“Here we are.” Akchiro held out a chair for her at a smaller table that stood before the windows. This must be where he ate when he didn’t have his lavish parties, Flower surmised, taking in the delicious-looking repast he had provided for their lunch. Her stomach rumbled just looking at the food. She glanced at Akchiro to see if he noticed embarrassment making her face heat. Thanking her creator for her dark skin that she didn’t further humiliate herself, she slid into the chair. Looking at the gyoza Flower’s mouth watered; she loved the pot stickers so much and the accompaniment of Nori salad and clam and burdock soup was exactly the perfect lunch she would have hoped for in face of the fact that she was too wound up earlier to eat.
She smiled sweetly at Akchiro. “Thank you for inviting me to lunch.” His cool, assessing gaze raked her from waist to brow before nodding as he lifted his spoon and began to eat. She’d been to enough social events to know that even the strictest families did not eat in silence. She took this as an indication that he did, though. She had to stifle the little hum of pleasure that nearly escaped as she bit into the gyoza. They were delicious, and they were piping hot. The soup was fantastic, and the salad an excellent palate cleanser.
Flower was never ashamed of her love for food, and she ate with pleasure. Akchiro, for his part, did not seem to mind as he continued to watch her with dark relish gleaming in his eyes. Folding her napkin after she patted mouth, Flower poured the matcha as Bridget, who had taken this particular lesson seriously, had taught her. Tea was an important part of social interaction and one did not wish to seem uncouth among their colleagues, her friend explained. Akchiro quirked an eyebrow as he watched her create the paste in the cup then whisk the hot water into a froth before handing him his tea and starting on her own. She knew better than to even mention sugar. Everything about him screamed to her that he held tradition to his core. Flower didn’t mind though as she closed her eyes and tasted the hot brew. The bold flavor embodied the pure essence of the tea. It held an almost sweet aftertaste. It had been an acquired taste and a huge departure from the creamy sweet mochas she was used to, but Flower had to admit she loved the taste of the tea now.
“Join me.”
She looked up as Akchiro stood and held his hand out to her. Disquietude made her pause for a second as she looked into his eyes and saw the raw heat that was there. Her hand trembled as she put it inside his before it was swallowed by his warm, hard grasp as he pulled her up to stand before him. “Nothing will happen that you do not want, my beautiful Flower.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” She quirked her eyebrow at him. He threw this head back and chuckled, the rich sound causing warmth to rush to hidden places and emotion to coalesce around her heart. His smile made him that much more beautiful, the way it softened his austerity if only a smidge. He cupped her face and shook his head slightly, giving her a look whether marveling or not knowing quite what to make of her, she didn’t know and he didn’t say. After a moment he pulled her behind him, leading her back through the dining room and into the living room.
Once there, he drew her down onto the sofa with him. Sinking back into the plushness, Flower couldn’t resist the temptation of curling under the arm he put around her shoulders. She inhaled and looked out at the view before them. The panorama was so peaceful, and he smelled so good. His cologne was not overwhelming but was a clean, crisp scent.
“I’ve enjoyed this time with you.”
She glanced over at him, but he was still looking at the view. “We’ve barely spoken to each other since I got in the car,” she chided him. He looked down at her then, not quite a minute, but it seemed longer and she wondered what he saw with his intense perusal. She didn’t know if she dared to ask.
“Talking is not always necessary. Sometimes being present in the moment is enough. I wanted to just be with you. Give you the space you needed to be with me without any expectations.” His voice spoke of a patience she wasn’t even sure she needed, but appreciated.
“Oh.” She dragged her eyes away from his trying to focus on the view and definitely not the reaction his words had on her heart. No one besides her closest friends and family had ever just wanted to be with her. Not without trying to get something in return. This would take some getting used to on her part. The anonymity she’d craved had provided some unintended consequences for her. A gorgeous man who didn’t know who she really was and just wanted to be with her. He had not pressed her for anything other than her company. Inside she knew she’d have gladly given him more.
“Have you enjoyed the time you have spent here in Tokyo?”
“I have. It’s everything that I could have ever dreamed of. That’s one of the reasons I joined my friends over here when they asked me to come visit while they worked on a project.” She didn’t bother to add that the other night was the first time on this trip that she even stepped out of her flat.
“Do they live with you?” He took a lock of her hair that had fallen over her shoulder and began to twirl it around his long forefinger. She shook her head, too distracted by his touch and the warm timbre of his voice to speak.
“How do you like this flat, Flower?”
She leaned back against his shoulder, giving the room a quick once-over. “I guess it’s okay if you’re slumming.” She smirked at him, making him laugh again. “No, really, it’s lovely. Your designer is really on theme, carrying the color throughout the whole home without being too obvious.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His hand moved to her nape, massaging the back of head. She sighed, leaning into his touch. “But you haven’t seen the bedroom yet.” This he whispered with hot urgency in her ear. Flower felt liquid pool between her legs at the erotic suggestion.
She turned to him. “Are you going to show it to me then?” Bold words couched in a hushed tone.
His mouth quirked, his hand tightened, drawing her closer. “Later.” His lips were on hers then. The kiss was hot. Flower moaned against the firm pressure and he took that moment to sweep in deeply. Hot, devouring, demanding that she give him everything. Her hands wrapped around him and she opened her mouth wide and sucked on his tongue, savoring the bold taste and texture of him. He groaned against her, wrapping her into a tighter embrace, pulling her up onto his body as he leaned back against the cushions.
She felt the hard pressure of his dick and rubbed against it, unable to stop herself. He felt so damn good. He grabbed her ass and held her still, pressing her hard against him. The kiss became less frantic then as he slowed it down, creating a rhythm with his mouth, tongue, and body that made her whimper and moan against him as a way of supplicating for more. She felt the cool breeze as he lifted the hem of her dress. His hand slid between her legs. Part of her wanted to clamp them shut because she was embarrassed that she was so wet for him and he would know in seconds. That naughty minx inside of her urged her to spread her legs just a little wider to give him better access. She moved to accommodate him and he slipped his fingers inside her panties. He broke the kiss the moment he touched her. His eyes were hard as onyx. The muscle worked in his jaw as his fingers touched her delicate flesh. He pushed his fingers past the slick folds of her lips. “I like how wet you are for me, Flower.” He stroked her slowly, swirling his fingers alongside her clitoris then over and underneath, softly teasing her entrance but never going inside. “I like how hard your clit is. I can’t wait to suck on it. Would you like that?” His finger swirled faster, harder. “I promised you I would let you come. Do you want to come for me now?”
“Yes,” she cried softly on a gasp as he wickedly rubbed her clit.
“Come for me, let me feel you come against my hand, let me feel that hot little cream on me.”
Flower could do nothing other than heed his commands. Her hips canted against the maddening onslaught of his fingers. Tears stung her eyes at the intensity of the orgasm that shook her. Her body shuddered under wave after wave as ecstasy engulfed her. She could hear her own cries of pleasure but she could do nothing to s
top them nor turn away from the man who captured her in his dark gaze.
* * *
Akchiro watched as she came so beautifully for him. He couldn’t deny the pride that soared through him as she broke apart. He didn’t know she’d be that wet for him. He only knew that she wanted him. She had all but admitted it after the lunch. The woman had no guile, and he liked that. Honesty was paramount to him in all things. She collapsed on him, shivering a little. He wrapped her closer to him, rubbing her back for long minutes afterward until her heart calmed.
He smoothed down her skirt before taking the two fingers he used to pleasure her and licking her essence from them. He knew she would taste as sweet as she looked in that pink dress. She was so small and curvy, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every inch of her cried out for his touch. And he was determined to let no part of her go unexplored.
“You were beautiful.” He murmured praise in her ear. He knew she could still feel his hardness pressed against her. She reached down to touch him, but he caught her hand in a firm, unrelenting grasp. “No.” He eased them back up into a sitting position, but he kept her situated on his lap.
“Why not?” Her sense of fairness obviously compelled her ask; his heart warmed at the thought. Never let it be said his beautiful Flower wasn’t willing to reciprocate.
Akchiro stroked her hair and sighed. “I have to leave shortly. This will have to continue when I get back from Osaka.”
“Oh, well, okay then. Just call me when you return from your trip.”Flower smiled, anticipation and dread warring inside of her. He would probably expect a full-on sexual relationship with her, yet the most she’d done with any man was what she’d just allowed with him, aside from that one disastrous flaccid debacle that did not reach penetration. It was obvious he was highly experienced, and he probably wouldn’t want anything to do with her virginity. Maybe I should just rip the bandage off? The thought flew from her brain as he stood, his arousal hard and prominent before her. Quickly she stood to get herself eye level with his chest at least.
“That won’t be necessary.” He coolly adjusted his cufflinks as he flicked a glance towards her. Flower nodded, trying to play it cool but was confused as hell. Had he not just said they needed to continue when he got back? Now he was like, never mind?
“Well…” She looked toward the elevator thinking how this could get any more awkward.
“You will be staying here.”
Flower looked at him, puzzled. “You want me to stay here until you get back?” She laughed, shaking her head. “I promise I’ll answer the phone this time, you don’t have to worry.”
“You won’t need to answer because you will be here. That’s why I wanted you to come today. So that I could get you settled before I leave. There is a great deal involved with being my companion, Flower. The least of which is the security measures that must be employed. I cannot visit you in your flat. That would put my men’s lives in danger as well as your own.”
“I haven’t even said I wanted to be your companion yet.” She frowned at him, stepping away.
“You would deny what is between us even now when you just came so sweetly for me?” His words were like ice. His challenge clear.
“No, I’m not denying anything. I am taking issue with your high-handedness.” She scoffed moving away from him, not wanting to be near him right now. Just like a man to ruin everything. Ugh! After she’d gotten a little distance between them, she turned back to face him. “So, what you’re not going to do is try to run me.”
“Fine,” The words were clipped and angry. “Stay here or go. I have left information here for you to go over while I am away. One of my assistants will be by to go over everything with you it is to your satisfaction.” Then like a predator, he stalked over to her, leaned down, and cupped her chin. “Decide.” He took her lips with ruthless precision. When he pulled back, his eyes held a hunger that would not be denied. She could sympathize as she too was assailed by a deep longing. “If you are not here when I return, I will have your answer.” He was angry, she could tell by the tick in his jaw.
She was certain that she was the one thing he could not control, and he didn’t like that. She felt no satisfaction as he gave her a sharp bow before pivoting and left her standing before the wall of windows overlooking the wide expanse of Tokyo.
Chapter 5
“Wait a minute, let me get this straight. So, you moved out of your apartment into a place you have since learned he leased especially for you and you have agreed to stay there with him while you are here, and you had to sign a nondisclosure agreement? Are you kidding me?” Evangelina demanded, leaning back in her chair and looking at Flower as if she had lost her ever-loving mind.
“And me.” Bridget cut in eyes rounded in dismay, “Girl, FADE is going to kill you and Ghadi is going to kill your boyfriend, probably on live TV, if he ever finds out!”
“And your daddy’s going to straight up murder your ass.” Evangelina shook her head in a slow forlorn way as if she were already mourning her loss.
“No, they aren’t, because neither of you are going to open your big mouths and say anything about this.” Flower stared daggers at her two friends while she ate her salad. Both women sighed, shaking their heads.
“Listen, what do you know about this guy? You haven’t even told us his name after you dropped the little tidbit that you were moving to the Toranomon Hills Tower. We should have known then something was up then and not you just getting tired of being away from all the cool stuff over in that ward.” Bridget made her eyes big and blinked hard for emphasis while she sipped her tea.
“We should have known something was up when you got out of that sleek Rolls with your hair all mussed, but we were just letting you live. Now you’ve given up your apartment that you loved and bragged about to no end to stay with this guy. Like what is the deal, Flower?” Eva’s voice gentled with concern.
“I loved that little place, but Akchiro said he couldn’t continue going back and forth because it was too exposed. His security team was adamant that the place had too many weak points. They showed me a whole spec list of intrusion possibilities. You know, since security is under my purview with Creative Chaos, I couldn’t in good conscience ask him to put himself at risk like that.” Flower sat back and sighed. She knew the risks of being a prominent person and the headache security could be. She could have just refused, but she wanted to see him again. She didn’t want the burgeoning attraction she felt for him to end yet. He brought out feelings in her that she had never felt before, and she wasn’t going to let her fears stop her from exploring more of Akchiro. The heightened security of the building also ensured that she could continue her anonymity. The entrance and exits were private, so no one would see her coming or going. People would never know she was there, or that she was spending time with the wealthy businessman.
When Takara, one of Akchiro’s assistants, brought her the NDA and a list, well, pages of his expectations, she’d thought long and hard about what she was getting herself into. She knew the purpose of the agreement and had insisted on them for everyone her brothers employed and even the people they dated, so she knew the game. His list of expectations was simple: they would be exclusive, they would use protection, and if either party wished to end the relationship, they could at any time. He would pay all of her expenses and though it was considerate, she didn’t need him to do that. However, she didn’t want to send up any red flags, so she didn’t make a fuss about that part. She’d just pay her own way for her personal things as to not take advantage.
“Akchiro? As in Akchiro Takeda?” Both women’s shocked stage whispers had the hairs rising on Flower’s neck.
“Y-yeah. Have you heard of him or something? I know his family owns a big conglomerate and trace their lineage back to the samurai age. That was all the information I could gather from Western sources since my Japanese is not as good as yours. What? What’s so funny?” Flower was taken aback by their response, going from concern and confus
ion to out-right mirth.
“Tell me,” she demanded, plucking Bridget on the shoulder.
“You would go and get not only the richest dude in the country but our semi-boss—TekMoto is a subsidiary of Takeda Industries, dummy!” Bridget leaned in over the table. “No wonder he had you to sign that NDA. These guys are the real deal, Flower. Those three brothers are closer than close and have been at that company since they were kids. They all went to the Keio University for engineering. And this guy, Akchiro, is supposed to the mother-f-ing G, the Takeda. When their dad died of a heart attack, the other family members tried to stage a coup because the boys were young. He accelerated his classes and came back and took over. Fired everybody. And some say—”
“Stop it! You sound like CNN. With that ‘some say,’ BS.” Eva laughed, but Bridget waved her away. “Anyway, it is rumored—is that better, heffa?”—she looked hard at Eva who only nodded regally in response—“that two of the uncles ‘disappeared.’ Which they claim was some type of sailing accident.” She couched disappeared in air quotes for emphasis to make her point that it wasn’t an accident at all.
“We did our research when we set out to work with Tekmoto. None of that particular drama seemed to matter because we doubted we would ever come into contact with them, however, they have really taken an interest in the program software we are developing, so we have teleconferences. Though he has delegated that to the other brothers, we’ve never seen any of them in person. We use interpreters to avoid any miscommunication.”
Lotus Flower Bomb: The Mogul Series Book Two Page 4