Akira Tong for Christmas (21 page)

Oh shit.

Akira jumped in front of me. “No!”

Anna appeared in the doorway. Kat spun with her gun and forced Anna into the room. She made everybody move into a corner, screaming Japanese like a lunatic.

The father looked more furious than worried but did as she said.

“You will not humiliate me in front of the world.” Kat’s voice quivered as she stared at Akira.

“I’ll do whatever you want. I promise.” Akira held his hands up in surrender.

“Put the gun down, Kat.” This from Nobu. “You don’t want to spend the rest of your life in prison.” But from her demonic expression, this woman was prepared to burn in hell before she released that gun. She clearly had lost her mind. And I didn’t like Akira standing in front of me; that crazy bitch might shoot through him to get to me. The psycho gleam in her eyes said she’d kill all of us if she couldn’t have Akira.

Everything happened in slow motion then. Kat screamed a barrage of angry Japanese and pointed the gun at me. Akira and Nobu both ran toward Kat. I could only stare wide-eyed into her furious gaze as gunfire and ringing filled my ears and pain slammed into my chest. The ceiling filled my vision as I fought to breathe around the dozen razors cutting through muscle and bone, spreading into my neck.

Akira’s face appeared above me, frantic. “Call 119. Call 119!” I strained to talk, dazed. Oddly enough, the only thing I could think about was informing him that it wasn’t 119; it was 911.

He stared down at me. He was crying? His face was next to mine. “Hold on, baby. Please don’t die.

Please don’t die.”

I gasped, trying to breathe. Die? “I’m…I’m fine.”

He let out a sob, and I realized he was covering me. Forgot I was nearly naked. He was probably jealous. My heart warmed despite the cold, despite the agony spreading in the right side of my chest. Fear coursed through my veins, and I reached for Akira.

“Shhh, don’t move. Don’t move.” He held my hand, stilling the violent trembling that had taken hold of me. The room spun.

“Akira,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“Shhh, stop talking.” His voice broke as he pressed endless kisses to my face. So good.

“I love you, Aki.”

“I know, I know. I love you, baby. Don’t talk. Please listen for once.” I tried to smile as grogginess hit me like a ton of bricks.

Chapter Eighteen

“She’s awake. Get the nurse!”

I knew that voice. It was Akira. I’d fallen asleep? I looked around, confused. Pain punched through my chest when I tried to move.

“Be still. Be still, baby,” Akira whispered, his mouth at my ear. His warm breath sent chills over my body, and I turned to feel him, moaning at how real and good he felt. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” I croaked.

“You were shot. This is my fault. I was supposed to protect you. I failed.” The agony in his words hurt me. But on the left side of my chest, not the right.

The nurse and doctor came in and checked me. I gathered I’d been shot in the lower shoulder, and the bullet passed right through me. Already healing fine.

Everybody eventually left. “Sit this bed up, please?”

“Yes, yes.” He hurried to do it.

I watched him in his white T-shirt, fascinated by those tan muscles rippling with his every move.

After he raised my bed, he gazed at me. My heart skipped a beat. His full lips were just so damned delicious. And my, my—five o’clock shadow? His hair hung in layered disarray to his shoulders. “You are so gorgeous,” I whispered.

He only continued to stare at me with dark chocolate eyes, then leaned till his cheek touched mine.

“Mmm.” I rubbed my face against his. “Akira.”

“What?” he whispered.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “How is Anna?”

He tensed, and several seconds passed before he drew away, turning his back to me. “She’s fine.

Everyone is fine.”

“What about the company?”

“That’s over. It’s handled.”

“Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “I’m not. I’m relieved, actually.”

“You are?”

”Kat’s father was humiliated by her display. She has brought great dishonor to her family. The merger with my father’s company was to be his entrance into legitimate business. He is eager to repair the damage and explore future business possibilities. It also means you’ll marry a man with an empire he can’t refuse.”

I took a moment to process that, then put my arms around his neck. “We’re a team, remember? Don’t worry. It’ll be a breeze. We’ll do it together.”

“It means we’ll live in New York City. I plan to make it our central location. Hope you don’t mind living in luxury.” He kissed my nose and lips softly. “And being treated like a queen.” I smiled. “As long as my king never leaves my side.”

“I can arrange that.” He nuzzled my jaw, the tenderness in his lips setting fires in me.

“Mmm.” I stroked his silky hair, then remembered. “Where’s Kat?”

“In jail.”

“You think…her father will leave her there?”

“No.”

“You think…”

“I don’t think she’s over her insanity, no.” He kissed the palm of my hand. “Which is why I’ve petitioned she not be allowed to legally leave Japan.”

“You think that’ll…”

“It will have to do. We will just be careful.”

I sighed. “I miss the simplicity of Mississippi.” I gazed at him. “You think we could live there some of the time?”

“I would love nothing more. I’ve dreamed of a simple life and can’t wait to be a part of yours with you.”

I kissed his nose. “I live on a farm. You’ll have to learn how to work.” He smiled against my lips. “I am no stranger to hard work.” He kissed me back.

“You’ll love it. You work hard all day; you come home to your wife. She feeds you, bathes you, and makes love to you all night. Then you get up and do it all over again.”

“Mmm, do I get weekends off?”

“Yes. And holiday bonuses.”

“And you’ll even cook for me?”

I smiled, running my fingers through his hair. “Morning, noon, and night.”

“What do I get for dessert?”

“Whatever you want.”

“Sounds like the best life ever,” he whispered, stroking my face.

“It is,” I agreed. “’Course, Mississippi will sure benefit from a top fashion designer such as yourself.”

“To dress the cows?”

“Or the cowgirls.”

“I honestly don’t want to see another piece of fabric. Unless it’s on you. Or on the floor next to you.”

“You like me nude, I know.”

“Yes.” The word gushed.

“And…you’ll be the father of our children.” I bit my lower lip, butterflies filling my stomach at the idea.

“Children? Mmm.” He caressed both sides of my face, his kisses more focused. “How many do you want?”

“Is five too many?”

He stared at me, then kissed me deeply until I moaned.

“I love you,” he whispered.

I brushed my fingers over his five o’clock shadow. “Momma always wanted a son,” I said. “She’s gonna be crazy about you.”

He actually blushed and gave me the most beautiful smile. “I haven’t been very successful with mothers so far.”

My heart hurt to hear it. “Some bitches are just dumb.”

He laughed with that happy smile, then sobered. “I’d give up having ten mothers if it meant getting you.”

How unbelievably sweet. “It’ll be fun mixing our cultures. Wait till you taste the food where I’m from.”

He raised his brows. “Is it good?”

“Good! Honey, you’re gonna wanna slap my ass every bite you take.”

“I want to do that now.” He kissed my palm.

I giggled. “And you can teach us your ways and culture. Well, most of them.” He quirked a brow, wondering.

“I’m pretty sure we can live just fine without the whole sac-of-male-fish-sperm thing, don’t you?” The door opened, and Akira sat up, keeping hold of my hand. Anna and Nobu walked in, arm in arm of all things. Anna hurried to my bedside and hugged me. “Leave it to you, Lucy, to get shot. What were you thinking, making yourself a target like that!”

Leave it to her to think that. “You’re just jealous you weren’t the center of attention for a change.” She slid warm fingers over my cheek with a sigh. “Momma’s gonna shit when she sees your hair,” she whispered.

“Just tell her I nearly lost my head, and maybe the short hair won’t bother her so much.”

“True.” She slid her eyes to the right and grinned, bouncing her brows. “I think he likes me.” I smiled. “You think?”

No
, she mouthed,
I mean really likes me. For more than just my
… She pointed discreetly to her boobs.

God, that would be so nice if true. I smiled and pushed her hair behind her ear. “
I’m glad
,” I mouthed back.

Her eyes rolled in ecstasy. “So am I,” she sang before standing and turning to Nobu. “You ready, handsome?”

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Well, Nobu here is relocating to New York City, and seeing as I’m
the
perfect tour guide in the United States of America, I, of course, am offering my services. Free of charge.” She winked at him.

“’Cept for pleasure fees.”

He grinned and pulled her into his arms and placed light kisses on her mouth. I could only stare with a grin at how taken he seemed with her.
Well, I’ll be. Two wild horses comin’ home to frolic in the fields
of Mississippi. Looks like Momma might gain two sons.

Epilogue

Akira approached our front porch, his gait sleek, tanned skin dirty, grimy, sweaty…mmmm. I opened the screen door, and he froze, eyes on my outfit.

“You like it?” I couldn’t stop grinning at the agony on his face.

He looked around and hurried in, like he was worried somebody would see me in my red sheer teddy with no panties and matching spiked heels.

“I need to shower!” He tore his shirt off, his eyes returning to my body.

I shook my head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You said you’d fuck me right after work.” I ran my hands over his rippled abs. “Mmm, you are so damn hot. I cannot believe you are all mine. Thank you,
Jesus
.” The ache in my words matched the one between my legs as I tasted his hard work on his flesh.

“How can you want that?” Desire stole the disgust from his voice.

“Very, very easy.” I stroked his bulging cock through his jeans.

He groaned, thrusting his hips into my touch. “I want you to suck my dick.” His hands gripped my ass and pressed me to his erection. “But I refuse to let you like this.”

“At least fuck me?”

“If you let me wash my hands.” At seeing my pout, he chuckled and kissed me. “I have to touch you, and I’m not going to risk giving you some kind of farm disease. Mmmm.” He slid his hand over the curve of my ass.

“Fine.” I turned him. “In the kitchen.”

He hurried and washed his hands and arms, and I sat on the table with my legs open and waiting.

He turned and walked toward me, unfastening his pants while kicking his boots off. His handsome face remained riveted on my pussy as he knelt on the floor and groaned against my inner thigh. “So beautiful.” He kissed along the lips with tender affection.

I moaned, gliding my fingers through his silky hair, pushing my hips toward his kiss. I watched his tongue come out and lick along the entire outside before finally slipping between the slit. Stole my breath.

Using his thumbs at the junction of my legs, he pressed, opening me. I loved the way his tongue looked and felt flicking over my clit. I gasped, thrusting toward the delicious pressure.

He worked his lips inside my folds, creating a firmer connection. I clutched his hair. “Yes, like that.

I love watching you do that.”

His eyes were closed, those thick lashes resting on his tanned cheeks, dark brows drawn together in hunger, and that silky forehead glowing from the day’s embedded sweat. Twenty seconds of that, and I was mewling and rocking my hips against his mouth while he groaned. He finally slipped his finger inside me, and my head fell back with a desperate “
Yes
!”

His other hand snaked up my front and captured my breast while he took me to another world where only he, his mouth, tongue, and fingers existed. One hand braced on the table behind me, the other tight in his hair, I moaned his name and lifted my hips, pumping myself on his mouth. “So good,” I said. “Yes, do it.” I watched his hand roll my nipple, his mouth buried in my pussy. My heart and breath sped up with the increasing pleasure. “Do it,” I whispered, closing my eyes. He worked his tongue and lips over my clit so perfectly, his finger flicking nice and deep.

My climax was right there. “I’m coming!” I gave a loud cry as it reached the surface. “Oh God. Yes, yes.” I threw my head back and opened as wide as I could, giving myself to the fire shocking its way through me for eternal seconds.

I brought my head forward, still drugged with the pleasure as Akira rose to stand. He took hold of my ankles and placed them on his shoulders while positioning his cock at my entrance.

He kissed each ankle, then locked his handsome gaze on mine. He shoved into ecstasy, and his eyes clenched. I squeezed his cock tight, watching his muscles flex in restraint. He held my hips and began to maneuver me on and off his cock, his pace focused and seeking, then suddenly hard and reckless. “Yes, yes!”