At The Crown Prince's Mercy

by ExoticAlmonde (ao3)

Hua Cheng didn't think he would end up here, tied to a chair and gagged with the same tie he wore to work every day. It takes one just a slip of the tongue, or in his case, a step into an unknown place, to find themselves tumbling into pits darker than any Hell could provide. 

To be completely honest, trouble was never too far behind. He had a taste of it so many times it began feeling insipid on his tongue, the same way fine whiskey had stopped giving him the real burn and had begun instead sadly reminding him of the start of his career.

He was a cop once, but moved out of town and dropped his badge off at the boss' office once it became too stuffy. Hua Cheng was never the type to let others pull his leash. He preferred to be the one carrying it in his own mouth instead. With sharp teeth and glaring eyes keeping any other hand hesitant to reach out.

It wasn't his fault he fell for it. His colleague was just too tasty for his own good. That innocent smile and big, golden eyes staring up at him like they expected the best and craved his worst pumped liquid fire through his every fibre. 

Xie Lian was all double-takes and tucking gorgeous, long locks behind ears. The red bead glittering there caught the heterochromatic eyes of the detective every day when they interacted. From the other side of the office Hua Cheng had to pretend that he didn’t see how that man’s hips would swing, or how the flesh of his backside jiggled whenever he jumped away from his desk to help someone with their load.

Closing his eyes to fend his fragile sanity from this perfect torture was a prison of its own.

To box secretary Xie’s gentle frame in the corner, with just a folder or a sheet of paper as defence against Hua Cheng - that would have been considered harassment at their workplace if Xie Lian had not explicitly stated that he didn't mind. Not just didn’t mind, he enjoyed the feeling of it, got a kick out of the bunny-fast heartbeat such intimacy induces.

He'd actively chased Hua Cheng down after the second time they stared each other up from close proximity with hunger painted in their pupils. Back then, their lips were so close to pressing against each other while they whispered, they could taste their breaths. Xie Lian’s was sweet, a little minty. 

A cocktail detective Hua needed after an exhausting day of running back and forth.

For months after that the detective was busy and could not spare the tender moments to hound his employee. Xie Lian found him smoking on his lonesome in his office, just to ask about it. The man looked both annoyed and flustered when his boss admitted languidly that he just didn't want to keep him on edge, that he wanted to take his time.. 

Even when Xie Lian’s only job was to make calls and slot the case papers properly in their respective folders, Hua Cheng had noticed there was a one-of-a-kind intellect behind the honey eyes. After a series of unfortunate events where he had to depend on his assistant, he’d figured this was not the type of job Xie Lian should carry out for the rest of his life. Hua Cheng worked the magic of knowing the right people in the right places to earn him a personal badge.

So, they became not just a detective and his secretary. They became partners. In work and in life. 

Xie Lian had an amazing instinct for righteousness and wasn't made to sit around in an office. With quite the tragic background, a series of arson attacks following in his wake, and a mentally unstable cousin to take care of, it was even a surprise he could smile as brightly as he did.

Only when the nights were moonless did Xie Lian slip inside Hua Cheng's bed, with his back to the detective's chest; and he would shiver and cry inside the warmest of embrace until all was better. In the morning they would have their tea in understanding silence.

They never spoke about it. That was one of their many little secrets, paving this path towards the back alleys of Ghost Town, the most famous red district in the entire Eastern state. 

Hua Cheng's gambling hall was situated here, an innocent spot that ran with money cleaner than the bills slipping out of the bank's printers. He'd picked it up from a sorry wretch that owed him money, using half of it to start his own detective agency. The other half - he gambled with. Unfortunate for many, that he knew when to throw the dice and when to fold all too well. His reputation grew exponentially within the confines of his sinful Paradise. 

Hua Cheng was not the type to mix work with pleasure though.. He wanted to protect Xie Lian from this side of his life until they were married, so he could safely and proudly state from the top of the stairs inside the Gambler's den that /this/ is his husband. That even he won't be able to find the cause of death of anybody who would lay a finger on the love of his life. 

Which is precisely why it felt so bizzare to catch a glimpse of Xie Lian here. More than once did their eyes meet through the crowd. Hua Cheng would instinctively call out every time of course, but by the time he could even react - his partner would have been gone. 

This heart had learned that this was the sole person the detective could depend on to guard his back, to share his food and to wipe his tears away when he needed it. In a world frull of murderous intent, its blade always pointed at him - Xie Lian was a shield.

Which meant that if his innocent ally was here, something was amiss.

Weeks upon weeks of probing and asking yielded no results. Xie Lian was a dark chest of wonders, only vaguely responding and feigning silent ignorance instead of outright lying. He was like that, and the detective loved it in his partner. Hua Cheng dropped the topic after a few attempts, in favour of waiting. 

Thankfully, it didn't take too long.

Detective Hua saw him leaving a liquor shop with a bottle of cold water pressed against his face. His eyelashes fluttered once as he closed his eyes, relishing in the delight of coolness over his heated skin. The detective could look at him for hours, marvelling at the way a droplet of sweat crawled down the pretty, unmarked throat and how the shirt he wore bulged with lean muscle at the motion. 

Though he tried to deny it, Xie Lian was a physical and emotional dinner that Hua Cheng craved. If his companion was hot he would suck on cubes of ice and cool him with his lips. If his companion was cold, the detective knew more than one way to boil his blood. It all came down to how much Xie Lian would reciprocate, being the shy and chaste type during their relationship. Hua Cheng was respectful of that and he never pushed for more than his lover was willing to give. 

Their eyes met. It took all but a blink for the daydreamer to miss his partner's escape down the bustling road. Alas, he was a man of many talents and one of them consisted of knowing exactly where his prey would relocate after careful consideration. 

Xie Lian's swiftly moving form carved a path through the crowd like how salmon drove through water. His distinctly white hairband curved around a corner, disappearing down a flight of stairs that led to complete darkness. 

Hua Cheng didn't even hesitate following, only to feel a tap on his shoulder. Two, to be precise.

His body slumped, losing all sense of gravity and disconnecting from his brain instantly. Strong arms caught him and picked him up bridal style. He was awake only for so long. Long enough to feel imminent vulnerability from being cradled like he weighed nothing, and comfort woven through the worry by familiar hands.

The room was illuminated by two seductively glowing lamps. Their shaders were a creamy colour with tassels hanging off the edge, placed on his right and left. The light itself made it hardly possible to see around too far. On his right and left there were tables and in front of him was a small stage. 

Below, he felt his socks dig into persian carpets. 

There was a click of a tongue behind him. 

“I didn’t expect to see you on a Sunday, detective.” A rather familiar voice stated, polite and a little breathy “I’m sorry if I startled you. You definitely caught /me/ unprepared.” 

Lowering the intensity of the light, Xie Lian gave Hua Cheng reprieve from the pain that was starting to bud behind his eyes. His squint grew into a normal blink, now twisting around and seeking the figure with urgency. 

When he found him, the rag in the detective's mouth became a little bit damper. 

Xie Lian was dressed in a latex harness, stretching thin strips like ribs underneath the firm chest and disappearing behind his back to connect with a pair of latex shorts and thigh-high stockings. The whole outfit glistened with every move, the smallest twitch getting it to flow on top of the skin like it was liquid. 

Hua Cheng’s breath shortened, snapping his eyes upwards to his colleague’s face once he realised he may have been staring at the patch of pectoral muscles for too long. Maybe it was a good idea that he couldn’t speak. There was something happening inside his head that made his frontal lobe feel like it had fallen asleep, buzzing with static the same way a limb would. 

Though the tie was wet, Xie Lian very properly relieved his mouth from it, then wound it back around the man’s throat, with fingers ever so gently brushing along his neck. As if appreciating the curve of it they hesitated over the knot, and dragged up to hold his jaw. 

“I’ve been rather lonely,” Xie Lian started, “especially these days when we have so much work to do and not enough time to relax. When was the last time we had dinner together? Or when we read books on the same couch.” 

“San Lang is sorry you’ve been neglected.” Hua Cheng purrs weakly, confused and awfully turned on by the way Xie Lian spoke to him. 

“Just an apology is not enough for me. I think San Lang needs a little guide on how not to pursue someone and then leave them hanging. You came to me this time, so…” He’s suddenly kneeling on the floor before the detective, face serious when he states “...you should say whether or not you can handle what I’m about to do.”

“If gege’s prepared any kind of punishment, I can take it.” His eyes are zeroed on the way Xie Lian had placed his hands on either knee, with his warmth seeping through and rousing hot waves to lap upwards the muscular thighs. 

Hunger bubbles underneath his skin.

“Any kind? Do you really mean that?” 

Breath hitching inside his throat, Hua Cheng finds himself nodding eagerly, faster than his mind could register that the white-gloved hands have already begun moving dangerously close to the stir inside his trousers.

“Any. Whatever you like…”

"Then San Lang will refer to me for now as 'Your Highness' or 'My Prince'. I want San Lang to understand that he gravely offended this heavenly official and I'm here to see you to your punishment." Standing, Xie Lian disappeared in the other corner of the room, only to reappear with a desk in his arms. Quite sexy of him if this San Lang could say. "Not only have you been very unfair to this Dianxia, you also have been keeping secrets. How long did you think it takes for someone in the same household as you to figure out what you do in your free time?"

Taking it in stride, Hua Cheng bowed his head low, meeting Xie Lian's eyes once and then averting them. He really did feel guilty that he'd been keeping this away and it was a wonder, hearing it now, that he would be naive enough to think his love wasn't going to sniff it out sooner rather than later. Too worried about the reaction he paid no mind to the act of keeping secrets in itself. 

It was one thing for Xie Lian to not share his personal story due to trauma, and another for Hua Cheng to lead a double life inside the Gambler’s den. He was a fool that indeed deserved punishment.

"This one wants to apologise."

"I don't think this is enough.” Xie Lian repeats, “San Lang needs to serve his sentence. That is, he will please me with his body until I decide to forgive him."

Did he hear that right? 

Looking up wide-eyed with wonder, Hua Cheng found his lover's cheeks red with embarrassment but his expression schooled and firm. Xie Lian was set on doing this. He had planned this moment for god knew how long since Hua Cheng was too busy with the Den and work to pursue him to completion down the streets. 

Just the idea of how this perfect man was preparing for him made sweat roll down his back. 

The desk slipped close enough for Hua Cheng to get a very horny thought about the many ways he could take Xie Lian on the surface, bent and eager to do his /work/ passionately.

"Would San Lang like to relieve this ache he caused between this prince's thighs?" Xie Lian asks, sitting upon the desk and spreading his legs around Hua Cheng. 

There was a moment where he let the dual-coloured eyes simply enjoy the view.

As calm as the crown prince was during their little talk about what he wants exactly from the detective, it was clear his body was slowly getting itself worked into that potential moment. The latex, skin-tight and shape-hugging perfectly accentuated the form of Xie Lian's hard shaft underneath, causing Hua Cheng's head to spin with the instant reaction of his own cock twitching to life.

Then there were knees on his shoulders. Since his hands were only tied to the seat of the chair by the wrists, it was easy to be guided down between the pale thighs. His lips traced the crease where the muscle was cut off by latex around the leg, sucking a bruise into the inside of Xie Lian’s leg to the right, then the left, then grazed his teeth along the flesh to the bend of a knee, before finally licking into his belly button.

Xie Lian was in no rush to seek his pleasure, letting his lover taste his skin as much as he wanted. To Hua Cheng it was ambrosia, scented like almonds and orange blossoms. Just one look up to the misty, dark eyes gave his angel the cue to roll the latex off, off, until it was on the floor.

The detective once again stopped to appreciate it.

Spread-legged, so pink and so very vulnerable... 

Was this all for him to take in? Was he missing out on such a feast for late night strolls, a cup of cold noodles half-uneaten in his hand, as he attempted to crack cases for the ungrateful state police?

A waste of time.

His lips wrapped around the crown of Xie Lian's cock, swirling around it until the other's shoulders rolled and his head fell back with a groan. He licked and licked with growing fervour, sucking this spot and that and watched how clear droplets of precum rolled off the sensitive slit just for him to pick up on his taste buds.

Hua Cheng went lower, to the sack that was poorly neglected so far despite his drool having rolled halfway on it. He tugged on the tender skin and wrapped his lips around each individual testicle with reverence, slowly and carefully watching for Xie Lian's reaction when he tugged it away from the body, then released. 

A beautiful mess of gurgled noises bubbled upon Xie Lian's lips, as if he couldn't decide what he wanted to say first. In the end, his attempt at coherency was thwarted when Hua Cheng took his entire length into the heat of his mouth. In one smooth motion. 

Sucking him off like that was a skill he quickly got used to, finding it therapeutic just how loud Xie Lian could become when he hollowed out his cheeks and slowly pulled off with a pop. He repeated the motions - quick and merciless thrice, always followed by one slow, thorough swirl of his tongue around it. 

"Is this servant pleasing his Highness well? Do you want it harder?" Lips to the root of his hardness for kisses, the man purred "Do you want it faster, or slower? What will make my master feel good?"

"Please," The Crown Prince asked, cheeks red and fingers twitching when they came to bury in the Detective's shoulder-length hair "lower..."

That was his cue that he could entirely indulge in every crevice's taste. Hua Cheng bent until he was mouthing at the puckered hole, watching it twitch after particularly hard kisses. With how red and beautifully slick it was, he could assume safely that this mischievous lover had been playing with himself sometime earlier. 

He imagined the way slickness would have pooled in The Crown Prince's pants, shimmering down the back of his thighs as he strutted about. He wanted to see how his cum would look in that same scenario, branding Xie Lian as his only to stuff full, to submit to, to love. 

Nonetheless, he was gentle while easing the tip of his tongue in and out, teaching the ring to relax for him. Thighs trembled on his shoulders as Xie Lian pulled himself closer, begging for more. 

Hua Cheng would give him his all.

Meticulously, the entirety of his tongue was very soon shoved inside the hungry hole, while two of Xie Lian’s fingers helpfully eased the access by stretching it out for him. The hand itself didn't move as to not hinder his actions, but it was obvious the tips of the fingers were carefully prodding nerves that made Xie Lian jerk and cry sweetly towards the ceiling. 

"AH, SAN LANnnnnnngh- Good. So good. Please, more-ah-ah- THERE!" 

Maybe it was the way he was desperately stroking his hardness that really made the difference in pitch. Hua Cheng was pleased to see his saliva was the cause for smoother, slicker motions, knowing Xie Lian was loved into this state by the dark-haired man currently eating him out.

He couldn't see his face because Xie Lian was laying his back against the desk, head tilted away and eyes closed to indulge in bliss. 

Underground was safe for the first time in the detective's life. Hua Cheng could fuck into this sweet hole with vigour until it quivered and clenched - a warning of Xie Lian's impending release. 

His entire lower half arched off of the table, chasing it. 

"San Lang, San Lang, I'm coming. It hurts to hold back, Ah- SAN- AH! COM- AH!" 

Even when ropes of cum burst from the tip, with his sack just a hair's breadth away from the detective's nose while it twitched to spill out its contents, Hua Cheng kept at it. 

Jerkily pulling away into a seated position, Xie Lian heaved, red-cheeked and teary with aftershocks. His entire body was heated, glistening with sweat in the luminescence of the lamps, hair messy and his stomach covered in white stripes.

"Beautiful." Hua Cheng commented, licking his lips to show his own enjoyment.

Despite looking out of it, Xie Lian smiled and looked into the detective's eyes in gratitude. They stared at each other for a while in silence, never bothered for just presence and attention alone was enough between them. 

"You did... Amazing. I don't think I've come that hard in months." Xie Lian admits quietly. 

The detective immediately goes back to all the times Xie Lian had excused himself from the couch or dinner to suddenly desire a shower. He wondered just how far his imagination went while stroking himself, with skilled fingers probing his insides instead. Did he have toys? Would he let Hua Cheng see them after this? 

"You should let this San Lang take care of you further. I don't think those months of unsatisfying orgasms have been flushed out of your system yet."

"You're right." He said, sliding off the table into his lap, "San Lang is getting punished however and doesn't deserve to come."

"Cruel world, smite me for I've sinned against the darling of the Heavens." The detective muses, swooping in to steal his lover's kisses and breath directly from his lips. 

Though Xie Lian was the one to lick into his mouth, with Hua Cheng giving him unlimited access, the prince's tongue retracted too soon. Quick to follow, Hua Cheng purred just before dipping in. 

"I love you."

Only when Hua Cheng's pants were down and their lips were perfectly bruised from affection did Xie Lian manage to respond in kind.

"I love you too."

Hua Cheng arched his back, trying to keep his butt glued to the chair while Xie Lian worked himself onto his lubed up and straining cock. 

He very quickly realised that this whole punishment idea could fail very quickly if he's not careful. He didn't want to disappoint Xie Lian but the tight hug around his sensitive length was bound to pull prayers from his lips. It was /sinful/ to be this hot and inviting. 

"San Lang, you should have told me you're this big." the Prince chastised, smiling at the odd one-eyed look the detective threw in his direction "Oh, but you stretch me so well... I can feel you all the way to my stomach. You're all the way in, do you feel? Is it good for you?"

The angle was perfect, no doubt. While his calves were back on one of Hua Cheng's shoulders, Xie Lian's arms were braced against the edge of the table. Working himself down provided a perfect, unobstructed access to the deepest parts of this heavenly body. 

Waiting for his answer, Xie Lian rose an inch and slowly sank down until his bare backside was flush with Hua Cheng's hips. 

The groan practically was torn out of Hua Cheng, "Dianxia does not belong to Heaven. He /is/ heaven. Soon to be mine."

"Ah~ That's good!" 

The detective had only rolled his hips, trying to find a comfortable spot on the chair. Seeing the reaction, he repeated the motion, forgetting entirely about his discomfort for the sake of pleasing this husband. Xie Lian's cock was coming back to full hardness, still sticky and wet as it slapped against the firm pecs. 

Hua Cheng sank lower on the chair and steeled his feet against the floor, rocking up to meet a slow-sinking husband-to-be halfway. Their moans echoed off the other's skin at that, half-lidded gazes full of warmth and love meeting when sharp bucks became a rhythm. 

Xie Lian was so beautifully spared on his shaft Hua Cheng wished he had something more he could tape this moment with other than good memory. 

His throat arched, hair spilling all over the desk and Hua Cheng's knees, erotic in the way it clung in locks to their damp skin. 

They rocked and slapped against each other, languid then hard, slow, and then bruisingly fast. Sometimes Xie Lian's hips would do a figure-eight motion, rolling sideways as he braced himself up, switching to back and forth as he sank down. 

Xie Lian's first time on Hua Cheng's lap was overwhelming for the senses, especially because he felt extremely unfortunate that he couldn't hold or kiss his lover the way his entire being cried to. 

No other sound could ever be this tooth-numbingly splendid as the wet skin-to skin drag in and out of a soft body. 

With his jaw slack, Xie Lian stiffened, tugging at the red tie around Hua Cheng’s neck to drag him closer. He was holding onto the knot much like he was handling a dog - tight enough to show dominance while also making sure it won’t come undone or choke the beast bucking into him as if that were all he could ever do.

Hua Cheng felt and saw this time when the man tensed, feeling the rhythmic pulse of his insides while he spilled all over them, looking into his eyes with a gaze that could effortlessly make him grovel if Xie Lian wanted so. It took a lot of effort and nails digging into his palms to grapple with the edge quickly coming into view for him as well. 

Xie Lian probably saw it in his face, for he quickly slipped out and landed heavily in Hua Cheng's thighs instead, head sunken between his shoulders during the last moments of his climax.. 

The best distraction of this pain-pleasure moment, being so close and unable to come, was to kiss at Xie Lian's face and ears. Like a bunny grooming another, Hua Cheng made sure every skincell was tingling from his love and that he whispered at least thrice that he loved every single moment. 

When Xie Lian was calm and collected again he tucked himself back despite the discomfort and released Hua Cheng at last. 

On his wrists and ankles there were remnants of his struggle, the shape and threads of the rope imprinted into his flesh. Even though Xie Lian looked like he was about to die of embarrassment, Hua Cheng outstretched his hands and smiled at the result. 

“Are you doing alright?” the white-clad man asked. 

Emotionally, he was at a high. Physically, Hua Cheng wanted to rub one off here and now. 

“I will be if gege promises to do this again.” Turning the clever eyes in Xie Lian’s direction, the detective’s lips stretched to a toothy smile, “Maybe over some wine tonight?”

Xie Lian agreed quickly, promising to follow Hua Cheng home after he took a bath and changed clothes. 

Detective Hua watched the figure disappear behind one of the few doors in what seemed to be an abandoned strip-club. He would have to ensure his lover had another latex set just like the one he was wearing, maybe in different colours. 

The crimson bed sheets looked brilliant against his bare back early in the morning, so why not wear straps of that shade when he ordered Hua Cheng to bend his knee and suck him into oblivion?

They’d have to have a long conversation after this, he thought while exiting, checking numerous times if his attire - now including a knee-length coat Xie Lian had prepared for him - was proper. It hid well just how hungry his body was for his lover still, throbbing and relishing the memory of it on his way back home.