The Grandmaster's Legacy (HOT Historical Suspense, Box Set)

by Taylor Lee

  She looked at him in surprise, but always the obedient servant, lowered her eyes and nodded.

  “Qui, monsieur, will there be anything else?

  “No, mademoiselle, that will be all.” His tone was curt, dismissive.

  ~~~

  When he returned to his chambers, Bai expected Elena to be sleeping. Instead, she greeted him at the door naked, except for one of his shirts. It hit her mid-thigh and revealed a glimpse of her tempting ass when she turned. Her hair was a mass of curls and her eyes were shining. She grabbed him by the hand, dragging him over to the sofa.

  “Bai, come here. You are not going to believe this. Come, sit down. Watch!”

  She unbuttoned the top buttons on her shirt and pushed the fabric aside to reveal the beautiful mounds of flesh with their pointed upturned nipples. To his surprise, she began rubbing the soft pink tips of both breasts, closing her eyes and moaning softly as the tender nubs hardened in her fingers. He gasped at the erotic sight and his prick leapt in response.

  “I see. You have become most adept, cherie, at stimulating yourself, and me as well.”

  “No, you don’t see! That’s not the best part.” Her eyes dancing with excitement, she grabbed his hand and pressed it between her legs. “Feel here. I’m wet! Now, if one of your rules is that I need to make myself wet for you, I will be able to do it—just like that!” She snapped her fingers, with an excited giggle then added more seriously when she saw his quizzical gaze, “Lei told me…she said… that it is a gift to a man to have a responsive woman and that getting wet is one of the ways a man can tell….” She frowned, “Don’t you see? Don’t you understand? I…I want you to think…to know…that even though I am new at this, I am a responsive woman.”

  He shook his head and pulled her close to him. He put his finger over her lips to silence her, then with a soft moan put her wet fingers in his mouth and sucked on them.

  A wry grin tugged at his mouth. Shaking his head in agreement, he said, “I will remember this special trick of yours and add it to the other evidence you have given me that you are a responsive woman. Such as the fact you came passionately three times the first time you made love and that I could have sucked on your pussy for hours and not captured all your juices. Or, how you moaned and groaned and made the most amazing sounds that drove me out of my fucking mind, in addition to making my prick as hard as a post. Just thinking about last night I’m already hard again – although the fact you are sitting with your bare -- most responsive ass -- in my lap may have something to do with it.”

  She looked up at him, her face flushed, her eyes glowing with pleasure. “Did I really do all that last night, Bai?”

  “Yes, Elena, you did, and so much more. I will never forget last night Elena – not as long as I live.” He took a breath and continued, “But, Elena, I am concerned that I hurt you. Are you sore, here, cherie?” he said, his hand touching the soft fiery red hairs on her sex.

  She blushed and said, “It does hurt a little, but I will be fine. Remember, you said so.”

  “Ah, so I did. But just in case, cherie, I went to see one of the Chinese healers here at the compound. She gave me these suppositories that will help you heal and prevent an infection.”

  “Do they go inside of me?” she asked in dismay.

  He grinned, “Oui, you don’t swallow them, cherie. But I will put it in for you.”

  She blushed brighter. “Does this always happen after you have sex? All your most private parts become open, available?”

  He smiled disingenuously. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “First you make me stand naked in front of you. Then you look at me up close. Now you are going to put medicine up inside of me? My goodness, Bai, it seems …intimate.”

  “If you prefer, I will have Madam Chan come and take care of you.”

  “You mean that eighty year old woman with the bad breath and gnarled fingers you sent to massage my back after the waterfall?”

  “One and the same,” he said with a grin. “Your choice, who do you want to get ‘intimate’ with you, Madam Chan or me?”

  “Hmm, I think your fingers are less gnarled. Will it hurt?” she asked, a tiny frown creasing her brow.

  “I don’t know. You will let me know, oui? Spread your legs, cherie,” he said as he inserted the medicine. “That’s a good girl. Come, sit back on my lap while it melts. Then we will run you under the bidet again.”

  He spread a towel on his lap and pulled her down on it. She put her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tight to him and put his hands under her shirt to stroke her back, occasionally slipping his hands down over her bare bottom. “Elena, I owe you an apology for last night.”

  “For what? When you played your rules game?”

  “No, I thought that was rather masterful. Why, did it upset you?”

  “No, I was nervous, a little scared, but I thought it was exciting once I knew you weren’t laughing at me.”

  “Mon Dieu, Elena. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I would be more likely to cry at your beauty than to laugh. Although sometimes you do make me laugh, but because you are witty, clever and -- inexperienced. Your lack of knowledge catches me off guard. I find it amusing but not in a way that diminishes you. I find it refreshing.”

  She frowned, a slight questioning look. “Then why are you apologizing?”

  “I…I should not have done what I did when I came inside of you. It is my fault you are hurting. I was much too rough. To be truthful, Elena, I lost control. I did not intend to do that. I have never done that before with anyone. It is unconscionable that I did it with you, when you had never been breached. I apologize.”

  She looked at him in surprise. “I thought you liked that thrusting, ramming thing. Didn’t you like doing it?”

  “Hell yes! Jesus, Elena, I have never felt anything like it in my life!”

  “Then why are you sorry? I don’t understand.”

  “I should not let my passions get out of control.”

  A puzzled expression crossed her face. “When you are with whores, do you get out of control?”

  “No, I don’t.” His voice was solemn.

  She snuggled closer to him, slipping her hand inside the top placket of his shirt. “Bai, are we going to make love again?”

  “You know we are.”

  “Will you promise me something?”

  He grinned, stroking her cheek. “I better hear it first. Knowing you, I will have to promise to ride Noire naked standing on my head to prove I don’t have any inhibitions.”

  She smiled and nuzzled into his neck. “Hmm, that would be an interesting sight…No, you must promise you will never hold back your passion with me. If I told you I was going to keep my passions under control, not feel as much or show you as much excitement as I felt, would you want that?”

  He quirked an eyebrow, his lips twisting in a cocky grin. “No way, cherie. I will have you screaming from the rooftops. It will be a scandal in all of California the way you behave when I make love to you.”

  She smiled shyly. “Promise me, Bai.”

  Ah, if she had any idea what she was asking. No, she did not. How could she? How could she know what he was thinking, what he wanted to do, had always wanted to do, but held back? The men who knew the Frenchman knew. He saw the look in their eyes before they died. They saw the beast inside of him. They died in terror.

  Now that he had her, this woman he had dreamed of, he wanted to possess her, every part of her. Fuck her from behind, fuck her virgin mouth, fuck her breasts, and, yes, up her virgin ass. Fuck her, everyway – again and again. Ah, oui, best she not know what was in his tortured body and mind.

  “I promise, cherie.” he said with a soft smile.

  “Likewise, Bai.”

  Clasping her tightly, he kissed the top of her head, then gently licked the curve of her ear. She squirmed and giggled beneath his teasing touch. Drawing her closer, he blew on the sensitive place
just below her ear nipping at the tiny pulse hammering at her throat. He kissed one breast then the other and whispered, “Petite amie, I think this thing has melted unless you are getting wet again.”

  “Oh, God.” She wiggled away, her cheeks flushing a rosy pink.

  “Shh, let me take care of you. Let’s go wash this off.”

  ~~~

  Bai lit a fire in the fireplace and after they finished their breakfast they lay in bed holding one another. Bai paused from smoking one of his cigars to lean down and kiss her.

  Nuzzling against her ear, he asked, “Elena, why did you come to my chambers last night?”

  Without thinking, she quickly responded, “Because of my father and Lei.”

  He drew back in surprise, not understanding.

  She explained, “I watched them together yesterday. For the first time I understood how important sex is to them.”

  “Because of the way they are together?”

  “Yes. There is this tension between them. I always felt it, but I didn’t understand it. They seem angry with one another a lot of the time. Now I think it is their way of saying they want each other.”

  “Hmm, and you decided that the reason you were angry with me was because you wanted me to make love to you?”

  She nodded, ducking her head. Then piercing him with a solemn gaze, she added, “And because my father said when I knew what I wanted, I should have the courage to go out and get it. That I should fight for it. He promised me that if I did, you wouldn’t say no.”

  Bai shook his head in amazement. “Mon dieu, now I’m forever in his debt. I guess we are even. I saved your life and he saved mine.”

  ~~

  Chapter 28

  Several times during the day, both Wan and Nianzu remarked that he seemed distracted. Bai shrugged off their concerns, immediately returning to the discussion. They all knew the importance of the evening, but also knew success was uncertain at best.

  After Nianzu went to make final preparations with their men, Wan and Bai sat quietly considering the evening ahead.

  Wan puffed on his cigar, his expression solemn, softer than usual.

  “Bai, I know this is an important meeting tonight. Regardless of the outcome, it is already a success.”

  Bai smiled, knowing Wan was trying to allay his disappointment if they were unable to reach a firm conclusion at the conclave.

  “I agree, Wan. Having all six Tongs represented tonight is success in itself. I know we are unlikely to reach a full agreement. I am prepared for that.”

  “I know you are, Bai. But it is important that you recognize what an enormous feat you have accomplished. Tonight twelve of the most important men in the California Chinese community will consider joining an alliance that will revolutionize the structure of the Tongs in California -- that could become a standard for the rest of the country. The alliance is your brainchild, Bai. Every man in the room tonight has acknowledged that you, a twenty-eight year old man, are the leader of the group. Even the Triad hierarchy in China is paying attention to your work. It is an enormous credit to you. I am proud of you and I honor you.”

  “Thank you, Wan.” Bai’s tone was serious.

  They stood and bowed respectfully to one another. Wan walked over to him. In an unusual gesture of affection, he put his arm around Bai. “I’m proud of you, Érzi.”

  Bai bowed again. “Thank you, Fùqīn. I honor you.”

  As they were walking out to the courtyard where the rest of his men were already mounted, waiting for him, Wan shared an amused glance with Nianzu and winked.

  “I think if you look up on the balcony, Nianzu, you might see the reason our indomitable leader has seemed somewhat distracted today.” He winked at Elena, who was standing on the balcony outside of her chambers.

  “I overheard the kitchen girls chattering. I believe we can put our concerns to rest. It seems Bai’s inattention is not due to nervousness that the Chinese Tong leadership is assembling at his request. Rather, it is whispered he got less sleep last night than usual.”

  Nianzu glanced up and grinned when he saw Elena. He waved to her. She smiled and waved back. Bai frowned slightly, then mounted Noire. As he turned to go, he swung Noire back to face the balcony and looked up with a twinkle in his eye. He tipped his hat to Elena, then turned and rode out of the courtyard followed by Nianzu and the rest of his men.

  ~~~

  Bai and Nianzu rode in front, fifteen of his men followed. Ordinarily they never rode in this large a group, but tonight was unusual. Each of the Tongs was likely to have a similar size contingent. Anywhere from fifty to a hundred Chinese men were advancing on Villa De Las Montañas, the spacious compound belonging to Mr. Liang Zhao. Zhao was the head of the Qeong Ton, the third largest California Tong. Only the Rongue Ri and the Sing Leon were larger. It was a credit to Zhao that Bai had requested the conclave take place at his villa. It also underscored Bai’s confidence in his leadership that he did not insist on having the meeting at Los Vistas. A not so subtle reminder to the other leaders that Mr. Zhao publically declared his support of the Brotherhood

  As they rode through the dark countryside, Bai allowed himself to think about Elena. All day long he had been obsessed with thoughts of her: her beautiful body, the feel and smell of her. More than anything, he was struck by what she did to him. It was as though she had entered his bloodstream – touching, possessing every part of him. Only when he saw Wan or Nianzu or one of the others looking at him oddly did he realize his thoughts and feelings were more apparent than he thought and quickly redoubled his effort to concentrate on their work. He was chagrined, then amused, to hear that the servants were talking about them. Merde, was it that obvious? Wan’s wink and Nianzu’s grin left no room for doubt. But why would he think he could hide his feelings, act as though nothing had happened. Mon Dieu, he had spent the most momentous night and morning of his life with the lovely Elena, the woman who had consumed his soul.

  As they got closer to Las Montañas, he turned back to the challenges that lay ahead. He pushed against a hard thought. Even though she was absent, Elena would play a role tonight. Elena knew nothing about the work he was doing, only that they were meeting to deal with the potential violence among the Tongs. He tried to push aside the fact that if the meeting was a failure or even less of a success, it would be in large part because of Elena’s and Nianzu’s actions. Merde, he wished he could get it out of his mind.

  But the scene at the saloon, like the one at the waterfall, was never far from his thoughts. He flashed back to the saloon. The image of her captured by the Rongue killers, while the others were intent on beating Nianzu to death, was frighteningly vivid. As hard as he tried, he was unable to squelch the fury and the fear the image inspired. He saw again the salacious grin on Wichi’s face, knowing Wichi was already fucking Elena in his mind, intending to make her his cunt. Damn, Bai was glad he beheaded him. He should have ridden through the streets of town carrying Wichi’s head high on a pole. Then there would be no doubt what would happen to anyone who touched his woman.

  Goddamn, he realized with a start, he had not made arrangements for Elena’s safety before he left the compound. Christ, he and Nianzu were both gone and, fuck, he hadn’t put a back up in place. He wondered if he should send one of his men back to stand guard. Surely Wan would take charge, watch over her. But God, what if she decided she wanted to ride Zhenqui? Would she ask Wan to ride with her? Fucking unlikely. No, more likely she would take advantage of him being gone and take off by herself.

  He hadn’t realized he was muttering out loud until Nianzu spoke loudly.

  “Bai, are you all right? Goddamn, you look like you were about to slaughter someone back there. Christ, if I ever needed to be reminded of why men are afraid of the Frenchman I’ll remember the look on your face. Seriously, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I … I realized I didn’t arrange for a guard for Elena while we are both gone. I…I may send Quitin back to guard her, make sure she doesn’t leave
the villa.”

  “Damn, Bai. It’s nearly dark, almost eight o’clock. Elena isn’t going anywhere. Plus, Wan is there. Bai, I know you worry about Elena. I know we made a terrible mistake going to the saloon. I will never forgive myself. I am much more responsible for what happened than Elena is. But you trusted me enough to bring me to this meeting as your lieutenant, something I will be grateful for as long as I live. If you can trust me on this critical mission, then, hell, you have to trust that Elena is fine. Right now she is probably counting the minutes until you get back.”

  Bai took a deep breath and nodded.

  “You’re right, Nianzu. Wan is there. Humph. Perhaps Elena was correct. Remember when she told you my head is so big I have room for more imaginings than the rest of you do?” he said with an attempt at a smile. “She may be right. I’m discovering that she usually is.”

  ~~~

  The ride from Los Vistas to Las Montañas took nearly two hours and it was dark when they arrived. Nianzu followed Bai up to the gate and turned their horses over to the waiting stable hands. The rest of the men dismounted, joining the men from the other six Tongs represented at the meeting. Bai had requested that each Tong send only two men inside the conclave: the leader and his lieutenant. It was understood that each Tong could bring as many men as they felt were necessary to guard their leaders, but inside the meeting would be a maximum of fourteen men. In the clearest possible declaration of Bai’s leadership, Wan Chang insisted that Bai and Nianzu represent the Sing Leon. When he entered the room, twelve men, most of them at least two decades older, stood and bowed respectfully to the young man who would be their leader.