30. Wet and Wild
Chapter thirty
Wet and Wild
Monique
Lei guided me along, and I stepped foot into a space that was more enchanting than anything I could’ve ever envisioned.
First of all, I had never been on Mount Utopia, just seen it a few times when I drove to Paradise.
Now we strolled through this encampment sprawled before my eyes. Tents, all dyed in the calming shade of blue, dotted the rocky landscape in a harmonious pattern.
Groups of shirtless men exercised. Their bodies rippled with muscles and their movements filled with a disciplined grace.
And they were all sexy as fuck.
Mmmhmm.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement stir in my stomach as I watched them.
Lei noticed my gaze and smirked. “Like what you see?”
I blushed, caught off guard. “I, uh, I mean. . .they’re very. . .fit.”
Lei chuckled. “Be careful that you don’t get them harmed.”
“And why would you harm these guys?”
“Due to your drooling over them.”
“And why would you do that, Mountain Master?” I sucked my teeth. “I’m just enjoying the scenery.”
His smirk deepened. “Is that what you’re doing?”
“You have a whole ass harem. Stop being extra.”
As we walked further along, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of this place. The air was sweet and clean, the sun warm on my skin. I felt alive in a way I never had before.
We passed by a group of women practicing archery. Their bodies were fluid and graceful as they pulled back on their bows. A few glanced our way and whispered to each other.
We continued on.
I looked at him. “Do you come here to train a lot?”
“We do. At least once every four months.”
“Why?”
Lei gazed my way. “This is a place of tranquility for the Four Aces. It’s where we find peace amidst chaos.”
“So it’s like a retreat too?”
“It is. Plus, the idea is that spiritual and mental growth can happen once we unplug and spend time among nature.” There was an aura of respect in his voice. “My father once meditated here for 30 days straight, without any contact from the outside world. It was here he learned the Azure Dragon’s Spiral .”
A shiver of intrigue ran down my spine. “What’s that?”
“A dangerous move.”
“Will you show me what it looks like one day?”
Without uttering a single word, he released my hand. In the next moment, his body was a whirlwind of motion. Lei spun around three times rapidly, his movements fluid yet powerful.
Holy shit!
The last spin concluded in a powerful punch that sliced through the air, followed by a high-flying leap that ended with a kick. The power of his movement sent a violent gust of wind rushing towards me.
I staggered back. “Well damn.”
He landed back on his feet. His chest heaved. “That’s Azure Dragon’s Spiral.”
I blinked.
The demonstration lasted several seconds, yet it would be etched into my mind forever.
I swallowed. “I’m totally impressed.”
“Yeah?” He walked back over to me.
“Hell yes.”
He took my hand, wrapping it in his warmth. “What’s funny is that my father came up with that move but struggles with defending it.”
“So. . .you’re going to use that against him in the battle?”
He moved his gaze up to the sky where two black crows soared. “Yes. That’s the plan.”
Then, he guided me away. Yet, every few steps he glanced up at the crows again and again.
He has to go through so much this week. This is so fucked up.
A pang of guilt gnawed at my insides.
It was hard to reconcile the tenderness of this moment with the brutal honesty that I had delivered several minutes ago.
Did I go too far?
I had forced Lei to confront a painful reality—the need to let go of Chanel’s body. And though every word had been true, the guilt of pushing him still clawed at me.
Did I do right by him, Mama? Wouldn’t you have told me to say something to him about it?
Of course she didn’t answer.
Still, I wondered to myself.
Who was I to impose such an ultimatum?
I’d known Lei for such a short time, and yet, I had disrupted his world, shattered his odd coping mechanism, and forced him to face his loss in a healthier way.
But it was right, wasn’t it?
He was basically gripping onto a ghost, unable to move forward. Chanel’s body wasn’t a lifeline but an anchor, pulling him into a bottomless abyss of grief.
She deserved peace.
He deserved peace.
And I just wanted him to heal. To find his way back to life. And if that made me the villain in his story, then. . .so be it.
Fuck it.
I had come to care for this man more deeply than I had thought possible.
Therefore, I held onto my guilt about pushing him. Granted, it was a bitter pill to swallow but swallow it I would. Because Lei needed more than a person to tell him yes, all the time. He needed a friend, a confidante, someone who would pull him back from the edge, not help push him over.
And I was determined to be that for him, regardless of the cost.
Lei squeezed my hand, bringing me back to the present moment. “What’s on your mind?”
I took a deep breath and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “I’m just. . .worried about you. And the battle coming up.”
His expression was unreadable. “It’s going to be tough. But I have to do this. For Chanel, for my family, for my people.”
“I know, and I’ll be here for you. Through everything.”
He smiled at me. “That would be much better than your apparently kicking my ass for harming Banks.”
I grinned. “I was serious about that.”
He laughed. “I knew you were.”
However, I don’t know how I would ever kick your ass.
We walked on in silence for a few moments, taking in the sights and sounds of the camp. The air was filled with the scent of cooking fires and the sound of laughter and chatter.
Peace washed over me.
I’m glad that we worked it out, and that I could stay.
I still had to talk to Banks, tell him about dad, and figure out the funeral arrangements. Also, I had to deliver the news to my sisters too.
Pressure swelled in my chest.
I pushed as much as I could away and focused on the present moment.
Lei led me forward. “And this is our space for the next days.”
“Okay.” I checked it out.
Of course Lei’s tent would be bigger and wider than everyone else’s. The huge blue structure contrasted with the rocky terrain of Mount Utopia.
Lei brought us to the entrance and drew back the flap, revealing the inside.
“Alright then.” I entered.
The bed was enormous, blanketed in a multitude of sky-blue quilts and pillows. It dominated the space. My eyes widened as I took in the sight. A nervous chuckle escaped my lips.
“I didn’t expect all of this, Lei, but I should have.” I went over to the bed and traced my fingers along the delicate embroidery of the quilts. “It’s nice.”
A smile stretched across his face. “I like my comforts. By the way, there’s a separate tent in the back with the only workable toilet on the mountain.”
I scanned the space. “And where would we bathe?”
He chuckled. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
I followed him out of the tent.
We rounded the large structure and went to the back,
Only a few steps from the tent, the soft gurgling of a stream sounded.
Oh wow.
Clear water wound its way down the mountain, glistening under the fading sun. Large boulders flanked its course, providing a sense of privacy.
As Lei pointed towards it, understanding and a hint of amusement lit up my face. “That’s our bathtub, Monique.”
“The stream?”
“There’s a bathhouse further back. We were over there earlier talking but trust me. You will enjoy washing in the stream.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “I don’t know about that.”
“Why not?”
I walked over. “Like on paper it sounds dope as fuck. Then, you get into the stream and it’s like. . .there are other living things swimming all around me.”
He laughed.
I turned back to him, relishing in the musical sound of his enjoyment. And to think we had just been going back and forth on an intense, emotional topic earlier.
He sounds happy. . .at least for now.
I let out a long breath. “You know what. Fuck it. I’ll try the stream and see how it works out.”
“You will get addicted to it.”
“I don’t know about that, Lei.”
“In fact. . .” he gazed behind us.
Only our huge tent was there. Rocks and trees surrounded our dwelling and blocked out the view of the rest of the mountain.
He directed his gaze back to me and licked his lips. “Let’s have some fun.”
I quirked my brows. “What type of fun?”
“Good fun.”
“Why are you licking your lips like that?”
“I can’t lick my lips?”
I watched him.
And this man was so damn fine. Sunlight gleamed on every layer of muscle wrapped around his arms, chest, and waist. It was a wonder I had stood so strong against him with the topic of Chanel’s body, because the whole time my eyes kept straying to the prominent bulge in his pants.
“This may be the only time I have off for the week.” His smile shifted to wicked—something I wasn’t used to seeing on him. Then, he gestured to the stream. “Let’s get wet and wild.”
The way he said those words. . .it made my pussy vibrate. My eyes flickered from the bubbling stream to his devilish expression.
He licked those lips again, and my nipples stiffened.
Man oh man. . .
The fading warmth of the sun and the remote tranquility of the surroundings tempted me. “So. . . you want to go for a swim?”
His eyes twinkled mischievously. “Get wet with me.”
I glanced down at my clothes. “I’ll have to check if a swimsuit was packed—”
“We’re best friends. Right?”
I grinned. “Yes, Lei.”
“What’s a little nudity among friends?”
My skin flushed with heat.
He slipped his gaze along my breasts. “Plus, I know the fish would not mind.”
“You know that for a fact?”
He smirked. “I’ve been here before and have communed with the fish.”
“And they were like. . .butt naked humans are okay with us?”
“Exactly.” He laughed, a hearty, infectious sound that echoed off the rocky outcrops and sent birds fluttering into the sky.
Then, he did something that made my head dizzy. He undid his pants and slipped them down, revealing even more of his toned masculine frame. It was a body that I wouldn’t mind worshiping for years. His waist was solid. His thighs were so thick, I could hump one thigh and easily orgasm in seconds. In fact, I really wanted to try that immediately.
And the bulge of his cock was thick, long, and very fucking hard.
Oh my lord. Look at what Jesus did.
“See? No big deal.” Lei tossed the pants to the side. Now he only wore dark blue boxer briefs. “If you are uncomfortable, we do not have to get completely naked.”
I swallowed.
His voice grew hoarse. “But you are taking off something.”
My heart sped up, drumming a wild rhythm against my ribcage.
I kicked my sneakers off. “Are you going to turn around?”
“Hell no.” His gaze drifted further down my body. An unspoken challenge echoed in his words. “Do you need me to help you?”
“No. I’ve got it from here.” Although extremely nervous, I also felt a rush of excitement, a thrilling sense of daring.
I’d meant what I’d said before.
I wanted closeness with him, friendship. . .and perhaps something more.
We’d already seen each other at our worst. Me, drenched in blood, despair driving me to the edge of a rooftop. And him, clinging desperately to the lifeless body of his lover, unable to release his hold.
What was mere nudity compared to that?
We’d exposed the darkest corners of our souls to each other and were met not with judgement, but with compassion and love.
Slowly, I stripped down to my bra and panties.
My skin prickled with fear and excitement.
Yet, his unyielding gaze only amplified the daring thrill. Lei watched my every move, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
For a moment, I thought he would make a move towards me.
And, that prospect surged my body with an unexpected confidence. His piercing and captivating gaze illuminated me with an aura of beauty that I had never experienced before.
I felt dazzling, desirable, stunning.
In his eyes,
I was
undeniably gorgeous.
Jesus Christ.
Once my pants and top dropped to the ground, I took a deep breath.
Cool air brushed against my skin.
“Wow. I really did it.” I ran my hands along my body, feeling the curves of my hips and the swell of my breasts.
A grunt left Lei as his gaze followed my hands.
Inch by inch, he raised his eyes to meet mine, and his gaze burned with this intense desire that made me quiver inside.
A wave of heat coursed through my veins.
He whispered. “We still need to discuss the rules for our comforting each other.”
My body hummed for him. “We do.”
He closed the distance between us. More heat radiated from his muscular frame, setting my own aflame. He dropped his gaze to my lips. “I definitely have several suggestions.”
My breathing quickened. “I would love to hear them.”
Lei’s lips curved in a mesmerizing smile. He reached out and stroked my cheek with his fingers, sending little sparks of electricity all over my skin.
“We are still learning each other.” His voice lowered. “But do you trust me?”
Did I? Yes, I did.
Without hesitation or doubt, I answered him in the only way that seemed appropriate—by leaning into his touch and pressing my lips against his fingers.
His groan vibrated through me, and before long, he had his mouth on mine. Our kiss deepened with urgency as if we were both anxious to explore what else we could do for each other.
As the kiss ended, his breath fanning across my lips. “Monique. . .what would you say to a ‘no holding back’ rule?”
My body quivered in anticipation.