She cried more but smiled and cradled his face in her hands. “It was wonderful. Perfect. More than perfect.”
“But?”
She laughed and slid her hands through his long, tousled hair. “I’ve only been with two men, Mandy’s father and a guy I used to date in L.A. I could never orgasm with them ‑‑ the only time I could was when I was alone ‑‑ but with you, just being near you makes me want to come.”
A new flush came into her cheeks and he smiled. “Then we’ll have to make that happen as often as possible,” he teased as he slipped his hand between them and slowly stroked her once more. She moaned softly and began to respond to his touch, squirming atop him, coating them both with her wetness. She grabbed his wrist, lifted his hand to her lips, and kissed his fingers, making him hard all over again. He reached over and fumbled, trying to reach into the nightstand drawer. She stopped him.
“I want to taste you,” she said with a hesitant quaver to her voice.
“I’ve been tested,” he told her. “And I’ve used condoms since my first time.”
She gave him a sweet smile and kissed him before shifting to his side. She removed the condom from him, deposited it in the small trash basket between the bed and nightstand, then ran her fingers over his erection before moving between his legs to tease him with her tongue.
Kim stroked him with her hand as well as her mouth, and he was soon teetering on that delicious brink again. When he came in her mouth she drank it eagerly, murmuring in pleasure as she laced her fingers with his, holding him tightly as she licked him clean.
Imai gathered her to him and held her close. They lay there quietly, drinking in the wonderful closeness and sense of total satisfaction. She asked if he wanted to bathe, but he shook his head. They shifted position, lying on their sides as exhaustion began to creep over them. Imai buried himself inside her once more as she cooed his name and snuggled back closer against him, her hand clasped tightly in his as sleep claimed them.
* * * * *
Michiko Izumi finished her morning tea and gave herself a mental pat on the back for a job well done as she looked at her latest photo manipulation. She’d inserted herself in to the fashion gala photos in place of that fat American cow, Kim Donovan. Printing the photos out, Michiko placed them into the large scrapbook she’d been keeping with other similar photos of herself and Imai Shimizu. Those other women he’d fooled with were so unworthy of his time and attention. They were superficial bitches who didn’t deserve his attention or affection. She’d managed to get them out of the way, and she’d do the same to this American bitch, too.
Taking the scrapbook back to her bedroom, Michiko placed it in the bottom of an old trunk in the back of her closet and took out another secret she kept to herself. She’d paid an incredible price for it but it was so very worth it, and she was quite glad that Imai-san had had such a wild streak in him he’d allowed those women during ChildsPrey’s first American tour to make a plaster cast of his erect penis for their famed collection. Michiko had gotten them to make a copy and then had enlisted the aid of an old art college friend to redo that copy in a plastic resin.
Oh yes, she’d get rid of that Donovan woman and then she’d finally be in a position to have Imai all to herself. No more feeble substitutes and daydreams.
* * * * *
Sunlight streamed through the open window and lit up Kim’s tousled locks spread across the pillow. Imai shifted onto his side to face her, propping himself up on one elbow as he toyed with a few of the delicate golden strands.
Kim’s eyes fluttered open. “Morning,” she whispered.
Imai replied with a soft kiss on her lips. “Would you like something to eat?” he asked. “Mrs. Nimura is off today, but I can fix us something.”
“Mmm.” Kim yawned and stretched out across the sheets. “Breakfast in bed? How romantic.”
“Is a late lunch just as romantic?” Imai smirked at her.
“What do you mean?” Kim rubbed some of the sleep from her eyes and blinked at him.
“It’s almost twelve-thirty.”
Kim curled up against him with a soft groan. “Is it bad that I wouldn’t mind just spending the rest of the afternoon in bed, too, as long as you’re here?”
Imai grinned and brushed his hand over her full breast, loving the way her nipple hardened in response. “Now that’s what I call exceptional private nursing care.”
Chapter Fifteen
The computer screens built into the wall at the airport terminal listed all the incoming flights in more languages than Kim could recognize. She found the column in English and anxiously scanned the roster to check the status of Mandy’s flight.
“It’s her first time flying alone, let alone overseas.” Kim turned to Imai, who stood next to her, looking cool and nonchalant in dark glasses and a black jacket. “What if her flight was delayed somewhere?”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” Imai draped a comforting arm around her shoulder. She leaned into his touch, reassured by his presence. “If she’s anything like her mother, I’m sure there aren’t many situations she can’t handle.”
Kim sighed happily. These past two weeks had been as close to perfect as humanly possible. Imai’s rehearsals were going wonderfully as the first concert date loomed closer, and his leg was almost fully healed. She couldn’t remember ever having been so completely in love with someone, and having his love in return.
As if on cue, Imai leaned in and kissed her on the top of her head. Kim stood on tiptoe, impulsively reaching up to draw him into a deeper, more intimate kiss.
“Hey, you two, wait until we get back in the car at least.” Koji came up next to them and poked Imai in his side. “Really.”
Imai swatted him away playfully. “Oh, grow up, Koji.”
“Never.” Koji grinned. “And I just got a call from Jun’s cell phone; their flight just touched down a little bit ago.”
Kim clapped her hands together. “Did your friend spot Mandy on the plane?” Imai had arranged for her daughter to be on the same flight as Jun, the bandleader for ChildsPrey, who was returning to Japan from L.A. with his two children.
Before Koji could answer, she heard Mandy’s voice. “Mom!” She turned around and there was Mandy, rushing towards her.
“Hi, sweetie!” Kim wrapped her arms around her daughter.
“Mom ‑‑ guess who I saw on the plane? ChildsPrey’s lead guitarist…” The teenager’s eyes grew wide as her voice faded away then burst back out in a loud squeal. “Omigod! Imai and Koji!”
She jumped up and down, and Kim wanted to shrink into the wall as people around them began to stop and stare. “Mandy, please.”
“But, Mommm!” She turned to the rock stars. “I-love-you-guys-I-have-all-your-CDs-and-videos-and-I-can’t-believe-my-mom-knows-you!”
She squealed again when Imai slid his arm around her mother’s shoulders and flashed her a big smile. “It’s a pleasure to have you here, Mandy. Your mother has told me all about you.”
Jun Doi and his young children arrived, and Mandy bounced some more, frightening the little boy and girl in her exuberance.
“Mandy!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so excited!”
Koji laughed as he scooped up Jun’s daughter, Yuuka. “That excitement will wear off soon enough when you see we’re just boring old family men at heart.”
“Wear off?” Mandy gave him a horrified look.
“You gentlemen obviously don’t know my daughter yet.” Kim sighed, making everyone laugh.
The little girl in Koji’s arms yawned and rested her head on his shoulder, prompting Jun to suggest they get going. His son, a couple of years older than Yuuka, bolted ahead with renewed excitement.
“And there goes Kaoru again.” Jun rolled his eyes. “The boy’s been a ball of energy the entire trip.”
“I’ll catch him.” Imai went after Kaoru.
“Be careful!” Kim called. “Your leg isn’t a hundred percent yet!”
“I’ll
help!” Mandy bounded after the singer with her carry-on bag bouncing on her shoulder. She was undoubtedly too excited to stay still for longer than a minute or two herself.
Chuckling, Jun dropped back next to Koji as the three of them and Yuuka trailed behind toward the exit. “Maybe we have a babysitter for tonight, ne?” He gave Koji a small kiss on the cheek, but the intimacy of the gesture wasn’t lost on Kim.
Up ahead, Kaoru had Imai’s hand in an iron grip and was trying to tug him toward the luggage counter to see all the moving belts and things. “I better rescue Imai.” Jun laughed and jogged forward to scoop up his hyper son.
“Imai told me about you and Jun being involved,” Kim said with a smile. “So why were you trying to pick me up when we met?”
Koji winked at her. “I had to make sure Imai didn’t mess up a good thing,” he said, switching the toddler to his other arm. “Sometimes he needs a good kick in his ass for that reason.”
Kim laughed. “Well, he’s been absolutely wonderful.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Can I kick his ass anyway?” Koji asked, hopeful.
Imai found the drive home from the airport interesting, to say the least. Kim’s daughter continued her fangirlish squealing and kept prattling on about “Omigod, I’m really in Tokyo!”
Kim gave him several apologetic looks and when they arrived at his mansion he swept her into his arms the moment she got out of the car. “Your daughter is wonderful and quite a breath of fresh air. Nimura-san will dote on her, I’m sure.” He bent his head to kiss her.
“Omigod, do not move!” Mandy shrieked.
Kim gasped as her daughter whipped out her camera phone. “Miranda Katharine Donovan, don’t you dare!”
“But, Mom ‑‑”
“No! I will not have you disrupting Imai’s privacy this way. And you’d better not bother his friends either.” Kim stepped away from Imai and dug in her purse. She gave her daughter the key to the guesthouse and directed her around the side of the house.
When Mandy was gone Kim sighed and offered Imai yet another apologetic smile. “Instead of us staying in the guesthouse maybe I should rent Mandy and me an apartment. That way she won’t be in your way and you won’t have to worry about embarrassing pictures being leaked all over the Internet.”
Imai placed his hands on Kim’s rounded hips and drew her into a hug. “I want you to stay in the house with me as you have been. Mandy can have the guesthouse to herself. I think she’d like the independence.”
“Are you sure?” Kim stepped back just enough to gaze into his eyes.
“Of course I am,” Imai reassured her, giving her hips a gentle squeeze. “I’m in constant need of your care, after all.”
“Oh yes, that reminds me.” Kim draped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. “The photographer from that magazine is coming by for the photo shoot. He said before seven-thirty. I should start helping you get ready by prepping a nice, warm bath.”
“With scented oils,” Imai breathed in her ear. “And you sharing the tub with me.”
“Of course.” Kim smiled. She reluctantly pulled away when Imai’s kisses became a bit too arousing. “I’d better get Mandy settled, then I’ll come back to help you get ready.”
Mandy was literally bouncing through the guesthouse when Kim got there.
“This is better than every Christmas ever put together in one! I’m in Tokyo, at Imai Shimizu’s house, and my mother is his girlfriend! I didn’t know he liked older women.”
Frowning, Kim went to her daughter and grabbed her arms to hold her in place for a moment. “Listen to me. Imai and I have feelings for each other, but this is all very new. It might not work out in the end, but I don’t want you to do anything silly to ruin things, okay?”
“Mom!”
“Mandy, listen to me. I know you’re all star struck now and excited, but that business with the camera phone before ‑‑ you can’t do that. Imai is a normal person and when he’s not onstage he deserves his privacy, okay?”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Fine. Now let go.”
Kim kissed her daughter’s forehead then stepped back. “I have a little surprise for you.”
“What, what, what?”
“How would you like to stay down here by yourself, sort of have your own apartment while we’re here in Tokyo?”
“Omigod! Really?”
“Yes. But there will be rules. First off, the booze in the kitchen is going up to the main house. Second, you are a guest here, and you cannot trash this place in any way. Also I don’t want you taking anything and sending it home as a souvenir, or worse yet trying to sell it on eBay as a rock and roll collector’s item. Third ‑‑ I’m sure you’ll meet other young people, but there will be no unsupervised parties or visits from boys here. Understood?”
“Yeah, whatever,” Mandy said as she went to drool over the CD and DVD collection.
Kim breathed a quiet sigh. Had any of that sunk in? She hoped it had. “I’m going to start carting that wine to the house and then I have to help Imai get ready for a photo shoot. I’ll be back in a little while. There’s food in the kitchen, and if you want, you can come up to the house. Mrs. Nimura is there to let you in.”
“Mom?” Mandy called out as Kim walked to the door with a large bamboo basket containing the wine from the kitchen.
“What, honey?”
“Imai…is he good in bed?”
“Mandy!”
The girl held up her hands. “It’s not my fault. He’s like this legendary sex god according to all the message boards and websites.”
Kim shook her head. “I’m going to pretend these last few sentences were never spoken. I love you, and I’ll see you in a bit.”
Mandy waited until her mother was gone, then pulled out her cell phone. Like hell she was going to pass up a pic of her mom kissing Imai Shimizu, especially when he had one hand on her ass.
“Besides,” Mandy reasoned. “I’m not going to post it all over the Internet ‑‑ just share it with a friend. Or two.” Okay, so Alison wasn’t really a “friend” after bragging for almost a year about a chance ‑‑ and totally made-up ‑‑ meeting with Justin Timberlake at a Lakers’ game. This with Imai was real ‑‑ and the other girl was going to be green as soon as she saw the photo evidence.
Mandy found Alison’s email address in her cell phone and sent her the photos. And she felt damn good doing it, too.
Someone knocked at the door, and she tucked away the phone just in case it was her mom, accidentally locked outside. Mandy opened the door and blinked at the Japanese woman dressed in a tight, short-skirted black suit and four inch heels standing in the entryway.
“Hi.” She smiled. “I mean, konnichiwa.”
“Let me guess, you’re Donovan’s daughter?” the woman asked in English, arching an eyebrow.
Mandy nodded. “Mom’s in the main house if you need to talk to her about something. She’s helping Imai get ready.”
“And that’s why we hired her.”
Imai’s phone beeped, indicating that Nimura-san was calling from downstairs, and he ignored it as he continued to lap at the sweetness between Kim’s parted thighs. Though she’d hit her climax some moments ago, he loved the taste of her, and the taste of them combined was even better.
“Imai,” she murmured as the phone continued its annoying interruption.
He cursed under his breath, then moved. But before picking up the phone he drew Kim into a slow, deep kiss so that she, too, could taste how good they were together.
“Tell her to wait,” he said into the phone before tossing it onto the nightstand and enfolding Kim in his arms. She sighed contentedly and reached up to toy with his hair in that endearing way of hers. “Is everything all right? It’s not Mandy, is it?”
“It’s Michiko.”
“Who?”
“You know her as a bitchy record company executive ‑‑ Miss Izumi.” Imai laughed when Kim’s cheeks flushed from embarrassment.
&n
bsp; She rose up on one elbow and stroked her index finger along his jaw line. “You really need to get that shower now. I have to do your hair and makeup for the shoot.”
With a swift, practiced movement, he rolled her over and slid into her tight heat. “I can take a very fast shower…”
But with Kim he took his time, drawing out the pleasure for both of them. They came together in a heated passion, sinking down to the tangled, sweat-soaked sheets and gasping for breath in between kisses.
* * * * *
Michiko let herself into the main house, that woman’s child close behind her. If the Donovans had anything in common, it had to be the inability to take a hint.
“It must be pretty exciting working in the recording industry.” Mandy made small talk while Michiko sat cross-legged on the sofa close to the staircase.
“It has its moments.” Michiko eyed the girl coldly, her mind only on what could possibly be taking Imai so long to get ready. She knew his habits, and that woman was probably taking full advantage of him even as Michiko sat down here. Bitch.
The little fool, Mandy, noticed nothing and started dropping names of all the famous Japanese musicians she followed including some “Indie” bands who didn’t even have major record deals. This caught Michiko’s interest, and she started to tune in to the conversation. “You know a lot about Japanese music, how interesting.”
“That’s why I’m so excited Mom took this job!” Mandy’s smile shrank a little. “But don’t worry; I completely respect everyone’s privacy. I won’t be fangirling all over Imai-san and jabbering on message boards or whatever. Mom already gave me the heads up.”
The corners of Michiko’s lips turned up into a smile. “Did she?”
“Yeah.” Mandy gave a small sigh.
“Interesting.”
Mandy frowned. “What does that mean?” she asked with typical American brazenness.
“It just ‑‑ never mind.” Michiko bit her lower lip to hide her smile.
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