by Zoe Dawson
“It’s okay, sweetie. Let it out.”
“I can’t believe this,” Gen said swiping at the moisture on her cheeks. She met Jo’s eyes.
“Are these sad tears?”
“No, not exactly,” she whispered.
Jo guided Gen to the couch, and they sat down. “What exactly then?”
“Don’t think too harshly of Ryuu. He is a good man.”
“Is that what you think?” She gathered Gen against her. “I don’t think harshly of him. I’ve lived with Ceri since she was conceived. I’m her mom. Ryuu has just found out that he’s a father. It’ll take some time to absorb that information. Men need to cave. He’ll be back. I’m sure of it.”
Gen nodded. “She’s my granddaughter. I’m so happy. I love that little one. Now that I find out she’s related to me, I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“Asahi was murdered by the gang he ran with. I see them sometimes, watching me. I think they are waiting for my son to come home.”
Jo frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me this? We could go to the police.”
“Police can’t do anything about watching.”
“Oh, my God. That’s why he hasn’t been back for six years. It’s because you didn’t let him come home.”
She nodded. “It’s true. I worry about losing him, but not here. Not on these streets like his brother. He doesn’t deserve that. If I lose him in battle, that is an honorable death, one he deserves.” Her eyes filled again, tears spilling over. “He has made so many sacrifices.”
“You have made those same sacrifices, Gen.”
“I consider it my duty to this country that I love. I came here for the freedoms it offered a woman. Anything is possible here.” She was quiet for a moment. “Ryuu is strong and courageous. I know it’s silly to worry. He’s a Navy SEAL and very capable. But these hoodlums are ruthless, and they could have a vendetta against Ryuu. The Yakuza are not forgiving. And if they find out he has a daughter…”
Fear pinched her stomach. “Does Ryuu know about this? I don’t like that you’re terrified of going out.”
“No. I didn’t tell him. It would only make him worry or make him come home more often to make sure I was all right.”
“Gen, what are you doing with the money he sends you every month?”
“Banking it for him. I was getting along all right until the heart issue. I’m grateful for you taking me in, but as I said, I can pay you rent.”
“I know what you said, but you help me with Ceri and that’s a lot, Gen. I’m not going to take any money from you. If this arrangement is a problem, we—”
“No. It’s no problem at all. I love you both. I want to stay with you, especially now that I know she’s my blood. I would do this for free. You know that.”
She curled her arms around Gen and hugged her tight. “You are a gem.”
Gen hugged her back and asked, “Are you going to tell her about Ryuu? About me?”
“Eventually. But I think it’s best for Ryuu to get to know her first. Have her bond before I add in that he’s her dad. She’s so smart, though. She’s already been talking the golden ratio. As observant as she is, she might have already guessed. I can’t rule it out.”
“I think it is wise to wait, and if she comes to that conclusion, well, we’ll handle that as it comes. Together.”
“Together.” They rose at the same time and went to the kitchen.
Jo bent down, but Gen stayed her hand. “Don’t worry about this,” Gen said brushing her off. “You get Ceri to school and I’ll clean this up. She doesn’t have many days left before summer vacation.”
“No, it’s flown by.”
Ceri attended a Montessori school that fit perfectly with her learning style. She was only five, but she was doing first and second grade work already. The school’s philosophy was all about work builds character, children should be allowed to be children, and learning should be hands on, not digital. Jo figured that Ceri was going to be accelerated, but while her brain might grow beyond her years, her body was still that of a child. Her acceleration in ballet was also something Jo was going to take slowly. She wasn’t going to have her daughter pushed into making decisions about a career before she was ten. Jo was convinced the girl could pursue anything she wished and excel at it. It often kept her up at night worrying about being the best parent she could be to a gifted and talented child. But she was determined to do her best for her daughter.
She rose as Ceri came out of her room with her backpack and ballet bag. “Did you find your shoes?”
“Yes, they were exactly where you said they would be. Are you ready? We’re running a bit late.”
She swiped her hand over Ceri’s head, loosely sliding her dark ponytail through her cupped hand. “That’s my line. Can you let me be the mom once in a while?”
“Only if you can keep up,” she sassed and then ran down the hall to the door. Pulling it open, she giggled as Jo ran after her, grabbing her purse and keys by the door. “You little monkey!” She laughed as she caught Gen’s eye. Then there was no more time. She raced down the hall after Ceri, her monkey noises echoing off the walls. Laughing harder, she caught up to her at the door. Ceri wasn’t allowed in the street without supervision.
She pushed open the door, and maybe it was because of Gen’s warning, but she automatically looked around for anyone who fit Gen’s description. She immediately spotted him across the street, loitering. He wasn’t focusing on them at all. It was as if he was waiting for…Gen. Could it be? Or was it her paranoia causing her to worry?
She took Ceri’s hand and went to the curb. Her scheduled car service driver was already there. She settled Ceri inside and got in beside her daughter.
“Good morning, Jo and Ceri,” he said as he set the meter and, after checking for traffic, pulled away from the curb.
As he drove, Ceri said, “So, did Gen’s son leave? I thought he was staying for a while. There is something I really…like about him. His ears look so familiar. Can that be? Familiar ears?”
“I don’t know, honey. You are very observant.” Jo didn’t say anything to encourage her to study Ryuu’s ears. It was a genetic marker, and she was recognizing them because Ceri’s were shaped like his. It was eerie how much she looked like him.
“The golden ratio aside, I get a strong vibe from him. Do you know him?”
“Yes, I knew him a long time ago. He’s probably got that vibe because he’s a Navy SEAL.”
“Navy SEAL, really. I’m going to have to look that up.”
Concerned that Ceri might stumble across pictures she shouldn’t be seeing at her age, Jo said, “You may, but only search for articles on SEALs, and I need to approve them before you read them. Okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Do you know what Navy SEALs do?”
“Umm…not sure. Do they do the hard stuff the regular army doesn’t do?”
“Navy, honey. The Army is a different branch of the military.”
“Oh, okay. Are there more branches?”
“Yes, Army, Navy, Marines—who are part of the Navy, but a special force, too—Air Force, and the Coast Guard.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of service.”
“It sure is.”
“What does each do?”
“The Army fights the big battles, the wars. They go in after the Marines and special forces, including the SEALs, handle the enemies and establish a base. The Air Force provides planes to move the troops around and fighter jets to help out the ground troops and keep them safe. The Navy sails the seas to keep them safe and provides shore support to the land troops.”
“I can’t wait to read about the SEALs.”
“As long as you don’t neglect your chores. You are strictly forbidden to look up anything on the SEALs unless I see it first. War is very upsetting, Ceri. You are too young to make those decisions. Clear, young lady?”
“Yes, I won’t look up anything on the internet without your permission.�
�
The rest of the ride, Ceri peppered her with questions about other things on her mind. Jo was often astonished at the depth of Ceri’s understanding and her thoughtful questions. She got out with her and walked her to the door. She knew these days were numbered. As she grew, her independence would grow with her, and having her mom walk her anywhere would be so not cool.
But today when Jo leaned down for a kiss, she got no protests. “I love you.”
“I love you more, baby.”
“To the stars and back?”
“Absolutely.”
Jo left her, surprised she was actually going to be on time. She got back into the car, and he drove her to her shop in Soho, which was south of Houston Street. She’d worked there since she was eighteen. As she entered, Morgan Corwin, her manager, looked at her and smiled. “Good morning.” She was a beautiful girl, long blonde hair, big, ocean blue eyes, and delicate features. She was all of twenty-four and had recently graduated college for business. She’d been working for Jo all through her schooling. Jo had plans to get her to start doing the books and taking over more of the management duties.
“We’ve already had a couple of walk-ins. Small stuff. I handled it.”
“Good. I’ll be in the back if you need me.”
“You have that appointment today, right?”
“Yes, after lunch. Keep your fingers crossed he even entertains my offer.”
“It’s exciting to expand. Did you decide on how many artists to hire?”
“Not yet. I’m still mulling it over.”
“Before you go back, I’d like to run next door and grab a latte. You want one?”
“I’d love a ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich and a mocha. You need some money?”
“Nope, got it.”
Morgan left, and Jo went to the back and put her purse on the hook behind the door, then came back out.
She checked her schedule for cancellations, and she had none. It was going to be busy before she had her appointment. She thought that was a good thing. It would give her no time to think about Ryuu and where he might be. She itched to call him or text him, but she didn’t have his telephone number. Besides, it was best to leave him to his thoughts and give him the space he needed to absorb not only that he had a daughter but what would come after that realization sunk in.
She hoped to God he wasn’t kicking himself. That wouldn’t be productive and also wasn’t fair to him. She suspected his time was limited. As far as she knew, he was still active duty. She really wanted him to get to know Ceri. It was his right, and through circumstances, he’d been robbed of her in his life.
If he decided he didn’t want…to know her, Jo would handle that too. He was gone a lot, lived across the U.S., and her heart contracted over the thought that he was often in combat. She might want to shield Ceri about what SEALs did, because they were special operations and often in harm’s way. It was the nature of the job.
To be honest, she felt a measure of concern for him being a SEAL. To think of him in danger made her want to…hold him close. That was an odd, bewildering thought. She barely knew him. You want to get to know him, a little voice whispered.
The memories of meeting him that night he’d come into the parlor with Asahi returned.
Dragon—his SEAL call name, and it had fit. He hadn’t changed, not nearly enough to suit her. It was all too easy to look at him and still see the twenty-year-old angel who had easily taken over her heart and mind. Except now he was the angel who had fathered her child. He had an unnerving quietness about him—a beautiful angel, his face simply devastating, his silky dark hair brushing the collar of his shirt. He was broader through the shoulders than he’d been before, possibly taller, still lean, but more solid.
She’d been struck speechless the first time she saw him, and the minute their eyes met, the room had grown hot, the air filled with sparkles. Her breath had backed up in her throat. He’d been wearing a leather jacket that night, too, along with black jeans and a blue T-shirt with “Navy” in gold across the front.
Asahi had wanted an addition to his sleeve, but Dragon had asked for the simple dragon on his body. He’d had those angel wings already on his back. He’d teased her about where he wanted the tattoo, and she’d flushed. He’d had to strip down to nothing to get the tat, and Jo’s hand, normally steady, was trembling until she made herself stop, remain as professional as she could faced with all that beautiful muscle. The golden ratio indeed. He was so nicely put together.
He was still a stranger, then, now. They didn’t have enough time to really get to know each other, except physically. That had been easy.
She did touchups on the original tattoo she’d given him, starting at his ankle and moving up his body. But when she’d gotten to the skin of his hip, she stopped to give him a moment to collect himself. It was going to hurt. When she told him that, he’d just grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close to his angel face. She’d already been drowning in desire and longing for more—it was a constant pressure on her mind and body. He owned her.
She didn’t last even seconds when he’d looked at her mouth but had truly been lost the minute he’d turned his head, his breath hot against her ear when he said, “If you want to conquer the world, you best have dragons.”
The bookworm in her melted. She’d devoured the Wheel of Time series, and that quote coming from him was so scorching, she should have melted.
She wasn’t even sure who kissed who. She had to have him, wanted him to possess her. His mouth was incredibly soft, his lips full. The taste and smell of him made a mushy, indistinct mess out of her normally organized and smart brain. He didn’t kiss her. He savored her mouth like she had the most exquisite taste that he couldn’t satisfy. His hand went into her hair, cupped the back so gently.
The way he looked at her broadcast that he wanted her like this: passionately, his tongue halfway down her throat, his hands all over her, his breathing ragged. No rules and nobody in control. They were in the back room of a business, a paying customer that could have cost her a job she loved. She could hear people outside the secluded room.
The realization added a dark thrill to the whole heart-stopping experience of having Dragon make love to her lips. She was beyond describing it. She was just experiencing him. It was more than a kiss, more than any kiss she’d ever been given. The slow, deliberate sucking on her tongue was meant without doubt to make her think of a far more intimate act. And she was—shamelessly. The feel of him in her mouth, the taste of him, was intoxicating, dizzying. He set her on fire with his kiss, made her gasp, and every inch of her wanted more. It was crazy. Crazy and hot and utterly sexual in a way she’d thought she would never know except in her fantasies—but the reality of it, God, the reality of it was so much more intense, the silkiness of his hair sliding through her fingers, the rough edge of his jaw beneath her palm, the strength of his arms wrapped around her. In her fantasies, everything was safe. She was in charge. With him, nothing was safe. The pure physical energy of him was a force to be reckoned with. He was powerful, dangerous, and unpredictably seductive. She didn’t know what was going to happen next—but she should have. He slid his hand up under her skirt, and a moment’s panic stirred in her veins—too late. He had been unerring, his hand moving between her legs where he cupped her with his palm—and at that point he knew as well as she just how much she wanted him. She was slightly mortified, but too aroused to pull away, especially when his fingers slowly slid beneath her underwear and began moving over her so very, very gently.
The kiss came to a sudden, heart-catching stop, leaving both of them standing so very still, breathing into each other’s mouths, hardly daring to move. People fall in love for this, Jo thought through the haze of her arousal. They fall in love with a person who can give them so much pleasure. She was entranced by it, by the sheer eroticism of Dragon’s touch and her own physically wanton response.
“God, you are so soft,” he murmured against her lips. “So b
eautiful.” His words worked like a magic elixir poured over her senses, and she knew the touch of his hand would not be enough, would never be enough. She wanted him the way she had him in her most carnal fantasies. She wanted him filling her up, driving her to the pinnacle of release. She wanted him to make her feel more like a woman than she ever had with her past clumsy, embarrassing encounters—and if he couldn’t give her everything, she still wanted him. God, she wasn’t even sure she could survive him. He was wild. He was practically a stranger. He was a warrior, a Navy SEAL. This man was in constant danger. But the connection they were sharing, the seduction—for all its raw power and reckless disregard for even her most dearly held rules of safe conduct, it felt like a gift, like the most precious of gifts, her rules be damned. He was the harbor and the storm. She’d wanted his kiss forever, and now she wanted more.
“I’m back,” Morgan said, snapping her fingers in front of Jo’s face.
She jerked back to cold reality, the memory winking out, but it had stirred her body and heightened her senses.
“Wow, you were miles away. Musing about those new tat artists?” Morgan asked innocently as she took her coffee out of the carrier and handed it over to Jo along with a brown paper bag.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Jo said, her voice uneven. “Thanks, I’m starving.” Too bad it wasn’t for food. She walked back to her office and sat down in her chair. Pulling up her financials, she started to work on her books.
She hadn’t been much of a rule-breaker when she’d been young, but after someone had told her she was nothing but a pathetic bookworm with ice water in her veins, it had changed her. She’d gotten interested in tattoos and rebelled. She’d been looking for something to mark her for years before Dragon walked into her parlor.
The dragon he was, he marked her with his flame.
She closed her eyes and leaned back. Taking a bite of her sandwich, she chewed. Reality was like a bucket of cold water. He was, at this point, a wild card. Until he showed her his hand, she would be on her guard.
With a pang, she wondered if she should contact a lawyer just to cover all her bases. Dragon hadn’t been in Ceri’s life, but if he tried to exert his paternal rights, Jo should be aware of what they were and what rights she had as the custodial parent. Then there was the case of child support, health care Ceri was entitled to, although Jo had her basically covered. She’d also have to think about her will and amending it to name either Gen or Ryuu or both of them to take Ceri if something happened to her. So much to think about. So many complications he’d brought into her life this morning by showing up like he did.
