by Claire Adams
I gave her a small nod. My hands tightened into fists in my lap. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“I regret nothing,” I said, wanting to make my own position clear. “And I meant everything I said.”
Emily managed a wistful smile. “I guess I’m thinking of this as a what happens in Tokyo, stays in Tokyo kind of thing. We can have some fun, spend time together, but nothing more serious, and it doesn’t go with us to America.”
I watched her for a few seconds as I thought about what she said. I could work with this. If she didn’t want to commit to anything more at that moment, I didn’t feel the need to make her feel trapped.
“I’m fine with that,” I said. “Depending on what happens with my business deal, I might have days to spend with you or maybe just the nights.” I shrugged. “I’ll take what I can get for the trip.”
“I’m not saying we won’t…” She glanced over and then whispered the rest. “Not saying we won’t sleep together again, but I think it’d be best if we don’t do anything for a day or so.” She blushed. “I’m still sore anyway.”
The bit of levity pushed away my irritation. “Well, I hope I can help you leave Tokyo with at least one more good memory.”
Her eyes widened, and she took a deep breath, her lips parted slightly. “I’m sure you can.” The words came out breathy.
Our new relationship had to live and die over a few days in Tokyo. Not what I’d planned when I’d invited Emily on the trip to begin with, but it was more than I’d expected.
Sometimes, you had to take the offer in front of you to close the deal.
Chapter Nineteen
EMILY
Having a personal driver to escort me around Tokyo was a bit strange. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to talk much to him or not. He wasn’t mean or anything, but he didn’t seem to be all that interested in chitchat either.
I wondered if he needed to concentrate on the roads, but though cars and buses crowded the roads, the nice flow of traffic surprised me. This was the first time I’d been paying much attention to the driving experience in Tokyo, if only because Logan wasn’t in the car to distract me.
“The LEGO place I asked about is on Odaiba, right?” I said.
The driver nodded. “Hai.” He furrowed his brow and started again, maybe worried I didn’t understand. “Yes, it’s on Odaiba.”
“On, right? As on an island?”
My cheeks heated. I’d spent more time worrying about this trip than planning for it, and so I’d been forced to do a lot of last-minute checking around and furiously quick reading on Tokyo’s sights.
“Yes, an island.” He chuckled. “We’ll use Rainbow Bridge.”
“Rainbow Bridge?”
His gaze flicked to the rear-view mirror for a second before returning in front of him. “Looks normal during the day, but at night, red, green, and white lights. Tourists love it.”
“Oh,” I said. “Maybe it’ll be dark on our way back.”
He nodded once, and I let the conversation end. Being in such a large, foreign city only reminded me of how insular my life had been. I loved my family and my city, but I’d gotten too comfortable with my life at times, not ever asking if I should want something different or more.
I couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what was going on with Logan. Being alone could be sad at times, but it was familiar, almost comfortable in a way. Opening my heart to a man, even a man like Logan, terrified me. Better the devil you know and all that.
I thought I’d loved Lionel, and I’d thought he loved me. He’d given me my beautiful daughter, but during the divorce, I found out he’d been cheating on me from the very beginning. I’d never been enough for him.
If I wasn’t enough for a man like Lionel, how could I be enough for a handsome billionaire? Logan might like me now, but he’d get tired of me like Lionel did, but by then, it would already be too late. The best thing for everyone was to have some fun in Tokyo and forget about anything else.
I nodded to myself at the thought, calm spreading through me.
A huge digital Coke billboard caught my attention. A smiling model held up the bottle and then drank the Coke. I couldn’t read the Japanese, but I assumed it wasn’t all that much more interesting than the things ads said in America, and I doubted my driver wanted to take his eyes off the road to translate a sign.
I wondered how Logan felt about everything that had happened the day before. Even though he’d agreed to my idea about keeping everything in Tokyo, I doubted he’d flown me halfway around the world for a quick night of sex.
Guilt gnawed at me, pushing my newly found calm away. Logan probably thought I was avoiding him or even mad at him. I’d gone to bed early the previous night after dinner, not trusting myself to keep my hands off him. In the morning, we’d barely talked at breakfast. He’d tried, but I kept giving him one- or two-word answers.
A sigh escaped my mouth, but I tried to cover it up with a forced yawn. My driver looked into the rear-view mirror for a second but said nothing. Maybe he knew not to pry. Maybe he didn’t care. Either way, I was glad he didn’t try and strike up a conversation.
Every time I thought I had everything under control, it somehow slipped through my fingers. I leaned my head against the window, watching the buildings, people, and cars rush by as I reflected on the day before.
The memory of Logan’s hungry eyes after I dropped my robe lingered in my head. Warmth spread from my center at the thought of him slamming into me, filling me. I gulped down some air and then took several deep breaths.
I was still a bit sore from yesterday, but that didn’t quench my body’s thirst for Logan. He’d been passionate but not too rough. It’d been a long time since I’d been with anyone. And longer still since I’d been with anyone who cared so much about making me cum. The satisfaction from my orgasms more than made up for a little tenderness down there.
Could it have just been about me getting laid? The idea had occurred to me, and I hoped now that we’d slept together, I’d be able to get him out of my system sooner than later.
The problem was I wasn’t sure what I felt about my own behavior. I couldn’t say I regretted it, but the sex complicated things with Logan. There was no way I would delude myself about that. Before, we were friends who’d kissed a few times, but passionate lovemaking wasn’t something I could pretend didn’t happen, especially when I was still feeling it the next day.
Friends with benefits? I didn’t know. I didn’t really believe in that sort of thing, but I also wasn’t ready for something more, even if my body craved Logan. A trip to a foreign country where I was removed from daily routine wasn’t a good place to start a relationship. Bless my heart.
“About ten minutes now,” my driver said.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly.
Worrying about Logan could wait. I might never be able to return to Tokyo, so I couldn’t let my silly heart ruin a good trip. I knew I couldn’t see everything I wanted in a day and a half but moping about the future wouldn’t accomplish anything. It was time for a little fun and forgetting.
* * *
After sunset, I stifled a yawn as I stepped into the hotel elevator, two heavy cloth bags filled with presents on my arms. My driver wanted to help bring them up, but maybe I was feeling the need to show off a little and represent for Tennessee. He seemed more annoyed than impressed, but everyone from Mama to even Logan by now knew how stubborn I could be. He learned the lesson quickly enough.
A box peeked out of the top of one of the bags, the LEGO logo prominent, even if I didn’t have any clue what the Japanese writing on it said. The picture showed samurai and ninja figures in some sort of forest set, which seemed very appropriate for Japan.
Not that Juniper would care if her new LEGO sets were themed to match my trip or not. She’d simply be happy to have new LEGOs.
Besides the LEGOs, dolls, jewelry, and knickknacks filled my bags. Juniper would love them, and Mama would at least fake liking th
em. She wasn’t much for foreign stuff. She’d told Daddy once that Canada was too exotic for her tastes.
The memory made me chuckle. I sighed and shook my head. Even though I missed Daddy, a lifetime of good memories would keep him close to my heart until I joined him in Heaven. I only hoped I was doing the same thing for my daughter.
I sighed, missing my little sweet pea. It’d only been a few days, but it felt like weeks.
The elevator dinged open, and I marched to my room, a little melancholy. After setting the bags on the floor, I flopped on the bed.
I spared a brief glance at the now closed door between the rooms, and then I grabbed my phone and checked through my photos. No matter how much I tried to hurry, I’d missed a lot of interesting sights and places. This was the kind of city you needed months to explore, not a couple of days. I’d not even done a good job of exploring Odaiba in one day.
In one of my pictures, a ramen cook smiled into my camera from his cart. The next several shots were of the delicious pork ramen bowl I’d had for lunch. Top view. Side view. Close-up view. That sort of thing. I wasn’t exactly the queen of Instagram, but I could take an interesting picture or two.
Growing up, I’d always thought of ramen as nothing more than our grocery store-bought dry, crunchy noodles in the little package or a Styrofoam cup, something you bought in big packs as cheap filler. Having an authentic bowl with pork and all the vegetables was a delight, the savory flavor almost returning to my tongue over the memory.
I swiped through more photos, including a good sixty or so I’d taken at the Tokyo Trick Art Museum. One made it look like I was being swallowed by some strange giant, even though in truth, it was a painting on the wall and floor. The whole place was filled with art focused around optical illusions.
Putting my arm over my face, I let out a long sigh and dropped my phone on the bed. Juniper would have loved that place. I could imagine her squeal of delight at all the strangeness and little tricks of the eye.
Not to mention the LEGO place. I ducked in it to buy the sets for her, but there was a whole LEGO experience there she would have died for. She would have even found the ramen cart great fun.
Another sad sigh escaped my lips. I regretted not bringing Juniper. Lionel probably wouldn’t have fought me. Or maybe he would have done it to mess with me. I couldn’t be sure.
I picked my phone back up. The time difference made it hard to know when to contact her. I needed to hear her voice.
After tapping into my phone, I figured out that around noon would be a good time to call Juniper. I’d be able to catch before bed. Smiling to myself, I set a reminder.
Someone knocked on my door. I rolled to the side of the bed and stood, yawning again. When I opened the door, I wasn’t surprised to see Logan. He smiled at me.
He was still in a dark suit, so he must have just arrived from his meetings.
“May I come in?” he asked.
I stepped back and gestured inside. “You’re paying.”
Logan eyed me, a question in his eyes, but I didn’t set him at ease by saying anything else. His gaze shifted to my bags.
“So, I see you’ve been enjoying Tokyo, Emily.”
“Yes.” I moved back over to the bed, sat down, and put my hands in my lap. “Mostly Odaiba today.” My brow furrowed. “Did I say it right?”
“Sounds right to me.” He looked to the side for a moment before returning his gaze to me, his dark eyes filled with curiosity. “I don’t think I’ve ever been there.”
“It’s a very interesting place. Too bad Juniper couldn’t have come.”
“I’m sure we…” His mouth twitched. “She’s young. I’m sure she’ll have her chance.”
I’m sure we can go on another trip.
I knew that’s what he started to say, and the realization stabbed at my heart. I had no right to be hurt after telling him I didn’t want anything more.
“How did your meetings go?” I asked, desperate to get my mind off anything having to do with relationships.
Logan smiled. “Great. There were a few issues that popped up, but we’re signing the final agreements tomorrow.”
I managed a smile. “Not a waste of time then.”
He shrugged. “I never find travel a waste of time. But, yeah, the investment deal’s going to be profitable for everyone involved.”
We stared at each other for a long while, the tension thick in the air. I couldn’t help it. He was so handsome and kind. I could easily imagine myself falling for him. If only I’d met him before Lionel.
“I need a bit to get cleaned up before dinner,” I said. After a few seconds, I added, “I’m going to be turning in early tonight. It was a long day. I feel like I walked around half of Tokyo, even if it was only one small part.”
Logan nodded slowly. “Tomorrow evening, maybe we could go out to celebrate my successful business deal? We’re not going to have much time on Saturday. We got a long flight to get you back by Sunday.”
“Okay,” I said softly. “One last night of celebration in Tokyo. Sounds like fun.”
He grinned, his eyes full of unspoken promise, and my insides twitched in anticipation. My cheeks heated, but it wasn’t like he could tell that had happened from looking at me. At least I hoped so.
Agreeing to celebrate with him might not have been the greatest idea, but it wasn’t like I could say no.
“Just knock on my door when you’re ready for dinner.”
“I will.”
Logan stepped out and closed the door behind him.
One more day. I’m sure we could get through that without too much trouble.
Chapter Twenty
LOGAN
Friday night, I headed to my room after finishing the business deal. I wanted to get changed before knocking on Emily’s door. It’d been a long day of finishing contact signing, despite what I’d expected a couple days earlier. Disappointing, really.
Sure, I’d helped iron out a major investment deal that would make a lot of people rich in America and Japan, but I’d really hoped to be to spend more time with Emily, even if she wanted to keep things on a more casual level.
As I changed out of my suit into comfortable slacks and a more breathable shirt, I couldn’t help thinking of our afternoon of passion. Even though it was a couple of days ago, it felt like another lifetime, almost like a delightful dream.
My cock hardened as a memory of her flushed face and moans surfaced. A very good dream, indeed. She’d been satisfied, more than satisfied, but after that, she’d kept her distance, as if afraid of what it all meant.
Yes. That was it. Fear. I could smell it on her, see it in her face. But how could I convince her to let go and trust her feelings?
I shook my head. She was too much now. I craved to be inside her again. That was the simple lust, but I also craved her smile and laugh. That was something potentially far more dangerous. Another L-word that I didn’t want to risk thinking about yet.
But it didn’t matter. She didn’t want anything more than a fun night in Tokyo. She wasn’t ready for more, and I had to respect that even as it frustrated me.
I knocked on the door between our rooms. It seemed silly to walk all the way around. The door opened, revealing Emily in a low-cut red dress, a different one than I’d seen her in before.
I almost licked my lips. The dress hugged and lifted in all the right places, emphasizing the parts of her body that I’d explored Wednesday afternoon. I clenched my hands into fists, glad my pants were keeping my hard cock from being too obvious.
If she told me to take her right then and there, I would have.
“There’s a karaoke place nearby,” I said. “I figured it might be fun to do karaoke in the country that invented it. Plus, it’s close enough to walk to.”
Emily tilted her head. “What about food?”
I grinned. “It’s not exactly fine dining, but we can order food there. It’s not like going to a bar and singing. We’ll have our own private room.”
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“Okay.” She offered me her arm. “Please lead on, Logan.”
I took her arm. My breath caught. It’d been two days since I’d been so close to her. The soft fruity scent of her shampoo filled my nostrils, and I could feel her warmth.
“I hope they have songs I can sing,” Emily said, a frown appearing on her face.
“Don’t worry, the place I picked has plenty of American songs.”
She peered up at me. “Is this another place you bought?”
I laughed. “No. I asked for recommendations from the hotel staff.”
She grinned. “Then don’t beg for mercy later when I start singing ‘Friends in Low Places’ and ‘Play It Again.’”
I grinned back.
* * *
Emily stumbled out of the karaoke place on my arm. This time she’d drank beer inside of sake, but her trouble standing proved it was more than enough to get her drunk.
It’d been a fun time, even if we both quickly realized the other shouldn’t try out for The Voice anytime soon. The beer helped us not care. Stuffed with pizza and takoyaki, neither of us were hungry, so there was no reason to go to a restaurant, even the one in the hotel.
“Are you going to be okay to walk back?” I said.
Emily pulled away from me, then spun in place, getting a few curious glances from people walking nearby.
“I am drunk, but I’m also happy.” She hummed a few bars of a Luke Bryan song. “It feels so good to let go.” She shimmied in the general direction of the hotel.
I shrugged and hurried after. Being drunk in public wasn’t quite as big a deal in Tokyo as it might be in parts of Nashville. I’d seen drunk Japanese businessmen acting a lot more ridiculous than Emily without anyone giving them trouble.
Emily’s shimmy turned into a dance where she circled her arms and threw them into the air. I found myself transfixed by her shaking ass clad in that thin, tight dress. I shook my head once I realized she was getting ahead of me.