The sex scenes finally became less repugnant a little over halfway through, and a solution to Tomoyuki and Aswil's romantic plight popped up almost out of nowhere - I expected some of what happened, but one character relationship revelation seemed to come out of the blue, especially considering how one of the characters had previously behaved. I actually thought his interactions with Zafar, Aswil's cousin, were overall more pleasant than his interactions with Aswil, unfortunately. Tomoyuki still loves and is attracted to Aswil, but that doesn't mean he's happy with the idea of being kept cooped up for Aswil to have sex with and then toss aside as he wishes, so he spends much of the book trying to get away.

He refuses to tell Tomoyuki his plans, if he even has any, and at least one instance of rape appears to be inspired by jealousy - apparently he found out that a guy had occasionally been staying at Tomoyuki's place and assumed they were lovers (they weren't, but that didn't matter either way). In the first half of the book, Aswil has Tomoyuki drugged, forcibly kisses him, and has sex with him despite his protests. I don't know why I have so many Juné novels - most of them are terrible and rapey, and this one is no exception. But will it be possible for him to escape? The two of them can't marry, and Aswil will soon be marrying someone else, so does Aswil mean to keep him like some sort of mistress? As much as Tomoyuki still loves the man, he doesn't think he can live that kind of life. There's no way Tomoyuki could ever have a future with a man like that, so he's confused and upset when Aswil suddenly shows up and has him kidnapped. Six years ago, Tomoyuki had fallen in love with Aswil, only to have his heart broken at the revelation that Aswil was next in line for the throne of the country of Madina. However, it turns out the trip is a sham arranged by Tomoyuki's ex-lover, Aswil al-Murshid. When he's told that his company requires someone proficient in English and Arabic to travel to England for an emergency business trip, he thinks nothing of it. Tomoyuki works for the planning department of a Japanese trading company.

Eternal Love by Mizumi Takaoka