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Xiao swirled his champagne before he tipped the tall, thin glass. The golden liquid slipped down his throat almost like a reflection of his eyes through the unblemished panes. Zhongli watched him out of the corner of his eye and subconsciously licked his lips. He took in Xiao’s presence like a parched soul who’d stumbled across a river of amber ambrosia. Who wouldn’t take a sip to have a divine taste of the gods?
Xianyun rambled next to him while Jiehu and Houzhang deflected with alternative ideas for the next release now that their current one has come to a close. Zhongli wondered if they even realized just how much their muse couldn't care less about this whole ceremonial fiasco despite his success.
The past year had been a long project, one photo shoot series spanning across three regions. They’d even managed to put together an exclusive nude collection in collaboration with the esteemed Neuvillette thanks to Zhongli’s connections. Of course, only a select handful would be released to subscribers of their premium tier. But the event had brought them closer with a night spent within Neuvillette’s personal villa in the heart of his northern city. Zhongli shivered at the memory. His fingertips could still remember what went on behind closed doors without prying cameras all around them.
Suddenly, they were all broken from their thoughts and conversations as the lights dimmed in the room. Zhongli quickly stepped away from the team and stood at Xiao’s side. Wordlessly, they exchanged a glance, and Xiao handed him his empty glass.
“I want to go back to the hotel after this,” Xiao stated.
Zhongli subtly nodded. “I’ll call for the chauffeur.”
They parted ways easily. Xiao took his seat, and the other three chased after him while Zhongli made a few quick calls. He texted an update to Xianyun that he would leave their communal limousine for them and that he would have a separate driver take Xiao and him back first. By the time the driver pulled to a discreet side entrance and Zhongli returned, he could hear the crowd clapping and singing Xiao’s praises. When he ducked back into the room, he caught the limelight of Xiao accepting his trophy before disappearing from the stage like a shadow.
Zhongli smiled and turned around to head back out. Moments later, Xiao joined him, quickly matching his stride. He handed Zhongli the trophy, which he tucked against his breast before grabbing Xiao’s hand. Xiao huffed.
“That’s not part of the handler job description,” he said.
“Your hand is part of you, and I enjoy handling it very much,” Zhongli mused.
Xiao squeezed his hand, reading the underlying message.
“The night is young, Zhongli. You can handle me all you want when we return.”
Zhongli’s lips quirked up at the corners. He would hold Xiao to those words.
“On the contrary, while the night may be as old as the richest osmanthus wine, it is still as young as my feverish love for you.”
/
They dropped the final collection at midnight when the ceremony’s live stream ended. By then, the forums had already flooded with comments. Of noteworthy things, Zhongli found people ogling over Xiao’s outfit. The lace stockings and sleeves had been Houzhang’s suggestion after styling Xiao’s hair one day. Xianyun overheard, and as the head producer, she’d practically thrown it towards Chiori. Within the day, the designer already had an early prototype in the works. It certainly stole the show at the ceremony.
One link was particularly trending amongst the crowd. Zhongli couldn’t help but feel curious. He clicked it only to be greeted by a raunchy little fanfiction featuring none other than Xiao and, shockingly, himself.
That’s where Xiao found him once he’d finished washing all of Jiehu’s makeup off his face. Zhongli’s eyes were glued to the tablet. His reading glasses had migrated a bit down his face, but the man hadn’t noticed.
“You’re not watching another gadget review from Aino, are you?” Xiao asked.
“Reading, actually,” Zhongli muttered. Xiao suddenly pulled the tablet away, much to his handler’s affronted expression. “Xiao, wait—”
“He felt the soft pliant fibers squeezing against the ring of muscle and savored the osmanthus syrup on his tongue. Zhongli moaned into his skin, and Xiao gyrated beneath him with a wanton cry,” Xiao read. He looked up with a raised brow. “You’re reading fanfiction of you eating almond tofu out of my ass? That’s a new one.” Zhongli’s face burned with a pink tint as he tried to hide his guilt behind a forced cough and a wave of his hand.
He replied with a quaint, “A mere curiosity.”
“Is that right?” Xiao suddenly set the tablet down on the nightstand and crawled up to join Zhongli on the bed. He had forgone propriety and shoved his hand directly onto Zhongli’s groin. “A mere curiosity doesn’t leave you all hard like this.”
“Xiao,” Zhongli gasped, breathless as his cock strained against his dress slacks.
“It was good enough to turn you on. What’s the draw?” Xiao rolled his length slowly.
Zhongli caught his hand, nostrils flaring as he firmly removed his grip. “The lace. It’s what everyone is raving about.”
A shimmer of mischievousness crossed those sinful eyes. Xiao hummed and scooted back to remove his clothes. Zhongli followed his movements as he pulled the knots and removed his fancy garments, save for a black bikini bottom and the very lace stockings and sleeves plaguing his mind.
“In that case, I’ll leave the lace on. Be sure to leave a kudos later, love. But right now, how about you savor the real Xiao? I pity those writers a little. They will never know just how close they’ve hit the nail on the head about the us in the closest and furthest ways possible,” he crooned lowly.
He leaned in and caught Zhongli in a kiss. Before he could go further, Zhongli flipped their positions. Xiao eyed him warily, such warm gold dancing with the movements of his long limbs.
“Let me do the work today. After all, you’ve just won best model of the year. And surely, you aim to make a promise to your former words. I believe you’re due for a thorough inspection from your handler.”
Xiao smiled softly and spread himself at his behest, limbs entangling across the bedsheets. “You know what I want, Zhongli?”
“Of course.”
Zhongli wasted no time. He removed his own clothes with rampant fervor. Zhongli ran his hands down Xiao’s body. His fingertips circled his frame and pinched sweetly into his curves. With a deep, greedy breath, he pulled the threads of the thong and tore it away. He was surprised to be flashed with something familiar. Zhongli glanced up to see Xiao’s sultry grin. The cheeky brat had borrowed one of Zhongli’s personal toys, a unique custom butt plug made of high-grade silicone with a dragon biting a ring as its handle. He hadn’t even noticed it had gone missing.
Sweet pleasure churned from Xiao’s throat as Zhongli gently thumbed the ring and hooked it with his fingers. He wiggled it just a bit, which sent Xiao into a shivering mess.
“How long have you been wearing this?” he asked.
“Mid-ceremony. When you went to greet Alhaitham’s group and congratulate them for winning second.”
Zhongli thought back to that. It had been a brief moment of time. He vaguely recalled Xiao going to the restroom, but it had been quick. Zhongli huffed at the ridiculousness of it all. To wear a plug with all cameras on him and still walk that stage was pure hubris at its best.
“You’re playing such dangerous games under my nose, Xiao. Naughty boy,” he growled.
With a quick flick, he yanked the plug and sent shock waves through Xiao’s entire body. The sudden movement left him aching to fill his hole back up. He reached for Zhongli, pawing at the air until Zhongli could catch them. He pressed a kiss against his fingers and licked a stripe up his palm from his wrist to where the lace hugged his middle finger before trailing up his sleeve. The right one contrasted well, midnight black forming a singularity with the mint green of Xiao’s tattoo soaring up to his shoulder.
He repeated it to the left before leaning to the nightstand. Swapping the plug for a small bottle of lube, he coated his cock and stroked it sparingly. Zhongli sank into Xiao perfectly, filling him out. He gripped one leg over his shoulder, pressing kisses to the stockings and biting down on the little bows on Xiao’s ankle. Xiao moaned with each thrust. Zhongli’s jaw locked as he felt an orgasm rile through him. His movements slowed as he dropped Xiao’s leg and rocked against his ass.
Xiao came across his front. His strangled cry knocked Zhongli back to lucidity as he convulsed around his cock and arched off the bed. Zhongli dropped his head, hugging his arms around Xiao’s back and raising him up. Some of the cum had spurned across Xiao’s chest, and Zhongli lapped it up greedily.
“Mmhmm, Xiao,” he sighed blissfully. “You were so good for me. Such a good boy.”
He slowly laid Xiao back and pulled out. The sheen of sex painted the model well. Zhongli cleansed his palate with Xiao’s taste. His cum oozed from his hole with each heavy breath Xiao took. Half-lidded eyes and a soft smile aimed only for him. This was a sight for only his eyes this time.
Zhongli positively prided himself on that fact.
“Zhongli,” Xiao breathed.
“Yes?”
“Kiss me one more time.”
His gaze softened and melted his very soul. Zhongli was pliant to Xiao’s demand. How bad of a servant would he be to deny his idol free rein?
He met Xiao’s lips in long, hot breaths, tongue entwined as much as his heart craved. Eventually, they broke for air, and Zhongli rolled to Xiao’s side with a groan. For a moment, he simply held eye contact until Zhongli’s face twisted. He clicked his tongue as he stretched his limbs, much to Xiao’s amusement.
“I’m too old for this,” he lamented wearily. Xiao laughed and poked Zhongli on his chest, watching the muscle bounce just above his nipple.
“More like you should drink more water and take your fiber pills. Maybe join me at the gym,” Xiao suggested instead. Zhongli wilted a bit from that.
“Very harsh to lecture your elderly handler, Xiao. I’m emotionally hurt.”
Xiao shook his head, rejecting the thought.
“Perhaps you have some chronic pain. But, no, not emotionally hurt,” he said. Xiao pushed himself up to his elbow to see Zhongli better. “You are loved.”
Zhongli sharply inhaled, and his cock twitched. Xiao caught the movement.
“Well, now, it’s a shame you’re too old. Your poor little pillar will have to be cockblocked now,” he teased.
“Hey, wait. No, Xiao!” Zhongli shot up and reached out only to hit empty sheets. Xiao had slipped from his grasp and was making his way to the bathroom.
“I’m taking a shower. Enjoy your fanfiction!” he called out.
Zhongli was stunned as the bathroom door shut. He dropped into the pillow and draped an arm over his face. He tried to will his boner away, but his palms clenched and unclenched. He could still feel the lace under his fingertips. He heard the shower turn on and shut off half an hour later. When Xiao finally stepped out, Zhongli unveiled his eyes only to feel his heart skip a beat. All his work was for nought.
“Xiao, you are torturing me,” he whined.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said with an innocent smile.
However, he knew what he was doing, and just how drop dead gorgeous he was wearing that lingerie pajama set. Zhongli itched to touch him, but Xiao shot him a look. Zhongli sighed and resigned to his fate.
“Alright, I’m going.” He got up to take his turn at the shower.
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao took out his phone and sent a quick little text before waiting for his lover to return.
Xiao: ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
Xiao: Your plan worked. He saw the fanfic. I got laid. Thank you.
Xingqiu: Of course, it worked. Although Chongyun was the one who sowed it through the forums. I just planted the seed. Never underestimate the work of Zhenyu. Just let me know when the wedding is. And give me details on the wedding night!
Xingqiu: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Xiao rolled his eyes. Although they were friends, Xingqiu was going to have to try harder to get such sacred reference material.
Xiao: I already gave you an exclusive signed physical for my shoot with Neuvillette. Be normal like everyone else and buy a copy this time.
He shut his phone off and left it at that. At some point, he must have dozed off for later that night, Xiao’s eyes fluttered open to a dark room illuminated only by the slightest of sunlight filtering into the room. He groped around when a hand settled on his shoulder.
“Hush, go back to sleep. I got you,” a deep voice rumbled. Zhongli’s tone was saturated with sleep, and Xiao relaxed into his arms. Truly, he did the most for him.
“Love you,” he mumbled. Zhongli muttered a reply, but it grew lost as he buried his head into the mop of Xiao’s hair, quickly turning into soft snores. It was alright. Xiao already knew. He closed his eyes once more and returned to his midnight lull.