nothing but a whimper. “So- ah- so full”
Taehyun bottomed out with a deep groan, forehead pressed to Beomgyu’s temple, breathing him in. For a moment he stilled, letting them both feel it all. The stretch, the pulse, the impossible closeness. Then he drew back and snapped his hips forward, hard. The action so sudden that Beomgyu couldn’t even moan, gasp turning into a strangled squeak.
The rhythm Taehyun set was deep and punishing, every thrust dragging the head of his cock over that spot he’d tormented earlier. Beomgyu could do nothing but take it, mouth open on silent screams, cock trapped between their bellies, and rubbing a mess of precum between their bodies, the sensitive head catching on every ridge of Taehyun’s abs.
Taehyun shifted, hooking Beomgyu’s ankles over his shoulders to open him wider, to go deeper. The new angle had Beomgyu keening, hands flying up to grip the headboard as the bedframe knocked against the wall in time with Taehyun’s thrusts.
“Look at you,” Taehyun rasped, sweat dripping from his brow onto Beomgyu’s chest. “Taking your first cock like you were born for it. Like you’ve been waiting your whole life to be wrecked on a pirate’s bed.”
Beomgyu could only sob in answer, eyes rolling every time his hips met Taehyun’s brutal thrusts, inner walls fluttering wildly.
When Taehyun finally flipped him, yanking those narrow hips up until Beomgyu was on his knees, chest pressed to the sheets, he didn’t warn him. He just spread those flushed cheeks and drove back in, groaning at the sight of his own cock disappearing into that greedy little hole.
But he did not move again, instead, Taehyun watched Beomgyu squirm for a while and ran his fingers over the escort’s back, brushing the unblemished skin. He watched as the sensation made Beomgyu arch away from the touch, little body sensitive and going tight around his cock. His callouses reached the poppy flower and made a point of tracing the ink lines.
As expected, Beomgyu grew impatient and a huffing noise left his panting mouth. When that was ignored, the escort whined, banging his small fist on the cushions. The attitude had Taehyun smirking, pleased with how genuine Beomgyu was becoming. He was raised to be an escort, taught from a young age to listen and do anything his master wanted. But Taehyun had looked into his eyes, had seen a blaze there, so pretty and alluring and full of potential. He wanted it to become an inferno.
However, it couldn’t leave his control. So his wandering fingers traveled higher, until they tangled into soft brown strands and Beomgyu sighed in contentment. At that moment, Taehyun tightened his grip and pulled harshly. Beomgyu’s head snapped up and his mouth fell open around a squeal.
Taehyun drew his hips away from where they were pressed flush to the soft skin of Beomgyu’s ass and snapped them back, burying himself deep and fast and hard. “Careful. With. Your. Attitude. Darling.” Each word was punctuated by a strong thrust that made cute staccato moans to leave Beomgyu forcefully.
“Please, I-i want…” The boy’s words were cut as the hold on his hair loosened and his trembling arms weren’t able to support his weight, making him fall to the sheets. One of his hands clenched the fabric while the other reached back and grasped Taehyun’s hip, encouraging his thrust to go even faster.
Eager little thing, with a perky ass and sinful waist. Taehyun thought, fitting his hands on the dip of his midsection and pulling his body into his own thrusts, going deep deep. The ratio of Beomgyu’s hips to his shoulders was so fascinating, he couldn’t take his eyes away from it, wicked ideas running through his head. One of them he couldn’t help but bring to reality.
With no warning whatsoever, his hand cracked on the pale skin of Beomgyu’s bouncing ass, turning it pink and ripping a startled scream out of the escort. “So pretty, presenting yourself to me, taking my cock like you have done it a thousand times.” They panted together and his words had shivers running down Beomgyu’s body, “If you weren’t so damn tight I wouldn’t believe you’re a virgin- fuck!”
The position was heavenly, but Taehyun found he couldn’t touch that special place deep inside Beomgyu as much as he wanted. So he bid goodbye to the wonderful view of his ass and the warmth of his hole and pulled out.
Beomgyu wailed at the empty feeling, turning his head back to glare at Taehyun like the captain had personally offended him. Taehyun brushed away the gaze, manhandling the escort until he was laying on his back again, leg spread wide for him, revealing his fucked open hole and cute cock, wet and purple from not being touched. His legs were so long and his thighs so supple they called out for Taehyun to mark them up with purple brands and teeth imprints.
Eager to get back to the warmth of his body, Taehyun threw the limbs over his shoulders, not resisting and biting at his calves after delivering a soft, wet kiss to the inside of his ankle. When he sank back home, a groan escaped his mouth, completely overshadowed by Beomgyu’s breathy moan.
“Fuck, I think I could fuck you for forever, darling.” Taehyun mumbled, thrusting this way and that, searching for that one spot he knew would drive Beomgyu crazy.
The boy hesitated for a second, but his eyes soon became coy and he smirked prettily, looking at Taehyun from under his long eyelashes, “I’m expensive, are you sure you’d be able to handle me, captain?”
His voice was throaty from pleasure but confident, almost daring. And Taehyun thought confidence never looked as good as it did on Beomgyu. He was a natural.
“I’m not just any captain, are you sure you could handle me?” Taehyun retorted, eyes intense and dark, running over the beautiful, squirming body under him.
“So far, you haven’t been that impressive.” Beomgyu teased, unknowingly playing with fire. It was clearly a lie, Beomgyu’s rapidly rising chest and the way his hungry hole kept constantly sucking Taehyun in giving him away. But the captain was only a man and took the words as a challenge, growling under his breath before suddenly quickening his rhythm, angling his hips just right and…
It was like a magic spell, Beomgyu arched, his loudest scream yet escaping him, but the moan was cut off by Taehyun’s hand closing around his throat, “I should shut this daring little mouth of yours…”
He didn’t slow down. Now that he had found Beomgyu’s special spot he made it his mission to abuse it, watching as Beomgyu squirmed and moaned, closing delicate fingers around his wrist, not to push his hand away but to hold onto it like a life line. “I’m gonna make you feel so good, you’ll be fucking begging for me to stop.”
Taehyun had all the intention of making his promise come true. So he put more force behind his thrust, his unoccupied hand pinched Beomgyu’s pebbled nipple while his mouth latched onto the other one. The telltale of Beomgyu’s approaching peak didn’t take long to appear. He trashed, knees knocking closed and making his hole even tighter.
“I’m- oh god!” He arched more, voice going high-pitched, “I’m gonna- Taehyun!”
His mouth fell open in a silent scream, untouched cock spurting pearly white cum on his stomach and heaving chest. When the overwhelming sensation of his orgasm faded, his body relaxed on the mattress, twitching as the occasional wave of aftershock wrecked his drained form.
Taehyun breathed heavily, forcing himself to slow down and move his hips languidly to help Beomgyu ride the last waves of his orgasm. When the trembling of his sensitive body came to an end, Taheyun sat up, resting on his calves and positioning the escort's thighs to splay open over his own.
His belly was a mess, cute cock laying spent over the puddle of come, steadily dripping down the divots of his body. Beomgyu’s eyes were open, but heavy lidded, peering up from under his eyelashes, all coy and satisfied. One of his thin fingers reached down to play with the cum, swirling it around before he unexpectedly brought it up to his mouth and sucked the digit clean.
“Fuck, you’re gonna be the death of me” Taehyun groaned, feeling his cock twitch within the warmth of Beomgyu’s body.
Feeling truly provoked, Taehyun settled into the cushion and thrust harshly, causing Beomgyu’s body to jolt and a slutty moan to escape around his finger. The reaction only encouraged Taehyun to keep going and soon his hips were pistoning mercilessly in and out of Beomgyu’s loose hole.
Oversensitivity seemed to completely cloud Beomgyu’s thoughts and his whimper became screams of too much too much and please. He tried to pull himself up and away from Taehyun’s punishing moves, but he lacked strength and yelped when strong hands pulled him back. Taehyun wouldn’t let him go so easily.
So he tried a different approach, bringing his legs up and pressing his delicate feet over Taehyun’s pecs and pushing. The captain did stagger in surprise, but Beomgyu was still no match.
Taehyun grabbed his shins, locking them together and pushing his legs up on one of his shoulders. Leaning down, he used his weight to lock Beomgyu in place and then started his thrusts again. The way his flexible little body was bent in half made him even tighter around Taehyun’s cock and caused him to thrust sloppily the closer he got to the edge. And from the desperate noises Beomgyu was making, he was also close to another orgasm.
Their faces were close but Beomgyu had his eyes closed so Taehyun snagged the silky strands of hair atop his head and pulled. Beomgyu whimpered but his eyes snapped open and borrowed into Taehyun with the most devastating gaze he had ever witnessed.
“I want you to look at me when I come inside you.” Their lips touched, but they weren’t really kissing, mouths open around breathy moans of pleasure.
Beomgyu’s started to squirm more, sinking his nails on Taehyun’s shoulders and his voice stuttered out of him, “Tae- Tyun, I’m cumming. I don't- I can’t!”
Forcing himself to move even faster, Taehyun reached his free hand down to pump Beomgyu’s red cock while pushing his head further into the pillow by his hair. He leaned down until their foreheads were touching. “You can and you will. Cum for me.”
He had been close too, holding back to prolong the moment and the feeling of filling Beomgyu up for as long as possible. But the moment the escort came, his hot, velvety walls closed around him, constricting his cock and forcing his orgasm out of him like a fucking explosion. “Fuck, fuck, fuck” He moaned roughly, the orgasm shook his body and he had to make an effort to keep his eyes open, taking in the beautiful sight of Beomgyu’s blissed out expression.
At once they stilled, enjoying the last rippling tides of their orgasms. His hand cramped a little, where it still held a fistful of Beomgyu’s hair and he let go, smoothing the strands down with pats that transformed into a gentle caress as he brushed the back of his hand down Beomgyu’s soft cheek.
He observed silently as Beomgyu’s breath calmed down and he slowly came back to earth. Then Taehyun straightened up and carefully lowered both his long legs from his shoulder to one side, turning his body a little sideways. Beomgyu made a questioning noise, but just then Taehyun pulled his cock out, and it turned into a whine.
With rapid attention, Taehyun watched as his cum leaked out of Beomgyu’s hole slowly, pearly white painting his soft buttcheeks. He must’ve felt the dripping and curious, reached a hand down, trailing his digits over the mess. Taehyun couldn’t resist and joined him, pulling his ass open and sticking two fingers inside.
Beomgyu held his wrist and gasped for him to stop. Taehyun kissed his forehead quickly before pushing in all the way. “I need to clean you up, love.”
“But, I can’t cum anymore, please.” Beomgyu bit his lip, squirming a little.
“It’s okay, I know. You don’t need to, just lay down and relax.”
And he did, hazy eyes locked on the ceiling, belly probably warm with the gentle pleasure. Just enough to make him feel good, but not enough to even make him hard, as Taehyun scraped out all his come, occasionally lapping into his little hole.
When Taehyun was finished, he laid down, pulling Beomgyu into his arms. For a while he watched the escort sleep, his pretty face serene and soon fell asleep too, feeling complete for the first time ever.
-☠-
The first rays of dawn filtered through the narrow porthole, painting the cabin in soft golds and blues. Taehyun woke with the sunrise, as he always did, no matter how late the night or how much rum had flowed. Years at sea had trained his body to rise with the light.
Beomgyu was still curled against his chest, one long leg thrown over Taehyun’s thigh, face tucked into the crook of his neck. His breathing was slow and even, lashes dark against pale cheeks. The poppy tattoo peeked out from beneath the sheet that had slipped down during the night, and faint bruises bloomed along his collarbones and throat like scattered jewels.
Taehyun’s marks. The sight stirred something low and possessive in his gut.
He let himself watch for longer than he should have. The boy looked peaceful in a way that felt both foreign and natural in this cabin, on this ship. No fear nor careful mask. Just Beomgyu, soft and sated and real.
Carefully, Taehyun brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. The touch made Beomgyu stir, a small, sleepy sound escaping him as he burrowed closer. His hand found Taehyun’s waist under the sheet, fingers curling loosely there like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Taehyun’s heart did something complicated.
He should get up. The crew was already stirring, hungover, rowdy, ready to restock and shove off before the British patrols grew bold. There were decisions to make, routes to plot, and a thousand reasons why letting an escort linger on his ship was a terrible idea.
But he didn’t move.
Instead, he pressed his lips to the top of Beomgyu’s head, barely a kiss, just the ghost of one. Beomgyu hummed softly, eyes fluttering open. For a moment he seemed disoriented, blinking up at Taehyun with those wide, dark eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Then memory flickered across his face, of heat and pleasure, making something shy and warm paint his expression yet he did not shy away or moved awkwardly.
“Morning, captain,” he murmured, voice husky from sleep and everything that had come before it. There was no demure bow of the head, no practiced seduction. Just a small, crooked smile that felt dangerously honest.
Taehyun’s throat tightened. “Morning, love.”
Beomgyu stretched like a cat, wincing faintly as sore muscles protested. The sheet slipped lower, revealing more marks, more pale skin. He didn’t try to cover himself. Instead, he propped his chin on Taehyun’s chest, studying him with quiet curiosity.
“You’re still here,” Beomgyu said softly, tone sounding more like wonder than accusation.
“So are you.” Taehyun answered plainly and then there was a pause. Outside, the muffled sounds of the crew began to filter in, like boots on deck, low voices, the clatter of ropes. The world intruding.
Beomgyu’s fingers traced idle patterns over one of Taehyun’s tattoos, the Leviathan curling around his arm. “What happens now?” he asked. The question seemed light, but Taehyun heard the weight beneath it.
He could lie. Tell him the boat would take him back to the pleasure house before they sailed. That last night had been exactly what it was meant to be: one night, paid for and finished.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Taehyun sat up slowly, bringing Beomgyu with him until the boy was settled in his lap, sheet pooled around his waist. He cupped Beomgyu’s face, thumb brushing over a faint bruise on his jaw he hadn't noticed the previous night, but was now revealed by the light of day.
“How much would it cost,” Taehyun said, voice low, “to buy you for longer than a night?”
Beomgyu’s breath caught. His eyes searched Taehyun’s face, looking for the joke, the trick but finding none, yet he resisted, “You don’t want me on your ship,” he said finally, careful. “I’m not… useful. I don’t know how to sail or fight or-”
“I’ll teach you,” Taehyun cut in. “Or you can just… be here. With me.”
Beomgyu laughed once, soft and disbelieving. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.” Taehyun’s hand slid to the back of his neck, thumb stroking the poppy tattoo. “I know you’re curious about the world outside those walls. I know you’ve got fire in you no one’s ever let burn. And I know…” His voice dropped. “...I don’t want to take you back.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with possibility. Beomgyu’s expression shifted, a flicker of something deeper crossing his features. Worry, perhaps, or reluctance. “What about Yeonjun? I can’t just… leave him there. He’s more than a friend to me. We’ve been through everything together in that place.”
Taehyun’s brows furrowed, remembering the way the two escorts had clung to each other the night before, remembering the whispered words, the chaste kiss and the shared glances. He’d dismissed it as the closeness of shared circumstance, but now it tugged at him, a loose thread in this impulsive plan.
“What is he to you, exactly? You two seemed… bound, in a way that’s hard to name.”
Beomgyu’s gaze softened, distant for a moment, like he was sifting through memories too intimate to fully share. “It’s not something easy to explain. We understand each other in ways no one else ever has, deeper than words, deeper than what most people could imagine. He’s part of me, in a sense. I won’t go without him.”
Taehyun considered that, the vagueness wrapping around something profound and unspoken. It didn’t spark jealousy, strangely, only a quiet recognition. He thought of the bond he shared with Soobin and Kai built on circumstances too deep and impossible to put into words.
Then he thought about how they’d shared Yeonjun between them last night, letting the escort into their tight-knit world for the first time. The way Soobin’s gaze had lingered, protective and hungry, while Kai’s usual smirk had softened into something genuine. They’d never brought anyone into their bond like that before, not even close. If he guessed right, they’d be more than willing to claim Yeonjun too, maybe even eager for it.
A slow smile tugged at Taehyun’s lips. “Then we’ll buy him out as well. I’ve a feeling my first mate and navigator won’t mind the company. They took a shine to him last night. Might be they’ll thank me for it.”
Beomgyu’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and tentative hope flickering there. He searched Taehyun’s face again, as if weighing the sincerity while his hands tightened into fists on the sheets around them. “You’d do that? For both of us?”
“I’ve taken richer prizes than a pleasure house can dream of,” Taehyun said fiercely. “Name the price. I’ll pay it.”
Still finding the situation unbelievable, Beomgyu pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes shining with tears or hope. Taehyun couldn’t tell.
“And if we say yes?” he asked, voice steady but laced with that same quiet fire. “What then, captain? You’ll keep us in your cabin like spoiled pets?”
Taehyun’s grip tightened, he sat up fully, adjusting Beomgyu’s weight on his lap. One of his hands reached up and he allowed himself to touch, brushing the tangled strands of the escort’s long hair. “No. You’ll be free. Both of you. Free to leave if you ever want. Free to stand on deck and feel the wind. Free to choose.”
Finally, the shine on Beomgyu’s wide eyes overflowed, becoming tears that dared to drip over his waterline. He looked stunned, like the word free was in a language he’d never been taught to speak. Outside, Soobin’s voice barked an order, closer now, indicating that time was running out.
Beomgyu swallowed hard. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Okay,” he breathed. “Okay. For both of us.”
That feeling of pride grew in Taehyun’s chest again and this time, there was nothing to distract him from it. His chest ached with it, heart beating wildly against his ribs. It wasn’t the sharp triumph of a successful raid or the hollow satisfaction of gold weighing down his belt.
This was deeper and warmer, almost painful in its intensity. It was the knowledge that he had offered something no one else ever had, and that Beomgyu, with all his guarded fire and quiet strength, had chosen to trust him with it.
Taehyun’s hand slid from the back of Beomgyu’s neck to cradle his jaw, thumb tracing the faint bruise he’d left there hours ago. Beomgyu’s gaze was raw and unguarded, reflecting the pale morning light like the sea at dawn. So beautiful it stole Taehyun’s breath.
He leaned in slowly, giving Beomgyu every chance to pull away. But Beomgyu didn’t. Instead, he tilted his chin up, lips parting on a shaky exhale, meeting Taehyun halfway.
Their mouths met softly at first, almost reverent. Taehyun brushed his lips against Beomgyu’s once, twice, tasting the faint salt of skin and the lingering sweetness of last night. Then Beomgyu sighed into him, a small, broken sound that cracked something open in Taehyun’s chest, and the kiss deepened.
It wasn’t hungry like the ones from the night before. This was deliberate and full of everything they hadn’t said. Taehyun poured into it the promise he’d made: freedom, choice, a life beyond silk walls and paid nights. Beomgyu answered with quiet desperation, fingers curling into Taehyun’s hair, holding on like he was afraid the moment might slip away if he let go.
When they finally parted, it was only far enough for their foreheads to rest together. Their breaths mingled, warm and uneven. Beomgyu’s lashes fluttered against Taehyun’s skin, and Taehyun felt the tremor in the hands still tangled in his hair.
“I’ve never had anyone go so far for me before,” Beomgyu whispered, voice barely audible over the distant creak of the ship and the soft lap of waves against the hull. “Not like this.”
More pride surged within Taehyun’s chest. He pressed one last gentle kiss to the corner of Beomgyu’s mouth, then to the tip of his nose, then to his forehead. Small, grounding touches that felt more intimate than anything they’d shared in the dark.
“Then let me be the first,” he murmured against Beomgyu’s skin. And the last, went unsaid, but Taehyun guessed he’d have time to say this in the future. Beomgyu’s answering smile was small but real, brighter than the dawn spilling through the porthole.
“Now get dressed, love,” Taehyun said, voice rough with everything he wasn’t ready to name yet. “We’ve got a madam to rob blind before noon and two flowers to claim.”
Beomgyu laughed, the sound light and startled and full of wonder, and for the first time, it truly echoed like freedom.