The Black Rose [The Devil Judge]

Learning what Gaon knows

You feel so good.

Yohan rolled his neck from side to side, trying to concentrate on what he was working on.

I could return the favour.

He slammed his pen down on the desk and got up. He paced, rubbing his lips absently as his treacherous mind dug up memories of the taste of Gaon in his mouth. It had been two days. Two whole days of Yohan scrubbing his mouth and his body to try and wash away the memories of that astounding mistake.

Not that any of it could be helped by the fact that Kim Gaon seemed to think he could stare at Yohan all day. The boy wasn't even pretending anymore, watching Yohan with unconcealed thirst. Seriously, this was why he didn't engage with people in his personal life, much less someone who was engraved in Yohan's personal and professional life.

You feel so good.

Yohan pulled out his phone, licking his lips as he dialled. Two rings in and,

"Good evening, Sir," a man said.

"Is Josephine free right now?"

"I'm sorry, Sir," the man said. "You were just here last week."

"Is she free?" he asked again.

"Of course. Anything for you sir."

"Tell her I'm coming over. Bill the extra session to my card."

"Yes, Sir."

♧♧♧♧♧

There was no reason to feel so nervous. He'd been with here countless times, with multiple partners. He knew what they were capable of and they knew exactly what he wanted. And yet, there he was, sitting in the room, with his jacket by his side.

As his host entered the room, her dark brown pumps clicked with step. Yohan sat up in anticipation, and butterflies in his stomach. He always got antsy by the third week of every month to the point that he almost couldn't function without a visit. If he had a way, he wouldn't bother. But his body had needs. And for some reason, breaking that streak for a blow job with his employee/housemate had wrecked Yohan's rhythm.

"How have you been?" she asked casually, leaning on one side as her hips swayed the other way, her small pleated skirt going along with it. She was beautiful and a few inches taller than Yohan. But she wore heels anyway. As per Yohan's request, she always came in new, fitted blazers and nothing underneath, never buttoned up, revealing the mounds of her breast within.

In her hand, was a slim, long leather whip. Something that brought Yohan more calm than he would ever admit.

"I'm good," he replied.

"Should we start?"

He nodded.

"Ribbons," she said, caressing her whip as the butterflies in Yohan's stomach took flight. "Get on your knees."

Yohan remembered getting on his knees before Gaon. Lowering himself without so much as a command. He remembered diving into Gaon's pants like a hungry animal, desperate for a feel, desperate for Gaon's approval. Unable to stop himself.

You feel so good.

Josephine cracked the whip, startling Yohan out of his thoughts as he stared at her in a rage.

"I said, kneel," she repeated.

Gaon didn't have to ask. Gaon got Yohan's obedience by simply existing and-

She cracked the whip again. For the first time ever, Yohan cringed away from her as the sound reminded him, eerily, of his father's belt. His father who held Yohan down without permission. His father who hurt him even when he was being a good boy.

You feel so good, Gaon's voice said, so soft as if he was right in Yohan's ear.

When Josephine raised the whip to crack it again, Yohan said, "Ribbons."

Because he had no idea what he'd do if she did it again. Thinking about his father while hearing that sound unearthed an uncontrolled rage inside of Yohan to the point that he knew he might just hurt Josephine if she cracked that whip one more time.

"Are you alright?" she asked, sounding genuinely concerned but making no move to come near him. They'd known each other for years so she knew when not to approach him, when not to touch him.

"I'm," he cleared his throat, loosening his tie. "I'm alright."

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

He remembered Gaon patting his hair with care. Even when he'd tried to be cheeky with Yohan, he'd been gentle about shoving Yohan back into his seat. Careful with the way he handled Yohan almost like he thought Yohan would break.

It was such a stupid thing to assume considering how Yohan was raised. Gaon knew what Yohan had been through. He knew how much Yohan could take. Hell, even Gaon had been on the receiving end of Yohan's strength a number of times.

And yet, he'd handled Yohan like an egg, touching him tentatively. You feel so good. Yohan couldn't get those words out of his head.

"Sir?" Josephine called.

"Can you be nice to me?" he asked, for the first time in his life.

Josephine's eyebrows rose in surprise, but to her credit, she recovered quickly.

"Yes, Sir," she said. "No pain?"

Yohan shook his head.

"Okay, then," she dropped the whip. "Let's start again." She waited, giving him a moment to calm himself down before she finally said, "Ribbons."

♧♧♧♧♧

The news was on in the study when Yohan got home that evening. He stood in the corridor wondering if he should go back out so he wouldn't have to face Gaon. Then he reminded himself that he wasn't a coward. Sort of.

He pushed ahead, walking into the study as Gaon paused the news.

"You're back."

"Mmm," Yohan said, walking passed.

"I was hoping we could talk."

"I'm really not in the mood."

As he got to the stairs, Gaon followed him.

"This is all your fault, you know?"

"Not now."

"You came on to me, Sir. You kissed me."

Yohan grabbed Gaon by the shoulder and shoved him into the wall.

"I said, not now, Gaon."

"When?" he asked back, still defiant.

Sometimes, Yohan wondered if Gaon was brave or stupid. Because he never seemed to understand just how easily it would be for Yohan to break him. How easily Yohan could do... anything he wanted. And yet, he just kept pushing and pushing, with no care for what the consequences could be if Yohan decided to react to him.

"You said it was inappropriate and I let it go. But then you-"

"You are not my type."

Gaon shrugged him off and pushed him away, eyes blazing.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, putting some distance between them.

Maybe the boy did have some sense.

"What? Am I too young? Too inexperienced?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Or are you just looking for someone who will make you kneel once a month."

Yohan's head screeched to a halt.

"What did you say?" he asked, coming down from the two steps he'd climbed.

Gaon backed away.

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I was just... I don't understand you."

"What did you say?"

Gaon flinched as his back hit the wall opposite the staircase, his eyes widening in what looked like fear, for the first time ever.

"I can explain."