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)
Yoichi came next with Satoshi. Yoichi crossed beneath the doorway and his hand drifted to that silver fang charm at his throat. He looked up at the claw and the smallest smile lifted one side of his mouth, like he'd recognized something the rest of us couldn't see.
Satoshi stepped in beside him and did what soldiers do. His eyes mapped every talon, every fracture in the plaster, and every line of stress in the ceiling as if making sure the clawed structure did not provide any true threat.
Both kept it simple with black tuxedos cut tight at the waist and elegant top hats. However, Yoichi’s lapels were heavy with white fur and that silver fang charm hung at his throat.
When they all got to the table, the men smiled—Kaoru, Yoichi, and Satoshi.
Oh.
Where I thought Hiro’s added grill dazzled, the Fangs had taken the idea to the next level. They bared these long crystal fangs at us. At the tips were rubies as if they were sparkling with blood.
I nodded. “Nice touch.”
“We knew you would love it.” Kaoru’s wagon stopped at the edge of our table. And to my utter shock, his girlfriends went to the side, bent at the waist, and reached up for him.
Oh no.
They wrapped their arms under his and lifted.
Kaoru was a huge man. Thick muscular thighs, broad shoulders, heavy frame stuffed into all that black satin.
The two women braced their feet wide in those heels, leaned back, and grunted as they hoisted him off the wagon.
One of them lost her footing for a half-second. Her finger-waved hair shifted and she had to readjust her grip on him.
The other clenched her teeth and pushed up from her hips like a woman doing a deadlift.
Kaoru hung between them, theatrical and limp, like a Roman emperor who had never once carried his own body weight a day in his life.
“Kaoru!” I frowned. "Could you please give them a rest? I mean seriously!"
The Claws laughed.
Kaoru scoffed. "Fine."
He left their hold, and his feet hit the floor.
Both women caught their breath. The shorter one wiped at her hairline. The taller one rolled her shoulders and discreetly stretched her lower back.
I gave them a sad smile.
The taller one mouthed thank you at me and gave me the smallest, most grateful nod.
The shorter one just grinned like I had set her free.
Kaoru sighed at me as if I had personally ruined his entire arrival. Then he turned, and to my surprise, he pulled out two chairs at the table and gestured for them to sit. “There you go, lovelies.”
The women swooned and sat down.
He stepped behind their chairs, placed a hand on each of their shoulders, and leaned down to kiss the top of one of their heads, then the other, all without dropping the cigarette holder out of his fingers.
While the room was distracted by Kaoru kissing his girlfriends, Kenji turned my chin toward him and kissed me.
Hard.
Quick.
Claiming me.
Mmmm.
My pulse jumped.
When he finished the sweet kiss, he pulled back a little and traced the line of my lower lip. “I’m going to fuck you under this claw.”
“Is that after the Claws climb the claw or during?”
“During.”
My cheeks went hot.
Waitresses came around and poured us all glasses of champagne.
I looked up and saw Kaoru still standing and now watching me. “I just want to say, Nyomi, that you have outdone yourself. And I’m sure the Claws haven’t done it, so allow the Fangs to do it.”
I quirked my brows.
Kaoru, Satoshi, and Yoichi all clapped for me.
I smiled. “Aww. Thank you.”
The twins grumbled some curse.
Then, Kaoru lit his black cigarette and blew out pink smoke.
I grinned. “Well, that’s impressive.”
“Please, don’t fucking encourage him.” Hiro glared at Kaoru. “Next Claws party we won’t invite them. Isn’t that right, Tora?”
“Next party?” I stared at him in shock. “Excuse me?”
Kaoru waved Hiro away. “Keep on talking and you won’t be invited to the Fangs’ party. I just can’t wait to see what our ballroom is going to look like. Probably a huge dragon jaw in the center.”
Yoichi nodded. “And we’ll probably be able to walk into the jaw and eat inside of it.”
Oh no. A Fangs’ party. Who the fuck said that?
Kenji let out a long breath.
Kaoru finally sat his ridiculous ass down.
The doors at the other end of the ballroom opened and eight waiters glided out, all in matching black tuxedos with gold satin pocket squares and white gloves. Each carried a silver tray held high on the fingertips of one hand.
The first two waiters passed beneath the talons carrying a perfect row of champagne flutes filled with creamy cheesy grits and crowned with blackened shrimp.
Reo sniffed the air and gestured to the waiter. “I’ll be having two of those.”
I chuckled.
The next two carried mini chicken and waffles glistening with bourbon-honey. The next pair had the braised oxtail baos.