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Rain had been dancing for the better part of two hours. A pleasant buzz from the drinks he’d been downing sang through his veins as he moved, uninhibited, to the beat pulsing through the club.
Sky, a willing partner at the start of the night, had begun casting longing glances towards where P'Pai and P'Phayu sat, half-hidden behind a screen of large-leafed plants. P'Pakin was there as well, and P'Chai, and several other men that neither Rain nor Sky had met. All they knew was that they were important.
P'Phayu had given Rain a fond kiss on the forehead before shooing him out to the dance floor. "Be a good boy and keep yourself entertained until this meeting is over, na?"
And Rain had done as he asked. For two hours . That was more than enough time.
"Sky," Rain shouted, near his friend’s ear, to be sure to be heard over the music, "I'm bored. I want to dance with P'Phayu."
Sky rolled his eyes. "Of course, I'm not good enough."
"That's not what I mean, and you know it," Rain retorted. "We've had a great time, but our boyfriends are ignoring us, and you don't like it any more than I do."
Sky's hesitated, throwing off his rhythm. "But they said they didn't want us to interrupt. What if it's dangerous?"
Rain peered intently into the space between two large leaves. "If it's dangerous," he said, "why are there a bunch of pit bunnies in there rubbing up on P'Pai?"
"They're what? "
Rain didn't like to throw bombs when firecrackers would do, but there really were three pit bunnies with the gathering. They were dressed appropriately for the club, more tastefully than at the track, but he'd spent enough time around them to recognize them easily. Two of them were perched on Phayu's and Prapai's knees, while a third had draped herself over P'Pai's back, trailing her fingers down the line of his button-down shirt.
"I don't know about you, Sky," said Rain, "but I'm not sharing my P'Phayu, and I'm not shy to tell him so. You can come or not. Up to you."
Sky stopped dancing, frowning, as the bunny over P'Pai's shoulder started to slide her fingers into the triangle of bare skin revealed where Pai's shirt wasn't fully buttoned. "Okay, yeah, no,” he said. “I'm right behind you."
#
Phayu watched as Prapai deftly removed the clingy girl's hands from his chest, directing her subtly toward the young mafia head seated between himself and P'Chai. Prapai had more than enough practice at evading flirts of either gender, but even so, Phayu was impressed. He'd been so smooth it had almost felt natural, rather than the self-protection mechanism Phayu knew it to be.
He watched as Prapai looked past Phayu's shoulder, towards the dance floor, and the man's eyes widened with a look of fear mingled with adoration.
Phayu could have laughed at how quickly Prapai unseated the bunny on his knee, nearly dropping her on the floor in his haste. He would have laughed, if he hadn't realized that the expression on Pai’s face meant Sky was on his way, and that meant Rain as well.
Keeping a better grip on his own reactions than Prapai had, Phayu brought his mouth close to the ear of the girl who was perched on his knee. "Why don't you go and grab another drink?"
She gave him a docile smile and rose to carry out her task.
It irked Phayu to no end that P'Pakin felt the need for such theatrics to impress the young mafia head and his uncle. "They come from a family steeped in an earlier time. Older traditions. They expect the old trappings," Pakin had explained when he brought the three bunnies in, along with the rest of those in the meeting. "The girls are paid well, and they aren't on the menu for the evening, unless they choose to be. They'll flirt with the two of you long enough to make P'Sin and his uncle jealous, then," he threw up air quotes, “transfer, their interest to our guests. Help provide grease for the deal."
None of the girls had expressed any sort of concern and, so far, everyone was keeping their hands where they should, so Phayu tried not to worry too much.
A familiar weight landed on his shoulder. "P'Phayu, come dance with me," said Rain.
P'Pakin gave the boy a hard look. "Nong Rain. Nong Sky. I believe you two were supposed to be entertaining yourselves tonight?"
"P'Pakin, you've had P'Phayu and P'Pai to yourself for the whole night. Isn't it good to share?"
Phayu bit the side of his tongue. He loved it when Rain got possessive, but this was not the time for it. Especially not with the way P'Sin's eyebrows raised with interest, and his gaze slid up and down Rain from tip to toe, pupils flaring wide.
"Now’s not a good time, Rain,” he said.
“But, P’Phayu...” The audible pout curved upward at the end.
P’Sin rose smoothly to his feet. “If this gentleman won’t dance with you, Nong, allow me to remedy the situation.”
And that, right there, explained why the young leader hadn’t yet expressed an interest in the pit bunnies. They weren’t the type of prey he was looking for.
Rain glanced across at P’Sin, their eyes meeting evenly, with their evenly matched height, though Phayu thought P’Sin’s shoes were raised. Rain giggled. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your meeting...”
“Oh, you’ve already done that quite thoroughly.” P’Sin offered his hand to Rain.
Phayu surged to his feet and slid his body between the two men, keeping Rain behind his shoulder. “Please accept my apologies, Phi. Rain has been drinking this evening, and he doesn’t always make the best choices when he’s under the influence.”
Phayu caught P’Pai’s gaze, silently begging for backup.
Rain leaned out from behind Phayu. If he’d been a cat, his tail would be fully bristled. How much alcohol had he had? “I don’t see why I can’t dance with him, if you’re going to be stubborn, P’Phayu.”
P’Sin smirked. “I think the boy’s old enough to make his own decisions.”
Phayu’s jaw tightened. Someone who didn’t know him might not have recognized the danger sign, but Prapai did know him, and he immediately swept into action before Phayu could snap.
“P’Sin,” Prapai said, sliding his arm through the crook of the man’s elbow, “I love to dance! You should have said you wanted to earlier! Right this way!”
Before the man had a chance to respond, Prapai led him swiftly away and onto the dance floor. The bunny who’d been sitting on his knees earlier cast a quizzical look after him, while Sky stood there with his mouth opening and closing like a beached fish.
“Is this how you do business?” P’Sin’s uncle said to P’Pakin, knuckles white around his brandy glass. “Your potential partner has expressed a desire for something. Isn’t this where you make that something available?”
Phayu wrapped his hand around Rain’s upper arm, just above his elbow, fingers digging in deep. “Nong Rain isn’t P’Pakin’s to make available . If you’ll excuse us.”
P’Chai rose, blocking their line of escape. “You’ll be back directly, yes, P’Phayu?”
“Of course,” he replied, though all he wanted to do was take Rain somewhere private to explain to him, in painstaking detail, just how important it was to follow directions . Thank goodness for Prapai, or he might have turned his frustration onto P’Sin, effectively killing whatever progress Pakin had made towards securing the man’s goodwill. No matter what, though, that man was not going to put his hands on Rain.
Sky’s voice broke into Phayu’s awareness. “If anything happens to Prapai, I am taking it out of your skin, Rain. Do you understand me?”
The corners of Rain’s mouth turned downward and telltale moisture glistened in his eyes. “Why is everybody mad at me? How is this all my fault? All I wanted to do is dance with my hubby.”
All the anger Phayu had been suppressing fled. Rain’s expression was as innocent as fawn. Rain really, really didn’t get it. Didn’t realize he’d put himself straight in the crosshairs of a very important man who was used to getting exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it.
He looked up at Chai with a hard expression, shoulders back and chin raised. “I’m taking Rain out of here. Help Sky keep an eye on Prapai, na? I owe him one.”
“They can go,” said Pakin.
At Pakin’s pronouncement, Chai stepped out of the way.
Phayu led Rain briskly away, pausing only when Pakin addressed them both. “Nong Rain, if you’re going to be a part of Phayu’s world, you need to learn when you can push and when not to. Phayu, take care of your boy, then I need you back here. There are details to be finalized for the race when it begins our new travel circuit.”
“I can’t believe you let such a young man,” Phayu heard the unspoken ‘rash’ behind the adjective, as P’Sin’s uncle spoke it, “lead your maintenance crew.”
“Phayu has my full confidence. I trust him implicitly, and your nephew can as well, as soon as this deal is done.”
“P’Phayu,” Rain whispered, tugging on Phayu’s sleeve, his eyes wide and round. “Did I mess up something big?”
Phayu put his arm around Rain and led him toward the door of the club. “Not yet, baby, but I need you to disappear for a while. You’ve drawn attention you don’t want, and I’m not sure I can keep you safe as long as you’re still here.”
Rain nuzzled his face into Phayu’s neck. “I only wanted to dance. Wanted your arms around me. Wanted to know that you were thinking about me.”
They stepped outside into the quieter night. Phayu turned Rain to face him, grasping him by the shoulders. “I‘m always thinking about you, baby. I always want you in my arms. I need you to know that, but I also need you to understand that I can’t always have those things.” He pressed a kiss to Rain’s forehead, hot and sweat-sheened beneath his lips. “I promise you, as soon as I’m home, I’ll show you exactly how much I want you. Wait for me to get back.”
“But,” Rain hesitated, “I really can’t drive. I’ve had a leeetle to drink,” he held up his thumb and index finger to indicate just how little.
“A little more than that, I think. Good thing there’s a little thing called Uber.”
They leaned up against the wall to wait for Rain’s ride to arrive. Rain, still more than a little tipsy, spent a good deal of time pressing kisses to Phayu’s lips, neck, and chest, over his shirt. Phayu allowed it. It was easier than arguing, and he’d be lying if he said it didn’t feel good. Didn’t stoke his ego.
When the Uber finally pulled up, Phayu made sure Rain was safely settled inside, then gave the driver instructions to wait until the boy was actually through the door at Phayu’s house.
“P’Phayu,” Rain said, “will you make sure Sky gets home all right?”
Phayu laughed. “Oh, I’m sure P’Pai will take care of that. Sky isn’t going to let him out of his sight. Not after he dragged P’Sin off like that.”
“But P’Pai did it for me, not because he wants P’Sin.”
“Sky knows that, don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll tell you off in the morning, but you’ll both be fine afterwards. Now go. Thank you, driver.”
Phayu shut the door and waved as the car drove off.
The window rolled down and Rain popped his head out of it, looking back. “I’m not shy, P’Phayu!” he bellowed at the top of his lungs. “I’ll ask for what I want! Except when it’s dangerous and Daddy Phayu tells me not to!”
It took every ounce of Phayu’s self-control not to face-palm so hard it hurt. A few patrons heading into the club gave him appraising looks.
“My boyfriend,” he shrugged. “He tries to be a good boy?”
“Way to go, man,” said a stranger, giving him two thumbs-up.
Phayu sighed. It was going to be a long night. At least his boy would be waiting for him when he got home.
He chuckled. “You need explicit instructions, do you, Rain? Then Daddy Phayu will tell you exactly when he needs you to follow his directions.”
“Sir?”
Phayu glanced up at the doorman, surprised to find he’d spoken out loud. “P’Pakin is expecting me inside,” he said, pointedly not addressing what he’d been mumbling to himself.
“Of course, sir. Come right in.”
Phayu stepped inside and drew himself to his full height, putting on confidence like armor. At least Rain was off the battlefield. Now, he could give all his attention to the negotiations at hand.
And, if he got lucky, neither Pai nor Sky would murder him before he got home to his waiting boy. Rain wanted his attention? He was going to get it all night long, if that was what it took to teach him his new lesson.
Daddy Phayu had his work laid out ahead of him, and he wasn’t shy about making sure his boy learned it to the core.
The sooner these negotiations were finished, the better.
Phayu loved being the very best teacher.