by Taylor Lee
When they arrived at her casita, she jerked her arm free. Before she could go inside, Alex spoke.
“You were right, Jeng Ming. I was jealous of Bai. Elena and I have been inseparable all of our lives and her love for Bai threatened me. As you pointed out, I acted like a child who lost his best friend. Worst of all, I made Bai into a monster rather then seeing him as the great man that he is. He forgave me and brought me into his close circle. I will be grateful for the rest of my life that he was able to see the man I am rather than the spoiled child I appeared to be. I tell you this because I hope someday you also will see me as the man I am.”
Jeng Ming turned away, refusing to look at him when he was speaking. When he finished, he stood quietly waiting for her response. Her indecision was apparent. Her shoulders and neck muscles were tight knots. As always she held her head high, aloof.
When he just about gave up, she looked over her shoulder and said, “I don’t think you are a child. I can understand why you felt the loss of Elena. I have never been close to anyone since my mother died. Elena didn’t die. She fell in love with a magnificent man. But she still loves you.”
“You’re right, Jeng Ming. She loves me very much as I do her. But it is the love of a sister and brother. I want to love a woman the way a man loves a woman. The way that Bai loves Elena.”
Jeng Ming frowned. She took several steps back and her face hardened.
“Bai is unusual. Men don’t love women like that. He is an exception.”
“I disagree. My father loves Lei the way Bai loves Elena. I know that I can love a woman in that way.”
Jeng Ming felt a rush of anger. He really is a child she thought. She shook her head no and said dismissively,” I was wrong. You are a child. One that still believes in fairy tales.”
She sniffed. “I am not a child,” and added with a harsh laugh, “I never have been.”
She turned to go to her chambers, but stopped when she heard Alex’s voice. It was different than his usual way of speaking, sharper, more assertive.
“Come here, Jeng Ming.”
Jeng Ming looked back at him from her doorway and couldn’t hide her surprise. Alex looked different, older, more serious. He also looked as if he meant what he said.
“Come here, Jeng Ming. You may not be a child, but you have a lot to learn.”
Jeng Ming stood still. She felt surprisingly uncertain.
His voice was soft, commanding.
“That wasn’t a request.”
She heard the authority in his voice and noticed for the first time how tall he was, and how strong. The moonlight caught the streaks of gold in his dark blond hair. Even in the dark she could see the intensity in his eyes. She never noticed how much Alex looked like Wyatt. His hair and eyes were the opposite colors of Wyatt’s, but his high cheekbones and strong chin was Wyatt’s. She realized she had never really looked at him. Rather, she categorized him, put him in the group of men she hated and feared. White men.
Although she had to admit Wyatt was challenging some of her beliefs. Since that day in Bai’s office, Wyatt was making her rethink her feelings about men, particularly white men. She watched Wyatt with Lei. Alex was right. Wyatt loved Lei deeply. But it wasn’t only how he was with Lei; it was the way Wyatt was with her. He insinuated himself in her daily life. Every morning after breakfast, he came to the infirmary to “catch up with her” as he said. He brought her books, told her stories about his life in Wyoming, introduced her to horses, and encouraged her to learn to ride. At first, she resisted but found herself looking forward to being with him and Lei and the young boys. She had never seen a man who loved his wife and children the way that Wyatt did. Two days ago they all had gone on a picnic and swam in the pond.
Alex was always there usually at a distance, quiet, watching. Whenever he got too close, she made a point of rebuffing him. He made her nervous. It was the way he looked at her. The way he was looking at her now, only now he wasn’t letting her rebuff him.
She tried to make her voice casual, nonchalant.
“What do you want, Alex?”
“To begin with, I want to kiss you. Which is why you need to do as I told you and come here. It is difficult at best to kiss someone who is five feet away.”
He paused, a slight grin tugging at his lips, but when he spoke his voice was low, insistent.
“For the last time, Jeng Ming, come here.”
Jeng Ming felt a little like she was in a dream. Without understanding why, she found herself moving toward Alex. It was as though he was willing her to come closer, like his arms were powerful magnets attracting her to him.
When she was next to him, Alex put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer. He was struck by how tiny she was. She stood just below his shoulder. She was delicate, fragile. There was no way she weighed even a hundred pounds. And she was as skittish and high-strung as an unbroken filly facing a bit.
“That’s better. Not only can I kiss you now, but I can hold you in my arms.”
Ignoring her rigid body, Alex tipped up her chin and ran his thumb over her lips. When she tried to pull away he said, “Uh uh, Empress. Not like that, like this.”
He leaned down and put his lips on hers. He breathed in her spicy exotic smell and longed to press against her body hard, fast. He couldn’t ignore his cock bursting at the seam of his jeans and knew that Jeng Ming felt his arousal. Unlike Elena, when she met Bai, Alex wasn’t innocent to the lures of the opposite sex. Consistent with the difference in the way young men grew up as opposed to young women, several years ago, unbeknownst to Elena, he and his male friends had found their way to the saloons in Cheyenne. There they tasted the forbidden fruit offered by willing whores. In China, he had tested and added to his incipient skills.
Relying on what he had learned from the young women in China, Alex forced his lips to be soft, gentle, probing. He slid one hand down Jeng Ming’s back, tracing the ladder of her spine. When she didn’t resist, he rested his hand in the small of her back just above the swell of her hips. After a careful moment, he let his fingers drift in small circles over the curve of her ass.
He chuckled when she gasped in surprise, then teasingly began nipping at her lips. When she opened her mouth to protest, he slipped his tongue inside. For several moments, he played with her tongue, her teeth and the corners of her mouth. Little by little, her body relented and moved in closer. When he heard her moan, he pressed his advantage and pulled her hips up tight against him, driving his knee up between her thighs until her groin rested on the hard ridge of his cock. She cried out in surprise, but didn’t pull back.
Her breath was coming faster and when he pressed his thumb against the side of her cheek, she opened her mouth and her tongue met his in an erotic tangle. Alex moaned and pulled her up against him. His cock was killing him; he longed to grind it in her pussy and not stop until he was deep inside. But he contented himself with running his hands over her chest until he found the swell of her breast. She whimpered when he cupped one small perfect breast in his hand and tugged at her nipple through the silk of her dress.
“Oh, yes, God yes, Empress. You are enticing, lovely.”
She tried to push him away but he felt the desire in her trembling body, heard it in her gasping breaths and didn’t let her go. She groaned against his ear and her voice quavered.
“What…what are you doing, Alex?”
He stepped back but still held her in his arms. He held her chin so that she was forced to look in his eyes. His voice was a husky whisper.
“I’m teaching you, Jeng Ming. Teaching you things you need to learn.” He kissed her again softly, tenderly, “This is the first thing you need to learn about me and about yourself. This is how a kiss feels when the man kissing you honors you. It is the way you feel when you care about him.”
Alex ignored her gasp and forced himself to step back. He smoothed her dress and walked her over to her door holding her hand in his. He smiled at her wide eyes, her flushed face, her swoll
en lips and her shaky breath. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on her forehead.
“Good night, Jeng Ming. I’ll meet you at the barn after breakfast for another lesson. I convinced Bai and my father that you are ready to learn to ride. I’ve picked out the perfect horse for you. I’ll introduce you to her in the morning.”
He smiled and his eyes twinkled the way Wyatt’s did when he was amused.
“You will like her. She is almost as beautiful and prickly as you are.”
He tipped his hat to her then turned and walked away, whistling.
Jeng Ming stood in the doorway watching him go. After several long minutes she went inside closing the door behind her.
~~
Chapter 35
Elena stood at the door to their bedroom watching Bai. He was leaning against the mantelpiece staring at the fire. He had taken off his waistcoat and rolled up his silk shirt sleeves. There were smears of blood on the sleeve and the back of his shirt. It was a residue, a reminder of the horrific events of the evening. He was fastidious about his appearance and Elena was sure he was unaware of the blood stains, an indication of the strain he felt. She saw the tension in his shoulders, the tight muscles of his neck. His head was cocked to one side at a painful angle and he seemed lost in his thoughts. His dejection saddened her.
Elena saw Bai as few people did. Like everyone she saw his strength, his power. But she also saw his vulnerability. She knew that Wan and certainly Wyatt and maybe Nianzu knew that side of him. They doubtless knew that she was his greatest vulnerability. She knew that she was and it saddened her.
She regretted what happened tonight. She wanted to reach out and tell him she also loved someone who was in constant danger. If anyone understood his fear, she did. But she also knew that Bai didn’t know fear the way other people did, which made his fear for her terrifying.
Bai turned and saw Elena in the doorway. He reveled in the sight of her. She was wearing the translucent gown and robe Lei and Wyatt gave her for her wedding night. The iridescent folds shimmered over her glorious body hiding and then revealing every lush curve, every soft valley. Goddamn, what a little minx she was. She had refastened the sapphires to her nipples and he caught glimpses of the diamonds flashing over her clit. Even without the erotic jewels, she was without a doubt the most desirable woman he had ever known. Christ, just the sight of her and his fucking cock rose up to greet her. He grinned to himself. Why should he be surprised? His prick had been at full staff since the family meeting when she twitched her saucy little ass at him just begging to be spanked – something he would see to in good order.
Seeing her standing there looking anxious, concerned about his reaction to her behavior, he remembered the events of the evening and an involuntary shiver shook his body.
He reached in his shirt pocket and took out his wolf’s head case. He lit a cigarette and blew the smoke up in the air. He leaned back against the fireside hearth and let a smile tug at his mouth.
“I planned to beat the hell out of you tonight, cherie, spank you so hard you couldn’t sit down for a week.” He paused and took another deep drag off of his cigarette, without taking his eyes off of her.
“I don’t know when I have ever been as angry, Elena, as eager to paddle your ass. You know that, don’t you, Elena? You know you deserve that, don’t you?”
She flushed and moved back against the edge of the parlor table. Her expression was earnest, her voice contrite.
“I’m sorry Bai. I’m sorry about what happened, what I did.”
Bai shook his head and went to the liquor cabinet and took out two glasses. He poured brandy in both. Handing one to her he raised his glass to her, then took a deep swallow. He met her eyes and gave a slight shake of his head, trying to rid himself of the memory.
“I confess, Elena, I don’t know when I have been as afraid as I was tonight when I knew you were gone. That you weren’t with Lei.”
“I know, Bai, I know. Even when I went with Greg, I knew I shouldn’t. I knew I should find you first. God, darling, I’m sorry. And Bai, I’m sorry that I didn’t listen to you, that I dismissed your concerns about him. I thought you were just jealous. I’m so sorry.”
Bai smoked quietly for a moment then said in a wry voice, “Elena, for the next few days you will have to pretend as though you can’t sit down.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I promised your father and your grandfather that I would spank the crap out of you tonight. Nianzu asked that his imprint be included, as well. Hell, Elena, Nianzu would walk across the River Jordan and face the armies of Canaan single handed if he thought anyone hurt you.”
Elena smiled at that thought and nodded, knowing it was the truth.
“But you aren’t going to do that, Bai? You’re not going to spank me?”
He shook his head no.
“Why? Why aren’t you?”
He put his glass of brandy down on the cabinet and ground out his cigarette. He moved toward her and pulled her into his arms. He breathed in the citrusy smell of her damp hair and the combination of jasmine and honeysuckle that drove him crazy. He nuzzled her neck then nipped the soft skin on the pulse of her throat. He moaned at the sound of her whimper and held her tighter.
“Goddamn, Elena, I wanted to. Hell, yes! All through the night I kept my sanity imagining your beautiful ass over my knee and me blistering it, spanking it bright red.”
She nestled up closer to him and ran her hands over his hard chest. She gripped the front of his shirt and slipped one of the buttons from its tether.
“You’re not going to do that now?”
“No.”
“Why?”
His voice was harsh, tight with emotion.
“Because more than I want to spank you, I want to kiss you…”
He lifted her face to his and looked in her eyes. He didn’t try to hide the pain he felt or the passion.
“I want to hold you, Elena. I want to …taste you, suck on you…and thrust up inside of you. So deep inside of your pussy, bebe, you can taste my cock.”
He pulled her even tighter and heard her gasp for air.
“I want to bury myself in your sweetness. And when I do, I will thank God that you are safe, that you are here with me and that you are mine. Mine, Elena, always mine.”
He held her soft lush body tight against him and kissed the tears on her face, ran his hands over her lushness, her softness. He shook his head in wonder, remembering her fierce spirit yell when she threw herself against the governor. He saw her flying body, her pummeling fists, the fierce men attacking her. They were shocked that this beautiful woman dressed in silk and satin with a fortune of jewels gracing her neck had hiked up her dress, tucked it in her underwear and freed her legs to strike them, drive them to the floor. They had laid there stunned, disbelieving that this gorgeous woman, this firebrand of a woman, had taken them down.
Bai picked her up in his arms and carried her over to their bed. He lay beside her and held her close. After several minutes, he murmured in her ear.
“Do you think I will ever learn, Elena?”
“Learn what, darling?”
“Learn that there is nothing I can do but accept you as you are – who you are.”
“Is that such a bad thing, Bai? Am I that hard to accept? To love me the way that I am?”
“No, cherie, not hard--just the goddamn most difficult thing I have ever done in my life!
“Do you know what it is like to have the woman you love, the woman you would give your life to protect, take on a crazed man waving a gun in her face, fight two armed guards, and then blatantly taunt a deranged monster daring him to attack her? Oh, and I forgot to mention that the deranged monster also had a loaded gun in his hand. And, of course, none of these actions were in the carefully laid plans that she agreed to.”
Elena buried her face in his shoulder, but when she looked up at him her eyes were shining and she didn’t hide her grin.
“Did I really do all
that, Bai? Wow, you must have been proud of me.”
He shook his head with a smile.
“Oui, cherie. I was so fucking proud of you I thought I might weep. Christ, Elena, what other woman could watch me take out a monster’s eyes and be disappointed that I didn’t hand her the poker?”
Elena blushed.
“You knew that, Bai? That I wished I could be the one to blind him?”
“Bebe, it was written all over your face.”
“And… and you don’t think I am a bad person, to be so vindictive, revengeful?”
“Hell no, cherie. It is like I told Alex, you understand something that few women and damn few men understand. That killing evil men is honorable. Now blinding them with a fire poker – I have to admit, pushes against the edge of honor, but Greg earned that punishment when he invaded our love.”
Even as he spoke, Bai knew that he was up against the truth of what it meant to love this woman, this woman he loved more than life. Once again, he acknowledged that what drove him crazy with fear was also what made him love her the way he did. That dichotomy, the fear he felt for her fighting against his pride in her. It was the challenge and the privilege of loving the most miraculous woman in the world.
“Elena?”
“Yes, darling.”
“I have concluded that there is a significant upside to your outrageous behavior.”
“What outrageous behavior? I thought we established tonight with my grandfather that I am a model of shy obedience.”
“You little minx. That remark sums it up, but let me be more specific. You are unmanageable. You refuse to obey my instructions, even when they are meant to protect you. You taunt me, challenge me, push out every boundary. You drive me to distraction with worry, fear.”
“Hmm, when you put it like that, I do sound outrageous. I have to ask, what is the upside, Bai?”
“Just think of all the reasons you give me to paddle your ass.”
~~~
Elena smiled to herself knowing what was coming next. If he wasn’t going to spank her, he most certainly was going to make love to her. And when he did it would be fierce. Elena knew what Bai needed following a fight, a battle. The testosterone flowed hot and heavy and that meant sex; hard, ferocious fucking. Sex was his release valve. The wilder the better. She expected it, she invited it. And she loved it.
