Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
This wasn't about control.
Not completely.
Beneath all his outward fury, I could see inner terror. His pupils blown wide and dark like a cornered animal's. His breath coming out in shallow bursts through flared nostrils, the kind of primal panic that ripped through even the most powerful predator when what they loved most was threatened.
Aww, baby. I’m fine.
I didn't like being told what to do, but I also wasn't stupid. I understood the danger swirling around us, even if I didn't want to admit how much it scared me too.
So, I gave in.
For now.
I just hoped this possessiveness would truly leave once the spy was gone. Because if this was who Kenji was all the time—a man who couldn't let me walk down a hallway alone—we were going to have problems.
Big ones.
I moved into his space, my body drawn to his like tide pulled by the moon. Heat rolled off his skin in waves. I hadn’t even touched him yet, but I could already feel him.
When my cheek finally pressed against his chest. His heartbeat thundered beneath my ear. The sound of his breathing was heavy, uneven, brushing against my ear. His lush scent filled my lungs until I was dizzy with it.
"I'm sorry," My lips brushed his skin with each word. "I will stay by your side."
His powerful arms enveloped me, wrapping me in a cage of protection and possession until there was nothing between us but shared breath and racing hearts.
Meanwhile, the guards wheeled the cart past us into the bedroom. I heard them distributing the bento boxes to Kenji's guards who'd been stationed outside our door.
Kenji's body went rigid in my arms. He pulled back, and a low growl rumbled from his chest. "What is this? Food for my guards?"
I blinked up at him. "Yes."
The guards had already accepted the bento boxes but froze completely, holding the wrapped packages with the careful stillness of men who'd just realized they were standing in a minefield.
They didn't dare open them.
Didn't move.
One guard's eyes flicked down to his box—just once, quickly—and I swear I saw longing. They could clearly smell the banana bread through the wrapping.
The Dragon sneered at them. “Put those back on the cart!!”
“No!” I raised my eyebrows. "Kenji, what are you doing?!"
"I implemented a new law this morning." His voice carried that dangerous edge. "No one is to eat your food. Beginning today. Now. . .I was thinking about changing it, but I haven’t just yet."
I stared at him—still naked, still furious, still absurdly beautiful. “Can we let the guards hold their boxes and we talk about this?”
He frowned. “Yes.”
Good. Because I’m about to knock you out.
Chapter sixteen
Breakfast with the Dragon
Nyomi
I can’t believe we even have to have this discussion.
I turned and walked into the bedroom, gesturing for Kenji to follow. I wasn't going to have this conversation in the hallway.
He stalked after me, and one of the guards quickly shut the door behind us, probably grateful to be released from whatever that moment had been.
I turned to face him. "That's not going to work."
Kenji’s eyes flashed with anger. "What’s not going to work?"
"Your law about my cooking for your men. No one is respecting it, and if I find out you're actually trying to enforce it, I will not cook for you again."
His eyes went wild. "Tora—"
I held up a hand. "Let me ask you something. When I’m feeding your men, what do you think I am doing?"
He frowned, clearly thrown by the question. “Tora, it’s not about your purpose—”
"It is. My feeding them is keeping them strong and ensuring loyalty." I stepped closer. "I want to care for them in my way. Build bonds. Show them they matter—”
“That’s exactly what I don’t want—”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s sharing you!”
“Guess what? You’re going to have to share me.”
“The hell I will—”
“Once my grandma meets you, she will be impressed by so much that she will damn near adopt you and I will most definitely have to learn how to share you with her because when we visit she will snatch you away from me and take up all your time in Charleston.”
He blinked and went silent.
“We’re all. . .you know. . .” I shrugged. “Becoming family. And. . I’m figuring out my place.”
His voice went calm. “Your place is next to me. That’s it.”
“I also have some say on what my place is. Right?” I leaned my head to the side. “Or are you going to bully me into doing everything and anything you want?”
He looked at me, and a firestorm of emotions played out in those intense eyes.
I held my ground. “I love that you want to possess me, Kenji, but it also makes me happy to cook for everyone. It makes me feel useful—”
“You are fucking useful. We’ve discovered those skills—”
“Cool. Add it to my list and mind your business.”