“Katsumi Sakura.” A male voice startled me, and I shifted to see a short man, with black hair and light honey-colored eyes standing beside me.
“Oh, hello.” I stood and bowed politely.
“I am Kenji Kato,” he introduced himself, and I offered him a seat.
“I know who you are, Commissioner General.” I chuckled and waiters rushed to ask us if we’d like some tea. I held my cup out and smelled the sweet vanilla aroma fill the space as they poured. I smiled at the chief of Japan’s national police agency. I’d seen him on TV and vaguely knew about him, although I’d never had the pleasure of speaking to him in person. He was really trying to make a difference in our country. I admired his efforts so far.
“Yes, I fear I can’t go many places without people knowing me. Both good and bad.” He accepted some tea and gave me a comfortable grin.
“How have you been?” It was nice that someone sought me out for conversation, but a little inkling nudged me that this man could want intel on my father’s crimes. I subtly searched for my father, to see if he watched me, but he was still enamored with his friends.
“Well, my wife would not be pleased I ordered the steak tonight. My heart has been a little stressed lately with work.”
I laughed, knowing I’d made my father give up steak for the same reason. You could never be too serious about health. He continued talking about giving up the salted chips, and she attempted to make him do Tai chi every day. It was an easy conversation, and I enjoyed the relaxing topic. Soon my stress about my father was gone as our topics morphed into travel and my time in America.
“Forgive me for the change of subject, for I will soon have to mingle with these peacocks. But I must confess my true reasoning for approaching you.” His head tilted down and my whole body froze. This was it, the day I ruined my family by being a poor liar. If he asked if my father killed people or did bad things, I wouldn’t be able to tell him my father was a saint.
“My wife is a huge fan of yours. Unfortunately, she had to stay behind with our daughter, who spouted a fever this morning. She would be very angry with me if I did not get a picture and an autograph. She loved your summer dress-for-less collection, and I might add, I enjoyed a few of your nightly lines as well.” The blush on this man’s cheeks brought the biggest smile to my face.
“I would be honored. I could call her, too, if you’d like. I love chatting with people who appreciate good fashion.”
The man barked a laugh and nodded vigorously. He instantly called his wife for me, and I laughed while listening to her freak out on the other side of the line. I loved making people happy with my passion. After I snapped a few pictures and signed the back of my table name place card for her, we parted ways, and I could not stop smiling.
Chapter Twenty- Seven
Tatsou
“Tatsou, I want you to look out for Katsumi and tell me who she speaks to from now on.” Kano Sakura leaned in and looked at his daughter, who danced with a child to the music. I nodded to him, unsure of his new interest in her conversations but the more I listened as the night went on, the more I understood.
One of Kano’s advisors and business partners put a notion in his head that she might be working with the authorities against him. He didn’t completely believe it, but now the suspicion had been planted after seeing her laughing with the commissioner general. I knew what they’d been discussing, since I heard every word, but her father didn’t.
“Good work, son,” he said before walking away. I was left to stand next to Takeo and Rei again. I liked one of them. He chose to be a part of this life out of desperation in his youth but stayed for his love with Hiromi. Rei, on the other hand, I wanted to punch him. While Katsumi and I were not openly showing our affections toward one another in public, you could see it in every look if you watched closely enough. I sneered and remained cold to other humans in the room, but I couldn’t stop the memories of the past few days from entering my mind when I saw her. I needed to feel her soon, to hear those little whimpers she made when I kept her on the edge of release. I was addicted to her spark, and I hadn’t decided what that meant for me.
Would I give up everything to keep her? She hadn’t asked me to recently. She hadn’t demanded I change my plans of revenge, since the original arrangement. Instead, she gave me everything I never knew I wanted. While we hadn’t had sex, I’d worshiped her body with my lips, tongue, teeth, and hands.
“The girls wanna go dancing tonight.” Takeo leaned in so only I could hear him. The sisters had been talking about having a night out for days. I assumed it was common knowledge.
“I know you’ve got a thing for Kat, so I figured you’d be coming. Might be a good chance to let loose a little.” He grinned and returned to his aligned posture. I glance at Rei, and he had his attention somewhere else. He would have to watch over their mother, and I sincerely doubted he wanted to come and be the odd man out if he knew. He could try to have Kat, but I’d be there at every chance to kick his ass. She was mine, whether it was good for her or not.
Once the celebration came to an end, the girls went to their room and Takeo and I went to ours. Thankfully, Rei stayed with Kano’s guard. I’d be tempted to drain him in his sleep and be rid of him. It was close to 10:30 p.m., when the girls knocked on our doors and we escorted them to the club down the street. Their event dresses had been cut short, with their legs on full display. Kat looked delicious before, and now I’d have to fight to keep my hands off her all night. The atmosphere of the establishment was alive and flowing when we stepped inside. Romi quickly moved to the bar, while Kat grabbed my hand and dragged me to an area where humans writhed against each other to the music. I’m not sure one would call it dancing or at least a man of my time wouldn’t.
“Dance with me.” She wiggled in front of me; her hand still gripped mine. She moved against me, her short dress swishing from side to side with the fast beat. I didn’t know what to do but couldn’t deny her request when she glowed with joy. I scanned the room as the other males danced and did as they did. Kat’s thrilled laugh shot through me, and she turned to press her wiggling backside against me. Was dancing supposed to be sexual like this?
“Is this considered foreplay for humans in this time?” I leaned in and whispered in her ear. Her hands snaked up and wrapped around my neck, fingers teasing the hairs at the bottom of my skull.
“Not really, but it can be. People express themselves through dance. Even the strongest warriors danced in history. Well . . . maybe not ninjas, but in other parts of the world they did. It’s a time to let loose and just let the music control your movements.” She dragged her body down, then back up and I groaned. Dancing had become a new torture technique over the years. Usually, the only time a woman danced for a man like this was before she pleasured him. I shook my head and tried my best to do as she said. I closed my eyes. The sound of people talking and the music overwhelmed me. Kat noticed and turned back around and put my hands around her waist.
“Tatsou,” she called out, and my eyes opened instantly.
“Just focus on me. Just be with me like no one else is here.” She moved and I focused on her, despite my sensitive senses trying to overtake me. Seeing how hard I struggled in this setting, she led me to the outskirts of the crowd to a darker area and tried dancing with me as the music slowed down. It wasn’t as loud over here, and there weren’t as many people with thrumming veins in their neck. The heat coming off of them as they danced was tantalizing, and I had to fight against the ache in my throat.
“Are you okay?”
“Between the sexual dancing, the loud beating hearts, and warm bodies, I am having difficulties.” My fangs dropped and I knew the gold in my eyes grew brighter when hers widened.
“Do we need to go?” she asked.
I knew she would willingly leave to soothe my vampire side. I could just kill everyone in here but that thought didn’t sit well. Botan would be smiling if he watched me suffer between my choices right now.
