Addicted to Lust

by Amy Tasukada

  “Right,” Masuo said with a bit more enthusiasm.

  “That’s what I like to hear.” Hayato gave Masuo a peck on the cheek. “I gotta get this cash deposited, or they’ll think I ran off with it.”

  Masuo caught Hayato’s hand as he turned. “Are you going to be okay? You’ve had a long day too.”

  “I’ll be fine. My apartment building is doing a new movie club tonight. There’s going to be a big crowd.”

  The cold night surrounded Hayato like the embrace of death, but his smile grew wider the closer he got to his apartment. He’d made it through the day without Subaru’s help. The apartment lounge would be packed with people ready to enjoy a film. No one would think it was strange if he showed up and accidentally fell asleep. He probably wouldn’t be the only one.

  Hayato opened the door to his apartment building and made his way toward the lounge.

  “Mr. Kobayashi!”

  Hayato ignored the manager and pulled the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge. He narrowed his eyes and held his card to the door again. The little light remained red. The manager’s heels clacked against the floor.

  “Mr. Kobayashi,” she repeated, sounding like a schoolteacher scolding the pencil twirlers in the back.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Hayato smiled. “There seems to be a problem with my card.”

  She held up one of the orange movie club flyers Hayato had put on all the doors that morning.

  “Yes, that’s what I’m trying to attend,” Hayato said. “A movie club sounds awesome, right? I love movies.”

  “You put these flyers on every single person’s door.” She crossed her arms. “How could you think it was the right thing to do after our last conversation?”

  Someone was overreacting.

  “We had at least a dozen calls about it,” she continued.

  “So people are interested in the movie club, then?”

  “They were calling to complain! This makes strike number three. On top of the complaints, the lease agreement clearly states all formal gatherings in the lounge need proper approval a week in advance.”

  She held out a piece of paper and pushed it into Hayato’s hands. Tiny font peppered the page, but the red eviction notice stood out large at the top.

  “You have three days to get out,” she said.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You and all your belongings need to vanish within three days, or we’ll have to take you to court.”

  “Fuck this shit.” He ripped the paper into pieces.

  She pointed to the camera above them. “We have evidence that you received the paperwork should you try to fight it.”

  “I never wanted to live here anyway.”

  Hayato threw the pieces of the notice like confetti, then headed to his apartment. Alone.

  He was fine.

  Everything was fine.

  He didn’t need the apartment or its stupid lounge.

  He opened his suitcase and shoved everything inside. He rubbed his eyes. Subaru didn’t need his new life ruined.

  He could get through the night without his brother. He could survive. He could make it through one night alone. He was fine by himself.

  Until the shadows loomed over him, and his neck grew tight. He coughed, gasping for breath.

  He needed to escape.

  21

  Hayato left his luggage in a train locker and headed to Masuo’s apartment. It was on the first floor of a quiet two-story building. Half the exterior lights were out, but the one in front of Masuo’s door shined bright, expelling the darkness.

  All the relief Hayato needed lay behind that door. He held his breath and knocked. He’d been too scared to call ahead of time. What if Masuo had said no? Then Hayato would have to face the worst night of the year alone.

  “Mama!” a muffled voice called.

  Hayato narrowed his eyes and doubled-checked the apartment number. The door opened to a little boy dressed in pajamas with a horrible 3D poodle on the front.

  “You’re not Mama,” he said.

  No shit, kid.

  “Daichi, you shouldn’t open the door without an adult.” Masuo guided the kid out of the way and raised an eyebrow at Hayato. “Are you okay?”

  He plastered on a smile even though it hurt. “You already have kids?”

  “They’re my neighbor’s. She picked up a graveyard shift, so I offered to watch them. Here, come inside. You’ve got to be freezing.”

  Hayato hadn’t even noticed the cold until he entered the warm apartment. Then a wave of goose bumps pebbled his skin. He took off his shoes and coat.

  “Go back to sleep,” Masuo told the boy. “Mama won’t be here for a while.”

  “Can I watch Detective Pom Pom?”

  “Detective Pom Pom’s not on in the middle of the night,” Masuo said.

  “But you have a DVD.”

  If Hayato had been in a better mood, it might have been cute, but he wasn’t, and Daichi’s voice sounded like walking into a parlor with all the machines hitting jackpots at once. How was the little girl on the sofa sleeping through it all?

  Masuo gave Hayato a faint smile. “Why don’t you wait for me in the bedroom. It’s that way. I’ll just be a second.”

  Hayato went the way Masuo had pointed. The bedroom was small but neat and orderly like Masuo’s expense reports. Hayato sat on the Western-style bed, and his back thanked him. The nights spent on manga café beanbags left it screaming most days. He swallowed and wished he felt less awkward.

  “Only one episode and then back to bed,” Masuo said, then came into the bedroom.

  He opened one of the plastic drawers in the corner and pulled out a tank top, boxers, and a robe. He placed the neatly folded squares beside Hayato.

  “You probably want to get out of that stuffy suit.”

  The Detective Pom Pom theme song played. Masuo bounced back into the living room, shutting the door behind him.

  Even though Hayato wore underwear, he traded his for Masuo’s blue boxers and slipped into the rest of the offerings. Masuo’s vanilla-and-oak scent surrounded him. Whatever laundry detergent Masuo used, Hayato needed. Then he could always feel like Masuo was close by.

  Hayato pulled back the covers and hugged himself with the ends of the blanket. He wasn’t alone anymore. He’d been so lucky to have Masuo.

  “You have to keep it low so you don’t wake your sister.” Masuo’s muffled voice came from the living room.

  “Okay.” Daichi sounded disappointed, but assuming the kid liked Pom Pom as much as Hayato had at his age, Daichi had no doubt already seen the DVD twenty thousand times.

  Masuo knocked on the door before creaking it open, then he joined Hayato on the bed and pulled him into his arms.

  “Sorry for coming so late.” Hayato’s voice wouldn’t allow him to speak more than a whisper.

  “You can come anytime.”

  “And thanks for the clothes.”

  “You look pretty hot in them.” Masuo pulled the blanket over them. “We should get to sleep.”

  Hayato pressed his forehead against Masuo’s and smiled. This time it didn’t hurt. “You don’t want to watch Pom Pom?”

  Masuo laughed. “I’ve seen that DVD so many times.”

  The soft blue light from the crack in the door almost made Masuo glow.

  “Thanks.” Hayato squeezed Masuo’s hand.

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  “But it is. Thank you for letting me sleep here and for not asking any questions.”

  Masuo gave him a knowing smile, but Hayato had to be reading it wrong. People didn’t know what monophobia was unless they were the freak who had it.

  Then something blurry jumped onto the bed, and Hayato shot up, his heart thumping.

  “It’s Mochi.” Masuo reached out and scratched behind the gray tabby’s ear. “Decided you would get more pets in here than sleeping on Sakura’s pillow?”

  The cat sniffed Hayato’s hand for a second before rubbing
up against his fingers.

  Masuo yawned. “You’ve got Mochi’s approval.”

  “Or she’s angry I’m sleeping in her dad’s bed.”

  “She’s not the jealous type.”

  Hayato lay back down, and Mochi settled on his chest. She was a sturdy cat, but it felt good that, for once, the weight pressing on his chest wasn’t fear. He rested a hand in the cat’s soft fur, and she purred.

  “She’s so loud,” Hayato said.

  “You heard about that study, right?”

  “Hmm?”

  “The frequency at which cats purr helps promote healing. Mochi wants you to feel better. That’s why she’s purring.”

  Hayato closed his eyes. Mochi’s purr calmed him and quelled his frantic thoughts, and he finally fell asleep.

  Hayato woke up and pulled away from a still sleeping Masuo. Mochi stretched out between their legs. Hayato gave her a good scratch behind the ears, then left the bedroom.

  With the children returned to their mother, Hayato was able to get a better view of Masuo’s apartment. It was small and a little old. Hayato imagined the grandma who owned it living there since she was a child. She probably even swept the sidewalk each morning. Too bad she didn’t have someone to change the light bulbs. It was charming in a way. It wasn’t like Hayato owned anything but clothes and accessories. It would be easy to upgrade Masuo’s plastic drawers to something with enough room for both of them.

  The kitchenette had some rusted burners no doubt older than Masuo, but Hayato wasn’t much of a cook, so he didn’t mind. He dug through the cabinets, trying to find anything good enough for an asking-to-move-in breakfast. If he wowed Masuo with his pancake skills, he could have his stuff moved in by the end of the day.

  There was no way they could squeeze a dining table into such a tiny place. No doubt Subaru and Fumiko would want to come over at some point. Maybe if they got one of those convertible coffee tables that turned into a dining table, it could work. He and Masuo could have that conversation when the time came, but first, the pancakes.

  The first one always came out bad, so Hayato hid it under some of the other trash. The second and third slid off the pan perfectly. Masuo didn’t have any syrup, so Hayato made a fresh strawberry-and-whipped-cream topping. Hmm. Maybe they could share in some whipped cream fun before Masuo left for work.

  Hayato shimmied out of the clothes Masuo had given him, then he jacked off a little so he’d be at least half hard. The whole point of naked breakfast in bed was the sex, after all.

  Hayato took the plates and made his way back into the bedroom. He straddled Masuo’s hips, the bulge of his morning wood fitting perfectly behind him. Hayato couldn’t wait to experience that pierced cock again.

  “It’s time to wake up, Masuo,” Hayato called, wiggling against him.

  “What smells so good?” he asked.

  “I made breakfast. Though I’m thinking there is something else I’d rather have.”

  “Hmm…” Masuo eyed Hayato’s half-hard cock. “What would that be?”

  “I think you can figure it out.”

  Their lips met in a soft kiss, but Hayato deepened it. He placed a hand on Masuo’s face and used his tongue to explore Masuo’s mouth. Hayato could wake up to Masuo’s kisses every morning and never get bored.

  Masuo pulled back and grabbed a plate. “I don’t want breakfast to get cold.”

  “But this is the last thing on our list.”

  “We’ll have to make a new one.” Masuo took a bite of the pancake. “This is yummy.”

  “Thanks. Pancakes are basically the only thing I’m good at.”

  “Then you should eat yours too.”

  Hayato pretended to pout but admitted defeat in initiating morning sexy time and joined Masuo under the covers.

  “Thanks for letting me stay the night,” Hayato said.

  “Anytime you need it.” Even Masuo’s bed hair was adorably messy. He cut into one of the pancakes and ate.

  As they continued to eat, Masuo explained how he’d met Kira and become her go-to babysitter for her kids. It was sweet. Masuo had a big heart, and that was one of the reasons Hayato loved him. He’d understand how Hayato couldn’t live out of a suitcase at a manga café.

  “I chatted with Arashi yesterday, and he offered to come and help me watch the parlor.” Masuo pushed his last strawberry around in a white pool of deflated cream.

  “Two sets of eyes will be good.”

  “Yeah…I don’t want to screw up again in case that cheater comes back.”

  “You’ll be fine.”

  There was no need to tell Masuo that Endo had examined all Masuo’s reports, looking for flaws. Masuo worked so hard he’d be fine. Though he kept pushing around the strawberry like a shark teasing a victim.

  Hayato stabbed Masuo’s strawberry and ate it. “Come on. Today is a new day. Something amazing could happen.”

  “Like what?”

  “An amazing breakfast. Maybe some hot morning sex?”

  “I have to leave in ten minutes.”

  “A hot morning blow job?”

  Masuo wiped a bit of cream off Hayato’s lip. “When I get started, I don’t want to stop, especially with you.”

  “Is that supposed to be a compliment or a polite way of turning me down?”

  “The more I think about that cheater, the more frustrated I get.”

  “Okay, no morning sexy time, but today when I come to collect your money, and you rake in tons of profit, we need to do something special to celebrate.”

  Masuo cracked a smile. “Deal.”

  Good. Hayato would ask to move in then because nothing would be more special than living with the man he loved.

  22

  Masuo sat behind the prize counter while Arashi strolled down the row of pachinko machines. A steady stream of customers had come in throughout the day. The numbers might not have been as high as yesterday’s grand reopening, but they weren’t as low as the week before.

  Yesterday’s defeat still stung Masuo’s pride. The record profits were supposed to have got Endo’s attention and proved he wasn’t incompetent, but the presence of a cheater had confirmed her first impression of him.

  Arashi walked back to the prize counter. “You want to take your lunch? I’ll head out after you’re finished.”

  “Yes, please,” Masuo said. “I’d love to eat somewhere other than the counter. I always feel like everyone is staring at me and thinking I’m rude.”

  Arashi had been the best friend Masuo could’ve asked for. Before opening, they’d brainstormed all the ways someone could’ve cheated—magnets, wire, somehow getting behind the machine to reprogram it, or some new way they both couldn’t figure out. The list made it easier to spot cheats, but so far none of the customers had raised any eyebrows. Masuo couldn’t tell if that was something to celebrate or feel more defeated about.

  “You going anywhere good?” Arashi asked. “Maybe you can grab me something.”

  “I’m eating in. Kira made me lunch.”

  “What?”

  “I helped watch her kids last night. It was a thank-you.” Masuo grabbed the bento he’d stored behind the counter.

  Arashi’s mouth dropped open. Then he cleared his throat, trying to hide his surprise. “You should’ve called. I would’ve helped out.”

  “It was short notice.”

  “Well, next time, call. I don’t care about the time.”

  Masuo laughed. “Okay, any excuse so you can attempt to ask Kira out. Got it.”

  “She’s always so busy. She takes the kids and leaves. I barely get more than a hello in.”

  “You’ve gotta say something interesting enough to make her stay for a conversation.”

  “Can I at least see the bento?”

  Masuo laughed and opened the box. Nothing fancy—two rice balls, some miso-glazed chicken, and a hard-boiled egg. Arashi took in a deep breath, inhaling the savory fragrance.

  “It looks perfect,” Arashi said. “Next
time, I’ll be sure to make the first move.”

  Masuo would never get tired of Hayato’s long runway walk to the back of the parlor. The way the cuff chain dangled and scratched the metal briefcase conjured up memories of Hayato’s arms pulled behind his back and cuffed when they’d screwed in the office. Masuo swallowed. It wasn’t anywhere near closing, so he’d have to shut down the erotic trip down memory lane.

  Hayato stopped in front of the counter and cocked his hip to the side. “You got enough to fill me up today?”

  “I hope so.”

  Masuo left the door to the office ajar so he could hear the parlor noise. He headed for the safe, while Hayato opened up the briefcase.

  “There’s something I need to ask you,” Hayato said.

  Masuo popped open the safe. “What?”

  Hayato didn’t respond, but it was probably related to the parlor funds. Masuo gathered the cash and the documentation totals. He set the stacks in front of Hayato’s open briefcase, trying to judge by the pile of gold coins if the cheater had struck again.

  “I got evicted from my apartment,” Hayato said. “They found out I was yakuza.”

  “Oh shit.”

  Hayato smiled despite the unsettling news. “I had an awesome time with you last night. I was thinking I could move in with you.”

  “Until you find your own place?”

  “I was thinking permanently.”

  Masuo swallowed and took a step back. A tingling washed over him like he’d banged his funny bone. If only it had been funny. It pushed him off-kilter and changed everything.

  “Think about it.” Hayato’s uncuffed hand wrapped around Masuo’s waist. “We’d get to spend the whole night together, and I’m sure we could add a whole lot more to our fantasy list.”

  Masuo stopped Hayato’s hand from traveling to his crotch.

  “I love you.” Masuo squeezed Hayato’s hand. “But we’ve been together less than a month. It’s too soon to talk about living together.”

  “We get along well. Why wait?”

  “If you need to stay for a few days while you find a new place, I’m more than happy to help. But you’re talking about forever here.”