by Kenya Wright
I peered closer.
They’re butterfly wings.
Each sculpture had two forewings and two hindwings. Brilliantly colored. And each of their wings held different painted eyes. Her black hair fell over her shoulders in waves. Her gaze looked real as she stared and tried to lure me closer.
Breathtaking.
I’d always been a fan of butterflies. They were gorgeous creatures. And they were free, flying anywhere their hearts desired. But most of all, they represented the ongoing transformation of self throughout life. After finishing college, butterflies related to how I was feeling. Long ago, I was a certain type of Dawn who talked and thought one way. Years in college and away from Dad and my brothers, I was a different person with another perspective. It had been a complete metamorphosis—egg to larva, pupa to adult.
Many times, I wondered to myself, if I’d finally shifted into a full-grown butterfly or was I still learning at twenty-two. One day, it seemed like I’d figured out who I was and the next day, I fell into something else.
For several seconds, I stared in silence at the two statues adorned with butterfly wings.
Maybe I’m still the caterpillar.
Caden’s deep voice sounded behind me. “Do you like the statues?”
I looked over my shoulder. “Are you following me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because smart men follow attractive women.”
“I’m wearing a mask. How would you know if I’m attractive?”
“I saw what I needed to.”
With that delicious mouth parted, he walked around me and focused all his attention on my face. “You don’t live in DC.”
“You said that like it was a statement.”
“It was.”
“DC is a big city,” I said. “You don’t know everyone that lives here.”
He smiled. “DC isn’t that big. And you remind me of someone I used to know. I haven’t seen you before.”
“Who do I remind you of?”
“Don’t worry about that.” He stopped in front of me and held his gaze with mine. “Where are you from?”
“Where are you from?”
Ignoring me, he asked, “How long will you be in DC?”
“If you’re not answering my questions, I’m not answering yours.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Smiling, he raised his hand to his face and rubbed those lips. And he didn’t touch them as if brushing some crumbs off his mouth. He slowly slid his fingertips along the bottom lip and then used one finger to toy with the top like it was a clit. Or maybe that thought came to my mind because I was super horny.
His gaze danced all over me. My flesh responded, warming all around my mouth as if he’d touched me there himself.
Silence filled the next minute. He stared and I stood there uncomfortably.
Okay. I need space.
I walked over to the statues. The sculpted man roared at the sky. Fire blazed in his eyes. Diamond tears streamed down his face.
Caden sounded behind me. “Do you know the story?”
“What story?” I wanted to touch them, but I knew I couldn’t.
“These are the Butterfly Lovers. They’re a Chinese legend. A tragic love story.”
“I’ve never heard of this.” I walked around the male sculpture.
“It’s one of China's Four Great Folktales.” Still standing in front of the statute, he studied me over the man’s wings. “I would tell you, but it’s sad.”
I walked over to the female. “Now you have to tell me.”
He grinned. “It might make you cry.”
“I doubt it.”
“You’ve never been in love?”
I blinked. “I have. That doesn’t mean I’m going to cry about a story of love.”
He continued to watch me from the male statue. “No. You’ve never been loved. You don’t look like you’ve been loved the way you should have.”
I smiled. “You’re a raw with no chaser type of guy.”
“Maybe.”
“I wasn’t asking.” I studied her wings. She didn’t have as many eyes as the male. Looking deeper at the detail, I realized there were gems shaped into lips outlining her wings. “What’s the story?”
“The man was Liang. The woman was Zhu.” Caden walked over to the female. “Zhu was the daughter of a wealthy family. Due to that, her dad let her pursue education. At this time, it was unheard of for girls.”
“Thank God times have changed.”
“Yes.” He stared at my mouth and then directed his attention to my eyes. “Zhu wanted to attend a special school far away from her home. Her father was willing to fund her learning and the trip there. The only problem was that she had to disguise herself as a boy when she went to the school and her classes.”
“So, this is sort of a Yentil or Mulan vibe?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled for a few seconds, paused, stared at my eyes again, and then hit me with a look that made my heart stop. He licked his lips. It was so out of order for the moment. Here we were talking about a Chinese legend and on his face, he looked like he wanted to spend the rest of the evening licking me between my thighs. “You’re so beautiful, Dawn.”
My vocal cords went weak. It took everything in me to speak those two words. “Thank you.”
My heart beat within the silence of him watching at me some more.
I cleared my throat. “So, what happened to Zhu?”
“Zhu met Liang at the school.” Caden gestured to the male statue with the butterfly wings. “They became good buddies. Remember. She’s still dressed like a boy. They both arrived at the school and studied there for three years together.”
“The whole time, Zhu is pretending to be a boy and Liang doesn’t know that she’s a girl?”
“Yes.” He moved his gaze along my body, not even trying to pretend that he was interested in the conversation or the love story. “What are you doing this summer?”
“Visiting DC.”
“Why?” he asked.
“You like to ask questions?”
“Yes.” He bit that bottom lip again. “I like to ask questions.”
That damn look heated me up, slowly peeling off my clothes and leaving me naked around these butterfly lovers. Giggles sounded from the other side of the pond. I spotted a couple whispering and talking between themselves.
Caden never glanced their way. I doubt he knew anyone else was around. “In those three years, Zhu falls in love with Liang.”
“And Liang still thinks she’s a boy?”
“Yes.” He stepped closer, but still left two feet between us. “How can I convince you to spend most of your summer with me?”
“Most men would just ask for a date.”
“I’m not most men.” He took a half a step toward me. “How can I convince you to spend the summer with me? Answer me, Dawn.”
I loved the way he said my name. It sounded nasty, as if he stroked the tip of his dick when he whispered it.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked. “Those beautiful gray eyes of yours are rippling like water.”
“I just met you.”
“Can I take you out tomorrow?”
An exasperated breath left my lips. “Maybe.”
“I own the Madder Hatter. We could meet here,” he said it like I should’ve passed out in a pool of my own arousal. Keeping it real, I was taken aback and even more intrigued.
Super cocky, he asked, “Are you impressed?”
“Yes, but—”
“Good. I’ll give you a personal tour on the higher levels tomorrow. Afterwards, we can eat wherever you feel comfortable. Around people or not. In the museum’s cafeteria or candlelight dining on my roof. Do you want live music or just our conversation? What do you like to eat?”
I blinked. “Those are a lot of questions.”
“I want to cater to you.”
“Because?” I blushed.
“Is that a date?”
“Yes,” I said without thinking it through.
Had it been the money? I liked to think that I wasn’t a gold digger. And the man was fine. No one would dispute that. From his deep, sexy voice to the glimmer in his eyes and the strength of his build, he could lure in hundreds of women without a dollar in his pocket. I said yes and had no regrets. Anticipation hummed in my chest. My heart beat to the excitement buzzing in the air.
“Good,” he said. That one word hummed through to my core. He gently took my hand. “Come with me, please. I want to show you more of the garden.”
I wrapped my fingers around his warm flesh. Damn, it should’ve been a crime for his skin to feel so good. Was it possible for a man to have and be everything? I thought that had been a myth. The male unicorn. This creature that didn’t exist on the planet—good-looking, money, charisma, smart, soft and hard, bookish, yet romantic.
What am I missing? He’s probably crazy as hell.
Still, I let this decadent stranger hold my hand in a garden that bloomed art around us.
He led me forward. “There are more sculptures ahead of us.”
“Good.”
We crossed another pond and passed several masked people.
“I’ve always been fascinated with this legend,” he said. “I commissioned an artist to recreate it.”
Another pair of sculptures displayed the lovers in an erotic embrace. Their wings spread out behind them. Liang’s mouth captured Zhu’s tiny breasts. His hands lay between her thighs. Zhu held her head back with her mouth parted in an infinite moan. Together, the warmth of Caden’s hand and this erotic vision triggered sensual waves through my flesh.
I really should drink some water.
I focused on controlling my breaths. “You never finished telling me about the lovers.”
Caden led me toward the sculptures. “Zhu’s dad made her leave school and come home.”
“Why?”
“Her father said that she had an important duty. She was a good daughter so she came. Being her best buddy, Liang escorted her back. And this whole trip, she’s worried that she’ll never see him again. So, she’s doing her best to hint that she’s really a woman. But Liang never figures it out. It’s not until months later, Liang shows up by surprise, sees Zhu dressed like a girl, and figures it out.”
“Good. The lovers are finally together.” I let go of his hand and clapped.
Instead of clapping with me, Caden watched my fingers as if they were his and I’d stolen them from him. Something about that possessiveness in his gaze made me hotter for this mysterious man. Caden looked like he wanted to devour me and I was ready to lay down on a plate and be served as supper. He was so fucking intense. Even in a garden with more people strolling around us, I stood in front of him nude and nervous.
He walked closer to the sculpture standing close to Zhu’s moaning face. “Zhu and Liang’s little reunion was short. She had to come home because her father had already arranged her marriage with a rich guy.”
“Oh no.”
“Yeah. Liang was destroyed. And Zhu was, in the end, a dutiful daughter. There was nothing that could be done. She prepared to marry this man, per her father’s wishes.”
I frowned. “And what about Liang?”
“He grew sick and eventually died.”
Disappointment sank in my chest. “What the hell? That’s the end?”
“No.” He stepped my way. “Where are you staying?”
The question caught me off guard. “Why?”
“I want you to be comfortable.”
I giggled. “I’m fine. I’m good with taking care of myself.”
“Because you’re an independent woman?”
“Yes. One that knows that when men pay they expect things.”
“Not me.”
“Sure.” I walked off, not sure if there were any other sculptures but ready to not be around Caden anymore. It wasn’t that he’d gone too far. It was just that I’d never experienced anything like him. Men didn’t offer to pay for me to stay in cities for several days.
I understood the male-female money game. Everyone expected some sort of exchange of goods. Men hoped for hot, continuous sex with a woman who kept her legs closed around other men. Women wanted the ring and baby. Both sexes scoured the earth, resembling animals during mating season. Everything was a performance. Pushup bras and sports cars.
It was why I didn’t participate in the dating scene much.
“Did I go too far?” Caden followed.
“Your approach is a bit strong.”
“I can afford to do things that others can’t. Like, pay for a woman to live somewhere for several days just for the mission of learning what makes her smile.”
“You’re leaving out sex.”
He got to my side and kept my pace. “Am I?”
“Yes.”
He grinned. “Maybe sex is mainly on your mind.”
“It’s not.”
“No?” His voice lowered to a deep growl. “Then what’s on your mind, Dawn?”
I stopped walking.
He waited and I had nothing to say.
“My friends say that I can be intense,” he admitted.
“You are.”
“Should I give you more space?” He backed up.
“No, but you have to promise that you won’t eat me.”
“I can’t promise that.” He pierced me with his gaze.
Trying to change the subject, I asked, “So that’s it? Liang dies and Zhu marries another man?”
“No.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Liang dies. And on the day of Zhu’s wedding, the weather is horrific. And for some reason, the winds are so crazy Zhu’s wedding procession can’t pass Liang’s grave.”
“The wedding procession had to pass a cemetery?” I asked.
“Yes. That’s the story.”
“That doesn’t sound like good luck.”
“Regardless, Zhu can no longer go on with the wedding. So, she runs to Liang’s grave and begs the soil to open up.”
I tensed. “And?”
“The grave opened. Thunder boomed. Zhu threw herself into Liang’s grave. Instantly, Zhu and Liang’s spirits transform into breathtaking butterflies. They immediately emerge from the grave, fly away, and never separate again.”
I smiled. “That’s not as tragic as I thought.”
“Yes. In the end, love is imperfect, but it’s damn sure worth having.” Again, he hit me with that hungry gaze. “Train or plane?”
“What?”
“How are you leaving me at the end of the summer?” He actually sounded hurt.
I grinned. “Train.”
“You won’t.”
“I will.”
He clutched his chest. “If you get on that train at the end of the summer, I will be like Liang dying from heartbreak.”
“Then, you’ll have to show me the location of your future grave so I can jump in it.”
“Why not stop the tragedy and seek our destiny now?”
“I would say the answer is because I’ve just met you.”
“Fair point.” He offered his hand.
I stared at it for a few seconds. I enjoyed his company. He’d been a perfect gentleman. The conversation crept into danger zones, but more because my horny behind had steered it that way.
I can have some fun. I’m always so careful. Fuck it.
I gave him my hand.
He smiled. “Let’s finish our tour of my museum.”
“I like how you confidently said that as if my panties were going to get wet with that confession.”
Frowning, he sniffed the air. “They didn’t get wet?”
“No.”
“That sucks. Usually, this is the proper moment.” He shrugged. “Okay.” He led me away. “Just give your panties time.” He gripped my hand tighter. “They’ll be wet by the end of the night.”
Following him, I widened my eyes.
“And Dawn.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“You will most definitely miss that train at the end of the summer.”
Chapter 20
Caden
Everything was coming along.
It took several more minutes of arguing, but Dawn let me take her to the hotel.
So smart, she remained in disbelief. I knew her fingers itched to call Freddy and figure this out. At the bare minimum, she would want to help him mourn his brother. I could see that grief all over her face as I drove her to St. Luxe Hotel.
That was why I loved her. She cared more than she should. She was my moral compass at times.
This is working out just fine.
She remained behind me as I paid the front desk and gave them my card. Glancing over my shoulder again, I caught her fingering her phone but knew she wouldn’t call Freddy around me.
They can’t talk yet. It must be on my terms.
Sadness crept on the edges of her eyes.
As we walked toward the elevator, I laughed when I looked at the hotel room and showed it to her. “How are you?”
Silence came back. She just walked by my side. I extended my hand to grab hers, taking it slowly and not wanting to push her too much. I had to admit that I’d done enough pushing today.
Better a mad Dawn, then a dead Dawn.
She didn’t let me hold her hand, so I took out my other puzzle. I’d solved one Rubik’s cube on the way to Max’s. It would be cool to get another one out of the way.
And Dawn’s silence was making me nervous. I needed something to do.
The new cube glowed in my hands. It was an electronic emulation of a Rubik's cube versus the real thing. Some genius had designed this small computer box in the same pattern as a Rubik’s cube. It had a similar design but was a touchscreen instead of cut-out individual boxes. The white squares shined like light bulbs. The reds, greens, and yellows blared back at me like the bulbs of stoplights. And the oranges and greens blazed like the lines on a well-imagined alien spaceship.
It was electronic and touch-sensitive. As much art as it was a game.
To move colored layers, I had to swipe my fingers to the side. To move the top layers, I slid my fingers from edge to edge. A beep sounded with each touch.