“Iie.” A slow shake of his head as he pins me with a knowing look. “There could have been a thousand, and they couldn’t compare to what is and will always be mine.”
My heart is a battering ram in my chest as his lips cover mine in a sumptuous, toe-curling kiss.
I inhale him, taking every languorous pull of his tongue into my mouth. He possesses me as if I’m his last good meal before an execution. I consume him like he’s the lightest, sweetest air after being locked away in a fetid prison.
Mindlessly, I wrap my arms around him, drawing him into a deeper kiss. His mouth slants over mine. Our tongues dance, tangle, even fight for dominance, neither of us are willing to cede in this mating.
He settles more firmly over me. Wedging between my supine thighs, he makes his home there in the space that I’ve welcomed him.
“So pretty, so mine,” his eyes speak so much more than the mere words say.
“So handsome, such a bad boy,” I smirk at his frown. Taunting him is a risk I’m willing to take. The more he bends for me, the less I have to break for him. I don’t delude myself for one moment into thinking that the minute he knows I’m not getting pregnant my life won’t irrevocably change.
“Your feelings are hurt by tonight,” he acknowledges pressing his forehead to mine. Trying to ignore the pang in my heart, I don’t break our stare or turn away.
“I’m your wife. I deserve your honor no matter how we came to be. Spending time with other women is highly disrespectful, regardless of the reason or deals you’re making.” The strength of my convictions ring in my words.
“Hai,” he bows sharply, acknowledging my admonishment. “Never again will I do such a thing.”
Our gazes clash. Ever so slowly we meld into each other again. Bending he kisses the softness beneath my ear before tugging the lobe into his mouth. His speaks roughly in a dialect he, his brothers and cousins use when they don’t want us to understand. Yet, I know the look he gives me. I saw it at Christmas when he demanded I forgive him so we could move forward.
A chance for us I squandered.
“Will you have this bad boy, Bri-chan?” No vulnerability, a challenge.
“Will you have this vicious girl?” I give it to him right back.
Neither of us has acquiesced when he covers my lips with his again or when he pushes inside of me.
Chapter 11
Surprise Guests ???
Riyu
Schooling my features I don’t allow the surprise I’m feeling to register on my face as Takashi and I enter the room of filled with men and are greeted by two faces incongruous with the scene before us.
The meeting is one of the the leaders of the Yakuza clans who hold sway over the entirety of of Japan, several areas of Europe, the Americas and activity making inroads into several countries on the continent of Africa. The Shipmoore brothers being present is an anomaly. The only thing more homongenous than the Japanese elite is the Yakuza. Two Black British billionaires being present is unprecedented and screams just how deadly the situation with their sister, Prosperity has gotten.
To have them at the meeting is a statement of their power and sway among the men present and the connections they have been making since their sister disappeared.
“Hiyo” my brother and I give the barest of nods to the group at large. They all bow at varying depths in response, based on the hierarchy present. Stares follow us as we take our seats amongst the men across from one another, as is our custom. We never present our backs, always covering the other twin, havedone so since the womb. Mother often says we were often found back to back or facing the other with our heads touching as if communicating telepathically.
“What do we owe the pleasure of this illustrious visit?” I train my gaze on the Kobe Yamaguchi-gami syndicate, the newest and the most ambitious of those assembled. Eager to prove themselves to the other clans present, they are new and have ideas of modernization, which Takeda is not opposed to. They are also in direct opposition to the Tatasumoto Syndicate and will use any opportunity that arises to one up the competition.
Kairi Tatsumoto-Savelle slides a glance to the two men who represent Kobe and utters in a cold tone. “Explain.” Leaving “before we kill you and your guests.” left unsaid. Him being present acting liaison between his cousin Tsuyoshi shows how enthralled his cousin is with his new pet. The Yakuza prince has not missed a meeting in all the time we have been attending. For him to not be present but send his second is speaks loudly to all present. If he attended, he would have been forced to kill his pet’s brothers, so maybe that’s why were brought in — to challenge him. He obviously doesn’t want to upset her.
“We know someone in this room has or is aware of our sister, Prosperity. We have made it very attractive to the Kobe Yamachuchi-gami Syndicate to endeavor to aid us. There is no amount of money, connection at our disposal that we will not use to get our sister back alive and unmolested.” Porter says smoothly to the group at large appealing to the general avarice of the men assembled.
The Shipmoores still have much to learn about the Yakuza if they intend to hunt in these shark-infested waters. Loyalty among the men assembled around the table is paramount.
The Kobe brought them in as a power play but they would never betray the centuries long alliance among the factions here.
“How do you know she still lives?” I ask with a quirk of my brow just to fuck with them for daring to tread where sinners reign.
“She better be fucking alive, Takeda.” Bishop Shipmoore doesn’t raise his voice. Just quietly assesses my brother and me. Whatever they have discovered has led them to our door. “We hear you’ve had a little trouble keeping track of your own women.”
“Hai,” Takashi, chuckles. And I can’t help but let out a huff of laughter.
