Chapter Text
Merlin had been watching the blonde for a while now. He was on his fourth glass of bourbon and seated in the corner of the bar, shoulders hunched over and eyes scanning the crowd. Was he a potential client? Merlin rubbed one of his earlobes thoughtfully, a thing he usually did when he was unsure about what the level of involvement was going to be.
The blonde, he was magnificent. What he was doing in this lowlife bar, Merlin had no idea. He was sure that delicious body was ripped with muscles underneath the overcoat. His eyes were a piercing blue and his clothing was posh. He had money, loads of it judging by the Italian shoes. Why was he here if he had everything in the world already?
Merlin sipped his tequila and licked his lower lip. He pushed himself off the bar counter and sauntered over. Bold as brass he simply put another bourbon in front of him and sat opposite. “Hi, I’m Merlin.” He decided he liked the look of the blonde up close.
“Arthur.” The older man frowned. “How does this work?”
“You tell me what you want, and I see if I can get it for you at a reasonable price.” Merlin smirked.
“I want.” Arthur paused and looked him up and down. “Someone about twenty-five, dark hair, male, slender. I like slender. Blue eyes. Full lips. Someone exactly like you, actually. How much?”
Merlin’s eyebrows raised. “I’m not for sale.”
“Everyone has a price.” Arthur studied Merlin with a frown. “I’ll give you 5,000 for a week.”
“What part of I’m not for sale don’t you get?” Merlin gave him an amused look. He got this often, clients would come in looking for specifics. “I do have a selection of people who might fit your needs, however.”
“I want you. 10,000.” Arthur doubled the offer without blinking. Clearly, he was loaded.
“For 10,000 pounds what would you be expecting?” Merlin decided to find out exactly what this asshole had in mind. He wasn’t going to do it, he wasn’t for sale but it would be fun to string him along a bit. Those pouty lips were enticing.
“You stay at mine and be there when I need you. I fuck you however I want to, you do what I tell you to do.”
“You want sex for a week.” Merlin raised an eyebrow and gave a sassy little smirk. “How do I know you can get it up every night? You might not be worth my time. You might be a terrible lover.”
That only seemed to make the blonde madder. “I’m not a terrible lover, I just have a terrible track record. I want to keep it simple this time.”
“10,000 is a lot of money Arthur. Nobody makes that here.” Merlin laughed softly. “And we certainly don’t stay at a client’s house. What exactly are you looking for, a paid for boyfriend?”
“Er. Yes, actually.” Arthur looked slightly embarrassed. “I don’t want to deal with complications.”
“Well, Arthur. I know a few workers who would be happy to take you up on your offer. But alas, I just move the money.” Merlin gave him what he hoped looked like a disappointed sigh. “You’ll have to pick someone else. I can give you a catalog.” He pulled out his smartphone.
Arthur stared at him, he obviously didn’t get the word no very often. “I’ll give you 300,000 pounds for one month.”
Merlin stared. “You’re joking.”
“I never joke, Merlin.” It was Arthur’s turn to smirk as he slid his gaze up and down Merlin’s body. “You’re perfect. I want you.”
300,000 pounds was a lot of money. He’d never had that much money in his whole life and he’d never see that much money again. For what? A month of sex, his pride? Merlin had never been paid for sex in his life as that was where he’d drawn the line.
“Cash money, Merlin. I’ll give you 150,000 up front the first night and the rest at the end of the month.” Arthur sat back in his chair and looked smug. He’d seen the spark in Merlin’s eye, he knew that had gotten Merlin’s attention.
“How do I know you’re not some crazy sicko?” Merlin demanded.
“I’ll have my secretary send you my file. My name is Arthur Pendragon.”
“Fuck me.” Merlin stared at him. “Now you’re pulling my leg.” Arthur Pendragon was the CEO of the world renowned tech company Albion Inc. The Pendragons were a powerful family in the social circles of London. He was utterly out of his league. Arthur Pendragon was fucking famous. “What the hell would someone like you be doing here?”
“Buying.” Arthur snapped angrily. “What does it matter why I need someone? I just do. We’ll put a contract together or something. Do I really need to raise the offer Merlin? Or should I just tell you to name your price?”
Merlin laughed, “Well if you’re going to do that, I’m going to say one million pounds. Sorry, man, you walked right into that one.”
“Done.” Arthur nodded.
“What?” Merlin stared at him. “You can’t possibly be serious.”
“Dead serious. You stated your price, I’ve accepted. One million and you’ll be mine for a month.” Arthur met his gaze. He was completely and utterly serious. “That’s what this place is, a Market, isn’t it?”
Merlin gaped at him. “You are crazy. How do you know I’m even worth one million pounds? You haven’t even seen what I’m like without clothes.”
“It’s not about the money.” Arthur shrugged. “You start Nov 1st.”
“That’s today.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t process this.” Merlin rose quickly, Arthur caught his arm.
“I’m not a monster, Merlin. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself. After a month, you’ll be free again to do whatever you please.” Arthur’s expression was unreadable. He was talking as though he was purchasing a used car. When it seemed that Merlin was about to leave again, Arthur switched tactics. “Please?” His expression changed just then to the most endearing look Merlin had ever seen on a man. “You’ll be really helping me out. I need to have someone this month. Someone that isn’t going to create drama.”
Merlin melted. Fuck. Those eyes and damn… one million pounds. It would take care of all his debts and set him up for a good long while. He wouldn’t have to do this any longer, he could move back to Cardiff and take care of his mum. He wouldn’t have to be a seller, handle the money, deal with the rough clients and get them what they need. “Okay.” Merlin said slowly. He had a feeling he had no idea what he was getting into. “But we’re having a contract. I don’t do bdsm. I don’t do threesomes and I don’t do public or unsafe sex.”
“Fine by me.” Arthur looked relieved as he wrote down a number of contact information. “My lawyer, Gaius Reed will be getting in touch with you. You can go over financial details with him. Once the paperwork is done I’ll send a car to your flat, pick you up and you come to mine. From that point on you stay there. As far as my family is concerned, you’re my new boyfriend. At the end of the month, we’ll close the deal.” His words sounded reasonable but there was something in Arthur’s tone. Merlin couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Merlin muttered to himself as he exchanged personal information with Arthur. “You’re relentless.”
“It’s part of my charm.” Arthur assured him with a grin. “I promise you, Merlin. We won’t do anything you don’t like.” He reached over and placed his large hand over one of Merlin’s and cautiously caressed it.
Merlin felt a weird jolt run through him. It wasn’t anything technical or magical. It was just a spark of some kind of energy. Arthur didn’t seem to feel it so he just shrugged it off. He had a weird feeling like he could trust this man.
***
Later Arthur phoned Gaius. “I found him.”
**TBC**