Asian Persuasion

By DC Juris

Caleb dashed into the conference room and slid into

his seat just before the meeting started. He nodded
across the table to Tim and Joe, elbowed Patty as she
giggled at him, poked Deborah in the rib, and grinned at
their boss, Alonzo, who stood with his back to them,
looking out the widow.

Alonzo turned, quirked an eyebrow, and burst into

laughter, as did everyone else. He spread his arms wide.
"Welcome to the inaugural use of our new fancy
conference room in our fancy new office!"

1

Everyone clapped; Joe pumped his fist in the air and

made whooping noises. The "conference room" was
little bigger than a broom closet, with a card table and
folding chairs, but it served its purpose.

Alonzo took his seat and cleared his throat.

"Gentlemen -- and Patty and Deborah -- I've called this
meeting for a very important reason." He leaned back in
his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. "Guess
who's in town?"

They looked around at each other, shrugging and

shaking their heads. "Who?" Caleb asked.

"Arata Ito!"
Caleb frowned. "Who is Arata Ito?"
"How do you not know who he is?" Patty smacked

him on the arm.

"Because he lives under a rock!" Joe teased.
"Arata Ito," Alonzo continued, "is one of the richest

men in Japan. I'm not talking dirty rich, or even filthy
rich. I'm talking hideously rich. Like, buy and sell
everyone of us in this room rich."

Caleb shrugged. So the man was rich. Lots of rich

people visited New York City. "What does that have to
do with us?"

"He's looking to branch out into the American

market, and he's looking at us." Alonzo slapped his hand
down on the table, making it wobble and shake.

Deborah gasped. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Alonzo, that's awesome!" Tim piped up.
"Isn't it?" Alonzo turned to Caleb. "He's asked for a

meeting with you."

"Me? Why me?" He'd never even heard of the guy.
Alonzo shrugged. "No clue. He said he'd been to our

website, and he wanted to meet with you."

2

"Go get 'em, tiger!" Patty clawed the air with her

right hand and made a growling sound while Tim and
Joe snickered.

Caleb looked around the room at each one of them.

They all seemed to be sharing some kind of internal joke
-- winking at each other, leering at him. Hell, Tim even
stood up and dry humped Joe's arm. "What am I
missing?"

Alonzo tapped his pen on the tabletop. "There's a

rumor -- and I want to stress it's a rumor; I don't have
any fact to back this up -- that Arata Ito is a... coinsure
of the male form."

"He's gay?" Caleb frowned. Big deal. So the guy was

gay. Maybe that's why he'd been requested -- his
company profile clearly stated he lived with his husband
on the Upper East Side.

"He's horny!" Patty blurted.
"What?" Caleb's eyes went wide as their meaning

finally dawned on him. "Wait. I'm married. I can't do...
things with this guy. I don't even know him."

Alonzo waived a hand in the air. "Oh, stop whining.

You take him to dinner, you dine him, you wine him,
you flirt a little, you sign the deal and go home alone.
Easy peasy."

"Then why don't you do it?"
"Ito doesn't want me, he wants you. And I want his

money. This firm needs his money."

"I don't know. I have to talk to Mitch first." And

Caleb already knew the answer -- no way would his
husband go for this.

Alonzo shook his head. "I'm not asking here. I'm

telling."

"Fuck you," Caleb sputtered. "I'm not a whore. You

can't pimp me out."

3

Alonzo held up a hand. "I'm not trying to be an

asshole here, but I'll tell you this -- I am going to pull
rank. I'm the CEO, you're not. You're meeting with Ito
and that's the end of it. This account could bring us
millions. The future of this company literally sits on
your shoulders."

The room fell silent, until Joe coughed.
"No pressure," Tim muttered.
Caleb folded his arms across his chest and glared at

Alonzo. How dare his boss expect this of him? How
dare his coworkers expect it? "This is because I'm gay,
isn't it?" He stabbed a finger at Patty. "If it were Patty
he'd asked for, would you be so eager to send her?"

"If it guaranteed us the money? Yes." Alonzo

nodded.

"Hell, I'd go if it didn't guarantee the money!" Patty

said. "The guy is h-o-t hot. I almost wish he had
requested me."

Caleb gaped at her. "You can't be serious?"
She shrugged. "Why not? Like Alonzo said, we're not

asking you to marry the guy. It's just dinner, some
conversation, and some harmless flirting. Besides, how
bad could it be?"

Caleb rolled his eyes. Great. Now she'd gone and

done it. Everyone knew how bad could it be was like a
curse. Ito was probably a freak to the nth degree, and
Caleb would be lucky to leave their rendezvous with his
dignity intact. He slumped in his chair and glared at his
coworkers in turn as the meeting continued.

***

Caleb pulled up to the curb three nights later at the

address he had been given. He yanked the slip of paper

4

out of his pocket and looked at it again. Seven Thirty
Madison. He frowned at the nondescript brick building.
Didn't look like anywhere a millionaire would be caught
dead, let alone host an important meeting.

Caleb opened the door, got out, and looked up to see

a short Asian woman with long, dark hair waiving at
him. "Perrish-san?"

"Perrish-san?" he muttered. Oh. Right. "I'm Caleb

Perrish, yes."

She rushed over and stopped about three feet away,

bowed, and smiled. She stood there for a moment,
looking at him expectantly.

Caleb shook his head at his own stupidity and bowed

just as she thrust her right and out. He straightened and
shook her hand.

"Konnichiwa! I am Hikaru. I am assistant to Sensei

Ito."

"Sensei?" Caleb echoed. Visions of Mister Miyagi

flooded his head. "I didn't know he was into martial
arts."

Hikaru covered her mouth as she giggled. "Sensei

mean person of great knowledge. Not wax on, wax off."
She giggled again, and then her expression grew serious
as her gaze raked his body. "This what you wearing?"

Caleb looked down at himself. He'd picked out the

nicest outfit he owned -- black slacks and a maroon
dress shirt with gold pin striping and French cuffs. He'd
forgone a tie, but he still thought he looked rather
presentable. "Yes?"

Hikaru rolled her eyes and turned away. "Come on."
"Wait! What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" He

glanced at his watch. No time to go home and change,
but he had his credit card on him -- maybe he could run
into a store and buy something quickly.

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She turned and grabbed his arm. "Too late now.

Hurry up. Sensei hates if people are tardy!"

"What's he like?" Caleb asked as he allowed her to

drag him along.

"I don't know! He like boys!" She stopped in her

tracks, put her hands on her hips, and turned to scowl at
him. "What kind of girl you think I am?"

"No... I meant..." Damn language barrier. "Not what

does he like. What is he like?"

She shrugged. "He Japanese." She grabbed for his

arm again.

Caleb pulled his arm away and stepped back.
Hikaru sighed. "He just like you, only with slanty

eyes." She pointed to the corners of her own eyes. "Now
come on!" She patted his arm. "Don't worry. You cute."
She winked at him. "He love you long time GI Joe."

Caleb shuddered and trudged along behind her. That's

what I'm afraid of.

Hikaru opened the door and bowed again as he

stepped inside.

Caleb stopped and simply stood there, gawking.

What was from the outside a run of the mill building
was, on the inside, a glitzy, glamorous club, complete
with a giant crystal chandelier and beautiful people -- far
more fancy dressed than him -- walking around or
lounging on leather couches, holding gold rimmed
champagne flutes, laughing and smiling. Scantily clad
men and women mingled through the crowd, refilling
drinks or offering morsels off gleaming silver platters.
In the corner, a fluffy haired female singer with a
smoky, sultry voice belted out the Shooter Jennings
song "All of this Could've Been Yours" accompanied by
a full band. A shimmering sign at the back of the room
declared the place "Club Fantasia."

6

Caleb ran his hands down the front of his body. No

wonder Hikaru hadn't liked his wardrobe! He squared
his shoulders, made a mental note to choke Alonzo, and
stepped further into the room.

Hikaru touched his shoulder and pointed to a door on

the other side. "Sensei back there. You go. Guard show
you in." She gave him a gentle shove in the direction of
the door.

Caleb took a deep breath. Get hold of yourself! It

wouldn't be that bad. He would speak with Ito, be
pleasant, explain he was married, and that would be the
end of it. Ito was a businessman, right? He swallowed
hard. Ito wouldn't do anything stupid. Like rape him.
Right?

He walked with purpose across the room, mentally

telling himself to keep walking, keep putting one foot in
front of the other, until he came abreast of the guard at
the door.

The guard -- a hulking, dark-skinned man with

muscles practically bursting through his tight red t-shirt
-- nodded and opened the door, gesturing him into the
room.

Caleb crossed the threshold and blinked, his eyes

having trouble adjusting to the dimly lit room. He could
make out the shapes of tables and chairs, though he
didn't see a single person. He jumped when the guard
laid a hand on the small of his back.

"The table at the back," the guard told him, pointing.
Caleb nodded his thanks, took another deep breath,

wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, and picked his way
through the empty tables. He bowed. "Mister Ito. I'm
Caleb Parrish from Fluid Marketing."

Ito inclined his head and gestured to the chair

opposite him. "Please, call me Arata"

7

Compared to the people in the outer room, Ito was

almost as underdressed as himself, wearing a simple
green dress shirt and brown slacks. Caleb took his seat
and gasped. Once at eye level, he could see that Arata
wore a mask. Not just any mask -- an elaborate mask
made in the image of a fierce Asian dragon. Caleb
couldn't tell what the mask was made of, but it covered
half of Arata's face. Bright gold in color, it featured red-
tipped ears and white horns protruding from the
forehead. It rested on Arata's nose, leaving his mouth
and chin bare, and had small holes for his eyes. Caleb
could just make out the color -- intense, piercing green.
Unnaturally green.

"Does the mask bother you?" Arata asked.
Caleb shook his head quickly, not wanting to give

offense. If the guy wanted to be all cloak and dagger,
more power to him.

"I took the liberty of ordering dinner for us."
"Oh." Caleb glanced around, not finding any menus

on any of the tables. What would Arata have ordered?
Probably something Caleb had never heard of. Or,
worse, something gross he had heard of. Maybe squid.
God, he hoped it wasn't squid.

The door behind them opened and three waitresses

bustled over. They sat their trays down on nearby tables
and started laying out the food in front of Caleb and
Arata.

Caleb arched an eyebrow. Well, so far, so good.

Among the offerings were lobster tails, filet mignon,
fingerling potatoes, haricot vert, and a colorful salad of
spinach and red leaf lettuce, garnished with cherry
tomatoes, boiled eggs, banana peppers, cashews, and a
drizzle of dressing. Of course, there was also sushi,
caviar, and escargot, none of which he had tried and

8

none of which he planned to. One of the waitresses
poured them each a glass of wine before they all bowed
and retreated with their trays.

"I thought an assortment would be best," Arata

explained. "So often I hold these meetings and people
refuse their heart's desire. I would not want you to leave
here hungry." Arata's bright eyes bored into him, and
Caleb knew the man hadn't meant anything about food.

Caleb cleared his throat. "I should tell you I'm

married. I want you to know that up front."

Arata inclined his head again. "As am I."
Caleb ducked his head to keep Arata from seeing his

wide eyes. The guy was married? Married, yet
gallivanting around wherever he wanted, taking his
pleasure from whomever? Caleb stifled a snicker and
turned his attention to the food. He plopped a generous
amount of salad on his plate alongside a piece of filet
mignon.

"Your husband, he knows you are here tonight?"

Arata asked. He tore off a piece of lobster tail, dunked it
into a tiny bowl of butter and raised it to his lips, closing
his eyes before popping it into his mouth and giving an
appreciative moan.

Caleb stared, his lips parting in silent echo of the

sound. He shook himself. "Yes. Yes, he does." He sat up
straighter and puffed out his chest just a bit. "I'm always
honest with him."

"Honesty is a virtue many lack."
Caleb frowned. Something about Arata's voice

seemed wrong. Though the man spoke his words in a
careful and controlled manner, his tone seemed forced.
Almost… fake.

"Is something amiss?"

9

"No. No, not at all." Caleb went about eating his

salad, trying not to watch Arata, and trying not to notice
that, though the man ate, Arata's attention seemed solely
focused on him.

After several minutes, Caleb sat his fork down and

cleared his throat. Best not to let this go on any longer.
He started with his standard sales pitch. "I'd like to
discuss your marketing goals, and how Fluid can help
you achieve them. Fluid approaches advertising
differently than most companies. Instead of hard-target,
localized campaigns, we believe in the broader picture --
the global picture, if you will. Print media is becoming a
thing of the past, and Fluid embraces the massive
opportunities Internet marketing can--"

Arata held up a hand. "I have read the company

portfolio. I have researched your clients, they are all
very happy. You need not sell me."

Caleb blinked and sat back in his chair. "Then... I'm

sorry, please forgive me for my confusion but, if I'm not
here to sell you on the company, what am I here for?"

Arata arched an eyebrow as he sipped his wine. "You

are here for whatever you wish to be here for."

Here we go again. More sexual innuendo. "Quite

frankly, Mister Ito, I'm here to discuss Fluid Marketing
with you. Nothing more."

"Are you a top, or a bottom?"
Caleb sputtered and choked. What the hell kind of

question was that? "I don't see how that is any of your
business. I'm not going to sit here and play Twenty
Personal Questions with you."

"Ah. Well, it would seem I have erred. Apparently

your firm is not in need of my business. Or my money."
Arata pushed his chair back from the table.

10

Fuck! Harmless flirting, Patty had said. Caleb

mentally added her to the list of people to choke
tomorrow. "Wait." He reached out and laid his hand on
Arata's arm. "We've…we've gotten off on the wrong
foot. I'm not--" He faltered. Was he really about to say
this? "I'm not adverse to a little intimate conversation.
You just took me by surprise, that's all." He ran his hand
up and down Arata's arm. "Most men aren't so," he
ducked his head and tried for his best impression of cute
and coy, "so forceful."

Arata pulled his arm away and resumed his seat. He

took several more bites of lobster tail before cocking his
head to the side. "Well?"

Caleb chuckled. "You don't give up, do you?"
"I do not."
"Okay. Well, in answer to your question, I'm

um…I'm usually a bottom."

"Do you enjoy receiving oral sex?"
Caleb felt the heat of a blush race up his neck and

cheeks. "Yes."

"And cocksucking?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Cocksucking. Do you enjoy sucking cock?" Arata

shrugged. "Some men care to receive but not to give."

Caleb ran a finger under the rim of his collar. "Yes."
Arata smiled and nodded. "As do I. I prefer sucking

to being sucked. It may seem odd for someone of my
considerable status, but that is how I... how do you
Americans term it? Get off?"

Caleb made a noise he hoped passed for a yes and

shoveled another mouthful of salad in. The food. Focus
on the food. He almost choked as Arata's foot slid up the
inside of his leg.

"There is nothing quite like that feeling, is there?"

11

"What…" Caleb coughed. Dear God it had gone from

comfortable to down right roasting in the room! "What
feeling is that?"

Arata chuckled. "The feeling of another man's cock

in your mouth. It is a singular feeling of both pleasure
and power, is it not? To be able to usher forth an
instinctual reaction, to be able to manipulate a man's
base need, to bring him to his knees with nothing but
your lips and tongue."

Caleb grabbed for his glass and downed several gulps

of wine. "I suppose--" the words came out as a squeak
and he cleared his throat. "I suppose so. I'd never really
though of it that way."

"Had you not? You should consider these things."

Arata dabbed his lips with his napkin and took a sip of
wine. He gazed across the table at Caleb. "Take off your
shirt."

"What?" Caleb glanced down at the table, taking

inventory of what was available to him, should he need
to fight Arata off. Aside from his glass and plate, he
only had silverware, but that included a serrated blade
steak knife. Okay. At least he had a plan.

"I enjoy the male form. I would very much like to see

more of you." Arata smiled sweetly, almost disarmingly,
if he hadn't followed it with, "Take it off, or I will take it
off for you."

Caleb reached for the first button with shaking hands.

So he'd have his shirt off. Didn't mean anything at all.
Lots of men walked around without their shirts on. The
guy in the next apartment from him never wore a
damned shirt. He finished the last button and slid the
garment off his shoulders.

"Very nice." A smiled turned up the right corner of

Arata's mouth and he licked his lips. He slid from his

12

chair and moved to stand next to Caleb's. Arata dropped
to his knees and reached for Caleb's belt.

Caleb grabbed Arata's wrist and squeezed as hard as

he could. "I'm married. I won't cheat on my husband."

Arata looked up at him, green eyes gleaming

mischievously from behind the mask. "It is not cheating
if you have no say in the matter, is it?" He snatched his
wrist away and continued, unzipping Caleb's pants -- the
sound seeming to echo off the walls in the otherwise
quiet room. He reached inside and palmed Caleb's cock
through Caleb's briefs.

No say. Caleb swallowed hard and fought not to press

into Arata's touch. Forced or not, his cock didn't seem to
care. It stiffened and awoke, even as he glanced at the
steak knife.

"I would advise against it," Arata murmured. "You

would not last long in prison, Caleb-san." Arata gripped
Caleb's cock with one hand, pushed Caleb's underwear
aside with the other and pulled Caleb's cock out.
"Magnificent," he murmured. He bent his head and
swiped his tongue across the head of Caleb's cock,
grinned when Caleb let go an unwilling whimper.

Caleb bit down on his bottom lip. This was wrong.

So, so, very wrong. He should go. He should get up
right that instant and leave. Just… march… right…
out… of… there. He moaned as Arata's lips wrapped
around his cock. Leave. Yep. Just… leave. Caleb let his
hand rest on Arata's shoulder. Was he encouraging
Arata, or pushing Arata away? He didn't know. And he
didn't know if he cared.

Arata hummed and raised his head. "Sublime, Caleb.

So sublime." He lowered his head again, this time using
his tongue to lick up and down Caleb's shaft. He pursed
his lips and sucked just the head.

13

Caleb shifted his hips, despite his best intentions. All

thoughts of leaving vanished. Fluid Marketing needed
the money. And if this was what he had to endure --
though he could barely call it torture -- he'd just have to
endure it. He'd just have to submit to that hot, moist
mouth. Those sweet, nibbling lips.

Arata slid a hand down and petted Caleb's balls as he

worked Caleb's cock, bobbing his head in time to some
internal rhythm. He raised his other hand to pinch and
tweak Caleb's left nipple.

Caleb thrust against Arata's mouth gently, dug his

nails into Arata's shoulders, and gasped his pleasure.
Arata licked and sucked, tugged and squeezed, working
Caleb to a frenzy of need, his heart hammering, his
breathing short. Light headed and dizzy, Caleb let the
world fade away as he leaned his head down, chin
against his chest, and watched the Japanese man in the
dragon mask destroy his morality. He came with a soft
sigh, Arata swallowing greedily.

Arata leaned up and brushed his lips against Caleb's

cheek. "Delicious!"

Caleb drew in a deep breath and his eyes went wide

as a mix of familiar scents met his nose. Cardamom,
patchouli, cocoa. Borneo 1834. He was certain of it. But
he only knew one man who wore Borneo 1834. What
the hell? "Who… who are you?" he asked, breathless.

"Who do you want me to be?" Arata asked as he sat

back on his heels.

Caleb ran a finger over the mask. "Take it off."
"Are you certain you want to know?"
Caleb nodded.
Arata untied the mask but held it in place a minute

longer with one hand. He reached the other hand under

14

his collar and removed a tiny silver button. Slowly, he
pulled the mask away.

Caleb's jaw dropped. Arata Ito was none other than

Mitch Perrish. His husband. Anger sped his heart once
again and he shoved Mitch's shoulder. "What the hell is
going on?" he demanded.

Mitch winced. "Don't be mad at me. You're the one

who just let some uppity Asian guy suck you off!" He
chuckled and shrugged, holding up both hands in
surrender. "I wanted to do something special for you.
Something spicy. Every time we watch Iron Chef, you're
always saying how the Chairman is hot. So, I figured,
why not give you a hot Asian hunk?"

Caleb quirked an eyebrow. He couldn't believe he

hadn't recognized his husband. But talk about being let
off the hook! His heart raced, his emotions bouncing
between horny, outraged, and relieved. And his
coworkers had been in on it all along! He silently added
them all to the Strangle List. "So what is this? Asian
persuasion?"

Mitch reached up and cradled the back of Caleb's

neck. He pulled Caleb's head down for a passionate kiss.
"It's whatever you want it to be, baby," he whispered
when he broke the kiss. "I meant it when I said that." He
gestured around the room. "We've got the place all to
ourselves for the next couple hours."

"How?" Caleb shook his head, overwhelmed. "How

did you pull all this off? The place… the mask... your
voice... those...?" He brushed his fingertip against the
corner of Mitch's left eye.

"Favors. Lots and lots of favors." Mitch laughed. "I

agreed to babysit my boss's daughter so he'd hook us up
here -- his brother is the owner. And Lisa next door? Her
cousin is in the FBI. That's how I got the voice changer."

15

He held it up. "Isn't it the neatest thing? The eyes are
contacts, of course, but I'm considering keeping them, I
think they make me look striking."

"They do. What'd you agree to do for Lisa?" Caleb

asked, still mulling over the thought of a small child
trampling around his house.

"Nothing. I got Jimmy to get her Lakers tickets."
"Slimy Jimmy?"
Mitch shrugged. "Who else?"
"You did all this for me?" Caleb ran his fingers

through Mitch's spiky hair.

"Of course I did, baby" Mitch laid his head in Caleb's

lap. "Look, I know things have been tough, with our
shifts and whatnot. I wanted you to know I love you."

Caleb blinked back welling tears. Things had been

tough, but he'd never doubted Mitch's love. "I know you
love me."

Mitch raised his head. "You want to go home?"
Caleb grinned. "Hell no. As far as I'm concerned, we

haven't struck a deal yet, Mister Ito."

Mitch chuckled and a sly smile curved his lips.

"Well, then, Caleb-san, you are just going to have to
convince me you are a worthy investment."

Caleb shoved Mitch's shoulder again, this time with

just enough force to send Mitch onto his ass. Caleb
straddled Mitch's waist and held up the mask. "Put it
back on."

End.

If you liked this book you might like: “Where He Belongs,”

“The Best Kind of Prize,” “Tenacious Bea and the Bite of Destiny,”
“On Solid Ground”

16

Asian Persuasion

Copyright © 2012 by DC Juris

All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used
or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written
permission except in case of brief quotations embodied
in critical articles or reviews. For information address
Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX
78680

Printed in the United States of America.

Torquere Press, Inc.: Sips electronic edition / June 2012

Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press,
Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680

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