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Barok had never wanted an apprentice. When the young man with amnesia was foisted upon him, he accepted him grudgingly. When the apprentice’s memories returned and he became Barok’s enemy, he thought he’d been right to be wary of him. And when the trial was over and Kazuma asked to remain in his tutelage, he agreed only out of guilt.
Yet in the time since then, the relationship between them had warmed. Even though it sometimes seemed as though his greatest goal in life were to drive Barok mad, his torment came with a lightheartedness that made it enjoyable. Indeed, Barok had come to value him greatly. Only one problem remained.
He was so distracting.
Today, he had chosen to discuss the case while sitting on the edge of Barok’s desk. With difficulty, Barok dragged his gaze up from the lean hips resting on his desk, but then all he could see was the muscular upper body right in front of him. The close fit of his uniform ensured Barok could make out the definition of every muscle, from his biceps to his pectorals. Such a mouthwatering sight was not at all good for his concentration during working hours.
He forced his gaze up further to focus on his eyes. God, he was handsome.
“Well, what do you think?” Kazuma asked.
Barok had not heard a word of his insights on the case. “I think you should get off my desk.”
The other man scowled and leaned in closer instead. “You’re infuriating, you know that? Now tell me what you think about my theory.”
“Start behaving professionally, and then I’ll give you my opinion.”
Kazuma’s scowl deepened, but he stood up.
Not only did the greater distance help Barok breathe again, but it also bought him enough time to search his memory of the past few moments and dredge up the details that didn’t involve Kazuma’s chest. “Your view of the case is sound. I believe your theory is on the right track.”
As expected. These days, Kazuma saw things clearly more often than not. He was well on his way to becoming a fine prosecutor.
“Thank you, sir.” Kazuma smiled. “I’ll keep working, then.”
As he turned around and walked back toward his own desk, Barok watched the enticing sway of his hips and nearly bit his tongue.
He really needed to do something about this.
#
Barok stood alone in the master bedroom looking at himself in the mirror. He’d always had a large frame, and the years as the Reaper had forced him to fight for his life and gain the necessary strength to survive attacks in the streets. Although Kazuma was fit, Barok himself was more muscular. Therefore, there was no reason the sight of Kazuma’s muscles in his tight uniform should make his head spin like he was a schoolgirl.
Yet no matter how many times he told himself that, it never seemed to change his reactions.
A quiet knock came at the door. “Lord van Zieks? Do you have a minute?”
Barok’s heart leaped. Having Kazuma live in the manor with him was both wonderful and—like everything else about him—supremely distracting.
He turned away from the mirror and opened the door.
Kazuma stood waiting with some papers in his hands. “I was just going over the investigation notes, and a few details stood out to me.”
Barok nodded, all but rendered mute. No matter where he looked, all he could see was Kazuma’s body. Those things he told himself while looking into the mirror no longer mattered at all. He might surpass Kazuma’s physique, but that hardly mattered when it was Kazuma.
If only his uniform didn’t show off his body quite so well.
Come to think of it, no one had ever asked Kazuma his preference in clothing. He had been issued a set of uniforms back when he had amnesia, and he’d kept the same clothing ever since. Chances were he himself was only enduring the tight fit out of some sense of politeness or gratitude.
With a potential solution in mind, Barok managed to focus again at last. However, once they finished discussing the case, he cleared his throat. “One more thing, Mr. Asogi.”
“Yes?”
“It occurred to me today that your uniforms were issued to you while you had amnesia. I thought you might like to pick out something more to your tastes.”
Kazuma blinked, and then he smiled. “I’d love to, my lord.”
#
When Kazuma’s new clothes arrived, he took them to his bedroom right away to change into them. Barok sat in the parlor and poured himself a chalice of wine. He had introduced Kazuma to his personal tailor and encouraged him not to feel restricted by the style of his current uniform, but rather to choose whatever he wished.
He took a slow sip of wine and imagined what the young man would look like in his new clothes. Handsome, of course, but at least he would be less distracting in looser clothing. Then, perhaps, Barok could shove these troublesome feelings aside and focus on work again.
“Well, what do you think?”
At the sound of Kazuma’s voice, he lifted his head.
His mouth went dry.
Kazuma was dressed in a rich, dark blue suit, similar in style to his usual uniform, yet all the more striking because of its dark colors. On his shoulders were golden epaulettes similar to Barok’s own, and a white jabot was tied around his neck.
And his clothes were just as tight as his usual uniform.
No—on second thought, they might have been even tighter.
“What, nothing to say?” Kazuma sauntered closer, and every step demonstrated just how his new suit all but adhered to his body. His muscles flexed as he closed the gap between them. “I’ve never known the great Lord van Zieks to be speechless before.”
Barok managed to grasp onto some measure of composure. “It looks… quite nice.”
“But?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You obviously want to say something else, so out with it already.”
He took a sip of his wine to hide his embarrassment. “I cannot help but notice that it is quite close-fitting. Since that fit was chosen for you before, I thought you might prefer something looser, so I sincerely hope you did not feel compelled to keep that style.”
“Nah, I’ve gotten to like it.” Kazuma stretched, which did nothing for Barok’s mental state. “I got some new kimonos too, though. I took advantage of your confused British tailor to make some alterations to give them my own unique style. Want to see?”
“Perhaps another time.” He couldn’t imagine what sort of alterations Kazuma might have made to a kimono, and he feared his heart might not be able to take it.
“Heh, all right. I’ll just go unpack the rest for now.”
As he left, Barok finished his wine and shook his head. So much for the grand solution to his problem. Now Kazuma would be more distracting than ever.
#
Barok hustled Kazuma into the office as quickly as he could. The attack had come without warning that night, and Kazuma threw himself across Barok to shield him from a thrown dagger. Although they fought off their attackers with ease, the bloody slash across Kazuma’s shoulder worried him. Fortunately, he kept medical supplies on hand at the office.
He got out the bandages and other supplies and turned back to face Kazuma in time to see him unbuttoning his shirt. A glimpse of tanned muscles was enough to make Barok realize he wasn’t wearing anything beneath it, and it seemed the entire shirt was coming off. He set the medical supplies on the desk and averted his gaze, already flushed.
“Give me a hand here,” Kazuma said.
Barok nearly choked. The thought of touching Kazuma now, of being so close to his naked upper body, of touching his bare skin while cleaning the gash in his shoulder—he doubted he could handle that. “S-Surely you can tend to such an injury on your own.”
“What?” Kazuma sounded baffled. “I mean, I’m sure I could if I had to, but it’ll be cumbersome by myself. I really could use an extra set of hands.”
“Nonsense, I am certain you will have no trouble.”
Kazuma stared at him. “You’re actually not going to help me?”
The hurt in his voice sent a wave of guilt through Barok. He couldn’t ignore him when he sounded like that. “Forgive me. If… if you truly wish my help, then I will.”
“Finally! Then get over here already.”
Barok prepared a wet cloth to clean the wound with, gathered his nerve, and turned his attention to Kazuma.
This was not the time to admire his body, not when he had an injury to attend to, but oh, he was so gorgeous with that sculped chest and hard abdomen and of course those powerful forearms. Barok’s face warmed even as he focused on the injury.
It was a shallow gash across his shoulder and partway onto his chest, and mercifully didn’t look like it would need stitches. He cleaned it carefully and then disinfected it. At least his gloves prevented him from thinking too much about Kazuma’s bare chest beneath his hands. He bandaged the injury and then stepped back.
“There,” he said. “It was not deep, so it should heal without any trouble.”
“Good.” Kazuma stood up and scowled. “Now, do you mind telling me what that was all about, my lord?”
Barok winced. “I… I do not know what you mean.”
“Don’t give me that garbage! You weren’t going to help me! I had to practically beg just to get your assistance!” Kazuma folded his arms. “Is tending to a mere apprentice beneath you, Lord van Zieks?”
“Certainly not.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Then maybe you couldn’t bring yourself to touch a Nipponese.”
The familiar words were like a blow to Barok’s heart. “You know I do not think that way anymore.”
“Then what were you thinking? Because it was pretty clear you had to force yourself to touch me.”
Barok groaned and covered his face. This was terrible. Yet… if Kazuma was going to hate him regardless, he would at least prefer him to hate him for the correct reasons. He lowered his hands and took a deep breath. “Very well, I will explain.” His quiet voice sounded too loud in the silence of the office. “I am attracted to men, and you are an incredibly attractive man.”
A long moment of silence passed. When he finally dared to look up, Kazuma was staring at him. “Are you actually saying I’m so sexy you couldn’t handle it?”
When he put it like that, it sounded pathetic.
Kazuma raised his eyebrows with a slight smirk, then flexed his muscles—and not just his arm muscles, but his pecs, too.
Heat rushed to his cheeks, and Barok spun around. “S-Stop that at once!”
The other man let out a delighted laugh. “It’s true! It’s actually true!” At least he was laughing at him instead of shouting at him. He moved closer, until Barok could feel his warmth against his back. “So… does this mean I have a chance with you?”
His heart thudded in his chest. “A chance?”
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one with an eye for gentlemen.”
He slowly turned to face him again. The other man didn’t look like he was joking. His heart raced. He’d thought this to be a forbidden dream forever out of reach.
Kazuma placed his hands on Barok’s shoulders and drew closer. “Well?”
“If you’ll have me,” he whispered.
To answer, Kazuma kissed him.
Breathless, Barok held him close and returned his kiss, heart pounding so hard he could barely breathe. Kazuma, his Kazuma… When they parted for air, he leaned in to kiss him again, and Kazuma obliged with a quiet laugh. An odd sense of exhilaration swept through him, enough to make him giddy.
He had a feeling he would be more distracted than ever at the office now, but he found he didn’t care.