by Taylor Lee
He grinned at Wyatt, who winked in return.
“Both you and Deshi, Alex, can be part of a new organization, one that Wyatt, Nianzu and I are creating. It’s an organization built on the best of the Tongs, but recognizes the realities of the new century.”
He leaned back in his chair and puffed on his cigar. There were many things he wanted to say to these young men, things he hoped they would understand and respect. He waited until he was sure he had their attention.
“I hope you will forgive me for being philosophical, but I want to talk about the importance of our mixed heritage. I have found it a blessing, never a curse, that I have both Chinese and European blood. Like Deshi and Lei, I am more visibly Chinese, and because of my relationship and admiration for my father, I have chosen to be Chinese. There is a need for leaders like me and someday, like you, Deshi, in this country that despises the Chinese and treats us as less than human.
“Alex, you also have the advantage of mixed blood. You have your father’s Indian blood, your mother’s Mexican heritage and the fact that you were raised by a Chinese woman. All of this racial interplay gives us an opportunity and a responsibility. I am determined that in my lifetime the downtrodden Chinese in this country will live as free and full citizens, respected not reviled. And, internationally, the banks that Wyatt and I have established will not only be acknowledged, they will be feared. Not because of our physical might, but because of our economic might.”
Wyatt stood and raised his glass of brandy. His usual twinkle was absent. Instead, his expression was solemn and Bai saw the love in his eyes.
“You are right, Bai, about so many things. Alex and Deshi do have the opportunity to be part of a new world, one in which you are the leader. Don’t think for a minute that any of us are unaware of who you are, of what you are. You will be thirty years old in three months and you are already a legend in this country and around the world. It is my honor to be in your presence.”
Wan, Nianzu, Alex, and Deshi rose next to Wyatt. They all raised their glasses to Bai. He smiled a crooked smile and bowed in return.
~~~
The conversation continued. Everyone was both exhausted and exhilarated by the events of the evening. But Quitin’s death hung like a cloak of sadness over the celebration. He was a beloved member of the family. His death underscored the fragility of life and the inherent danger of their collective lifestyle.
Bai rose and motioned to Elena to come to him. He put his arm around her and held her close to him.
“We need to say good night. I have waited as long as I can to have this beautiful woman in my arms. Thank you everyone for what you did tonight. We can all be proud. An evil man is no more and an organization that terrorized and made a mockery of our political system has been brought to the ground. On a personal level, Jeng Ming, I hope you believe that your future is more than your past. Nothing will make me happier than to see you blossom as you should. You can be a shining star for all those young girls we saved. Your example will show them their worth and prove that good is stronger than evil.
He leaned down and lifted Elena’s chin.
“We need to go, cherie. We have much to discuss.
“Good night, all.”
~~~
As everyone scattered to go to their quarters, Alex stepped up to Jeng Ming. He took a deep breath and grasped her elbow.
She started and tried to break away. He held her arm more tightly.
“I’ll walk you to your chambers, Jeng Ming.”
When she frowned, he added, “I want to talk to you.”
He ignored her attempts to free her arm. Instead, held it firmly as they walked through the beautiful gardens lit by the light of the full moon peeping through the clouds.
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 swollen 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.”
