Enslaving the King

Chapter 3

Lying in bed that evening, scrolling through the Echonet, Raine thought about Lord Hayden. He had The Shirt against his neck. Its scent had faded a lot, but he found its presence comforting.

The encounter with Lord Hayden had been terrifying. But looking back, it was also an amazing thing, having met Hyperion’s infamous CEO and living to tell about it. And that unexpected offer… If he’d accepted… What kind of pay would Hayden had given him? A lot. The most any escort could hope for. But just how much? Somewhere in the five or six digits possibly? If he’d accepted, he would’ve learned the scent of Hayden's clothes and skin, one of the things he’d been wondering about since getting home to The Shirt and reflecting it was about the right size to fit Hayden. Even though he’d gotten close, he hadn’t been close enough. Or maybe he’d been too distracted by his fear. Either way, he had no idea.

He needed to get over this weird obsessive mode his brain had gone into. Lord Hayden was dangerous. Too dangerous. The fact he was this disappointed and fixated probably was even more indication he’d made the right choice. He didn’t ever let his work get personal. Damn him for all his previous fantasizing. Damn him for being too careful.

Well.

With the late hour and his declining mood, he knew it was time to shut down and roll over for some sleep. Or at least try. Tomorrow, he had to get back into his work. There’d likely be some applicants for him to parse through in the morning.

A message came in on his Echo Eye.

Damn it, why would someone bother him so late? It was after 2200 hours.

~~Raine?

~Yes?

~~so the PP gave me this number.

Where had this come from? The Pleasure Palace wasn’t supposed to give out personal info. He’d probably have to talk to someone. Maybe some new secretary who didn’t know the rules yet  ~You’ll have to apply online. I don’t do this over messaging. I have to have your profile and everything before I even think about it

The person typed for quite a bit, as if undecided on what to say and kept erasing. But finally.

~~yeah. i am very much aware of that. may wanna check my username, dork

Raine did. He blinked. Scrubbed his eyes. Hard

~HHayden69~ remained in his screen.

There was no way this was real. Not when Lord Hayden had written him off the way he had. Raine stared for a long time. He finally sent back ~Are you pranking me? Because of earlier?

~~ not this time, buttercup. btw, i did send you the information on the website like you keep saying but i got bored waiting for u to check so demanded the information from the PP. ha, PP. its really funny when people think/say that, huh?

Raine sprung up from bed and went to his computer. It could be someone else using the same ID after all. But he wasn’t sure he believed that. The odds were astronomically unlikely. Although the same could be said about the odds of Lord Hayden wanting to hire him in the first place. He logged in, missing his password a few times in his haste. He checked his messages.

It wasn’t a joke.

There it was. The information profile from Lord Hayden. Facts had been redacted including age, weight, race, and s****l history, ect... In fact, most of it was. And what little was left, Raine couldn’t even be sure if it was truth or not. Plus, there was a nice little unnecessary addition at the end assuring Raine that Hayden had a big d**k and an attached photo file that was almost certainly a picture of it based on the preview window.

Yep. It was. And f**k it looked good to boot.

Raine let out the largest sigh he'd ever held.

This was unacceptable . Even when asked to, Lord Hayden hadn’t played by his rules. Yes, he’d technically done as Raine had asked, but not in a meaningful way. Anyone else and Raine wouldn’t have even reached the end of this mess of a profile before declining. But this was Lord Hayden...and there would probably have to be some exceptions if one worked directly for him. He was king of the hill, so to speak.

No, no, no, bad idea to actually consider this... You can’t do this, Raine. You know your limits. Lord Hayden would chew you up and spit you out an airlock in less than a day. He’d want a docile babe. That isn’t who you are. Your mouth would just offend him, like it nearly did before, but to the point of murder next time.

But...couldn’t he? If he tried? It wasn’t hard to just shut his mouth and obey, was it…? The thought didn’t settle well. Sure, it was easier to consider for Lord Hayden himself, but… He would be out of practice. Wouldn’t know how to hold his tongue when he should. Risky as hell. Damn it, how the hell had this sort of decision - this temptation of the devil - fallen to him? There were tens of thousands of people on this station. There were hundreds upon hundreds of escorts. And even then, hundreds upon hundreds of people who’d blow Hayden for free. There was no reason for Hayden to hire him. None.

But here he was, sweating bullets over a f****d-all decision.

He hovered over the decline option. What a power move that would be. To hit it without a word. What a rush it would be. What would Hayden even do ? Would he get so pissed he’d hunt Raine down and...well...

It wasn’t like Raine could hide. The Pleasure Palace would roll over and give Lord Hayden whatever he wanted, including his address. If it wasn't already in Helios's database to begin with. It probably was. Would Lord Hayden kill over something like that? Surely not… But Raine had watched someone die at Lord Hayden's hands today. He wasn't so confident. And stories prevailed of the man's murderous rages...

The exact kind of client Raine would normally give a hard pass on.

Raine gave a strained laugh into the bedroom before locking his hands behind his head and leaning back. What did he do ? He hadn’t felt this conflicted in a long time. Bet he thinks he’s so smart…setting up that bogus profile to circumvent me. Maybe that's why he did it. I put an obstacle in front of him and he didn't like backing down from it.

Wouldn't that be a killer? Raine's caution becoming the thing that had painted a target on his back.

Raine returned to the chat. ~what if I say no?  He dared. The only way this would go down the right way was if he were...mostly honest.

~~r u stupid or something???

~It’s not that I want to turn you down. He really didn’t want to. ~Your money looks real nice, sir... And your d**k. But let’s just say I have an interest in preserving my life

~~Ur really that worried about danger, princess?

~As I told you...Hyperion is hardly the safest place. And I imagine up there on your end it’s even more unsafe.

~~U keep talkin about ‘danger’ and ‘safety’ but something tells me u ain’t a dainty fraidy flower like you keep sounding like. y r u even working here at Hyperion?? U got more balls than this, babe. an you didn’t buckle when I had my hand on ur neck, did ya? U didn’t fall down and beg when I offed that shitbag client of yours. Most people woulda 

A second message followed after more typing. ~~More balls than most people I meet ‘round here, anyway. U saw how that traitor was when he faced me. Could barely talk. That is how most of these idiots act, but worse,  even when they’re doing s**t CORRECTLY 

~~But you, sunshine... you went and got mouthy with me when everyone else would’ve been shittin themselves. Because you aren’t a weak little baby . Or so I thot

~~not that I want ya to be mouthy with me. But I don’t wanna bang someone who’s afraid of me. Does not set well with me

That...was why Hayden wanted to hire him? Because Raine hadn’t cowered from him? Interesting… That...did make a strange kind of sense. Raine leaned forward, an intense feeling he couldn’t fully explain settling in his gut. It shortened his breath just a bit. Excitement. Maybe a bit of arousal.

Hayden didn’t want a docile babe. Not what Raine had expected, but god if it didn’t make him want this more . This was not easy.

And Hayden was right. While Raine had been careful with his clients, his job hadn’t always been completely safe. Safety was not a Hyperion guarantee. But he’d chosen to be here of any place. And after all these years of working at this dangerous company, he still breathed, was alive and arguably well. And after all these years...he couldn’t say that he didn’t enjoy some of the danger.

Maybe...I could do this.

Lord Hayden sent another message. ~~anyway, as far as...danger is concerned. if ur with me, ain’t nobody gonna harm ya cuz people know better than to mess with my shit

An electric feeling ran down Raine’s body. That actually was arousal that time, if the sudden tightness of pants was an indicator.

Fuck.

He tapped his fingers, bounced his leg, almost every last part of him saying yes. Only one last hesitation...

Raine typed. ~Just tell me what you would do if I said no

~~...I don’t understand this

~~But I’ll humor you, cupcake.

~~the answer is nothing. You can return to your pathetic life of serving pathetic people and always lament the passed opportunity. So what’s it gonna be

Raine almost leapt out of his seat with how much that pleased him. At least Lord Hayden knew there were some things even he couldn’t have without permission. Raine looked at the profile one last time.

~~God you're barely worth this effort y am I even still messaging

Because he...wants me. Raine realized. It was weird how hard Hayden was working for this, if he thought about it. He swallowed. Hard.

There was no way he could say no.

~I’m accepting your offer.

~~some common sense! Here I was beginning to think you were in short supply of that!

~Alright, sir, when do you want to set up the meet and greet to go over the finer details of...the arrangement.

~~thought you didn’t do this over messaging, pumpkin

~For you, I’ll make an exception.

~cute. but that’s what I like to hear. appointment tomorrow at 1100 my office. also u aren’t actually hired yet, btw. its an interview. don’t be late. i will send directions to you so I know who to blame if u r late. hint: not me

~Thank you, Lord Hayden, sir

Careless, a small voice whispered in Raine’s head. Careless fool

No, he argued back. I took all the precautions.

But what if it’s not enough?

“Oooh my god!” Raine exclaimed in the silence of his room, pulling at his hair. He was very likely going to have s*x with Lord Hayden, of all people. And be paid to do it. Paid a lot. What was the world coming to? Assuming he was hired. Hayden had said it was just an interview, but with how Hayden had went out his way to pursue him...it seemed unlikely Hayden wouldn’t hire him. Unless he really screwed up tomorrow somehow.

He only knew one thing for sure… He was one hell of a sunova b***h. Lucky or unlucky? He couldn’t yet tell.

But time would.