People pay me to be a bastard. How convenient.

A/N: Thanks to my beta Fairy Niamh . She and I are also working on sidefics for this, so if you like this storyline keep a look out for the sidefics.

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The Contract

Itachi took another turn around the room. He was arrogance personified and everyone wanted to be him. This was his specialty. He inspired green jealousy in every human being he met. It wasn't even something he had to work at. The lazy half smirk, smooth pale skin, long hair as dark as midnight and softer than silk, the bored dark golden eyes, shot through with red and black, making him the most exotic creature anywhere. 



He raised a graceful white gloved hand and collected a champagne glass from the tray as the server passed without either of them slowing. He stopped in just the right place and raised the cup to his pale thin lips. He sipped slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing almost delicately in his pale slender throat. His audience appreciated the show, of this he was certain.



The glass floated away from his lips, to be held carefully around the bulb by both slender gloved hands. He began to move again, drifting through the crowd, not a part of it, but above it, apart from it. The black tuxedo he wore seemed molded to him, his lean physique so easy to read as the many eyes continued to track his movements hungrily. The long hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail at the nape of that lovely neck. Somehow the hair managed to be even darker black than the tux. It shown with almost purple highlights as he moved.



So far as Itachi could tell, he had the attention of the entire room, except for one person. The man in the white tux in the corner. That man seemed as disinterested as Itachi looked. He was attractive, younger than the raven. His pale skin was smooth and clear. He had hair the color of milk chocolate and his eyes were a pale violet.



Neji Hyuuga was a picture of control. On the surface he was anyway. Itachi could read the tension in the younger man's body. On the outside Itachi remained cool and distant, on the inside he was smirking. The boy really didn't know what he was in for. The client wanted the newly appointed head of Hyuuga Industries distracted. Itachi was a very expensive, but effective distraction. 



The man was gorgeous. He moved with such confidence and grace. There wasn't an eye in the room that wasn't glued to him. Every person either wanted him or wanted to be him. Neji felt shaken and could not for the life of him fathom why. The ebony haired man moved out onto the balcony. The room was hot and stuffy. Neji could relate. The moment the raven left, the whispers began. Neji hated the whispers. He excused himself onto the opposite side of the balcony, hoping to get a moment alone. He needed to focus, he needed calm.



Itachi didn't lose sight of his quarry. As he reclined against the railing, he had a perfect view of the corner Neji Hyuuga had occupied for the majority of the evening. The young man was withdrawn and formal. He used formality to keep people at a distance. This really wasn't going to be all that difficult. When Neji left the room and stepped out onto the balcony, Itachi almost thought the younger man might be looking for him, but no. After waiting a few moments where he was, Itachi realized that the 'boy' would not be coming to him. 



He picked up his champagne from the thick railing and meandered towards where the handsome young man was hiding. Yes, Neji Hyuuga was handsome. At the moment, that part of the job didn't appear 'unpleasant'. Now, if only the boy wasn't too annoying. 



Itachi ignored the other man as he entered the more secluded part of the balcony. 'Convenient. I didn't even have to arrange it,' He leaned on the railing, resting on his elbows and looking out over the cityscape. Neji was leaning against the wall in the shadows. Itachi had the man's undivided attention now. He smiled a genuine smile. He had never enjoyed being the center of attention in a group setting, he actually resented that. But being the center of one lone man's attention, that was something that he got off on. It turned him on to know he could control a man just by being in the same room with him. 



That man had just strolled over into the little dark corner Neji was trying to relax in. 'I don't think I can relax with him here like this,' Neji sighed softly. The raven turned as if he was a little surprised to see someone else so close by. A sculpted eyebrow rose in question as the man leaned his slender hip against the railing and cocked his head slightly. He regarded Neji with more interest than he had shown the entire evening.



Neji's pulse sped up and he had to swallow reflexively. Neji knew people thought he was handsome, even beautiful. He couldn't help but feel like this man surpassed the meaning of both words. Neji's appearance and the attention it attracted made him uncomfortable. He felt like a target. Combine that with his station as Hiashi Hyuuga's closest male relative and the man's proclaimed successor, Neji felt like there was a huge bull’s-eye painted on his forehead all the time.



He was never at ease unless he was completely alone. This man however seemed to emanate serene calm and confidence. There was an unmistakable draw. He could almost feel the man pulling at him with those unique eyes. Neji realized he had been staring while he sorted through his thoughts and nearly died of mortification. Training kept his face clear as he gave the man a small belated nod of greeting. 



It was the barest dip of the head. Itachi smiled a lopsided smirk. "So, who are you hiding from?" He asked smoothly.



Neji's brows drew together at the very casual question. "I needed some air....and you?"



Itachi's smile turned devious in nature. "Everyone," He purred, leaning forward just a bit, ignoring Neji's response and answering his own question.



Neji felt sweat break out over his body. 'What is wrong with me?!' Neji turned his head away from the heated gaze that was making him feel sweaty and hot in the pit of his stomach. For something to do, he walked to the railing a few feet from the other man. He put his slightly shaking hands palm down on the solid concrete. The other man seemed to be waiting for a response, but Neji couldn't think of anything 'appropriate' to say. His sleek brown brows were slightly drawn together in consternation. 



After a very awkward silence, he asked, "Why would you feel any need to hide?"



Itachi countered. "Why do you tuck yourself away in a corner and make yourself inaccessible to others?"



Wha...? "What do you mean?" Neji snapped. The question came out a lot harsher than he'd intended. This man was getting under his skin.



"Oh good, I do love a rousing game of Twenty Questions..." Itachi yawned and leaned back on his arms, crossing his ankles and smiling playfully at the brunette. 



Neji glared. Usually when Neji actually got worked up enough to glare, people ran. Itachi was immune. No one could glare like a Uchiha and he had grown up in a family of them. He laughed softly and moved closer to Neji, using his laughter and the close proximity of his body to throw the other man further off balance  He'd been certain he could attract the man. He'd done his homework and was positive the man was gay. His client of course had assured him of that fact, but clients had been wrong before. Itachi always checked the mark out himself. 



The moment he'd entered this piece of the balcony, he'd known the younger man was interested. Now all he needed to do was dangle the bait just a bit more, before snatching it away. Then, the next time Neji saw him, as he would arrange it, the 'boy' would be hooked. Itachi let a bit of his predatory spirit leak into his smile as he leaned closer to the flustered Hyuuga. "It would take a lot more than that to keep me away...” He pushed off of the railing and strode back inside without a backward glance.



Neji was at a loss. What had the man meant by that? Was he referring to the glare that Neji knew he'd had on his face? Was he referring to the way Neji stood in the least accessible place and held people at bay? Why would the man be concerned with what would 'keep' him away? The questions ate at him, but he was not about to follow the other man to ask him. 'Kami! I have some pride!' Even if his mind and body were screaming at him to chase the raven down.



Six days later Neji was still puzzling through the odd man's behavior. He really couldn't get it out of his head. He'd tried meditation. He'd upped his martial arts training. He'd even been on several business trips. The image of the man leaning against the railing, taunting him... it haunted him. He'd almost sworn that he'd seen the man in the park where he jogged, but when he'd looked again, there hadn't been anyone. Then in a crowded coffee shop, he thought he'd heard the man's rich baritone speaking behind him. Again, when he turned, the man wasn't there. Neji's nerves were raw and he was beginning to fear that if he didn't see the man again, he might not resolve this mess.



He sat with his eyes closed enjoying the moist heat. He seldom indulged in a steam soak, but today he thought it might help. It was late and there were very few people in the club. He always came here late in the evening or early in the morning. 'I really do avoid other people,' He thought almost ruefully. 



Thinking of other people seemed to conjure one of them. He heard the door open and the very soft padding of bare feet on the tiled floor. Neji bit back the sigh. 'I really shouldn't be like this. It can't be healthy, can it?' There was a slight rustle to his right as someone settle on the bench near him. 'Oh come on! The place is empty and this guy has to sit that close to me?! Ugh! I don't care if avoiding people isn't healthy. How stupid!' He was still silently ranting when the unmistakable laugh struck him dumb.



The pale eyes flew open and without thinking he turned his head. There was the source of his current stress level. The raven reclined against the wall in a corner, a mere two feet from him. The man had his long pale legs up on the bench, stretched out languidly. And....he was nude! The rustling had to have been the man removing his towel. Said towel was now tucked under his head like a pillow.



Neji's jaw dropped and he couldn't stop his eyes from settling in the one place they really shouldn't have. 'He's huge!' Neji closed his eyes tightly and went from his normal creamy pale complexion to beet red in an instant. 'I just stared, open mouthed at his penis. Please let me die now,' Neji couldn't move or breathe, he just prayed for a quick death.



"If you grind your teeth like that, you'll develop TMJ. From what I understand, it's a very unpleasant form of 'lockjaw'," That voice rolled over his skin like the softest silk. Neji shivered in the hot room.



"Not speaking to me? Or has your jaw already frozen shut?" Itachi teased lightly, his voice a sensuous purr. "If you need assistance, I do read sign," He offered in the most insincere way, chuckling softly for emphasis.



Neji hunched over as if in pain. "Who are you?" His voice was small and for no reason he could name, he felt on the verge of tears. How did this man affect him so much?!



Itachi moved to Neji's side, placing his mouth mere inches from the distraught younger man's ear and whispered soothingly. "Who would you like me to be?" He reached around the slender body with one arm and both his deft hands began tracing Neji's biceps. "What would you like me to be?"



Neji's fuzzy mind supplied an answer and he thanked all that was holy that his mouth wasn't working... 'Mine.' Those hands continued their work, lightly dancing over the shivering flesh until Neji was vibrating with physical need, desire. Goose flesh marked the path of their travels. 



Itachi smirked. Neji hadn't opened his eyes since he'd ogled Itachi. 'I know what you're picturing,' He increased the pressure of his hands and was soon giving Neji's upper body a soothing massage. The man resisted at first, but Itachi won out in the end. Neji melted into his hands and was soon groaning and sighing softly as Itachi soothed away the tension in 'some' parts of the man's body. 'He's awfully young to be so tense. I suppose Sasuke's no better off though.'



Itachi reached around Neji's waist and lifted the slightly smaller man into his lap. Neji didn't resist at all. He leaned his back against Itachi's chest and moaned softly at the contact of flesh on flesh. Itachi's wakening erection jumped slightly in response. 'He does have a nice sound to him, so far,' Itachi's hands circled around Neji's waist and slid over the pleasantly firm abs. Itachi liked men who took care of themselves. 



He had to admit it. Neji Hyuuga, though young and inexperienced, was one of the 'prettiest' men he'd ever been paid to 'distract'. 



Itachi had just begun to explore the man's firm chest when he made an important discovery. Neji's nipples were extremely sensitive. The sharp hiss of inhaled breath and the way his whole body arched like a drawn bow just after Itachi barely brushed one of the little nubs caught Itachi off guard. When Neji jerked like that, he ground his toned ass into Itachi's now fully hard cock. Itachi had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep from groaning at the intense sensation. 



He did have the presence of mind to caress the other nipple gently with a finger. Neji convulsed. A little more attention had the younger man writhing and moaning in Itachi's lap. "Hmm, yes.... that’s it... show me what you'd like me to be... you don't have to say it... yet."



A strong hand ripped Neji's towel open and gripped his erection firmly, but gently. He ran his thumb over the slit, smearing the dewy pre-cum collecting there. Neji's hips bucked involuntarily into Itachi's strong hand. The raven lowered his mouth to Neji's pale slender neck. His brother had been explicit. There had to be a mark of proof on Neji, one Sasuke could see if he knew where to look. Neji didn't seem to mind being marked. He writhed and moaned against the attention his neck, nipples, and cock were receiving. Itachi licked, sucked, and nibbled at the salty flesh. His hand established a rhythm and he was quickly pushing the young millionaire over the edge. 'He does make the nicest noises,' Neji was mewling now, just like a little kitten. It was music to Itachi's ears. 



Itachi chuckled darkly in his ear. "I want you 'kitten'. I really do," It was rare for him to actually care one way or the other if he got to fuck his mark, but now, he really did want to see, feel, and hear what Neji would be like beneath him. "I won't do that here," Neji was close and Itachi knew it. "The next move will be yours sexy. I'll leave you my number... I'll be disappointed if you don't call it," And Neji succumbed. His body arched again, like a bow drawn full. His cum shot from his cock with a force that surprised even the more experienced Itachi. The raven bit down lightly on the deep purple bruise forming high on Neji's neck. 



The body in his arms convulsed again and he regretted his decision. 'I should just take him now. Too late, the groundwork is laid...' Neji fell bonelessly against him and Itachi gently moved the man to the bench as he himself stood up. Neji would be fine where he was. Kisame had ensured the club was cleared and was currently posing as the security guard. He would make sure nothing happened to Neji before the young man had his wits about him again. "Don't sleep here Kitty. Go home for that," he left one of his cell numbers and 'Tachi' written in permanent ink on the spent man's palm. Keeping the mystery and suspense alive was key. He had to go now.

 

~TBC~