Her Fearless Ronin (The Syndicates #4)

Chapter 20

Hope

T he soft hum of the emporium’s air conditioning was the only sound that filled the space. The dim lighting cast a sultry glow over the shelves lined with an array of intimate products. It was a quiet day, with only a few customers drifting in and out, leaving me with more time than I’d like to be alone with my thoughts.

I was in the back room, restocking and organizing when my mind began to wander to Jiro. The quietness of the shop only amplified the emptiness I felt without him. Three weeks had passed, and the sting of his absence hadn’t dulled, and I had yet to figure out what I truly wanted to do with my life.

I should have just moved on; we’d been together not even a full month. It meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I snorted as I aligned the fruit-flavored lubricants on the bottom shelves. Come to think of it, Jiro had been gone almost as long as he’d been here, and I was still the stupid ten-year-old pining for him.

He had certainly moved on, back to his life as Hoka’s second-in-command, back to being the feared, powerful figure he was born to be. Where would a lost girl from Seattle fit in all of this? Nowhere. That much was clear from the painful silence.

Oda had been texting, joking, and being his carefree self now that he was back in Chicago, too far from Jiro to offer me any reassurance that the heartbreak was maybe mutual. But from Jiro? Nothing. It was as if he’d vanished, leaving me to deal with all the emotions he had awakened in me. The silence from his end was deafening, making me question the authenticity of everything we shared. Was it possible for such passion to simply evaporate?

The soft chime of the doorbell pulled me from my sullen reverie, and I stepped out of the back room, ready to assist the customer. My heart stopped when I saw him.

Jiro.

He was standing there, looking around the shop with a casual interest, his hands buried in the pockets of his black dress pants.

For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. The pain of the past weeks made this moment feel surreal.

I shook my head and blinked a few times; if it was a dream, I had to wake up now because if I didn’t, the wake-up call promised to be painful.

He smiled as he saw the katana hanging from my neck. As he took a couple of steps inside, he caught my eye, and with a playful smirk, he said, “Hey, I’m looking for some new nipple rings. My girlfriend has this thing for them,” he added, winking, pretending not to recognize me.

I felt a thrill run through me, realizing he was referring to me as his girlfriend.

Playing along, I approached him with a professional demeanor and stepped behind the counter. “Of course, sir. We have a variety of designs. Any particular style you’re interested in?” I added, gesturing to the selection under the glass.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. “Something that’ll drive her wild when she sees them… and licks them.”

I felt the uncomfortable weight of lust settle in my lower belly as my underwear became wet with the arousal that his mere suggestion caused. I was so addicted to him.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress a moan that was building, and pressed my legs together. His eyes flipped down, not missing the movement .

“Well, we have these new designs that just came in. They’re quite… tantalizing.” I showed him a set, our fingers brushing as I handed them over.

He examined them closely, then looked up at me with those intense eyes. “Do you think she’ll like them?”

“I have a feeling she’ll love them,” I replied, my voice quivering slightly.

“Ummm… I think I will get them.”

“I can also suggest a set that adapts to piercings in more private areas,” I added with a blush. “I’m sure she would enjoy the new feelings both in her mouth and in her…”

Jiro leaned a little more over the counter. “Pussy? Is that what you mean?”

I took a sharp intake of breath. Having him talk dirty turned me into a puddle of want, and I knew that if he wanted to, I’d let him take me right there, on this glass counter, and everything else be damned.

There was a charged silence between us, the playful banter giving way to the undeniable chemistry we shared.

“I wonder,” he began, his voice husky, “do you think she misses the man who introduced her to such… pleasures?”

I leaned in, my breath catching. “She misses him. Every single day.”

Unable to resist any longer, Jiro grabbed the back of my head and closed the distance between us across the counter.

The instant our lips touched, everything else faded away. This wasn’t just a kiss; it was an outpouring of weeks filled with longing, silent tears in the night, and dreams where he was just out of reach. Jiro’s lips were both tender and demanding, telling a story of love, loss, and reunion. I melted into him, deepening the kiss, letting it convey everything words had failed to express.

Every moment of heartache, every tear shed in solitude, was washed away in the intensity of our embrace. His taste, a familiar blend of coffee and something I suspected was only his, was intoxicating, pulling me deeper into the whirlwind of emotions.

This kiss was a combination of love and desire, a promise of a future that was to come. It spoke of nights I’d lain awake, yearning for this very touch, and days where memories of him haunted every corner of my mind.

When we finally broke apart, both of us panting slightly, our eyes met in a shared moment of mischief. Jiro’s eyes twinkled with that familiar, playful glint I’d come to adore. Without warning, he scooped me up, effortlessly lifting me over the counter. I landed with a soft thud right in front of him, our bodies a breath apart.

“Jiro!” I exclaimed, feigning shock, but my laughter betrayed me. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days!”

His fingers danced lightly on my back, pulling me closer. “Only if it means I get to resuscitate you,” he teased, his voice dripping with playful seduction.

I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress my grin. “Always the charmer, aren’t you?”

He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine, the playful atmosphere replaced with a palpable tension. “Hope,” he whispered, his voice husky, sending shivers down my spine. “I’ve missed you.”

It was strange, but the way he said my name as a prayer allowed me to know everything I had been too scared to hope for. Jiro Saito loved me, too.

My fingers brushed against his warm cheek, the sheer intensity of my emotions causing them to tremble. The joy bubbling up inside me was so overwhelming that, for a moment, I feared this might all be a dream.

“Is it really you?” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.

He turned his face, pressing a gentle kiss to the center of my palm. “Yes,” he murmured, his voice thick with regret. “I’m so sorry I kept you waiting.”

Tears welled up, blurring my vision as I gazed into his eyes. “Waiting for what?”

He took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that words could hardly capture. “For me to understand what my heart recognized long ago.”

“And what is that?”

He gave me a half smile, keeping me tightly in his arms. “I’m a man of action, Hope Myers. I don’t want to tell you. I want to show you.”

I leaned back in his embrace, now intrigued, and despite the joyful look on his face, I didn’t miss the apprehension radiating from him.

“Okay…” I trailed off. “You know there are security cameras here, so if what you want to show me is your peen, there’s a high probability you’ll end up on a certain website.”

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “The viewer would probably say, ‘Lucky girl.’”

I laughed, the sound bubbling up from deep within. I really felt like a lucky girl when I was in his arms. “They’d be right.”

He pulled me close again, his eyes serious. “When is your shift finishing?”

I glanced at the clock, momentarily disoriented by the whirlwind of emotions. “In an hour. Max is taking over for the evening.”

A slow, promising smile spread across Jiro’s face. “Wait for me out front.” He leaned down, capturing my lips in a brief but electrifying kiss that left me breathless. “I missed you, koibito .”

“I missed you, my warrior.”

The final hour of my shift at the emporium felt like the longest of my life. Every glance at the clock and every chime of the doorbell heightened my anticipation. Jiro was back. And not just back in town, but back for me . Even though he hadn’t uttered those three words, his every action, every stolen glance, screamed of unspoken confessions. He loved me. I could feel it.

I tried to distract myself by rearranging some items, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him.

As soon as Max walked in, I almost skipped to the back room, quickly grabbing my bag. Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I stepped outside. There he was, leaning against a sleek car, looking every bit the dashing figure I’d dreamed of during our time apart. The moment our eyes met, the world seemed to blur out, leaving just the two of us.

He pushed off the car, closing the distance between us, and without a word, he pulled me into his embrace, his lips meeting mine in a soft, lingering kiss that spoke of longing and reunion .

Breaking away, he opened the car door for me, and soon we were driving through winding roads, getting out of the city. He gripped my hand, interlacing our fingers and resting our intertwined hands on my lap.

Before I knew it, we pulled up to a picturesque house with a white picket fence. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore added to the dreamlike atmosphere.

Jiro quickly came around, opening my door and extending his hand. As I took it, the warmth of his grip enveloped me, grounding me in the surreal moment.

“Whose place is this?” My voice was barely above a whisper, the beauty of the scene before me taking my breath away.

He paused, taking a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “Ours, if you’d like it to be.”

My heart raced as I searched his eyes, looking for any sign that he might be joking. But all I saw was pure, unfiltered emotion. My voice wavered, disbelief evident in my tone. “You’d really give up everything? Just… us?”

He gently pressed my hand to his lips, his eyes shimmering with emotion. “In a heartbeat, Hope. Without a second thought.”

“Jiro, no.” His face fell, and I felt a pang of panic, realizing how my response might have sounded. “Jiro, I didn’t mean…” He started to pull away, but I tightened my grip, not ready to let go. “I want this. I want us. But I fell for Jiro Saito, the man who took on the world without flinching. I don’t want you to change for me.”

He frowned, visibly confused.

“But I want to be with you, Jiro Saito. Not a watered-down version you think I need. I love the fearless man. I have nothing keeping me here. I’m sure they have good centers there for Mom and…” I shrugged. “If you don’t mind me being there with your family.”

“You would move to Hoka’s estate with me?”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Yes. It might sound crazy, but from the moment our eyes met, something inside me just… knew. It’s hard to put into words.”

His eyes softened, filled with understanding. “I feel it, too.”

He leaned in, his voice a soft caress against my ear. “ Aishiteru ,” he whispered, the Japanese words for I love you, sending shivers down my spine. He pulled back slightly, his gaze intense. “I love you, Hope.”

Euphoria bubbled up inside me, and I pulled him into a passionate kiss, pouring all my emotions into it. Pulling back slightly, I whispered, “I love you, too.”

His smile was radiant. “I can’t wait to start the rest of our lives together. I promise, every day, to make sure you never regret choosing me.”

The weight of his words, the promise in his eyes, it was all so overwhelming. “I can’t wait either,” I murmured, a thought crossing my mind. Maybe, just maybe, Anna had a hand in this. Maybe she was the force that brought Jiro and me together, ensuring we found our way to each other.

Jiro’s gaze lingered on me, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. “Hope, would it be alright if I stayed with you for the next few days? Until you’re ready to come with me?”

I winced slightly, thinking of my modest apartment, which was nothing compared to the grandeur of the house we’d just left. “You really want to stay at my place? It’s not exactly… luxurious.”

He stepped closer, cupping my face gently. “Now that I have you, I don’t want to spend a single night away from you if I can help it.”

His words warmed my heart, and I nodded, a smile playing on my lips. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Once we were back, I began to pack, feeling Jiro’s gaze on me the entire time. Every so often, he’d come over to help, folding clothes or packing away trinkets. The domesticity of the scene was so heartwarming it felt like we’d been doing this for years.

After a while, I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me into a gentle embrace. “You okay?” he murmured into my hair before kissing the back of my neck.

I leaned back into him, relishing the warmth and security of his hold. “More than okay. Just… overwhelmed, in the best way.”

He turned me around to face him, his eyes searching mine. “Let’s take a break,” he suggested, leading me to the bedroom.

We both stripped but were too tired to have sex. Just being in his warm embrace, feeling his naked skin against mine, filled me with contentment I had never experienced.

His fingers traced gentle patterns on my back, every touch laced with tenderness.

I rested my head on his chest as Jiro began to describe the property in more detail.

“The estate is huge. There’s a main house, of course, but there’s also a two-bedroom summerhouse that we’ll be sharing. It’s nestled right by the sea, so every morning, we’ll wake up to the sound of waves crashing.”

I propped myself up on one elbow, looking down at him, caressing his tattooed chest. “That sounds amazing. But tell me more about this summerhouse.”

He chuckled, his fingers tracing the curve of my cheek. “It’s a beautiful place. Traditional Spanish architecture with a touch of modern design. There’s a garden that leads right to the beach. I usually spend my early mornings there, practicing martial arts or just meditating by the sea.”

I smirked, letting my fingers wander down his chest. “And what if I want to distract you from your morning routines?”

Jiro’s eyes darkened with a hint of playfulness. “Well, I’ve always believed in the importance of… flexibility in one’s schedule.”

I leaned down, kissing his pierced nipple. “Good, because I plan on being very distracting.”

He pulled me closer, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “I’m counting on it.”

We both chuckled, the playful banter adding a spark to the already palpable chemistry between us.

The dim light of the room played on our skin, casting a soft, intimate glow. “The summerhouse, the estate, it all sounds like a dream,” I whispered, my fingers teasingly tracing a path down his torso, finally wrapping around his growing arousal. His sharp intake of breath was music to my ears. “But honestly, as long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter where we are.”

Jiro’s eyes, dark with desire, locked onto mine, his fingers digging into my waist. “Hearing you say that… You can’t even begin to understand how much it means to me.” His voice was husky, filled with emotion and raw need. His thumb started to trace circles on my hip, causing goose bumps on my skin. “I promise, Hope, every moment with me will be one you won’t forget. And… I intend to keep you thoroughly distracted.”

Unable to resist any longer, I captured his lips with mine, the kiss deepening as I positioned myself above him. Slowly, I guided him inside, our combined gasps echoing in the room. With each movement, we lost ourselves in the rhythm, the raw intensity of our connection evident in every shared moan and whispered promise.

We came quickly, a culmination of pent-up desire and weeks of yearning. As we rode the waves of pleasure, we clung to each other, our breaths ragged and hearts racing. In the afterglow, we lay close, sharing whispered dreams and playful jabs about the little things we’d missed about each other.

Nestled against him, the rhythmic beat of his heart beneath my ear was a soothing lullaby. As the edges of sleep began to blur my thoughts, a profound realization settled within me.

Jiro Saito, with those soul-searching eyes, unwavering loyalty, and a heart that loved with a fiery passion, was mine. The weight of our shared past, the challenges we’d faced, and the love we’d discovered all culminated in this beautiful present .

Together, we would write our story, and I couldn’t wait to see where our journey would take us.