Chapter 46
Chapter forty-six
Between Pages
Nyomi
As I read, the room around me dissolved.
Kaoru, Yoichi, the chef, and staff could have all been on fire and I wouldn't have noticed because Korin's beast had taken over, and the bed was cracking against the wall, and Sol was screaming his name, and then this man—this insane, beautiful, fire-breathing man—lowered his mouth and blew flames directly onto her clit.
Say what now?
I reread the line and grinned.
Alright, Korin.
Then, the story went full hentai. Sol's belly rose with the sheer volume of his cum. The stuff was leaking from her mouth, her nose.
What is really going on?!! Don’t drown her in cum, Korin!
I had to fan myself from the heat.
Kenji? You read this as a kid? No wonder you are so damn nasty.
Heat crawled up my neck as I got ready to read the next chapter.
God, I hope Pyrran doesn’t come back and start fighting with Korin. I want them all cool so I can get me a nice double penetration scene.
I shifted in my chair and pressed my thighs together.
Kaoru's phone rang.
I looked up and the kitchen hit me all at once. The clatter of ceramic, the hiss of steam, Chef Bunzō's soothing voice as he spoke Japanese.
My wine glass was empty. I didn't remember drinking while reading, but I must have.
The sun was long gone. The kitchen glowed under warm overhead lights, and the windows had turned into dark mirrors reflecting the space back at itself.
Kaoru answered his phone on the third ring. “Yes. I’m here.”
I checked my left.
Steam rose from multiple pots now, curling thick toward the ceiling. Chef Bunzō stood over a wide plate, arranging vegetables with the focus of a man defusing a bomb. His fingers placed each piece with surgical accuracy.
Green, white, yellow, red, black. The rule of five.
One of his assistants ladled miso into small bowls, and another lifted a tray of steamed tofu glistening with a dark glaze.
The whole kitchen smelled different than when I'd opened the book.
Richer.
Layered.
Earthy root vegetables filled the space with herbal fragrances while the clean scent of steamed rice had settled over everything like a blanket.
Kaoru nodded. “Yeah. I’m with the Heart.”
I blinked and looked at him.
“Yeah.” Kaoru sighed. “She told us.”
I felt someone watching and checked that direction.
Yoichi still leaned against the wall with his arms folded, but the amber in his eyes had gone dark with the fading light. “Do you want more wine, Nyomi?”
“Well. . .” I considered that and decided I was already decently tipsy enough. “No. I’ll have some later.”
“Sounds good.” Yoichi winked.
Kaoru bobbed his head. "Alright. Got it. Yes, sir. I'll let her know."
I quirked my brows.
He hung up. "That was the Roar. They're close. Maybe ten minutes out."
My chest loosened. My shoulders relaxed.
Finally.
I closed the book and my whole body softened.
Ten minutes and I'll be in Kenji’s arms.
Then Hiroko's face moved through my mind. Quick and uninvited. The way her eyes had sparkled when she talked. The way she'd leaned in close like every piece of advice was a secret she was trusting me to keep.
My throat tightened.
I shoved my sadness away.
I'll grieve later. Right now, I need to be ready for them.
I smoothed my hand across the cover, stood, and looked at Chef Bunzō and then at Yoichi. "Let's set everything up at the big dining table."
They nodded, and we got to work.
The dining room was massive. A long wooden table stretched through the center of it, dark-stained and polished enough to catch the overhead light. We brought out dishes, plates, cups, sake, beer, and wine. The ceramic clinked as we set each place.
Chef Bunzō's assistants helped arrange the food while Yoichi and Kaoru positioned chairs.
Satoshi and Zo still hadn't come back which told me that they were definitely fucking.
And what about Rin?
I looked at Kaoru as he set a chair down. "Could you check to make sure Deja made it back to their villa?"
Kaoru smiled—a wicked smile that made me nervous. "I've already checked. Everything is fine."
I frowned. “That isn't an exact answer about what is going on.”
“She’s safe.”
“Safe from Rin?”
Kaoru and Yoichi exchanged glances, and then they remained silent.
Wow. The Fangs are definitely loyal to each other.
I placed my hands on my hips. "Rin better not be trying to have sex with Deja and put a silk bag on her head. I'm going to go off on him if he does."
Yoichi chose that moment to go in the kitchen.
Kaoru raised his hands, surrendering. "Hey, I have nothing to do with any of this."
"I'm just saying."
Kaoru grinned wider. "In this situation, everyone's consenting adults."
“Deja won’t be consenting to a bag over her head. She might knock Rin out for even suggesting it.”
Kaoru chuckled. “Rin can take a hit or two.”
“Whatever.” I straightened the last glass and stood there for a second. The table looked good. Full, ready, and waiting for people I loved to fill it.
Then, the door opened.
"Tora."
Every nerve in my body went still.
I turned.
Kenji.