Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Soon, my wife will have me wrapped around her pinky.
Yuki crouches by the pond, and after scooping some of the paste she just prepared into her fingers, she places her hand in the water. The koi come a little closer, and every few seconds, one darts forward to steal some paste before swimming away.
When they’ve cleaned her hand, she holds the bowl out to me. “Your turn.”
“They don’t bite, right?”
“No.”
I gather some of the paste as I crouch down beside her, and pushing my hand into the water, I brace for an attack. When the first koi takes a chance to steal a blob of paste, the others follow suit.
“It’s good for you to connect with nature,” Yuki murmurs. “Your soul needs it after the bad day you’ve had.”
“Yeah.”
Pulling my hand from the water, I pat it dry on my thigh while rising to my full height.
My thoughts turn to the shooter, and looking at Yuki, I worry that they’ll come after her. She’s the reason we came to an agreement with the Yakuza. Whoever’s behind the attack might think the deal will be nullified if she’s dead.
Not thinking, I grab hold of her shoulders and yank her to my chest. I engulf her in my arms and press my cheek against the top of her head.
Sucking in a deep breath, I get a lungful of her soft scent, something delicate and clean.
“I hate doing this, but you have to stay at home until I find out who’s behind the attack.” I pull back, and placing a finger beneath her chin, I nudge her so she’ll look at me. “I don’t want to risk your life.”
Her lips part, and when her eyes begin to shine with tears, worry pours into my chest.
“I was forced to risk my life every time I pretended to be my brother. You’re the first person who doesn’t want to put me in danger.”
Christ.
Thinking she will appreciate hearing it, I say, “You’re my redemption.” I move my hands to the sides of her neck and stare deep into her eyes. “And my wife.” The corner of my mouth lifts. “My little shapeshifter.” Leaning down, I press a tender kiss to her mouth, and I have to suppress the urge to devour her so I can say, “Your safety is my priority. I won’t allow anything to happen to you, and I will kill anyone who tries to come near you.”
Emotions flit over her face, everything from awe to happiness to shyness. The last one is quickly becoming my kryptonite.
“Thank you,” she whispers, then hesitantly pushes onto her tiptoes. Her mouth pauses an inch from mine, and I watch as she rethinks what she’s doing before her lips softly brush against mine.
Holy fuck.
It feels as if the ground shudders beneath my feet as Yuki tentatively begins to kiss me.
I have to fight to hold back so she can have control, but as her sweet mouth nips at mine and her tongue lightly strokes over my bottom lip, I lose the battle.
My arm shoots around her, and hauling her off her feet, I grip her tightly to my chest while I take her in a hungry kiss, the urgency to taste every inch of her mouth too intense to resist.
As the sun sets, I selfishly take my fill of Yuki, and by the time I lift my head, she’s breathless and dazed. Holding onto my shoulders, she presses her face to my neck, and I give her the time she needs to recover.
Her tone is filled with a world of vulnerability as she asks, “Will it feel the same when we consummate our marriage?”
“Having sex is much more intense than sharing a kiss.”
“I think I’ll pass out if it gets any more intense than this.”
I let her body slide down mine until her feet touch the ground, well aware she’s able to feel my hard-on.
I watch her face for her reaction, and as expected, her cheeks turn a deeper pink, and she glances at the shrubs, flowers, and pond.
“Don’t worry about sex.” I brush my hand up and down her arm. “We’ll enjoy the make-out sessions until you’re ready for the next step.”
A cute smile tugs at her lips. “Okay.”
For the past two weeks, we’ve been searching high and fucking low for any lead on who attacked me.
I even called Tanaka and had to listen to him blowing up over the phone, upset that someone would fuck with the treaty.
Right now, work sucks ass, and I live for the nights and weekends I get to spend with Yuki.
I’ve kept my word, but every night when I get to devour her mouth, it takes all my strength not to take things further.
I deserve some kind of award.
The elevator doors open, and when I walk into Georgi’s penthouse, I see everyone’s already here.