Job Offer

I can feel my face contort in confusion as I try to think what sort of bet would be good for Barney but bad for me to know about it.  Barney can sense the grinding thoughts bouncing around in my head as he takes my hands and drags my attention back to his own face.

Sighing heavily, Barney gently kisses my forehead before he rests his own against mine.  "There was drinking and the mention of bringing you here and Naka said that you would be sleeping your way through, well, everyone.  But I said, 'But, what if he has a boyfriend?' Naka said that you don’t do the 'boyfriend thing' but I was welcome to try.  There really isn't a 'bet' in any terms, just a challenge." 

Barney's eyes widened as he put his hands up, fingers spread, waiving them back an forth like he was trying to wave a bad stench away.  I was still trying to comprehend what he was going on about when he pulled me into his lap and crushed me with a hug.  "But, Sobata, that isn't why I'm attracted to you.  I would never use your feelings like that."

I laugh and wiggle out of his hold and onto my feet.  "Barney, it's okay.  I know you didn't get close to me just to win a silly bet.  But becoming boyfriends is just the bonus, right?"  I smile and sit back on the couch.

My smile becomes a grin as I see Barney still fidgeting in his seat, avoiding my eyes.  “But I am curious, Barney, dear.  Why are you attracted to me?  Why did you approach me the way you did in the meeting room?”  I cross my legs and settle back into the chair with my best ‘Vampire wants to eat you’ gaze, fingers forming a temple in front of my face.

Barney stills his movements and slowly turns his head in my direction.  His eyes slowly trace over my body and linger around my fingers before moving to my eyes.  I tilt my head slightly trying to convey my curiosity at his suddenly calm movements.  He smiles, a full faced smile while his eyes begin to burn with a desire that both excites and terrifies me in the same moment.

“My dear Sobata.  It was love at first sight.  Didn’t you feel the pull, the attraction to me as well?”  Barney is now standing and purposefully striding in my directions.  I watch him with a heated gaze as I glance at my watch. “Not the time, my faithful bodyguard.”  I say and gently bounce my crossed leg up and down, making sure the toe of my slipper is pointing at his most vulnerable spot.

He stops and raises an eyebrow while staring at my bouncing leg.  “I don’t believe you have been given nor have you accepted a job offer, my lovely Sobata.  Therefore. You. And. I. Are just boyfriends at the moment.”  He begins his advance once again, dodging around my bouncing foot to place his knee between my own, forcing me to uncross my legs and stare up at his face.

All I can do is smile up at my handsome boyfriend and give in to his advances.  “Then why aren’t you undressing me yet?”  I smirk and raise my eyebrows in a questioning gaze.

Barney remains calm as he steps back and offers his hand to me.  I lay my fingers over his palm and rise slowly as he turns and guides me to the bed.  I’m preparing to be thrown over his shoulder and onto the bed but it never comes.  He releases my hand and pulls back the covers and fluffs the pillows.  “Make yourself comfortable.” He says and moves to pick up the tablet that control the various electronics in the room.  He pauses and looks over his shoulder with a smoldering gaze, “And naked.  Comfortable and naked.”  He nods and continues to tap on the tablet, closing the curtains, locking the doors and dimming the lights.

I can only stare at his broad back and begin to undress.  Barney turns around and smiles at me, slowly sliding his hands into his pants pockets.  “Take your time, Sobata.  I like watching you undress.  Exposing that perfect body, little by little until your perfection is completely revealed before me.”  He smiles but doesn’t move from his place next to the bedside table.  His eyes roam up and down my body as I slowly remove each piece of clothing.  After an excruciating amount of time, I'm down to my boxers and am kneeling on the bed. 

Barney has been restraining himself but I can see how tight his dress pants have become so I slow down even more.  Slipping my thumbs into the waistband of my boxers, I gently tease them down so that my hips are exposed.  Barney takes a step towards the bed and I swiftly pull the boxers back up.  "No no, Barney.  You have to wait until I am completely naked."

His eyelids drop and his gaze smolders even more.  I do my best to keep a smirk off my face but the corners of my lips upturn slightly.  I decide to turn around so my back is to Barney and I lean over while sliding my boxers down but I stop just as the dimples below my hips are visible.  I look over my shoulder to make sure Barney is behaving himself, which he is, sort of.  He is palming his crotch over his slacks and breathing heavily now.

I'm just about to slide my boxers down the rest of the way when there is a knock on the door.  Barney and I both answer with a gruff "Go Away!" but the knocking starts again causing Barney to actually growl as I flop down on the bed, spread out like a starfish.

I can hear Barney talking quietly to someone, very respectfully as well so I get up and start getting dressed as I hear the door close.  "What is it now, Barney?  I suppose our play time is over." 

I feel Barney's hands on my waist and his warm breath on my neck.  I lean my head over to give him better access and he rewards me with soft kisses on my neck.  "Yes, I'm afraid this will have to wait until later." He says with a gravely voice as he presses his hips into my back, allowing me to completely feel how ready he was to rail me into next week.

My body reacts without my permission as I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck so I can pull myself up and wrap my legs around his waist.  "And what if I don't want to wait?" I say in the most sultry voice I can manage while lightly nipping at his neck just under his ear.

I feel a rush of air as I'm suddenly being pressed up against the door, Barney grunting and grinding his hardness against my own.  I laugh and  whisper close to his ear, "Maybe a quickie, then?" 

This causes Barney to bite me a little harder than I expect but as he backs off he looks me in the eyes and growls at me.  "I don't do quickies, not with you.  So this will have to wait."  He spins around, drops me to my feet and opens the door, backing away and gesturing for me to leave the room and take the lead.

I sigh loudly and dramatically stomp out into the hallway.  "Fine!  Where the hell am I going, Barney?"

Barney bows and points down the hall, "The meeting room.  It seems they have a job offer for you." 

I can't help but drop my shoulders and pout.  "Oh, okay.  I guess we should get going then."  I feel a temper tantrum coming on but it fades as soon as Barney places his hand on the back of my neck and gently massages down to my shoulders.

We arrive at the conference room, the doors are open and several people that I recognize as part of Tachi's performing group, but don't really know, are seated around the table with Tachi at the head, an empty chair sits to his left.  Tachi rises from his chair, as does everyone else, and motions for me to take the empty chair to his left.  I nod and do as instructed, folding my hands on top of the highly polished cherry wood table.

Tachi motions for everyone else to sit, and they do, also resting their hands on top of the table.  I look at each face seated at the table and then back along the wall to see their assistants standing quietly.  My attention is averted to Tachi when he clears his throat.

"Hello everyone and thank you for coming on such short notice.  As you know, there have been some incidents that have compromised my health and safety recently.  Not to mention the public acknowledgement that I was in a compromising relationship."  I didn't like the way he says that but it's probably the most delicate way to talk about it in a room full of people that probably were also having compromising relationships. 

Tachi leans forward and places his open hands on the table, "I know there have been rumors that the group would be disbanding due to these issues but we have come up with a solution that we believe will preserve the groups standing and won't cause the label to cancel any concerts or appearances." 

Several of the members around the table lean forward waiting to hear this solution just as much as I did.  I'm more concerned about how I fit into this solution and why I was at this meeting.

He stands back up and gestures towards me, "Most of you recognize this man, Sobatatsu Tori."  Tachi waited for acknowledgement from the other members most of whom nodded and made eye contact with me.

"I will be stepping back from the group and Tori will be moving into my spot."  He says quickly as he sits down and just stares at me.  I'm staring back and I'm pretty sure my mouth is hanging open in complete and utter surprise. 

All at once, the other members stand up, chairs slamming to the floor as their assistants try to catch them, I join them as Tachi catches my chair, righting it in one fluid motion.  Several sets of hands slam on the table as different expletives are shouted in Tachi's direction.

"Hold the fuck up, Tachi!  I never agreed to join your group!  I haven't performed in years, well two and a half, but still." I shout at him.

"Yeah, he's too old to get back into the game."  A few of the other members shout out in different forms causing me to turn around and address the group.  "What the hell, dude!  I'm not that old and I work out daily and I can sing circles around most of you and can write music better than all of you so don't count me out yet!"  I say with my hands dramatically gripping my hips.

Tachi begins to chuckle softly that turns into roaring laughter as he stands and lays his hands on my shoulders.  I'm still shocked by everything and am staring wide eyed at Tachi as he  comes down from his one man laugh-fest.  He clears his throat and winks at me and that's when I realize I just accepted his offer and have taken over as the leader of this group.

A thought  hits me and I perk up, "But Tachi, I don't do choreography so I can't really take your spot."  I smile smugly at Tachi when someone speaks up at the other end of the table.  "Yeah, but I can.  Tachi has been turning over the choreography to me little by little.  I'm sure he will still be available for consult if needed."  This tall long haired guy says as he stands up and moves towards Tachi who is smiling and nodding in agreement.

He approaches me with his hand out in greeting. I only stare at his hand and bow, "We're Asian, we don’t shake hands." I say and slowly rise.  "You can address me as Sobata and thank you for taking on this responsibility."  I turn to the rest of the group.  "I will expect access to your calendars and will be scheduling meetings and training.  Have everything that you have been working on over the last six months available for review.  Leave your cell phone numbers before you leave this room.  As of this moment, you are sequestered to the compound and dorms.  No Exceptions!"

I turn and leave the room with Barney close on my heels.  The grumbling and complaints start before I even leave the hallway and I can hear Tachi trying to calm everyone down.  This is why he chose me to replace him.  My arrogance and organization will keep everyone moving and his backing will keep anyone from trying to out me.  Damn him!

Barney jumps ahead of me to open the doors to my suite. He knows I would kick them open and slam them shut.  As soon as I hear the doors click closed I spin on my heels and march up to Barney, grabbing his collar to pull his face down to mine.  "Did. You. Know. About. This!" Each word causes a visible wince in Barney's face.

"No, Sobata, I didn't know.  Even when Tachi came to the door, he didn't say anything more than they found a position for you."  Barney places his large warm hands over mine but I don't let go, I pull him even harder into my space.

My anger begins to give way to anxiety that is spilling over into panic.  I can't do this, I can't go back on stage, I can't lead a group that doesn't have faith in me.  Why would Tachi do this?  Naka!  I need to talk to Naka!  Why wasn't he there?  I feel my grip on Barney's collar failing as he moves his arm around my back, his hands supporting my body as I start to sink into that dark place in my mind.

My vision begins to darken and I can barely hear Barney talking calmly in my ear.  I try to grab onto his voice, let him guide me to somewhere other than that dark place I can't find me way out of, but I don't understand the words.  I hear him say Naka's name a few times and I think he wants to know if he should call him here so I just nod, or I think I nod.  I close my eyes and I'm pretty sure I stop breathing because I suddenly feel something cold and wet on my face.

I open my eyes to see Barney's panicked face very close to my own.  He's frantically talking, yelling, and now, crying.  Gently patting my face and kissing my forehead.  I smile and try to raise my hand to touch his face but I can't.  I can't feel any of my limbs.  All I can focus on is Barney's tearful face and his lips touching my forehead while he keeps talking.  I just close my eyes again and try to focus on his touch, pick up the sound of his voice.  I feel weightless and the darkness pulls me in even further.