<div align="center">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/04/FengBao.jpg)</div><br/>At Ethan's words, the wine in Feng's throat caught, and burned at it tried to get onto his lungs. He choked and coughed for several moments in an awkward and undignified way. When he stopped, his cheeks were coloured with embarrassment, and he stared at the pretty slave in disbelief. His mouth opened, and he started to say the youth must be mistaken - but he stopped himself before the first word could form, trapped in the no-man's-land of not wishing to insult Tai by refusing and having the control he had over his and Tai's relationship being torn from him. He had known Tai wanted him sexually, but Feng had been - well, afraid to take it to that level. Tai's only recurring lovers were his slaves, his pets. Feng didn't want to be discarded by his life-long friend just because of a stupid bet.<br/><br/>But to refuse, or to claim Ethan lied... it would be an awful insult. One so grave it might end their friendship with more surety than spending a night with the emperor would. Feng swallowed and looked at Tai, his eyes unusually wide. Tai's offer of an out was a great kindness, as if he knew how the situation tore Feng. He relaxed and coughed again, softly clearing his throat this time. "Perhaps you will accept a middle ground? If your slave insists his memory is true I will not shy from following through - but perhaps I might satisfy my honour and your victory with... a kiss?"