The Grandmaster's Legacy (HOT Historical Suspense, Box Set)

by Taylor Lee

  “Tom, this is Wan Chang, leader of the Sing Leon. More important, Lei’s father. I’m pleased to add, along with Chief, he has kindly taken on the role of grandfather to Alex and Elena, as well as Nicolas Deshi.”

  “I’m honored, sir.” Tom nodded to the stern man in front of him, who had yet to acknowledge him.

  Everything about Wan Chang spoke to his power and to the deference he commanded. He was tall for a Chinese man, but still five inches shorter than Wyatt. He had the lithe, muscled body of a man who had practiced Kung fu since boyhood. The only thing harder than his strong body were his eyes. They were as cold as they were hard. He was fifteen years older than Wyatt, similar in age to Chief. Wan was a handsome man, darker than Lei. Although there was a resemblance, seeing them together, it was clear Lei’s mother had played an important role in creating Lei’s extraordinary looks.

  Wyatt moved back behind his desk. He motioned for them all to sit down. Wan pulled out a chair for Lei, nodded to Chief, then took a seat. He ignored Tom, clearly relegating him to subservient status. Bai and Nianzu stood respectfully off to the side.

  Wyatt grinned at Tom. “You have to prove yourself to Wan, Tom. The only reason he allows me to sit first is because it’s my house. And, of course, he likes Lei and Chief.”

  Lei and Chief smiled, but Wan did not.

  “I appreciate your coming, Wan. As you know, I’ve made an important decision, and that is to run for governor. This will no doubt have an affect on you. I wanted to consult with you personally to see how we can minimize the negative impact we have on each other’s enterprises.”

  Wyatt took a cigar out of the humidor on his desk and offered it to Wan, who accepted it with an imperceptible nod. Wyatt offered Chief and Tom a cigar, and then looked inquiringly to Bai and Nianzu. Both refused.

  Wyatt lit his cigar, took a puff, and was about to speak when Wan turned to Lei. “Why did you agree to this? Do you have any idea what they are going to do to you? To Nicolas Deshi?”

  Lei started to speak, but Wyatt held up his hand. “I will let Lei answer that question, but…”

  Wan interrupted him. “I asked Lei a question. Please let her answer it now. Lei?”

  Wyatt leaned forward in his chair. Without looking at Lei, but looking directly at Wan, he continued, as though he had not been interrupted. “We all know what they are going to do to Lei, Wan. To you and to me. And, God help them if they do, what they will try to do to the children. This was not a decision that we made lightly. As you well know, I would not go forward if Lei hadn’t agreed. Lei and I made our decision fully aware of what they will try to do to each of us. You also know that anyone who insults Lei, the children, or you, will have to deal with me.

  “I asked you to come here because I know you are concerned about Lei and the children. I hope that, together with Tom, Chief, Joey, Alono, Bai, and Nianzu, you and I can create a team that will scare the shit out of the sons of bitches before they ever get started. As to why we made this decision, I will let Lei answer for both of us.”

  He leaned back and puffed on his cigar, without taking his eyes off Wan.

  Lei spoke up. “Father, this wasn’t a difficult decision for me. It was a harder decision for Wyatt. Like you, he is concerned most about me and the children. My decision was easy—for two reasons. First, if Wyatt didn’t run, Grant Forrester, one of the most disgusting, bigoted men I know, would win hands down. If he did, our lives even on this ranch would be measurably more difficult. As it would be for other Chinese, and yes, Indian people in Wyoming, who aren’t protected the way Wyatt and you protect us.

  “The second and most important reason is that Wyatt will be the finest governor this state or any state has. Wyoming deserves to have an honorable man like Wyatt as governor. I intend to do everything I can to help him get elected. I’m asking you to help us, Father. Though it will be difficult and ugly at times, I know if we work together, we can succeed.”

  There was a long pause. Wyatt said with a grin and an appreciative nod at Lei, “You were right, Wan. I should have been quiet and let her answer.”

  He turned to Lei and said with a wry grin, “Sorry, baby, but there’s something about your father that brings out the rooster in me.”

  The slightest smile touched Wan’s eyes. “How many public events will you do, Wyatt, that includes either Lei, or Lei and the children?”

  Wyatt smiled and nodded to Wan. An indication he agreed they were done circling one another for the moment and ready to talk about the campaign.

  “Tom has agreed to be my campaign manager. I will defer to him on the kinds and size of the events we will do. If you agree, after dinner I want Chief and Alono to meet with Bai and Nianzu to create a security plan. Obviously, I need protection. The Caballeros will be responsible for that. I also want Alono and Chief to make the primary decisions about protecting Lei and the children. Anything you, Bai, and Nianzu can add is all to the good. I don’t think we need the subterfuge of white men guarding Lei, although Will and the men always do a hell of a job. There is no reason for us to skirt the Chinese issue. I want to hit it head on.”

  “We’ll continue that discussion after dinner,” said Wan. His stern expression and firm jaw made it clear that the discussion was just beginning.

  Wan nodded to Lei and the two of them moved to enter the dining room, greeting the children, who had come barreling down the stairs.

  Tom turned to Wyatt and Chief and said in a low voice, “Christ, Wyatt, I thought the dustups with Grant were going to be the most interesting part of this campaign. Hell, that won’t be half as interesting as the ones with this guy. He is on our team, right?”

  Wyatt puffed on his cigar, the lines around his eyes crinkling. “Sure as hell hope so, Tom. Sure as hell hope so.”

  ~~~

  Chapter 6

  Wyatt reconvened the discussion after dinner. He wanted to focus on how to protect the family. The prejudice against Wyatt and Lei’s Indian and Chinese heritages was at the center of their discussion. They all acknowledged it would be ugly, but Wyatt insisted they take it on directly. Tom indicated that he would work with each of them on how best to respond to questions. At least in the beginning, he wanted Wyatt to do all interviews with the newspaper men.

  When Lei left to put the children to bed, Wan indicated he wanted to speak with Wyatt privately. Both Chief and Tom stood up and started to leave.

  “Chief may stay,” Wan said pointedly.

  Wyatt demurred. “That’s not gonna cut it, Wan. I understand you don’t know Tom, but you are going to have to trust me on this. By the end of the campaign, you will be asking him for advice. Tom belongs in an elite circle. He’s at the center of the small group of men I would entrust with my life, and Lei’s, and the children’s. He also is one of the smartest men I know. In the political arena, no one is better, including me.”

  Wan responded with a dismissive shrug. “I find it hard to believe, Wyatt, that you think anyone is smarter than you, in any arena. I don’t question his credentials. However, I wish to speak with you privately.”

  Both Tom and Chief signaled their agreement. With a cordial smile, Tom bowed to Wan and followed Chief from the room.

  Wyatt’s expression was impassive. He waited without speaking, expecting Wan to underscore his displeasure with the fact that he was running.

  He was surprised when Wan said, “One of my primary concerns, Wyatt, is that you and Lei are not married. It opens her up to a particularly vicious line of comments that I will not tolerate. I would think it would be enough to dissuade you from this campaign.”

  Wyatt saw Wan’s anger, but his own also flared. Wan had struck directly at the painful issue that troubled Wyatt more than any other. He tried to be calm, but his anger got the best of him.

  “Look, Wan, like every other goddamned person who has spent five minutes with Lei and me in this last two years, you know how much I want Lei to marry me, how much I want Nicolas Deshi to have married parents – not be the bastar
d son.”

  He stood up and began to pace. He tried to control his anger, but there were too many issues between them boiling just below the surface to stop now.

  “It is ironic that you are throwing this issue at me now, given what you have done to prevent Lei from marrying me. At this point, you have succeeded. I have done everything I can to convince her that I love her, that I want her to be my wife. She has refused. And yes, I do know the things that she will be called. They are calling her those names now. It infuriates me. I’m confident you see the things that are sure to happen in the campaign as just punishment for my being unfaithful to Lei. Have at it. There is not a goddamned thing I can do about it. And no, it will not stop me or Lei from this campaign.”

  Wan was silent. Wyatt sat down and lit a cigar, his face contorted with anger and frustration.

  After several minutes, Wan responded, choosing his words carefully. “You won’t believe this, Wyatt, but contrary to your understanding, I have done everything in my power to convince Lei to marry you. Unfortunately, Lei’s experience with what happens to the women of powerfully violent men, especially if they are married to them, hasn’t been a good one. I am more responsible for that than anyone is.”

  Wyatt frowned and stared at him with genuine surprise.

  Wan continued, “Like you, Wyatt, I have had many women. Lei has seen first hand the pain philandering can cause. While her mother was unable to tolerate the violence in our lives, she was even less tolerant of the women who surrounded me. Flagrantly, I might add. When she left us –never to return, she made it clear to me, and, to Lei, who was only four years old, why she was leaving, why she refused to see us again.

  “Yes, I am deeply angry you were unfaithful to my daughter. I am also aware that my actions are as responsible as yours for creating her resistance to marrying you. The campaign, in my opinion, is one more way for your actions and mine to hurt Lei. This is why I ask once more that you reconsider.”

  Wyatt was stunned. He waited several moments to respond. “I am surprised by your insights. I appreciate your taking responsibility for your actions, Wan. I apologize for my intemperate words. I let my frustration get the better of me. I’m sure you’re correct. It is unfortunate that the two men in Lei’s life who love her the most have caused her the most pain. But I refuse to let the past determine the future. I love Lei more than anything in the world, as you do. But she needs to give me a chance to prove that I can be worthy of her love. Stopping the campaign is not the answer. I hope at some point you will agree.”

  He hesitated, then added, “I didn’t know that you encouraged Lei to marry me, Wan. I’m surprised, and I appreciate it. I’m also struck that two supposedly all powerful men are unable to make one feisty, strong-willed woman do what we tell her to.” He added with a wry grin, “So much for all that power, right, Wan?”

  Wan allowed a slight smile to cross his face and nodded.

  They both sat quietly for several moments, smoking their cigars, thinking about the far ranging implications of their actions.

  Lei came to the door, surprised to see both Wyatt and her father sitting silently, just the two of them.

  “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting you?”

  “No, honey, c’mon in. Your father and I were contemplating the ‘wages of sin.’ Past sins, that is.”

  “That sounds unpleasant.”

  “Yeah, but if you come and sit on my lap, it will get a lot more pleasant.”

  Lei smiled and walked over and put her arms around her father’s neck. She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, then went to Wyatt and sat on his lap. He pulled her in close, smiling when he felt her quiver.

  “Actually, baby, we were talking about what is worrying us most about this campaign. How it will affect you.”

  Lei shook her head with an annoyed frown. “Someday, I hope it will be soon—both of you will come to accept that I am a grown woman, and can take care of myself.”

  Wyatt grinned and pulled her closer. He put his arm around her and slid his hand to the inside of her thigh, making her squirm and giggle.

  “Never, darlin. That’s something I will never accept. Because then I won’t be able to do what makes me the happiest, loving you and taking care of you. But, yeah, you are a nicely grown woman. All the parts of you seem to be in working order. I pity the man who thinks he can take you on and win. Nope, if anything, you can protect your father and me from all the bad guys who are after us!”

  Chief, Tom, and Alono walked in. Chief smiled at Wan. “You’re a brave man. Sitting here with those two like that. Trust me, they won’t stay like that for long.”

  Wyatt laughed and stood up. In one easy motion he reached down, picked up Lei, and tossed her over his shoulder. He said as he turned to walk out of the room, “It’s okay, we were just leaving, weren’t we, Lei? See you in the morning, all.”

  Lei blushed from her perch hanging down over his shoulder. She smiled at her father and whispered, “I love you.”

  He nodded. If anyone had chosen to look closely, they might have seen the shadow of a tear in his eye.

  ~~~

  Wyatt started to their room, then changed his mind and headed out the front door across the yard to their private retreat.

  As they were getting closer to the dojo, he groaned. “I dunno, baby. This may be a mistake. You know that guy who was there last night in the chair by the fire? Well, he’s back. He insists he wants to see you now! Seems to think you wanted him then and still might.”

  She panted and said, “God, yes! I wanted him so bad. Please tell him I want him now, right now!”

  He whispered, his voice husky, raspy. “Can you wait till we get to our room?’

  “No. Go in the dojo. No one’s there.”

  Wyatt muttered in agreement and trotted up the stairs to the dojo. It was blessedly empty. He leaned back against the wall just inside the doorway and put her down, then pulled her up close.

  Lei felt his strong hard cock pressing against her thigh. “Oh, my god, I love you, Wyatt. I love your cock. I want to taste you. Suck you. Swallow you.”

  He groaned, his face tight with desire. “Have at it, baby. I’m all yours.”

  She fell to her knees and pressed her face against his erection through his pants. Using the friction of the fabric, she rubbed up and down his staff, smiling when he moaned. She nudged his legs apart, signally him to widen his stance, wanting him closer to her mouth. She unbuttoned his pants one button at a time, kissing and nipping the skin she bared. She loved the rasp of his breath coming faster, his powerful thighs tightening. When all the buttons were undone, she reached up and pulled his pants down to his ankles. His erect cock sprang forward, reaching past his navel. They both groaned. Wyatt leaned back against the wall, his fists clenched in anticipation. His eyes were squeezed shut, his breath deep and ragged.

  Lei’s face heated with excitement. Seeing how aroused he was, she knew that for the next few minutes, he was all hers. She reached out and took his staff in her hands. Moving rhythmically up and down the length of him, she thrilled when his cock swelled, bigger and thicker. She loved his throaty moans, his gasps of pleasure.

  “Oh, my god, Wyatt, you are beautiful. Look at you. I want to take all of you in my mouth as deep as I can. But first I want to taste this.”

  She rubbed her thumb against the end of his cock, coating it with the cum that was dripping from the slit. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, noisily licking and sucking off the pearly liquid. With her free hand she rubbed the sensitive ridge on the underside of the swollen head of his cock.

  He watched her, his legs trembling then threw his head back with an agonized groan and pressed his hips forward.

  “Jesus, baby, you’re killing me.”

  “Mm hmm, this tastes so good. I want more. I want you inside my mouth, so I can taste you. I want a lot more of this.”

  “Yeah, baby, yeah, do it, do it now. Take me in now!”

  “Oh no, honey, first I want to feel the
se and hold them like this. I want to hear you pant even more.” She took his balls in her hands and rolled them in rhythmic circles, dragging one fingernail over the sensitive ridge between his balls. She smiled when he gasped and spread his legs wider, grunting with exertion. His legs shook as he pushed his hips forward closer to her mouth.

  Then with a groan, he grabbed her head and buried his fingers in her hair. He tipped her head back and pressed the swollen head of his cock against her lips..

  “I can’t wait much longer, honey. As good as this feels, I need you now. I gotta be in you now, baby,” he said pulling her mouth up against the end of his burgeoning cock.

  “Take me, Lei, take me in deep!”

  “Oh yes, sweetheart, deep and hard!”

  She tipped her head further back, and in maddeningly slow in and out movements, started to take him into her mouth. He groaned and gasped each time she pulled him in deeper, then released him. In and out, she sucked him. Holding him tight between her tongue and the roof of her mouth. In and out, deeper, always deeper.

  “Oh God, baby, I’m gonna come. I’m gonna fuck you hard now, honey. Fuck your mouth hard. Fill your mouth with cum. Deep down your throat!”

  She groaned and grabbed his ass cheeks. She pulled him up tight, opening her throat when he cried out. He held her head roughly in his big hands. His savage animal cries filled the room as he pumped deep hard spurts of cum into her mouth. She sucked him, rocked him back and forth, pulling him in deeper and deeper, swallowing every drop that spurted out of him. She held him for several long minutes sucking, licking, lapping up any drops she may have missed. He groaned and shook with one passionate wave after another.

  Wyatt sunk to the floor beside her breathing hard. He whispered, “Oh, god, Lei. Jesus, Lei. I love you! I love you, baby!”