Ace in the Hole

by Sedonia Guillone

  He rolled over and pushed himself up to her, giving her a clear view of his renewed desire, evident in the hard upward curve of his erection. And yet, he asked for nothing, seeming content just to be with her. She cupped his cheek. The scent of her own musk clung to his face, a stark reminder of the bliss Tenzin had given her moments ago. She leaned forward, tilted her head back and pressed her lips to his.

  He let out a small breath, as if surprised that she’d kissed him, but in the next moment parted his lips. Their breath mingled in the warmth of each other’s mouths, and again, Lily saw the twinkling of lights. His male scent filled her, mixed with her own tangy yin. He moaned softly, and she sensed he would not ask for release but would wait for her to show him the next step.

  With her lips to his, she reached for his dragon, closed her hand lightly around the thick shaft, and stroked it, light quick caresses that brought him rapidly to a second climax. His yang cloud shot out and coated his stomach and her hand. With her other hand, she cupped the back of his neck, keeping their mouths together while she stroked his emptying dragon.

  Only then did she break their kiss, letting her hand remain on his neck.

  She watched his heavy dark eyelashes flutter and listened to the hard rasp of his breath.

  “Let me wipe you,” he said in a breathy voice when he’d recovered.

  She smiled at him, charmed again by his desire to please her. “No need. Watch.” She gathered up a dollop of his dragon’s tears and smoothed it into her cheek.

  Tenzin’s eyes widened.

  She chuckled. “It’s a beauty secret of the Tigress sect. Many of the women you’ll meet here are much older than you would believe them to be. As much from doing this as from balancing their qi.”

  A look of boyish wonder lit his features. “Is that true, Lily?”

  She nodded and massaged a bit more into her other cheek. It didn’t matter that she, herself, didn’t need the stuff to stay looking younger, but if this would ease Tenzin’s shame about his own fluids, so be it. “I swear it’s true.”

  He smiled again, that radiant smile she found beautiful. “Well, then I don’t feel so bad.”

  She reached for the towel she’d used earlier and wiped the excess, both from her hand and off his torso. “Never feel bad about your yang force, Tenzin.”

  He averted her gaze. “I’m sorry you need to repeat that. I wish I could simply understand.”

  Would that all men had Tenzin’s humility. “You will understand in time. The most important lessons take the longest to learn.”

  Her words were met with a grateful smile.

  “Mistress Lily! Mistress Lily, come quick! It’s Jade! He’s here!” Fei Liu’s voice was just outside the room.

  A chill travelled down Lily’s spine. Without thinking her hand shot to Tenzin’s shoulder. “Jade’s husband. He’s found her. I must go!”

  Chapter Eight

  Where the Green Dragon must be passive, the White Tigress must be aggressive. Like the two fish of the t’ai chi, each must seek after its opposite to be complete.

  ‑‑ Madame Lin from The White Tigress Manual

  Tenzin vaulted off the bed after Lily. He threw on his clean clothes as Lily dressed, noticing she did not take the time needed to rewrap her breasts.

  “It was only a matter of time till he found her.” Lily didn’t seem to be addressing him directly, but he heard the fear that saturated her voice. She’d barely pushed her feet into her slippers, and she was out the door.

  Tenzin followed on her heels through the courtyard, into the greeting area, and out the front door. He furrowed his brow as he followed her down the quiet street to the main thoroughfare. Where could they possibly be going?

  She turned into the first brothel on the corner. As soon as they stepped into the dark coolness of the place, furnished in an array of red silk cushions and heavy carved furniture, a woman’s screams punctuated by the sounds of a hand slapping flesh echoed from the back.

  “You whore!” a man shouted.

  “Stop! Tzan Ru! Stop! Please!” the woman screamed.

  In the next second, a huge man with the physique of a fighter appeared, his long Manchurian queue swinging against his back. In one beefy hand he clutched a long fall of ebony hair. One powerful yank and the rest of the screaming, half-dressed woman slid through the same doorway, arms flailing.

  “Tzan Ru, let her go!” Lily lunged toward him.

  Tenzin grasped her shoulder, but she yanked from his grip and ran down the hall. Reaching the man she’d called Tzan Ru, she delivered a sharp, precise kick to one leg.

  She might as well have kicked a stone wall. Lily stepped back, raised one arm, and delivered a chop to his side. Tzan Ru grunted and dropped Jade. Several other women crowded around her and pulled the crying woman back into the room.

  Tzan Ru turned to Lily. Anger glazed his wide, flat face. He thrust a pointed finger at her. “You’re the Tigress bitch that stole my wife!”

  He raised his fist, but Tenzin flashed forward and caught the meaty hammer before it could land on Lily. “You must leave now. No violence against a woman will be tolerated here.”

  The man, nearly a head taller than Tenzin, glowered at him. He yanked his fist from Tenzin’s grasp. “I have a right. That bitch stole my wife and made a whore of her. I’m taking her back where she belongs.” He lunged at Tenzin, fist raised again.

  Like lightning, Lily stepped in and jostled Tenzin aside. To Tenzin’s surprise, she bowed her head, appearing suddenly submissive. “If it is a matter of finances, honored sir, I will purchase Jade from you at whatever price you demand. Certainly a man of your stature can procure a higher quality wife, perhaps even a woman with bound feet.”

  Tzan Ru glared at Lily, but Tenzin saw immediately that the mention of money had caught his attention. “One hundred yuan,” he muttered. “No less.”

  Tenzin’s gaze whipped to Lily at the steep price. But she didn’t flinch.

  “Done. Tenzin, remain here with Mr. Chen while I retrieve his funds.” Lily gave Tenzin a pointed look.

  Tenzin nodded, keeping a guarded eye on Tzan Ru while Lily disappeared to the rear of the place. The huge man crossed his arms and stared straight ahead in the dusky hallway with the women’s sniffles in the background. His tension radiated in the air, and Tenzin felt his own body tense, ready to fight him should he change his mind and go at Jade, who was only a few feet away inside the nearest room.

  Lily returned momentarily with a small pouch in one hand. The clink of coins tinkled with each step she made. In front of Tzan Ru, she opened the pouch. “One hundred yuan, as agreed upon, more than enough to purchase the finest bred of wives.”

  Tenzin looked from the pouch, to Lily’s even expression, to Tzan Ru.

  “I apologize for your distress Mr. Chen,” Lily went on, obviously not giving Tzan Ru a chance to find an argument. “I have scolded Jade in the past about her abandonment of so noble a husband, but she refused to listen. However, I am a business woman and could not turn away an eager worker.” She bowed her head again. “That is my fault completely.”

  Tzan Ru fixed her with a look of disgust. Tenzin could practically hear the words of insult he wanted to shower on Lily, but he also saw Lily had put Tzan Ru into a position where to act further in a violent manner would brand him as the man of lower class and intelligence that he was. A wave of admiration for Lily’s wit, courage, and strength swept through Tenzin.

  A meaty hand came out and closed around the pouch. “I will not deign to set foot in this place again.” He spat on the ground.

  Lily bowed her head. She was the vision of a perfectly submissive woman, only she’d taken complete control of the situation. “As you wish, honored sir. Tenzin, escort out guest out.”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  Tzan Ru stalked down the hall. Tenzin followed him to the doorway, making sure he actually left. He watched Tzan Ru disappear around the corner and then went back in.

  He found Lily in th
e room with Jade, kneeling before the crying woman. The room around them was in shambles, pillows strewn, clothing in rumpled heaps on the floor. Jade’s face paint was smeared around the swelling and bruising, and her hair went in all different directions like some sort of crazy fan.

  Lily cupped one tearstained cheek. “He won’t be back, Jade. I promise.” She dabbed a wet cloth onto a cut. “You must not let this hinder your goal of Immortality. Continue to harvest yang and go about your business. All right?”

  Jade nodded through her sniffles. “Thank you, Mistress Lily.”

  Lily handed the cloth to a woman nearby. “Ye Cao, tend to her, please.” She rose up on her knees and placed a soft kiss on Jade’s forehead. “Clean up and restore order here,” she said to the three other women who remained huddled close to Jade.

  Lily looked at another girl. “Ming, Where was Fen Chow through all this?”

  The woman she’d addressed bowed her head. “Drunk. He fell asleep in the back.”

  Tenzin expected Lily’s anger, but to his surprise, she sighed. “Make him some tea, sober him up, and don’t discharge his yang for at least a week.”

  Lily turned to leave, and then halted. Perhaps she had a better use for Fen Chow’s expended state. Now was the perfect opportunity to show the beginner’s class how an experienced Tigress harvested a man’s yang. “On second thought, clean him up. I have a task for him.”

  Ming bowed her head again. “Yes, Mistress Lily.”

  “I will wait here and help you,” Lily added. Certainly they would need an immortal’s physical strength to carry a man of Fen Chow’s bulk, even a short distance. She meant to go with the girl and help but sagged back suddenly against the wall. Tzan Ru’s yang lingered in the hall, and now she experienced the weakening effect his bile had actually had on her, as well as from her own aggression, kicking and chopping at him. There had been a time such activity and driving life force would not have affected her this way, but now, even with Tenzin’s yang to help her…

  Tenzin. Lily suddenly remembered his quiet presence in the hallway. She found herself unable to look at him. She didn’t want to see his expression, risk finding judgment there. It was a fault of hers that she did often care what others thought of her, she just didn’t let her concern show or let it stop her from working with her Tigresses.

  Even though Tenzin had helped her defend Jade from Tzan Ru, he’d also learned about an aspect of her school that appeared base, judged as vile by most of society. Well, Tenzin wouldn’t be the first man who’d simply dismiss her as a whorehouse madam.

  “Lily, are you all right?” Tenzin’s voice was gentle, compassionate.

  She looked up. The concern in his eyes belied any judgment he might be making on her. Was it possible he sensed her weakened state?

  “Of course I am.” She felt her cheeks burn a bit. “I’m sorry about what happened. I certainly didn’t wish your introduction to my school to happen this way.”

  Tenzin was silent a moment. “That was not my introduction to your school.” Your hospitality and generous release of my yang were my introductions. As far as what happened here, I understand the ways of men. He is obviously a cruel bully. I don’t judge you for that.”

  His kind answer began to rebalance the upset of her yin that Tzan Ru had caused. Her breathing evened out and relaxation tingled in her hands.

  “He used to beat Jade,” she said. “When I found her she was covered with bruises and cuts worse than you saw her now. She had nowhere else to go.” No sooner was the admission out than she realized she’d trusted Tenzin enough to reveal this much.

  “I understand.”

  His kind gaze continued to rest on her. Her yin continued to calm even as her stomach fluttered. “I must teach the morning class. I had intended for you to observe, but I don’t expect that now.”

  His eyes widened with what appeared almost a stricken look. “Why not?” He bowed his head quickly, as if remembering propriety at the last second. “If I may ask.”

  She stared at his bowed head, at the soft dark bristle of his hair, just growing in. “Well, perhaps you do not wish to have a madam as your teacher.” She had not meant to sound bitter but couldn’t stop the resentment in her voice.

  He raised his eyes to hers. “You provide a place for your students to harvest yang in a way that is inconspicuous. At the same time, they earn their keep. Is that correct?”

  She started. Was it possible he truly understood? The threat of tears stung her eyes but fought it back and cleared her throat. “You’re correct.”

  Tenzin bowed his head again. “I wish to observe the class. I would learn all you have to teach me.”

  Lily sighed inwardly. She could not tell him the relief it brought her not to have to manipulate him as she was forced to do with so many such as Tzan Ru.

  “I also would help Fen Chow to watch this place at night until he is recovered.”

  Lily felt her cheeks burn. “Thank you, Tenzin. Your offer is most generous. Perhaps I will take you up on it.”

  Ming appeared from in a rear doorway, a damp cloth in one hand. “Mistress Lily, Fen Chow is cleaned up as best I could make him, but he is still under the effects of drink.”

  Lily pushed away from the wall. “Very well.” Her strength mostly recovered now, she went to the doorway of the back room and sighed.

  The brawny man was sprawled over a couch. Soft snores buzzed in the air. He would be quite a burden this morning, even for her. But when revived by a Tigress’s mouth on his dragon, he would serve as an excellent example of how yang could be manipulated and produce healing.

  “I’ll carry him.” Tenzin brushed gently past Lily and strode to the couch. He leaned over and scooped Fen Chow up, slinging him over his shoulder as if he were a sack full of rags.

  Lily stared. His action had already caused her yin to awaken and swirl in her womb. Her jade gate eased open just a bit and caused her yin rain to flow. Was the Tibetan trying to make her dependent on him?

  “Very well. This way.” She turned and led him out of the room and through the back entrance before she said anything to embarrass herself.

  As they walked the short distance down the back street to the compound, Lily resisted the urge to look at the huge man dangling over Tenzin’s shoulder. She’d probably end up scolding him. It was a horrible breach of responsibility that he’d passed out drunk, but if she didn’t look on him in his expended state, she’d be able to forgive him.

  A young man off the streets who’d given much of his yang to her Tigresses, Fen Chow guarded them from abusive drunkards for her in return for his meals, a couch to sleep on, and the services of her women. It hadn’t been his fault he’d fallen in love with one of them, a bitter girl who hadn’t lasted on the path. She’d disappeared only two days ago, breaking Fen Chow’s heart.

  Lily did, however, afford a glance at Tenzin’s arm where he held the unconscious man suspended over one strong shoulder. Impressive how effortlessly Tenzin had swung the muscular man’s weight up and now walked as if Fen Chow weighed no more than a market chicken.

  Just that glance caused memories to resurge. Was it less than a half hour earlier Tenzin’s sleekly muscled body crouched between her thighs, that those hands were splayed on her buttocks as he brought her to a higher realm of consciousness with mere strokes of his tongue on her yin pearl?

  A cascade of yin surged through her. More potent images of Tenzin’s body, of the feel of his smooth hardness in her mouth, the sweet tang of his dragon’s tears on her tongue, roiled through her mind, causing her body to soften and moisten in its hidden places.

  Lily took a deep breath and concentrated on walking without tripping. It wouldn’t do to be unfocused for her beginner’s class. Day students came from other brothels as well as from a few select, wealthy households where the women had been sworn to secrecy, to take lessons from the Tigress School. She couldn’t let her students see that one particular male was affecting her so much as to break her concentration.
What kind of example would she be setting?

  Tenzin followed Lily into a small chamber.

  “Set him here, Tenzin.” Lily pointed to a divan in the center. “And make sure he faces this screen.”

  He deposited the sleeping man as she instructed and stepped back, taking care not to trip on the cushions that littered the floor around the sofa. A strange feeling tickled his gut, and though he didn’t dare ask Lily what she intended, he heard women shuffling into the larger room on the other side of the screen and guessed at what was about to happen.

  “Come with me, Tenzin.” Lily gestured, and he followed her into the main classroom.

  Tenzin watched the students file in for Lily’s class. His heartbeat sped up slightly at the increase of female energy in the room. In his entire existence, he’d never spent this much uninterrupted time in the company of women, not even during his years of frequenting the House of the Jade Flower. He still wasn’t certain of the wisdom of so much intermingling, but he also wanted to be in Lily’s company. No matter what.

  There were thirteen women in all. Their age range was difficult to tell. Tenzin understood this was because of the exercises they did and the way they applied a man’s seed to their skin. Some of the women were very pretty, others merely attractive. All of them, however, had a glow to their skin and luscious curves, from what he could make out through the blouses and trousers they wore. Some had bound feet while others did not.

  “Good morning, ladies.”

  Lily’s authoritative tone grabbed Tenzin’s attention as it did the women who arranged themselves in neat rows, all facing Lily.

  “This morning we’ll have a special demonstration from one of the advanced students, Fei Liu, but first, as always, we’ll begin with the willow sequence. As Tigresses, a shapely willow waist is one of your greatest tools of seduction.”

  Tenzin felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. Yes, Lily had the curvy, trim waist of which she spoke, but it hadn’t been the only thing that had heated his blood for her. He watched her clasp her hands together, fingers pointed upward as if she were going to bow. In the next moment, all thirteen pairs of hands copied her movement.