Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 66993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I shivered with lust. “You need to move, Mr. Sato.”
“I told you to call me, Kenji.”
“You’re too close, Kenji.”
“You’re lucky I don’t have the time before this meeting to pull off those jeans.”
My mouth dropped open.
I recovered quickly but barely. “I’m going to knee you, if you don’t give me space.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before.”
“Well, there’s always a first time for everything,” I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him a little. “Are you going to move?”
“No. I’m going to see if you taste as sweet as you smell.”
He moved in to plant a kiss on my mouth.
Fuck.
I turned to escape that mouth. It didn’t save me. He landed a soft kiss on my skin, brushed his soft lips in a circle over my cheek and gently bit. The area where he bit tingled with pleasure.
Shivering, I gasped and arched my body into him.
Goodness. Get ahold of yourself.
He sucked a little and released my flesh. “You still need me to move?”
I shivered. “Yes.”
“I won’t,” He set his hands on my waist. “I’ll make sure this meeting doesn’t take too long. What time should I pick you up? Where are you staying now? What’s your number?”
My nerves flared on edge.
I had no control of the situation. Kenji crowded my senses—his cologne swirled around my head, his hard body molded into mine, those soft lips explored my neck, his breathing hummed with mine and all I could see was that gorgeous face, begging me for my number.
What am I doing?
So. . .
I freaked out.
My knee shot up—fast and hard—straight into his groin.
The impact landed with brutal violence.
He grunted—loud, sharp, and guttural—as his body folded forward. One hand slapped the wall beside me for balance, the other cupped the damage like he could somehow rewind time and undo what just happened.
I didn’t wait.
Didn’t breathe.
Didn’t apologize.
His sharp curse echoed in the room. “Chikusho!”
I spun toward the door like my sneakers were on fire. My pulse roared in my ears. My hand flew to the handle.
I yanked it open hard.
Oh my god I just kneed a gangster!!!
In the hallway, his men exchanged uncomfortable glances but they didn’t make a move.
But one of them—stone-faced and with the red strip of hair—slowly pulled a lollipop from his mouth in shock as he watched me run away.
Where the hell is Zo? Damn it!
Kenji loudly shrieked from the office. “Chikusho!”
Shit. I should go back to get the recorder. What? No, dumbass. Run!
I glanced behind me.
Many of the men rushed into the office.
While Mr. Lollipop Man just watched me run away and had the nerve to appear quite amused.
I shifted my skip to a run, rounded the corner into the lounge and scanned the area for Zo.
My heart boomed in my ears.
Tons of half-naked women gathered around many different men—some balding and wrinkled, others young and decorated in designer suits.
A few glanced my way.
One stuck his tongue out and wagged it in a circular motion.
Another motioned for me to come to his lap.
“Nyomi?” On my right, Zo stepped out of an area that must’ve been a bathroom. I couldn’t think of what else it could be.
“Let’s go,” I hooked my arm around his and towed him along.
“Why? What happened?”
“Hurry.”
“Fuck. What did you do?” Zo’s face turned a shade of red as he picked up his pace. “Did you say something disrespectful?”
“Nope. I didn’t exactly say anything disrespectful.”
We scurried past two huge Black guards.
I glanced over my shoulder. Besides chatting women and groping men, Kenji and his goons weren’t running behind us.
Good.
“If you didn’t say anything disrespectful then why are we running out of here?” Zo pushed through the double doors.
The cool night air hit my skin.
I still didn’t let out a relieved breath, even as colorful light glittered on the buildings around me and appeared we might be safe.
“I kind of kneed him,” I said.
“What?” Shrieking, Zo targeted me with his gaze. “Kind of kneed him or kneed him?”
“Kneed him.”
“Fuck!” Zo raced away, holding my hand in a fierce grip and dragging me through the red-light district at a mad man's pace.
And as Zo dragged me into the night, all I could think was—Kenji is not done with me.
Not by a long shot.
Goddamn it.
Chapter four
Marked by the Tiger
Kenji
Maybe I went too far.
Lightning seared my balls.
Sharp, burning pain lit up my entire groin like fireworks going off behind my eyes.
The last time I’d been kneed, I was in grade school. I punched the boy so hard he’d lost a tooth. There were no consequences. The staff didn’t suspend me. Not a note home.
Everyone knew my family.
They knew what would come. Knew my father’s name meant silence and my uncles carried longer memories than most men survived to regret.
But all that legacy didn’t save me from the ache now pulsing at the center of my body.