Different clans are known for their use of Qi. The way a martial artist uses and manifests Qi gives clues as to which clan they belong to. Several clans use similar techniques so it is impossible to identify someone immediately based on that.

  The door closed behind them and Min found his back against the wall before he had a chance to so much as glance around the room. His head was guided up by a single finger and Min met Tae-Hwan’s silvery grey eyes with his own. He swallowed reflexively at both the heat smouldering in those eyes, the question in them, and the fact that he was effectively pinned against the wall with Tae-Hwan’s arm above his head. Min glanced at Tae-Hwan’s lips, and then back up at those grey eyes while biting his own lower lip lightly and smirking.

  Seemed that was all the invitation Tae-Hwan had needed. The man’s hand brushed along Min’s jaw before wrapping around the back of his neck. Impatient Min grabbed Tae-Hwan’s neck as well. Tae-Hwan smiled and closed the distance between them. Their lips met and Min sighed into Tae-Hwan. Their breath seemed to meld together. Min lost himself in the kiss, a fire had ignited inside of him and devoured all thought.

  He’d been so absorbed in the kiss that when Tae-Hwan pulled away it was a sharp disappointment. Min let his frustration show on his face and quirked an eyebrow at the taller man. A rumbling laugh that he could feel with most of their bodies still pressed against each other surprised Min.

  “As much as I would love to keep going,” Tae-Hwan said, detangling himself from Min. “We did come here to get cleaned up, and if we don’t stop, at least temporarily, we’re going to be here all night.”

  Min grinned at the idea, but followed Tae-Hwan into the changing room. It was a smaller wooden room with cubbies for clothing, and a couple of benches. Min grabbed one of the towels in a cubby and disrobed. He turned, towel wrapped around his waist to see Tae-Hwan tying up his hair.

  Min watched as Tae-Hwan’s muscled body rippled with the movement. As Tae-Hwan got control of his hair, Min got an unhindered view of the man’s back and felt his eyes widen with the shock that hit him like a blow to the stomach. Scars covered the majority of the man’s skin. Min had seen some on the man’s arms and hands, but there were mere finger-width sections of skin on Tae-Hwan’s back that wasn’t scarred. There were clear whip marks, some looked like an ordinary whip, while others had clearly been with a multi corded one with other things braided into it. From the way the scars were it had likely been glass and bits of metal.

  He took in the scars. He quickly went through how many different weapons would have had to have been used to cause the scars. The whip ones were the worst and took up most of the skin on Tae-Hwan’s back, but there were others that had obviously been from other causes. Min had expected some scars, the man was a war hero after all. He hadn’t expected the clear signs of torture and abuse. Scars from burns that had likely been caused by hot pokers. Thin lines that had been caused by knife and sword wounds.

  As Tae-Hwan turned, Min thought he saw a dragon rippling among the scars, up and over Tae-Hwan’s shoulder, down his arm. Min met the clear grey eyes. Tae-Hwan smiled, there was a darkness in those eyes that told Min that Tae-Hwan had expected his reaction. For a brief moment Min thought those eyes, warm to him, could likely be as cold, harsh, and deadly, as the blade their colour made him think of.

  ***

  Tae could see the questions that Min was too polite to ask in the man’s amber eyes. Those very clearly god blessed eyes. He’d known that the sheer amount of scars he had would spark questions. He and the prince really knew very little about each other. They’d met all of twice. Tae couldn’t deny the draw he felt towards the man. Tae took a moment to admire the body before him. Though slighter of build, the toning on the body told Tae all he needed about the muscles that were hidden. Tae knew that though Min looked softer, it was a lie his body told. Those muscles would be tight like whipcord, and just as fast.

  “Part of the reason I joined up at the beginning of the war.” Tae said, gesturing to a few of the scars. “Gave me the chance to return the favour with interest.”

  Min swore, shaking his head. Tae shrugged.

  “How old were you when you got the chance to take revenge?” Min asked. Interesting. That hadn’t been the question he’d been expecting.

  “Let’s see,” Tae mused. “Well, I was about eighteen or nineteen when the war started and roughly twenty-three when it ended. It took until the end of the war to get my revenge.”

  Tae watched as thoughts raced through Min’s mind. The assassins earlier were a clear indicator that there was someone the prince wanted revenge on as well. As empty as his own revenge had been, Tae still knew it was far from his place to discourage the man.

  “As much as I hated that war, I’m glad it gave you a chance to take down the bastards.” Min said after a moment. Tae just shrugged. He wrapped a cloth around his head to help hold his hair in place. These were not memories he wanted to relive tonight.

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  Both of them were quiet for a while. They’d moved from the changing room to the one beyond it. Min sat down first, reaching for the soap. Tae stopped his hand as he knelt down beside him. Tae took the soap from Min, rubbing a wet cloth with it until he’d gotten a good lather of soap suds. After putting the soap down he scooped some water with a small bucket from the basin next to them and poured it over Min’s shoulders.

  Tae watched the water run down Min’s torso. He slowly slid his eyes back up to meet Min’s. Letting the other man know just how much he appreciated the view. Tae set down the bucket and began gently washing his prince with the cloth. Neck, shoulders, down the arms. Back up to the shoulders and down Min’s smooth back. Tae shifted as he got Min’s side and travelled around to the front of his torso. He was tempted to let the cloth slip, but refrained from doing so. It was already hard enough to keep himself under control.

  He could feel the hard muscles under his hand through the cloth, as he travelled upwards. He was careful to not leave any part of Min’s chest free of the soapy bubbles. He had to put more soap on the cloth and smiled at the heat that visibly burned in his prince’s eyes. Tae placed his hand on Min’s knee, before travelling up the thigh and under the towel. Tae wanted to let his hand wander, but went down slowly, to the foot. He lifted Min’s foot, being careful to cover it in soap as well before taking the cloth up the side of Min’s calf and stopping at the knee. If he did the inner thighs he’d lose all control and Tae was enjoying this.

  He did the same to the other leg. Then he rinsed Min, just as carefully as he’d covered him in soap. Being sure not a single sud was left. Tae rocked up off his knees and sat on the other stool. He went to grab the soap again, but Min snatched it and the cloth Tae was holding.

  “Not a chance.” Min said. His voice was lower than it had been earlier. Tae smiled before sitting up to make things easier on Min.

  It was incredibly difficult to sit still. Min used both hands, and the feeling of them travelling his skin made him want to trap them against his body. Tae closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of the smouldering fire of carnal need that burned under his skin wherever Min touched.

  He felt Min move as his hands went from Tae’s back to his front. Tae opened his eyes and grinned at the fire in the amber eyes that seemed to be trying to devour him. Min’s hands travelled up his stomach and across his chest. Tae had moved his legs out of Min’s way and the sight of the man kneeling between his thighs… Tae had to grip the edges of the stool he sat on to keep a growl from rumbling through him.

  Tae watched Min as the man washed his legs exactly the same way he had. The wood cracked in his hands when Min stopped just before the towel on his inner thigh. Min’s eyes slowly travelled upwards, taking in every detail, burning a path from the heat smouldering in them. When Min’s eyes finally met his own, Tae grabbed the bucket and doused himself in water. Getting rid of the soap. He wasn’t watching what he was doing, he held Min’s gaze the entire time. When it felt like most of it was washed away, Tae dropped the bucket in the basin. He let go of the stool and brushed his fingers across Min’s cheek.

  The man leaned into the movement and Tae continued the motion. As his fingers wrapped around the base of Min’s head and in his hair, Tae grabbed Min’s waist. He guided the man towards himself. As his lips brushed teasingly against Min’s he lifted the man up into his lap. The movement must have caused their towels to come undone because Tae felt the warmth of Min’s soft skin against his erection. Min’s brushed his stomach and Tae stopped trying to keep control.

  He tightened his hold on Min, pressing the man into himself so that there wasn’t even a hint of space between them. Tae stopped teasing Min and kissed him. Min had caught his lower lip and the sensation of teeth caused a growl to rumble out. They both weren’t getting much air, but it didn’t seem like Min cared any more than Tae did. Tae gripped Min’s hair and pulled the man’s head back. He then kissed the now exposed neck. Tae nipped at the point where Min’s neck and shoulder met. The moan that breathed out Min’s lips was more than enough encouragement.

  Tae explored his way across Min’s skin, leaving behind a trail of kisses and little licks and nips. Tae released Min’s hair and slid his hand down Min’s neck and shoulder blades causing Min to arch his back. Tae took advantage of the movement and kissed first the area next to Min’s nipple before flicking the nipple with his tongue. The sounds that Min made while Tae played with his nipples was immensely satisfying. Min moved so that his lips were next to Tae’s ear.

  “What, only going to tease me?” Min asked. The breathlessness of his voice made it obvious how much he was enjoying this.

  Tae nipped Min's ear. “Had to be sure.” He whispered before sliding a finger inside Min.

  The gasp quickly turned into a moan. Tae shifted, his hands supporting Min as he lifted the man up. Tae stood, carrying Min to the bench that held the towels he’d brought in with them. Tae lifted Min’s legs so that he could position himself between them.

  Carefully, slowly, Tae slid himself inside of Min. He watched the man’s face as he did so. Looking for signs of discomfort. He knew he wasn’t small and if he wasn’t careful he could damage his partner. Min arched into him, groaning in pleasure. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled when his eyes met Tae’s. Tae lowered himself, placing one arm above Min’s head and gripped Min’s hip with the other. Losing himself in the sensation Tae growled against Min’s lips.

  Min moaned as Tae buried himself inside him.The sound of their bodies together combined with the moans that accompanied it would have been more than enough to drown out any thoughts Tae might have had if he hadn’t already given himself over to the pleasure.

  They lost themselves in each other. Some time later, Min lay on the bench that held their towels, Tae lay on top and just above him. Tae lowered himself further against Min and brushed his lips against Min’s ear.

  “Seems I’m going to have to clean you up again.” He paused and chuckled to himself. “Thoroughly.”

  It took them some time before they were both fully clean and sitting together in the large tub filled with hot water. It was large enough to fit six or seven men, so the two of them were quite comfortable as they soaked. Tae pulled Min a little closer against him and kissed the top of his head as Min leaned into him.