Lotus Flower Bomb: The Mogul Series Book Two

by Goree-Bell, Kenya

  “Wow.” Flower sat back, looking back and forth between her friends. “Do you think he killed his uncles?”

  “Well, maybe, but they probably deserved it. That whole thing around the dad dying was suspect. The government even opened an inquiry into it. Their dad was supposedly in really great health to die of a heart attack that was later found not be one. Something made his heart stop, but he had no damage to his arteries or scarring.” Eva ticked off the information in her matter-of-fact way.

  “This is crazy.” Flower closed her eyes. “Why is this happening to me?” She rubbed her hand hands over the face and looked at her friends in dismay. Trust her to pick a guy who had a murky past. That could have possibly killed his relatives and came from a nest of vipers fighting for control of a company. How in the hell did she step into a day-time soap opera, or better yet, a J-Drama? Was someone going to come back from the freaking dead next?

  “Because you are trying to live for the first time in a long time out from under the shadow of those two knucklehead brothers of yours. You just ended up with someone like them,” Bridget deadpanned and then the traitors snickered. Then full-out laughed. Like full peals of laughter that had people looking at them from across the restaurant. Even Bao, whom Akchiro had left as her personal bodyguard, who stood a discrete distance away.

  “I don’t think he’s going to kill you, though.” Eva placed an assuring hand over Flower’s once they came up for air.

  “Nope, just your pussy.” Bridget added as they high-fived each other and laughed at her again. To which she responded by showing them her middle finger, albeit discreetly, before laughing with them.

  “So how did he take the news of who you are?” Bridget took a sip of her tea after the laughter had died down.

  Flower blinked slowly at them then looked across the room at Bao, making sure he was still out of earshot. “I haven’t told him.”

  “Will you when he returns? He’s probably already had you checked out.” Eva tapped her finger on the table for emphasis.

  “It won’t matter if he does. The name Ellington is on my passport, and it will check out. I used it in college, remember? No one knew who I was but you guys.” Flower wasn’t worried. She’d paid handsomely to make sure her name was scrubbed before moving to Tokyo. Nothing would come up but an innocuous Facebook page where she rarely posted cute cat videos. She had always been ruthless about her privacy. Her life was her own as much as possible. She didn’t crave the fame that was not hers. Her brothers earned that spotlight—let them shine in it. She had seen the privilege and the perils that life brought, and no thank you very much. She would continue living in the wings and doing what she did best, running the company until their IPO launched, and then she would branch out on her own and work in film as she’d always wanted.

  “If he ever finds out that you lied to him…girl.” Eva shook her head looking at Bridget, who screwed her lips up in turn, the worry clear on her face. “But he won’t hear it from us. You just better make sure you keep your shit tight around this guy because no one messes with him and gets away with it.” She tapped her nails on the table, pursing her lips. “And we are not experts by any means because work is first on our minds, but dude… How are you going to start a relationship with this kind of secret?”

  “Yeah, like for real?” Bridget turned to her. “No judgment, though.”

  “Guys, it’s not that serious.” Flower forced a laugh. “It probably won’t even last that long. You know how guys like him are. Once the novelty wears off, they are on to the next. Let me live, okay? I’m just having a little fun.” Flower looked at them hard as they were again with the looks.

  After a beat, both women conceded with a quick roll their eyes. “Fine,” they said in unison with long-suffering sighs.

  “But keep us on speed dial in case we need us to break you out. And you are no one’s novelty, honey.” Eva pointed at her. “You are all gorgeousness tucked into a DVF wrap dress and Louboutins. And you are a shark.”

  “A fucking shark,” Bridget piped up, nodding for emphasis. “When it comes to your brothers, their business, and taking care of your family and friends, you have been relentless and selfless to a fault. You have been the good sister, the perfect daughter, always acting as if you have to earn your place in a family that loves you no matter what. I know you want to make your parents proud, but they already are! They brag on you and Willow with her ballet in the same breath as FADE and Ghadi. You have some good people. Now it’s time to take care of yourself and have some fun and live. Live!” She sing-songed the last word in her Oprah voice.

  “Last thing, Flower,” Bridget whispered. “You said nothing’s happened between you two yet. So did you tell him that you’ve never had sex before? And don’t come with that I’m-not-a-virgin thing.”

  “It hasn’t come up.” Flower looked down and plucked at her napkin. “He’d probably think I’m a weirdo or something.”

  “He’d think you were awesome,” Eva promised, patting her hand again like an auntie.

  “He’d think you rock. And that he was lucky as hell,” Bridget assured her, placing her hand on top Eva’s.

  “Like, ‘What did I do to deserve this woman?’” Eva raised her hands in fake praise, making them all laugh.

  “This is why I love you guys.” Flower smiled at them, her heart warming. She knew they were going to fuss and have her back in the end no matter what.

  “We’re perfect,” Eva boasted, sitting back, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

  “Yep,” Bridget nodded, keeping her hand still connected. “Just call us if you need us and to tell us all the juicy bits.”

  Chapter 6

  She knew he was there the moment she stepped off the elevator—actually, before that, she’d caught a whiff of the clean, crisp scent of his cologne. Flower tried to quell the anxiety that clenched her stomach. Her heart was beating so hard, and she broke out into a little sweat.

  She was surprised Takara had not called or texted to let her know Akchiro was back. She was Flower’s conduit to him, she’d been informed, therefore any changes—say like him being back an entire week earlier—would have necessitated a call. She felt as if she’d been caught unawares. Like a naughty child who snuck out to play with friends while their parents were away and told them not to leave the house or have any friends over. Frustration simmered and a knot of unease began to bubble inside her. She couldn’t help it and hated feeling as if she owed people explanations, she dreaded when people she cared about were disappointed in her or if she felt like she let someone down. Her reaction was never the best when that happened, however rare. She got her back up sometimes too fast.

  Flower stopped short just inside the entrance to take her shoes off then proceeded into the living room. It was dark and deathly silent, even though she knew he must have heard her enter. She walked farther into the room, watching him as he stood before the wall of windows with his back to her, looking out over the Tokyo sky. The lights were dimmed, as they were set by the timer but voice controlled. He had chosen the darkest setting whether to match his mood or level of tiredness she didn’t know, but she could guess. She laid her purse down on the sofa and stood, unsure of what to do.

  “You’re late,” he addressed her, still looking out into the night sky. She could see he had one of the Kagami whisky glasses in his hand, swirling the liquid within before taking a sip.

  “You’re early,” she quipped in return and could see that the corner of his mouth kicked up.

  “Come here.” He tossed back the remainder of the drink, sitting the glass on a smaller geode accent table. This one had golden topaz highlights throughout the amethyst that sparkled beautifully in against the dim lights.

  Flower walked over to him, her heart just as aflutter as before when she caught the hint his cologne in the elevator. His hair was down around his shoulders. He’d taken it out of the intricate knot she’d seen him wearing the last two times they had been together. She wouldn’t say
it curled, neither was it bone straight. It was almost as if it had the slightest wave to it. And it was so thick and luscious, inviting her to run her hands through the heavy mass, though she dared not touch it. She hated when people touched her hair without asking permission. She wouldn’t ever be so rude, but she longed slide her fingers through the waves and feel it against her fingers. Taking a breath as she came to stand beside him, she tried to quell that longing but feared she wouldn’t be able to hide anything from him.

  “Where were you, Flower?” He turned to her then, touching her cheek with a light caress, rubbing his thumb back and forth. She knew he had to know because Bao would have told him her every move since he had never left her side from the moment Akchiro left her a week prior, but she’d play his game for now.

  “I was with my friends who accompanied me to the club that first night.” She saw that he looked tired. Maybe it was traveling, or maybe it was his hectic work schedule. She found out from Takara that he worked sixteen-hour days based on when she was told to expect him. Flower found she wanted to comfort him in some way. She reached up and touched his jaw, and her heart swelled when he leaned into her hand. He closed his eyes briefly as if that was just what he’d needed all along before seeming to shake himself as if waking from a dream.

  “And did you tell them about us?” he inquired, stepping back, putting distance between them that left her feeling almost bereft. His words were quiet and cold. He already knew the answer. That was what this was about.

  “Of course I did. They are my best friends, Akchiro. They would’ve been worried about me. Which they are with me moving here after only knowing you few days.” She hated feeling the need to explain herself to him. She folded her arms against her chest, refusing to say anything else. If he wanted to end it based on the fact that people loved her and were concerned for her well-being, then so be it.

  He rubbed his hands through his hair and sighed as it cascaded over his shoulders. “I understand. However, that is as far as it goes. The particulars of our acquaintance are not to be discussed on any level with your friends. Is that clear?”

  “Crystal.” She nodded. He looked at her for a long moment then jerked his head in agreement. “I will have Takara make arrangements for us later this week.” He started for the door, leaving Flower totally flabbergasted.

  “You are leaving?”

  “Yes.” He stopped just as he was about to step past her. She guessed he was still mad, because this time he didn’t kiss her like before, had barely touched her or really looked at her. Yeah, they were getting off with a banging good start, she thought darkly. She was right when she told her friends this wouldn’t last long. They probably didn’t have a day in them, let alone a year.

  “Why? This is your flat.” She’d assumed they would live here together. She didn’t know if she should feel hurt or relieved. She did like her own place, but the way he gave her that ultimatum, she thought—well, it didn’t matter because it wasn’t happening.

  “No. This is your flat. I assumed you read the paperwork that Takara had you sign. Yes, I hold the lease, but it is yours until you decide to leave. I know you gave up your place to move in here.” Flower knew this, but she didn’t think he’d lease this huge space just for her alone. She knew it must cost millions.

  “Well, you’re here now and obviously tired. You’re welcome to stay,” she offered, reaching for his hand.

  For a long moment, he stared at their clasped hands before looking back at her, his eyes searching. “You would like that?”

  “Hai.” Her soft response in his language brought a twinkle to his eye as she pulled him behind her over to the double doors on the other side of the living room adjacent to the fireplace and walked through them when they automatically opened as they approached. Her heart was loud in her ears because what was she doing? She wasn’t some experienced seductress who took men to her bed. The sum total of her experience included one vague fumbling attempt by a guy that couldn’t maintain an erection.

  Walking through the double doors leading to a sitting room that doubled as an office and library, Flower marveled at the wall of books that ran from floor to ceiling except for another wall of windows. There was an intimate seating arrangement before the windows, with a huge teak desk before a wall of books. This room was very masculine despite the clean lines, which was one of the reasons she assumed he would live here with her. She had no use for the desk since she was on sabbatical from her job, and most of the volumes were in Japanese. Maybe the designer assumed his current lover would be Japanese. The thought caused her to stumble.

  “It seems that I am not the only one who is exhausted,” he murmured in her ear as they crossed the threshold of her bedroom. “Go get ready for bed, I have a few calls to make.” He nodded to the bathroom before moving to the seating area that looked out onto a vista of the city. He didn’t sit, so he must have wanted privacy, not that it mattered once he started the call, giving rapid-fire instructions to one of his assistants.

  Once she entered the bathroom, Flower began her nightly process of conditioning her hair. Taking her time, she separated her curls into four sections and then spritzed them with an oil, water, and vitamin mixture she made herself then moisturized it with a conditioner. Once that was done, she twisted each section then wrapped the long twist around her head like a coronet. Satisfied that her clips would withstand the shower, she put on her shower cap and got under the hot massaging spray.

  The water streamed down her body and she thought over what she had done asking him stay the night. Maybe he only stayed out of politeness, but she couldn’t stop the elation in her heart that he’d really wanted to. Akchiro Takeda was not the type of man who did anything other than what he wished. She soaped her body and applied her whip mango soufflé body butter to her damp skin before pulling a crisp cotton nightgown over her head. She looked in the mirror and loved the way the white eyelet lace ruffles looked against her skin. It wasn’t demure, but it wasn’t lingerie either, plus it was her favorite. She loved this gown so much that she’d bought one in every color. She had one for every day of the week. When she loved something, she stuck with it. A quality nightgown that stopped right above the knee and didn’t tangle you up in the covers was nothing to sneer at, though Eva and Bridget thought her little idiosyncrasy hilarious.

  When Flower walked out of the room, she saw that Akchiro had not only sat but relaxed back in one of the chairs. His head popped up as she entered the room. He stood, his dick straining against his pants. His heated gaze never leaving her as she walked over to the king-size bed and slid inside. “I’ll be with you shortly.” He headed toward the bathroom as she grabbed her iPad and went straight to her iBooks account and started reading like she did every night before she went to sleep. Minutes ticked by as she got caught up in a paranormal story about a dragon shifter falling in love with a woman who just happened to be a wolf-shifter who time travels back in time and is his fated mate. The covers shifted, and she looked over to see him climb into the bed. His long form took up so much space that he ended up in the middle. She smiled, seeing that he had braided his hair too, watching as it swayed behind him. She turned back to put the iPad on the bedside table and let out little eep when he dragged her into his arms. “Lights,” he all but growled, tightening his arms around her. Flower couldn’t help but relax into his chest, feeling the cool silk of this pajama shirt against her face. He smelled nice, that delicious scent of his lulled her.

  “Good night.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek but stopped short when her gaze fell to his eyes. There was passion there, but that wasn’t what stopped her. It was the cold hardness of his stare. She pulled back, expecting anything but this. His arm tightened where it held her around her waist, and he brought the other hand to rest at her throat. The caress was soft, sending trills of pleasure throughout her small frame.

  “Don’t toy with me, Flower.” His words like his caress were soft—that is where the similarities ended. Whereas his touch b
rought heat, his words brought chill with their cool clarity. He was not to be trifled with. She would never think to do it. She didn’t play games. He didn’t know that about her yet nor the fact that she was not easily intimidated.

  “I would never,” her voice whispered against the thumb he began to brush against her lips.

  “And yet,”—he stroked her top lip and she longed to dart her tongue out to taste him—“you would invite me to spend the night in your bed.” He continued his action, moving to her lower lip. “Then you clothe yourself, hiding from me.” He stroked the bottom, bidding her to open for him. When she did, he slid his thumb inside her mouth, moving it in and out. Flower felt her body quickening and squeezed her legs together in response; they were so close he could feel the action. He pulled her closer, bringing her leg over his hips. His hardness pressed against her. Flower moaned against his thumb, sucking it deeper into her mouth, and pressed closer, seeking more. She wanted to move against him and ride herself to orgasm, but his arm banded around her like steel, preventing more action.

  “Frustrated?” He quirked a brow. “Imagine how I felt, coming here to see you, to finally taste your pussy, to feel it wrapped around me and find not only were you not here but you’d defied the rules set out in our agreement.” He took his thumb out of her mouth then bent down as if to kiss her, only to whisper against her lips, “Then you bring me back here to your bedroom to actually sleep with you wearing this gown that makes me want to rip it off and tie you up with it, spank your little pussy until you beg for my forgiveness and my dick.” He took her mouth then in a ruthless, ravaging kiss. Her body shook from the effect those hot, angry words had on her. She was so wet she was sure the evidence would be all over him. He ground into her. The feelings assailing her were both torturous and pleasurable.