Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Toma screamed, "This is insane! That’s us! The Claws!!"
The rest of the Claws had been frozen just like me, but now they were thawing and slowly reacting.
Hiro's mouth had fallen open, displaying those diamond fangs. He had his cane lifted halfway, as if he had been about to tap the floor and forgotten to move. “I can’t believe you built this for us. I can’t fucking believe it.”
The twins had gone silent in a way that was far more telling than their usual fragmented chorus. One's hand had found the other's shoulder, while that twin held his brother's wrist.
Kaede and Daisuke exchanged stunned glances.
My Tora.
This was a perfect moment, if not for the slave kneeling by her side. At least he’d kept that three feet of distance, yet his gaze remained on her feet and it unsettled me.
I can’t fucking wait until he’s gone. I should have killed him.
Nyomi's voice pulled me back to the moment. “Hiro, what are you doing?!”
I looked in that direction.
Hiro had already dropped his cane and taken off his fur coat. He was now stepping toward that massive claw in those heeled boots.
One of the twins picked up the coat and cane.
Nyomi's voice sharpened. "Hiro?"
"I need to touch it."
Rushing forward, Toma nodded his head. “And then we’ll climb it.”
“What?” Nyomi let go of my hand and headed forward. The slave quickened his crawling. She shook her head. “Hey! You are not climbing that claw."
The rest of the Claws hurried forward.
Kaede unbuttoned his jacket. “I bet I can reach the top first!"
“No way!” Daisuke shoved him to the side. “Everyone knows that I’m the best climber.”
“You’re not.”
Nyomi raised her voice. "No one is climbing this!"
I grinned.
My Tora was still learning.
She’d put a large structure in a room full of overgrown boys who had spent their entire lives learning how to kill things, of course they would want to climb it.
Even more. . .I yearned to climb it too.
The violin carried the melody in slow, steady pulls, each note stretching just a little longer than expected before easing into the next. The sound achingly curved through the ballroom.
The piano followed close behind and the bass remained low and steady.
"Toma." She pointed one finger at him. "Put your boots back on. What the fuck?”
Toma blinked. “It can hold us.”
“I don’t think so and besides we are having a party.” She continued forward as all the Claws began to gather around one huge talon, slowly kicking off boots and shoes. “Unless you want to stop the party right here.”
That got the reaction she wanted.
They all paused from taking off their shoes.
She pointed to the Claws. “If this is all you want for your surprise, I’ll head up to my bedroom, read a book, and go to sleep.”
Hiro frowned. “You know we want to see all of your surprises.”
“Then, fucking put your pimp coat back on and act like a grown man.”
Hiro widened his eyes. “Pimp coat?”
She gestured to all of them. “No fucking climbing.”
A few frowned, but they all nodded.
“Like seriously.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I even had to tell you all this.”
“Of course you have to tell us this.” Hiro pointed up at it. “We really like it!”
She held out her hands. “That doesn’t mean you begin to climb it.”
“Actually, it does.” Hiro smirked.
“Regardless. . .thank you, Tora.” Daisuke slipped his boots back on. “This is so cool.”
One of the twins raised his hand.
She leaned her head to the side. “Yes.”
The other twin spoke, “Can we climb the claw after the party?”
She scowled. “I don’t want you to break anything like your legs or arms.”
The twins laughed.
Hiro snorted.
“Whatever.” She shrugged. “You all can climb the damn claw after everyone is out of the ballroom, just in case it all falls down from your weight and crashes to the floor.”
Kaede bowed. “We got it, boss.”
I blinked.
She did too and then cleared her throat. “Well. . .good.”
Did they just fucking promote her?
“Alright then, Nyomi. We won’t climb it.” Now directly under the claw, Hiro lifted his head up and gazed at it. “Just give us time to take it all in. This is a lot. It’s a masterpiece, Nyomi. A fucking cock-hardening masterpiece.”
Toma nodded. “I’m definitely hard.”
“Alright. Alright.” Nyomi held up her hands. “We don’t need to know all of that. Remember. The Claws are going to be gentlemen tonight.”
Toma snickered. “Gentlemen?”
Kaede chuckled. “Oh sure. We can do that.”
“No way,” Daisuke whispered.
Meanwhile, pure excitement shimmered in Hiro’s eyes. Honestly, I hadn’t seen that look on his face since before Nura had passed.
It made my heart twist and warm all at the same time.
I dropped my gaze to the marble between my shoes. I held it there until I could lift my head again without showing what my Tiger had just done to me.
Thank you, Tora.
Still standing by the doorway, I scanned the rest of the space.