by Taylor Lee
“Goddamn, darlin,’ you look like a bride yourself. You don’t look any older than Elena. Jesus, baby, every time I’m next to you, I want to smell you, taste you, come up inside that sweet pussy of yours. Lei, I can still remember the first time I made love to you. In that moment, I knew heaven, and I never wanted to leave.”
Lei tipped her head back and ran her fingers over his face her eyes shining.
“Vivian will be happy today, Wyatt. She will be happy when she sees her daughter with a man who loves her. A man who is as strong, as powerful…AND as demanding and possessive as you are.”
Wyatt smiled.
“Yes, she would be. The only thing that would make her happier is knowing how you have mothered Elena and Alex. How you’ve loved them as though they are yours …because they are.”
He led her close and whispered to her.
“Thank you, Lei, for teaching me that the greatest tribute I could make to Vivian’s memory was to find a woman who would love me as well as she did. Hell, let’s face it, better. You tamed me, Lei.”
He laughed when she quirked an eyebrow.
“Well, as much as anyone could. Baby, you took away my pain, you took away my bitterness. Because of that, you made me a better father and a better man. I love you, Lei.”
“I love you, Wyatt.”
They held each other, reveling in their love.
Wyatt pulled out his pocket watch and grimaced.
“Did Elena go to her chambers?”
“Oh goodness, I hope so, but I don’t know.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes and swatted Lei on her bottom.
“I better go round her up. We both know she won’t leave until every last one of those girls is decked out.”
Wyatt knocked on Alex’s door as he went by and hollered to him.
When Alex came to door, Wyatt said with a hearty laugh, “Come help me kidnap that sister of yours. It’s less than two hours until the wedding and she is still at the infirmary helping the young girls dress.”
When they arrived at the infirmary, they were astonished to a bevy of young girls dressed in lovely gowns chattering, laughing, and flitting about. Their hair was bright and shining, smelling of jasmine shampoo and adorned with fresh flowers and sparkling jeweled pins. Some of the girls had fancy braids, others were wearing their hair hanging loose down their backs like the finest black satin. The older girls had more elaborate upswept arrangements. It was as though a swarm of glittering dragonflies landed in their courtyard. In the center of the throng the final seven girls waited impatiently. They were dressed and ready except for their hair. Elena and two of the older girls were working as fast as they could, armed with hairpins, flowers, and other hair styling paraphernalia.
Elena looked up and laughed when she saw her brother and father. Her cheeks were bright with excitement, her eyes were dancing.
“What’s the matter, Father, did you think I was going to skip out on my wedding?”
Wyatt looked at the disheveled young woman, her unruly hair flying free, her clothes wrinkled and unkempt. Unshed tears burned his eyes.
“Honey, I gotta tell you, I’ve seen a lot of brides, but I have never seen one that looks the way you do now.”
Elena laughed managing to talk and hold hairpins in her mouth at the same time.
“What way is that, Father?”
“Beautiful, honey. More beautiful than you can imagine; like sunrise over a Wyoming canyon.”
Alex’s face was flushed and he blinked back the tears in his eyes.
“Father is right, Elena. You are stunning.”
Wyatt’s dark blue eyes twinkled and he shook his head in mock dismay.
“Honey, you’re going to be married in less than two hours and as good as you look, there is no question that you need a bath.”
“Oh, my God, is it really that late? Oh no!”
Madam Chin stepped up, a disapproving look at the dirt on Elena’s feet and legs, warring with the amusement in her eyes.
“Miss Elena, please go to your chambers. You are the only one who hasn’t begun to dress and your father is right, you do need a bath.”
Jeng Ming stepped out of the crowd. Her expression was firm, admiring.
“Please, Elena, go get dressed. I promise you we will finish getting all of the girls ready.”
Several moments later, Elena ran back through the garden, not seeing Bai and Wan sitting together hidden in the shadows. They were both dressed in their formal evening wear. Bai shared a look of delighted surprise when the disheveled young woman ran by. She’d dragged her skirt up above her knees to allow her to run faster. Bai thought with a grin, somewhere in the course of the day, she must have lost her shoes, because her feet and legs were bare. Her hair was an even more boisterous mass of curls than usual and a prominent splotch of dirt smudged one cheek. Most noticeable was the joy on her face and the excitement in her eyes.
She waved gaily to the three frantic maids waiting for her in the doorway and called out, “Don’t worry. We have lots of time. Besides, Bai knows that I may be late.”
She did a little dance as she ran up the steps to her chambers to dress for her wedding – a wedding that would take place in less than two hours.
Bai and Wan puffed on their cigars at precisely the same moment, blowing a cloud of aromatic smoke over their heads. Bai chuckled. It would be hard to decide who was more proud of the girl who ran by--the groom or his father.
~~
Chapter 19
Lei, Alex, Deshi, and the twins joined Nianzu and Quitin at the entrance of the garden where the ceremony would take place. Strains of haunting music wafted across the breeze. Under the bower at the end of the garden were three small altars with chairs on either side. The two chairs at the sides of the altars were reserved for Wan and Wyatt, the fathers of the bride and groom. When Bai and Wan arrived, Lei, Alex, and the boys went to their seats; Nianzu and Quitin followed behind and bowed to Lei, then sat down across from her. When they were seated, Wan and Bai entered the garden. Both men stopped and bowed low before Lei, then went to stand in front of the altars.
For the first several moments, they all sat quietly, looking appropriately solemn. As several minutes passed, the twins started getting restless and Bai caught Nianzu’s eye and winked. Lei saw him and coughed slightly, hiding her smile behind her handkerchief. She looked up at her father and saw the surreptitious twinkle in Wan’s eyes.
After another moment Gabriel whispered loudly enough for all of them to hear, “Where is she?”
Jacob whispered back, “Can’t you see she is late?”
Lei threw them both a menacing glare and whispered, “She’ll be here any minute now,” and looked back down at her hands stifling a laugh.
The only one who was not smiling or amused was Alex, sitting upright in his chair, his eyes focused on the patio floor.
Gabriel twisted impatiently in his chair, then rose up and turned back to the group, his eyes wide with excitement. He said in a stage whisper, “I think I see her.”
Jacob jumped up and looked where he was pointing and indeed, coming through the garden entrance was Wyatt with a very beautiful Elena on his arm.
The sweet longing notes of the string quartet sheltered behind the bower escalated to a throbbing high point when Wyatt and Elena entered the garden. As if in a blur, Elena saw her stepmother and brothers, Nianzu and Quitin. Her eyes rested for a moment on her grandfather, struck by the love in his eyes. He had seen so much violence and hate in his lifetime, but he never looked at her with anything but love. She saw in his eyes the strength and fierceness he had bequeathed to Bai and thanked him with her heart that he had also taught his son to love.
When she saw Bai, she gasped. Her breath stuck in her throat. She sucked in a gulp of air, willing herself to breathe. Standing under the bower, Bai was the epitome of handsome sophistication. The slim grey and black striped trousers, grey waistcoat and fine black suit coat accentuated his tall lean frame, broad shoulders and lon
g strong legs. His white silk shirt highlighted the warmth of his dark skin and glittering amber eyes. In contrast, he had let his hair loose. It hung down to his collar, slightly wild, tousled by the breeze. He wore a bright red sash tied in an X across his chest, the traditional groom’s garb. He gazed at her through half closed eyes, the dark, demanding warlord he’d teased her about. The command in his eyes said it all. He was hers, and, God help her, she was his. A flash of lust simmered through her groin. Swallowing hard, she grasped her father’s arm to keep from swooning.
~~~
Bai smiled at Elena when she entered, flushed, trembling, unconscious of the gasps from her family. Bai loved that about her. As beautiful as she was, she was always caught off guard, surprised at the adulation she received. He nodded in appreciation at her dress, a long white strapless column held in place by a jeweled band of fabric across her breasts. The four inch band of jewel encrusted satin was the only ornamentation on a gown that depended on the glorious body of the wearer for its striking beauty. The fabric clung lovingly to her lush breasts, hugged her slim waist and the curve of her hips, then trailed down her long slender legs. A daring slit up the front of the dress rose several inches above her knees, an outrageous liberty.
A single white orchid decorated the riotous mass of colorful curls piled on her head. In a tasteful nod to the simplicity of her gown, a narrow train of gossamer silk flowed from a diamond clasp at the base of her curls, floating to the ground four feet behind her.
Elena stood at the entrance and allowed the gossamer train to pool at her feet. She caught Bai’s eye and with a saucy toss of her head, kicked the train aside, revealing not only the slit up the front of her dress but her three inch bright red high heeled slippers. Bai didn’t try to hide his grin, an amused acknowledgement of her scandalous choice. Her breath hitched and her stomach clenched with excitement at his insolent, warning look.
She didn’t know she gasped and licked her lips until Wyatt tightened his grip on her arm and chuckled under his breath.
“Hang on darlin.’ You can’t eat him up just yet.”
Only Wyatt’s restraining tug on her arm kept Elena from running up the aisle giggling with excitement, eager to be in Bai’s arms.
When they reached the altars, Elena bowed to Wan and he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Wyatt and Wan exchanged a bow, then Wyatt bowed to Bai. He stepped aside as Bai reached out and pulled Elena next to him, breathing in her fresh citrusy smell and the exotic odor of the orchid in her fiery curls.
Looking straight ahead, Elena tapped him on the ankle with the toe of her outrageous shoe.
Bai leaned down and pinched her bottom and muttered, “You are wicked, aren’t you, ma petite?”
She gave a little start and a nervous giggle then tossed her head, her eyes dancing.
“Very.”
Wide-eyed, Gabriel whispered loudly to the tittering group behind them, “Bai pinched Elena’s butt.”
Wyatt’s dry response was audible.
“I’m confident she deserved it.”
Bai poured tea in the row of cups lined up on the altar and Elena placed two red dates and two lotus seeds in each cup, the traditional omen for luck and fertility. They poured tea in each others cups then bowed to each of the altars, first to the gods of the heavens and earth, then to the altar honoring their ancestors, and finally to the kitchen god honoring hearth and home. Together they handed the cups first to their fathers, then to Lei and Alex, Nianzu and Quitin, and finally Deshi and the twins. They all drank from the cups and bowed low to Elena and Bai, who returned their bows.
Deshi whispered, “Is that it?”
Jacob echoed his surprise, “Are they married?”
Bai looked over his shoulder and said with a wry grin, “That’s it.”
Wan stepped forward and in a departure from the traditional ceremony, held both of their hands in his. Calling on the kung fu traditions that had anchored them all their lives, Wan delivered a beautiful blessing in Chinese. He described his love for his son and his beloved granddaughter. Bowing low, he wished them a long life filled with love, joy, and devotion to one another.
When he finished, Bai held up his hand and pulled Elena next to him. His voice was husky, strained.
“One moment, please.”
He lifted her chin and looked down at her his eyes glittering with unshed tears. He bent down and kissed her softly, lightly at first, then their bodies melded together and they held each other for a long breathless moment. When they turned to the others their faces were damp with happy tears and glorious smiles.
~~~
Course after course of rich beautifully prepared food delighted the guests. The pungent odors of roasted meats contrasted with the sweet smells of fragrant sauces. Roast suckling pig, fattened lamb and trays of roasted fowl--duck, pigeons, squab and quail were followed by shark fin soup, lobster and an array of succulent fishes. Vegetables with sea cucumber and other fresh delicacies were paired with every kind of noodle dish imaginable. Sweet red bean soup and lotus paste buns rounded out the feast.
Bai and Elena moved from table to table greeting their guests. They spoke to each one of the young girls; Bai’s cultured voice in his French accented Chinese translating for Elena. Two Sing Leon members followed behind, carrying a stack of beautifully wrapped red boxes filled with an array of treasures: jewelry, dolls, books, combs, brushes, mirrors, candies, and other surprises. Elena handed a box to each of the girls, who squealed with delight when they saw the riches inside.
A burst of firecrackers and a colorful rainbow of fireworks streaked across the sky, announcing the beginning of the Lion Dance. Shrieks of excitement and giddy tears among the older Chinese greeted the flamboyant dancers in their six foot high costumes, so elaborate and heavy that they required one dancer to control the head the other the tail. The dancers’ acrobatic thrusts and pivots echoed the clash of cymbals, the pounding of the drums, and the beat of the gongs. In sync with the loud music, the fierce lions swayed and leapt, giant graceful catlike apparitions. The enchanted audience clapped and shouted their approval as bursting firecrackers and flashes of fireworks ratcheted up the excitement.
As the colorful lions ambled off, a huge clash of cymbals and a rolling flair of drums heralded the next act. One by one, the traditional Kung fu animals took the stage. To shrieks of delight and applause, the Sing Leon fighter representing the snake hissed and slid across the stage, followed by the mysterious dragon, the graceful crane, and the powerful tiger. The four dancers, their faces streaked with garish paint, commanded the stage as they wove in and out emulating the unique movements of the animals they represented.
Their movements were accomplished, the dances spectacular. After several moments of fantastic artistry, they separated, leaving a space in the center. With a crash of cymbals and a fierce roll of the drums, the leopard entered and took center stage. In a dizzying display of athletic prowess, he twisted, turned, and leapt through the air, bringing the audience to its feet roaring with excitement.
Bai and Elena exchanged surprised glances while Wyatt, Wan, and Lei swelled with pride when they saw that the youngest and most athletic of the dancers was none other than Nicolas Deshi. He was bare to his waist, emulating the way both Wyatt and Bai fought. His shoulder length black hair swung wildly and his blue eyes blazed. His physical beauty was as stunning as his dance.
Wyatt couldn’t hide his surprise or his obvious pride.
“I dunno, Bai, that record of yours might be in danger. Deshi won’t be seventeen for several months. He still has time to become the youngest grandmaster ever.”
Bai grinned and didn’t reveal that he had been working with Deshi on a daily basis, teaching him the leaps and aerial skills that Bai had trademarked. Neither Bai nor Wyatt mentioned that in addition to his acrobatic artistry, the young Bai had earned his reputation and grandmaster status using his kung fu skills to kick three men to death at the fearless age of seventeen.
“If anyone ca
n do it, Wyatt, it is likely to be Deshi. He is as talented a fighter as I’ve seen.”
Looking at Wan, Bai added, “Looks like we have a new Sing Leon recruit, wouldn’t you say, Father?”
Wyatt grinned at them both, then put his arm around Alex’s shoulder.
“Sorry, Bai. In this case, the Caballeros take precedence. Alex and I have already claimed Deshi.”
~~~
Alex waited until the dessert was being served, then spiked his courage with a healthy draft of cognac and prepared to offer Jeng Ming a glass of champagne. In the past two days, he attempted several times to talk to the beautiful young woman, but she ignored him, as though he wasn’t worthy of her consideration. He watched her throughout the evening, entranced by her exotic beauty. She was wearing an ivory Oriental silk gown embroidered with colorful flowers, dragons, and other fantastical serpents. Her shining black hair hung in a silky curtain down to the middle of her back. It swayed gracefully when she moved. Determined to reach out to her, Alex took a deep breath and another quick swallow of courage and walked toward her.
Jeng Ming looked up in surprise when Alex approached and with a reluctant nod accepted the glass of champagne he offered, then looked away. Alex inched closer and breathed in her exhilarating smell, an exotic mix of jasmine and musk. She was slender, small; her head came to below his shoulder. He longed to touch her, to hold her dainty body close, and let her know he would protect her, wipe away her horrible past.
Alex tried several avenues of conversation, but was rebuffed each time by a disdainful, disinterested nod and her continued silence. He stood beside her, flushed with embarrassment and frustration, and had decided to move back to the table with Wyatt and Lei when Jeng Ming spoke.
“Are you fucking her?”
He started and looked at her in shock.
“Who? What? …What are you talking about?”
“Her. Elena.”
“My God! She is my sister. Of course, I am not fucking her. Jesus, how could you say that? I would never fuck my sister!”
