10. Worked Up
Chapter ten
Worked Up
Lei
Dressed and ready to put an end to this obligatory festival for my sister, I positioned myself outside the tent and waited for Monique to come out.
What new problem will my sister bring this evening?
Yan had a talent for having something up her sleeve and ruining everything. The trick was to anticipate her moves before she had a chance to make them.
I don’t need this shit tonight.
Distant drums boomed with urgency. The ground vibrated with their rhythm.
I let out a long breath.
Up above, thousands of stars shimmered and twinkled.
While below, lanterns hung from bamboo poles around the camp, swaying and casting sinister shadows on my people as they journeyed up the mountain path.
Decorated in the traditional robe of a royal guard, Chen stood on my right with his gaze fixed on the tent’s entrance. Every few seconds, he checked his watch as if time held him captive.
On my left, Duck wore a similar robe. The luxurious fabric glowed midnight blue and reached down to his ankles. It was cinched at his waist with a wide belt of embossed leather. Meanwhile, the robe’s long sleeves were slightly flared.
And a few paces away and lost in his thoughts, Hu had that same robe on with a special blue hat, signaling the status of my Straw Handle. There, Hu absentmindedly played with his ornamental sword hanging on his side. It was sharp enough to reflect menace yet dull enough to prevent actual harm.
Everything tonight would be a flamboyant facade out of my father’s Four Aces playbook, right down to the glinting diamond-platinum sword resting on my hip which was also just for show.
Once he is dead, I will have to change a lot of this stuff. It is outdated and fucking annoying.
Tonight even I had on an ensemble that blended the past with the present. In fact, I looked like some 21st century emperor.
From the hem to the collar, gold dragons snaked around my deep blue silk robe. Yet, it was tailored in a modern, sleek style. I wore a designer shirt and pants under it.
Monique. . .are you coming out?
My fingers tapped restlessly against my thigh.
I badly ached to be near Monique.
It was as if my life depended on it.
I swore the air changed whenever she was near—charged with electricity.
Every moment away from Monique felt like an eternity.
Is she almost done? And more important. . .is she dressed in blue?
Against my will, my mind wandered to the earlier moment in the shower. Steam rose and clung to every smooth inch of her body. And dear God those dark brown nipples called out to me like teasing magnets, begging my mouth to come and devour them. I’d been so fucking mad, but even then, I craved to run my hands all over her wet curves, to feel her warmth and her softness against my skin.
Stop.
I shook my head, doing my best to clear my thoughts.
This was not the time for that type of distraction. I needed to focus on my sister and the ultimate task at hand.
Still, my heartbeats raced at the mere thought of her coming out of the tent.
Focus on something else.
I checked my left.
Over there, stood another quartet of men. They were gathered around a finely crafted sedan chair, its polished wood, gold inlays, and embroidered panels glowed softly in the lantern light.
In ancient times, this sort of chair had been used to carry royal women of high stature. Due to that, my father always had my mother carried in it for special events.
Currently, my mother’s old chair rested on the ground with the men stationed at its poles.
I turned to my right.
A large group headed our way made up of six men and three women. The men donned embroidered blue robes and the women had on flowing silky blue dresses. They continued, and their animated conversations filled the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional light-hearted tease.
It was clear that this event was the highlight of their evening.
At least, my people are getting a much-needed break.
I pursed my lips.
This feast may not be a horrible idea after all.
Another group strolled by.
This time several women turned to look in my direction. Their eyes widened momentarily, then they quickly looked away.
A few of their cheeks tinted.
Others nervously giggled and stole more glances in my direction.
Duck broke his silence. “Seems you’re the belle of the ball tonight, Lei.”
I looked at him.
He smirked. “It’s true. We should have put a little crown on your head.”
My eyes were subconsciously drawn back to the tent, hoping for any sign of Monique.
Yet another group approached. This time, both men and women blatantly stole glances, their steps faltering as if caught off guard by my presence.
Duck chuckled again. “Apparently, it’s not only the ladies you’re impressing tonight.”
Frustration rose within me.
“Can’t say I blame them.” Duck shrugged. “You do have that whole mysterious emperor vibe going on tonight.”
I sighed.
“Tell me this, cousin.” Duck leaned my way. “With all these women looking at you. . .doesn’t that make you hard just a little?”
“Instead of bruising your arm, I should have cracked your jaw.”
“Unfortunatly for you, I can still speak with a cracked jaw.”
“Are you sure?” I eyed him. “Because I’m willing to test it.”
“But we wouldn’t want to get your spiffy new outfit dirty.”
“That’s enough. Lei has already kept Master Wu’s tent busy with Rowe Street Mob’s mangled bodies. We don’t need any more injuries today.” Chen let out an exasperated breath. “Perhaps, I should go check on Monique and see—”
“No.” I gritted my teeth. “You’ve done enough tonight. Give her time.”
Chen frowned. “ I have done enough?”
Hu stopped fumbling with the ridiculous sword and watched us.
“Yes.” I nodded. “ You have done enough.”
Chen tilted forward and grabbed Duck’s attention. “You were there. Did I touch any of Rowe Street Mob?”
Duck shook his head. “You did not.”
Chen gestured to Hu. “Did I not try to stop Lei from breaking Silent Sal’s legs?”
Hu cleared his throat. “I actually will not be involved in this very complicated situation.”
I scowled at Chen. “You should not have allowed Rowe Street Mob to come up and you should have never let Monique think that she could wear white in the first place—”
“I told you that I pleaded with her to rethink this. However, she believed—for some insane reason—that she could talk to you in a rational manner.”
Duck chuckled.
I glared at him.
He stopped and turned back to the tent.
Tension gathered in my shoulders.
Growing even more impatient to be next to her, I stared at the tent’s entrance as if I could, will her to come out.
Chen shook his head. “With the way Flashy Freddie screamed. . .So loud, I thought Marcelo might have heard him all the way in Paradise.”
Duck snorted.
“At least, Lei perfectly executed an Azure Dragon’s Spiral.” Hu shrugged. “And the Golden Phoenix on top of Piggy’s back was damn good. I thought the poor man’s spine cracked in the center.”
“It probably did.” Chen groaned. “We won’t know until Piggy regains consciousness. Master Wu is keeping me updated with all their injuries.”
I gritted my teeth.
For the first time that evening, Duck frowned at me. “And you know what you did, right?”
I remained silent.
“You walked right into Banks’s plan as if you were his puppet and he held the strings.” Disappointment covered Duck’s face. “Banks knew you would kick their asses. That’s why he brought them. He just wanted Monique to see how crazy and violent you are.”
Chen checked his watch again. “While I don’t usually agree with my brother, I must agree this time.”
I tensed.
Chen continued, “Banks gave you a clear test. First, he probably wanted to know how bad you had it for his cousin. Second, he needed to assess how insane you would be about her.”
I tapped my side. “He’s not going to know what I did.”
Duck snorted.
Hu returned to fumbling with the stupid sword.
Meanwhile, Chen stepped in front of me. “Let us hope that my team updating Banks will be able to mimic his men. If not, it will be war.”
“Then, so fucking be it.” I sneered. “Right now, Monique is my anchor in this goddamn storm of a life, and no one will dictate anything that happens between us.”
“Yes, Lei, but we do not need to push that fact this week of all weeks.”
Duck shook his head. “And. . .Banks is a mastermind with cocky manipulation. I bet he gave them a special code or something to start with, when they update him.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then, let’s get the code.”
“And who are we supposed to get the code from, Lei?” Chen left the front of me and returned to my side. “The few that aren’t in mini-comas, and it’s only a few. . .actually. . .maybe one. He can’t talk.”
Hu looked up. “Who is still conscious?”
“Rattlesnake Ricky.”
Hu shrugged. “How about I try and question him. Can he work his fingers to write?”
Chen scowled at me. “Possibly. A few weren’t broken. I think.”
Duck studied me. “I have a question.”
I looked at him. “What?”
“Was Monique mad?”
A knot formed in my stomach. “She was a little upset.”
This time, Chen snorted.
Duck raised his eyebrows. “You made her mad?”
“Her and I have a lot to discuss.”
“No disrespect, Lei.” Duck pointed at me. “But I didn’t step aside so that you could be overbearing with her.”
I fisted my hands. “You stepped aside because you didn’t want to go to the hospital, and in regard to Monique and how I treat her, it is none of your business—”
“I am watching you.”
Rage surged in me. “You’re what?”
“You fuck up, and—”
Chen loudly cleared his throat and grabbed our attention. “The tent’s flap is moving. I think she is coming out.”
Eager, I snapped my view in that direction.
The tent’s flap rustled and then lifted, revealing Monique.
The world paused, and my breath caught, held captive by her appearance.
Fuck yes.
Tonight, Monique was adorned in a blue lace corset dress that clung to her form exquisitely. The lacework detailed every curve and contour of her figure.
But it was the audacious high split on her right that drew my immediate attention. It stretched daringly up to her hip, offering a tantalizing view of her toned, sexy leg.
My cock ached.
Every step she took seemed purposeful and deliberate, made even more striking by the sparkling blue shoes that captured every ounce of available moonlight.
Fuck this feast. I should take her back in the tent.
Cascading from her ears were long blue diamond earrings, shimmering brilliantly and reaching down to her shoulders.
All coherent thoughts scattered from my mind, replaced by a vortex of emotions; hunger, yearning, excitement, and hints of fear.
My heart raced.
This insane amount of warmth spread through my chest, its intensity making it difficult to focus or even fucking breath.
In this moment, I was no longer the Mountain Master.
I was her obedient servant.
Her dutiful slave.
Whatever she desired, I would give her.
Monique got closer and closer and it became a struggle to keep my composure.
Every instinct screamed to take her away and claim her.
The feast, the guests, and my troublesome sister were temporarily forgotten.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting.” She stopped in front of us, giving me an excellent view of her lush cleavage.
My cock grew, pressing against my pants. If I didn’t have the robe on, all would have saw how excited I was to see her.
She smiled but I could tell it was forced.
That made my heart hurt.
I stirred a little. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” Again, she maintained that forced smile and this time her voice sounded like she was doing her best to be polite but was extremely furious.
I furrowed my brows. “Perhaps, we should go in the tent and talk—”
“We don’t have time for that, Lei.” Chen waved his hands. “Yan and everyone are waiting.”
I spoke through clenched teeth, “We have time.”
“We do not.” Chen held up his watch. “Anyway. Monique, as Lei said, you are a treasure to behold this evening, and due to your heels, we of course did not expect you to climb the mountain path.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I was wondering about that.”
Chen gestured to my mother’s royal chair. “These men will carry you up.”
She widened her eyes. “Seriously?”
Chen nodded. “All you have to do is get in. They will lift and be as careful as possible as they take you up to the top.”
Monique moved her attention off the chair and gazed at me. “And you aren’t going to beat them up for basically doing their job and carrying me?”
The line of my jaw twitched.
Duck snickered.
No humor hit her face. “ Mountain Master ?”
I took a step forward, slicing up the few feet between us. “Let’s hope they keep their gazes off of you and their hands positioned in the proper places.”
She frowned. “Let’s hope.”
It was clear she had a lot more to say but wouldn’t in front of everyone.
Chen clapped his hands. “Okay. Everything is clear. Let us go enjoy the feast.”
“I’ll walk you over.” I tried to take her hand.
She politely stepped out of my reach. “Thank you, Mountain Master, but I would rather walk over there by myself.”
And then she was gone, strolling away and giving me a lovely view of her plump ass.
Bu, I must touch you.
I tried to rush after her, and Duck and Chen blocked me.
I kept my voice low. “What the fuck are you two doing?”
Duck scowled. “We are preventing you from further fucking this up.”
Chen crossed his arms over his chest. “I concur.”
“Get out of my way.”
They stayed exactly where they were.
Duck shrugged. “You look nice. Do you really want to wrestle with the both of us in the dirt and in front of her? Are you sure you want to dirty your shiny outfit?”
I turned to Hu. “Straw Sandal.”
Hu grinned. “I do not see any threat at this time, Mountain Master.”
I checked the left.
There, Monique approached the chair slowly, her every step oozing grace. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the play of her lace dress against her ass.
My heart pounded.
I licked my lips. “I just want to go over there and help her in.”
Duck snorted. “I bet you do.”
“Yan is here.” Chen pointed to the top of the mountain. “Let us not forget about that.”
I continued to watch Monique. “I want her next to me, during the feast.”
Chen nodded. “Yan will be—”
“Not Yan.” I rolled my eyes. “Monique.”
Chen shook his head. “Yes. She will be next to you, and by the way, she is still mad if you didn’t notice.”
“I noticed.” I kept my view on Monique.
“However, she is doing a good job of maintaining her anger.” Chen sighed. “Which means that she understands the seriousness of this feast and will not do anything to show a crack in our armor. Yan will probably not notice—”
“I don’t care about Yan—”
“I ask that you give Monique space as we venture up the mountain.”
“What?” I looked at him.
Chen bobbed his head. “Duck and Hu will walk beside her. We should remain further behind.”
“Why would I allow that?”
Duck spoke, “Because on the journey up, I will make her laugh so much that a good bit of her anger will disappear.”
“But can I trust you?”
“Of course, Mountain Master. I told you that I was stepping aside.” Duck groaned in annoyance and headed off.
Chen scowled. “Work with us, please.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I want this feast done fast so Monique and I can talk.”
“Then, after you, Mountain Master.” Chen moved out of my way.
I began to walk forward and watched Monique up ahead.
With a resigned sigh, she lifted her dress slightly and gracefully lowered into the chair.
As she settled in, the men bowed slightly in respect. She gave them a polite nod, her poise never faltering, even though I sensed her discomfort.
She was made for this.
In that moment, she reminded me of my mother.
Chen hurried off and clapped his hands. Due to that, the four men took their positions by the poles and lifted it up from the ground.
A small shriek came from Monique, but she regained her balance and went silent.
Duck got on the left of her.
Hu went to the right.
And I. . .unfortunately. . .remained several feet behind with Chen walking on my side.