15. Under the Table
Chapter fifteen
Under the Table
Monique
Lei shook his head at Chen. “It’s not a new dilemma. We had a feeling this is what my father was doing. Now, it is confirmed.”
“Yes. But it is on a grander scale.”
“Grand or not, we don’t need to leave the table to discuss this.”
Chen doubled down. “I believe we do, Mountain Master.”
The line on Lei’s jaw twitched. “If I leave the table right now, it will be to take Monique back to the tent to. . .rest.”
Duck snorted.
“Oh no.” Chen waved both hands. “You can’t leave so suddenly after Yan’s abrupt exit and let’s not forget Meatball Gate and how we must show unity to all—”
“I am here. Be happy,” Lei spoke through clenched teeth. “And I will remain here for twenty minutes and no longer.”
“That is fine, Mountain Master.”
"Thank you but leave me alone." Lei's words held an edge, cold and sharp. He turned back to me, his gaze intense, voice dropping to a near whisper. “Now back to that moment you brought up in our tent where you—”
“However, Mountain Master.” Chen loudly cleared his throat again.
Turning his head, Lei looked like he was close to killing Chen. “What now?”
“It would just be a five-to-ten-minute private discussion about the new information—”
“There is no need for privacy. This is about Monique. Therefore, she should know.” Lei turned my way and his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.
“Yes.” Chen bobbed his head. “But other things should be considered, and perhaps she may not like my. . .suggestions.”
I quirked my brows. “What suggestions?”
Chuckling, Duck loudly slurped his soup.
Chen scowled at him. “Can you help me with this, Red Pole?”
Duck swallowed and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Help with what?”
“This matter. The one that is absolutely urgent.”
“It isn’t, Chen.” Duck rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter if Marcelo himself delivered Monique to Lei to intercept the Four Aces. Do you see Lei right now? Look at him.”
With that, we all turned back to Lei.
His smoldering gaze was locked onto mine, and the weight of his attention was almost tangible, like a gentle caress that brushed against the surface of my skin, awakening every nerve ending.
I blushed.
Stop looking at me that way.
His lips, slightly parted in anticipation, curled into a slow, sultry smile, as if he knew exactly the effect he was having on me.
My heartbeat picked right back up.
God, I want him to fuck me.
Under the table, Lei’s fingers slipped to the top of my gown’s split.
I moved his hand.
Lei brought it back and gripped my thigh.
I blinked.
Lei’s grip on my thigh tightened, ensuring I was rooted in place as everyone else remained oblivious to our shared secret.
Duck continued, “We know how Lei gets, so all we can do is let this work itself out and see if he messes it all up or not.”
“That’s exactly what we should not do. That is falling right into Uncle Leo’s plans.” Chen waved his hand. “Therefore, I think we should do everything opposite of what Leo wants.”
“And what does that mean?” Lei placed his gaze back on Chen.
Chen shrugged. “It is time for Monique to leave.”
What?
The whole table went quiet.
Lei glared at Chen with a murderous rage.
Duck froze. His chopsticks were mid-air. Sauce dripped from the tips.
Hu remained stiff too.
Chen gulped. “Or. . .Monique can remain with us and we can think of an alternative plan.”
“Or you can enjoy this feast and leave me alone.” Under the table, Lei pushed the gown’s fabric aside and exposed more of my thigh.
I stiffened.
Chen lifted one finger. “I still believe a discussion away from the table is necessary—”
Lei leaned back on his throne yet kept his hand on my thigh. “We are done talking about it.”
“Please, just a little bit more, Mountain Master. And can we discuss this in privacy?”
“Like I already said, it is not necessary, but if we talk about it, we stay here.” Lei’s fingertips brushed against my inner thigh, delivering tingling sensations to my core.
I widened my eyes and did my best to maintain my composure.
“Drop it, Chen. Enough has already happened today.” Duck moved his empty bowl of soup to the side and pulled over a plate stacked with seafood. “In fact, are we really surprised that our fathers went to great lengths to do something this insane?”
“Yes!” Chen held out both hands. “Capital yes, in fact. And by the way, Leo cannot pick the Mountain Mistress. It is against the code—”
“A code that he wrote.” Duck grabbed a lobster claw. “Uncle Leo knows how to get around all of the codes.”
Ignoring them, Lei traced the length of my inner thigh.
An involuntary ripple of goosebumps spread across my arms.
What are you doing?
My nipples hardened as I barely suppressed a shiver.
Chen shook his head. “This is about the need for free will.”
“This is Uncle Leo and our father continuing to move us around on their board of life.”
“But where is the sense of self?” Chen held up both hands. “Lei should have genuine desires for his Mountain Mistress. Not ones implanted in him by a sick and twisted puppeteer.”
Duck sighed. “They are genuine.”
“What?” Chen dropped his hands and eyed him. “What’s genuine?”
“Lei’s feelings.”
“But are they?” Chen frowned. “How can we be sure anymore? With all of Uncle Leo’s planning, I bet you and I have also been maneuvered to move exactly how he wants.”
“Maybe.” Duck nibbled on lobster. “Long ago, I always thought the tracker in the locket was a dumb idea, especially since it came from our father. Of course we thought that he was worried about his grieving brother. Poor Uncle Leo. We worried too. But now. . .I’m not sure.”
Song gave them the idea of the tracker?
Chen gestured to us. “Lei should have free will when picking a woman to sit in the most important position in the Four Aces. Not Uncle Leo’s will.”
Duck spoke between munching, “You are jumping too far ahead. The position of Mountain Mistress hasn’t been filled yet.”
“If we continue on this path, we may very well be sitting with. . . her .” Chen appeared freaked out. “This could be her. Is this not a bit terrifying? I thought I had much more time. How does this even work? Marriage and babies! I am unprepared to manage all of this. My chest is full of pressure—”
“Relax, Chen, and eat. I have free will and everything within my heart and mind is genuine.” Inch by inch, Lei slipped those fingers closer to my panties.
God, yes. Wait. I should stop him, but. . .
Those fingers journeyed closer, and I couldn’t find the energy to prevent them.
I spread my legs open for him, but made sure my face showed no sign of the wickedness going on below.
“Are you even ready for a Mountain Mistress, Lei? With all that has been lost.” Chen frowned. “Especially, a woman picked by your father?”
“No one has picked anything and this conversation is over.” Lei’s voice went dark. “Shut the fuck up and let me enjoy myself for this evening.”
“I agree.” Duck grabbed another lobster claw. “Let’s eat and then head to bed.”
“Exactly. It is time for bed.” Lei’s fingers made it to my panties.
Mmmm.
My eyes grew sleepy, distorting the view in front of me.
He slipped those fingers under the pantie’s silky fabric and made contact with my pussy. And it was dripping wet for him.
Lei grunted.
Duck stopped chewing and eyed him.
I bit my bottom lip and desperately yearned to close my eyes. It took all of my energy to keep them open.
None the wiser, Duck returned to eating.
My chest rose and fell like I had just been running.
Chen put his view on me. “Then, what do you think of this, Monique?”
“Well—”
Lei brushed my clit.
I let out an exasperated breath.
His touch sent a hot jolt of electricity through me and all my senses were heightened as I fought to control the lusty tingling sensations that raced through my body.
Fuck!
Somehow, I stifled a moan.
Chen quirked his brows. “Monique? Are you okay?”
“Y-yes.” I cleared my throat.
Smirking, Lei toyed with my clit. “Are you sure, Monique? Is this all too much for you to handle?”
“Yes.” I shut my thighs, stopping his hand. It took a few seconds to catch my breath. “Ummm. . .I mean. . .no. . .and Chen. . .I think Duck and Lei are right on this. . .Let’s just leave it alone for now. We all need time to process this.”
Chen scowled. “Surely, this new information shoved you a little over the edge.”
“It did, but the more important goal for now is Lei’s battle with Leo.”
Lei tried to push my thighs apart.
I kept his hand locked in a grip. “And I don’t want to talk about this, Chen.”
“Good. Now leave her alone, Chen and eat.” Lei leaned toward me and whispered in my ear. “Open your legs.”
I widened my eyes. “Lei.”
“Right now.”
Chen and Duck watched us.
I kept my voice low and didn’t dare turn his way. The heat from his fingers were already too much to bear. “We have an audience.”
“Look at me.”
Slowly, I turned his way.
Lei’s eyes narrowed with wicked intent and a smirk danced on his lips. “Let them watch, if they must but I want to touch your pussy. Right now.”
Fuck. . .please touch it.
Unable to resist, I parted my legs and gave him complete access.
His fingers, as though trained by the gods of love themselves, danced across my sex with the grace of a seasoned pianist, tracing patterns that made my heart race.
Oh fuck.
The caress of his fingers, combined with the heated intensity of his gaze, was enough to bring me to the brink of madness.
It was the most pleasureful torment.
Hu began telling Chen and Duck a story, commanding their attention.
Lei’s voice dripped with raw desire. “Why are you so wet?”
“You did that.” My cheeks flushed. I placed my gaze on my plate, while my body craved to move my pussy to his fingers’ rhythm.
“Look at me.”
Trembling in heated pleasure I hesitated, but the power in his voice was undeniable.
Slowly, I raised my eyes, locking onto his. There was a challenge in his gaze, daring me to maintain the pretense of normalcy amidst the surging waves of pleasure.
“Very good.” he murmured, rewarding my obedience with another deliberate stroke. “Do you see what you have done to me? This is unprofessional, Monique.”
“Very.”
“Never have I done this.”
I shivered. “And never should you.”
“Yet, your pussy. It has been calling to me.”
Another soft moan left me.
Thank God the others didn’t hear.
“Mmmhmm.” His voice grew hoarse. “The struggle between wanting to surrender and maintaining composure in front of everyone. I see it in your eyes.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
My skin tingled in anticipation. Each word he uttered was like a soft caress, teasing and tempting.
That wicked smirk widened, revealing just a hint of his teeth. “I love seeing this battle in your eyes.”
The heat of his gaze met mine, sending ripples of warmth throughout my body. “You battle that struggle very well, Monique.”
I swallowed hard, the sensation of being so exposed, so vulnerable under his sensual touch along with all the watchful eyes around us, only amplified the intensity of the moment.
“I wonder. . .” Lei licked his lips. “Is that the sign of an excellent Mountain Mistress?”
“Y-you should. . .stop.”
“Why?”
Another moan left me.
“Damn it, Monique.” He rubbed my pussy in slow circles. “I want to fuck you right now. Put you on the table and stick my cock into you.”
Holy fuck.
The interplay of desire and restraint.
The tantalizing game of push and pull.
The table’s chatter rose as everyone remained blissfully unaware of our intimate dance.
And the pressure built.
The pleasure intensified with each second, as Lei masterfully controlled the tempo of our secret rendezvous.
I closed my eyes.
Lei whispered. “Open them.”
I gritted my teeth.
“I’m so hard right now.” He groaned. “There might be a hole in my robe.”
Every fiber in my being was alive with pleasure.
The overwhelming lust that burned in my veins ignited a fire inside me, one that could only be extinguished by his touch.
I gasped as he pressed his thumb against me, and I bit my lip to keep from screaming out.
My hands fisted the table linen, trying desperately to contain the desire that bubbled up inside me.
Lei’s fingers explored.
He teased and tortured.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, Chen’s phone buzzed.
Groaning in annoyance, Lei began to rub my soaking wet clit faster.
The pleasure was too much.
A soft, involuntary moan escaped my lips.
Duck turned my way. His eyes filled with questions and curiosity.
Embarrassed, I averted my gaze.
Yet, Lei was relentless. Focusing on the center of my pleasure, he manipulated my core with a skill that had my nerves singing songs of joy.
Shit. I’m going to cum in front of everyone.
Every fiber of my being wanted to cry out, to let the world know the rapture Lei was gifting me.
“Yan did what?!” Chen yelled on the other side of the table.
Lei paused.
That gave me a chance to catch my breath.
“Goddamn it.” Chen ran his fingers through his hair. “Get people after her now. I’m coming down there with more of my men.”
Lei slowly slipped his fingers away.
The sensation—or the sudden lack of it—left me both relieved and yearning.
Lei let out a long breath. “What did Yan do?”
Frowning, Chen put up his phone. “I-I can h-handle it.”
I raised my brows in surprise, noticing the underlying tension in Chen's posture. What could possibly have him this rattled?
With a suddenness that caught everyone off guard, Chen swiftly rose from his seated position and offered Lei a hasty half bow. “E-excuse me, M-mountain Master.”
Lei's intense eyes tracked every movement of Chen's, his expression unreadable. “What did she do?”
Chen, attempting to regain some semblance of control. “I can handle it.”
He then turned to address the audience, specifically gesturing towards a nearby table of men laden with food and drink.
The impact was instantaneous. Some halted mid-bite, while others scrambled to wipe any remnants of their meal from their faces. Yet, without exception, every man at that designated table sprang into action, their hands instinctively reaching for their concealed weapons.
Lei's voice sliced through the tension like a blade, cold and sharp. “As you know, I never ask the same question three times. The third time, well, my sword tends to do the talking.” He tilted his head with a sinister elegance, eyes piercing. “Should I bring it out?”
Chen's face contorted with a mix of anger and frustration. “Yan took Chanel’s body.”
Lei's reaction was electric. “What?!”
Then, he rose fast from the throne.
His sudden movement startled everyone present, including me, prompting us to rise swiftly from our seats in alarm.
We tilted our heads forward and waited.
Lei left his throne. “How did this happen?!”
Chen shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. “Apparently, while we were up here with Yan, some of her men had been searching for where we kept Chanel. Honestly, that was probably the whole reason why Yan came to us in the first place—”
“Goddamn it!” Lei rushed off.
I strained to watch him hurry away.
More men left and followed him.
And without a single word or glance toward me, Lei was gone.
My heart sank a little.
I swallowed and did a small scan of the place.
Everyone remained standing like me.
Okay. When do we sit down?
The faces of the guests were a variety of expressions—confusion, concern, and even a few oddly calculating glances came my way.
Everyone remained standing like me. Their postures rigid, eyes darting around, trying to gauge the room.
Duck whispered across the table. “ You have to sit down, Monique.”
“What? Me?”
“Yes. They’re waiting for you to sit.”
Horror gripped me. “Why me?”
“Because you’re on the throne.”
“I’m a guest.”
“Honorary guest.”
“O-kay.” I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Duck for reassurance. He gave me a slight nod, urging me on.
I took a deep breath and delicately sat down.
And like Duck said, everyone else sat down too.
Oh shit.
I glanced around the space. There were whispers, curious stares, and a few faces that held a hint of respect mixed with caution.
I tried to look unbothered, but I was thoroughly terrified. “They’re all still watching me. What do I do now?”
Duck chuckled. “What do you want to do?”