29. The Bite of Jealousy
Chapter twenty-nine
The Bite of Jealousy
Moni
The staff set down our plates. It was all a buffet of amazing dishes, but I didn’t pick up my fork.
Instead, I watched Lei. Those eyes held a swirl of emotions that were difficult to decipher, but at least he didn’t look away.
Instead, he returned to holding my hand. “You should eat.”
“Or we should talk about that phone call and. . .Marcy.”
“Is that right?” Then, Lei let go of my hand, picked up a fork, and carefully selected a piece of food from his plate. It was small, circular, and golden.
I nodded. “I think it’s good to talk about stuff that could be a problem.”
He didn’t feed himself. Instead, he held the fork in mid-air and watched me. “And you do think Marcy could be a problem for us?”
“Don’t call him Marcy.”
“Only you can call him that?”
I swallowed. “And my sisters.”
“Hmmm.” To my surprise, Lei lifted his fork to my lips. “You should eat.”
So hungry, I accepted the delicious looking morsel, closing my eyes as the flavors exploded in my mouth. It was divine—rich, buttery, and savory all at once.
Once I finished, I grinned. “What is this?”
“Let’s see.” Lei called over the chef with a slight nod.
Quickly, the chef approached and gave us a respectful bow. “Mountain Master, Mountain Mistress.”
Lei’s gaze never left mine. “What did I just feed her?”
The chef smiled. “This is my specialty. Lobster wrapped in bacon and covered in a buttery pastry.”
I savored the taste lingering on my tongue. “It’s incredible.”
“I’m glad you enjoy it, Mistress,” the chef replied before bowing and stepping back to give us a little privacy.
Lei licked his lips. “Can I feed you some more, Mistress?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“I’m happy you’re enjoying the food this evening.” He picked up another piece of the lobster bacon yumminess, and this time, I held his gaze as he fed me.
Lust blazed in his eyes, right as he brought the morsel to my mouth. One would have thought he was putting his cock to my lips.
What nasty thoughts are on your mind?
I took the food and began to eat it.
And still. . .he watched me with such intensity that it felt like he was memorizing every reaction, every sigh of pleasure.
When I finished chewing, I licked my lips and leaned closer to him. “This is amazing, Lei.”
His eyes darkened with desire. “You deserve the best, Moni.”
“Thank you, but. . .”
He smirked.
“I still think we should discuss. . .Marcelo.”
“Oh. It’s Marcelo now?”
I blinked. “What does that mean?”
Lei leaned his head to the side. “He calls you MoMo?”
“It’s a nickname from when we were kids.”
“Hmmm.” Lei forked another piece and brought it to my lips.
This time, I didn’t take it. “Do you have a problem with him calling me MoMo?”
“I’m jealous.” Lei lowered the fork to the plate. “Is that not clear?”
I blinked again.
His words hung between us like a chandelier on a frayed rope, threatening to shatter the romantic peace of our dinner.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my tone calm. “Lei, you have nothing to be jealous about. Marcelo is family. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
“He still has feelings for you.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“I would. In fact, he basically said it on the phone.”
“He’s family. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Why didn’t he offer you the place in the South before your meeting me?”
“He didn’t know we were struggling in Glory.”
“Why didn’t he know that?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was embarrassed that I couldn’t take care of my sisters on my own, so. . .I didn’t ask for help or let Banks know. I just kept thinking that if I worked harder and took on more work everything would be okay.”
“And now you’re in the East and he’s trying to stake some kind of claim?”
I shook my head. “There is no claim he is trying to stake.”
“Let’s hope not.” The rage that Lei had been holding back earlier began to appear on his face.
His jaw clenched tightly, the muscles twitching with the effort to keep his emotions in check.
His eyes, usually so warm and tender, darkened with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
The corners of his mouth turned down in a grimace and a vein throbbed at his temple, pulsing in time with his quickening heartbeat.
In fact, if Marcy had been here. . .I felt like Lei might have strangled the shit out of him.
“So. . .” I sighed. “Marcy is not going to be a problem for us.”
“He’s not?”
“No. If Marcy and I were meant to be a thing, it would have already happened.”
“In the phone call, Marcy explained why he pulled back from you.”
I shrugged. “None of that matters because I’m sure you heard that I told him that I love you .”
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
“Your saying that and being adamant about living in the East with me, is why I am here at this table.” He scowled. “And not in the South right now shoving a very sharp knife down his throat.”
I widened my eyes.
“Also. . .your sisters are in the South. I cannot exactly destroy the area if they are there too.”
And then something dawned on me. I frowned. “Is that why you want my sisters to move into Lotus Blossom officially tomorrow?”
The line of his jaw twitched.
“Lei?”
“It’s not the main reason. I already told you why I wanted them here—”
“But getting my sisters out of the South so you can fuck it up is one of the reasons?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Do you understand who I am?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Lei. You’re the Mountain Master—”
“No. I’m not talking about a fucking title .” He touched his chest. “I’m saying that do you understand that I am in every way. . . my father’s son? He raised me.”
I shivered. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that Marcy calling you by an intimate name like MoMo and bringing up old memories of wanting to be with you.” Lei’s voice grew deadly. “I can’t just ignore that. Even more. . .there’s nothing within my heart or soul that would allow me to ignore that.”
Those words didn’t just reveal a simple confession of inadequacies or an explanation of who he was. They were laced with a sinister tone, hinting at Lei’s plans to inflict pain and destruction upon Marcy.
It was clear that Lei had malicious, violent intent and was more than ready to act upon it as soon as my sisters were out of the South.
Fuck. . .
Now it was my turn to lean back in my chair. So aggravated, I crossed my arms over my chest.
He set the fork down and stared at me.
“Lei. . .”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t know what your plans are, but Marcy is family—”
“You’ve said that a few times—”
“And I meant it each time.”
“He’s not a true blood relative—”
“So?”
“So, it means that he’s not exactly protected from my hands.”
I widened my eyes. “Your hands?”
“My hands.” He picked up his fork, grabbed a little lobster bacon thing, and fed himself.
“Okay. First of all, no one is laying hands on anyone.”
Smiling, Lei enjoyed the morsal and grabbed another as if we were having a friendly conversation about movies.
“And, Lei, I understand how you feel, but jealousy isn’t going to solve anything. Marcy is my past and even more he’s not a threat to what we have.”
Lei swallowed and that rage didn’t leave his face. “And yet. . .I’m still jealous.”
“Then, stop being jealous. I’m right here. You’re all I want.”
“And I am grateful for that, but. . .Marcy is a problem—”
“Being jealous won’t solve that alleged problem.”
“Jealousy might not solve anything, but it’s a signal. It’s telling me to protect what’s mine, to not let anyone come between us.”
“Only person that could ever come between us is you .”
He frowned.
“Marcy doesn’t have my heart.” I unfolded my arms, reached out to him, and squeezed his hand gently. “No one is coming between us, Lei. I think we are everything together. I think we are. . .love and. . .beautiful passion and. . .forever. In my mind. . .our bond is stronger than Marcy or. . .your harem or even memories of Chanel coming up to divide us.”
Lei pursed his lips.
“Or am I just. . .wrong about us? Are we not that strong together? Is our bond weak? Is our love fragile like. . .thin glass?”
Lei looked at me in silence, but something shifted, ever so slightly. His hand—tense under my grip—relaxed a little.
I swore that even the pulsing vein on his temple slowed down. And I knew, even if just for that moment, he was trying to let go of the hostility.
When he spoke, the words lost their edge. “My father was right about you.”
That caught me off guard. “How was he right?”
“You just made my head spin in an odd direction.”
“I’m just telling you the truth.”
“No.” He scowled at me. “I think I’m more than pussy whipped when it comes to you.”
“Lei, first of all, you are not pussy whipped. I need you to stop saying that—”
“Why do you keep denying it?”
“Because it’s not true.” For some reason, I couldn’t stop myself from chuckling. It just spilled out of me. “Just stop it. I’m serious.”
He quirked his brows. “Why are you laughing right now?”
I tried to stop again, but more chuckles left me. “Because I think it’s funny when you say that you’re pussy whipped.”
“It’s not funny. I’m serious—”
“Which is why it’s even more hilarious.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Warn you about what, Lei?”
“About your pussy.”
I blushed and checked the chef and staff. Thankfully, they were over by the table chatting and messing around with the items over there. I lowered my voice. “We were having a serious discussion about Marcy, not about my pussy.”
“My being pussy whipped is related to that topic—”
“It is not.”
“It is.” He leaned forward, brushed his lips against my ear, and whispered, “What did you think was going to happen after you bounced on my cock today?”
Heat sparked in my core.
“You were so wet, hugging my cock. Doing that magical thing you do?”
I smirked. “I wasn’t doing anything magical. Would you stop being funny?”
“It was magic. And after all that, you think I’m going to let Marcy of all people call you MoMo and say he loves you?”
“He’s family, so accept him.”
“Oh. That easy?”
“Yes. That easy.” I leaned away from Lei. “Because Lei let’s not forget that I have fully accepted your aunts, crazy ass Chen, your men, your extravagant life, the East, your father who. . .killed my father. I’ve dealt with the harem who basically shaved off their hair and probably would have tried to harm me had I not been with you.”
Sighing, he frowned.
“I’ve been kidnapped by you, Song, and your aunts and did not file one police report.”
A smirk hit his face.
“Today, I was tested several times by your father with a sharp blade out, then he also kidnapped me to leave the East. I’m sure I’ve reached a record for being kidnapped the most in one month.”
Lei let out a long breath.
“I have had to quickly become this thing called Mountain Mistress which is going to be a complete shit show, because what the fuck is that? But I don’t care. I love you. I want to be with you. . . forever, so. . .I’m figuring it out.”
Lei parted his lips.
“Not to mention that tomorrow I have a full day of pouring tea in some sort of crazy way—”
“Practiced Grace.”
“Yes. Practiced fucking Grace. And I’ll be doing it in front of cameras, hopefully not pouring shit all over the place. And I have to do a speech.” I shrugged. “I don’t want to give a speech and pour tea, but I know that it is important to you, your father, and the East. And because I have absolutely. . .unequivocally. . .fallen head over heels in love with you. . .it’s important to me.”
His eyes watered, but no tears spilled.
“So. . .” Sighing, I picked up my fork. “Yes. You are going to not put your hands on Marcy and you are going to be on your best fucking behavior every time you see him, because I am going to be the best Mountain Mistress to you, so be the best fucking Mountain Master for me.”
This grim annoyed expression hit his face, but he said nothing.
“Marcy is family. This means that he is now your family too. You’re welcome.”
He scowled.
Happy with myself, I started to eat, sampling the succulent pieces of chicken, vegetables, and rice.
Oh my God. This chef is a beast. I don’t know if Banks will beat him tomorrow.
I almost considered calling off the cookout challenge but if my chef kicked Banks ass on the grill then it would teach his butt a little lesson about bringing his dusty ass grill to Lotus Blossom.
After several quiet minutes, Lei let out a prolonged sigh, but his dark gaze never left mine.
I could see him wrestling with the words he wanted to say, every muscle in his face tensed as if locked in a duel with his emotions.
Then finally, he let out a grumbled. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“I will be on my best behavior at the cookout.”
“Your hands will not have any contact with Marcy’s body?”
That damn mouth of his wanted to go into a sneer, I could see him battling with keeping those lips straight.
I smirked. “Yeah?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically, but the hard edge that had been present before was replaced by one of resignation. “I’ll behave myself.”
“And your men will behave themselves?”
“I cannot account for Duck—”
“You will account for Duck, and you will manage all of them and make sure everything is fucking awesome. You are the Mountain Master. I’m not trying to hear any excuses.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, really, Lei. If you all fight in front of my sisters and/or on this property, you all will be in big trouble, and you don’t want that.”
A wicked grin spread across his face, but he kept quiet.
“I already told Banks and them to be cool.”
“And if they start something?”
“They won’t.”
“Okay. Well. . .I still think that there will need to be a discussion between us and them.”
I sighed. “Does that need to happen at the cookout?”
“We are over-due for a talk.”
“But at the cookout though?”
“We can talk out by the garden while you show your sisters the house. It won’t take long.”
I studied Lei, knowing there was an undercurrent of rage still there. Surely that discussion would be more than peaceful words.
He tilted his head to the side. “Is that okay, Mountain Mistress?”
“Just talking.”
“Only words.”
“Nice ones?”
“There will be no physical violence.”
“Like I already said, if we continue, then you all will be family.”
“It is not an if , Moni, we will continue.”
“Then, get used to thinking of Banks and Marcy as your cousins.”
Disgust flickered over his face, but he straightened that expression real quick.
“Lei, they are not your mortal enemies.”
“They’re not.”
“It’s time to be cool with them.” I began to eat some more. “I read the history between you both and it all sounded childish and petty.”
“Rowe Street Mob is new to the Diamond Syndicate. Just some years here and there. Everyone else grew up in this life, so it is hard to respect them—”
“You all are Nepo babies.”
“I didn’t get the throne due to nepotism, I had to kill many men at a young age with only a fucking sword.”
I thought back to the Four Aces book and nodded. “That’s true.”
“It’s not that I expect Rowe Street Mob to bow down to us all the time, but in meetings Marcelo talks too much and stomps too damn much for my liking. Sometimes he should just shut the fuck up and take whatever we are giving him.”
“I feel like if he did that you would respect him less.”
Lei didn’t respond.
“Either way, it’s time to start working together and I think the cookout will be a great place to begin.”
We just have to make sure Leo isn’t there.
I thought about how his presence could cause Marcy to die right on the spot.
“Work together?” Lei grumbled before shoveling food into his mouth.
The corners of my lips twitched upwards in a smirk at his childish display. “Eh, if you’re pussy whipped then you’re going to be a good boy tomorrow.”
“And what will I get for being a good boy?”
“You want a present?”
“I want some pussy.”
I chuckled.
“In fact, if I’m nice to Rowe Street Mob and don’t harm them, then. . .”
I eyed him. “Then?”
“Lei wants a show.”
“Oh damn. You’re just going to turn my whole thing back on me?”
“I am.”
“Then, fine.” I held out my hand to his. “Let’s shake on it. If you’re good with Rowe Street Mob at the cookout then you get a show.”
To my surprise, a dark groan left him as he shook my hand back.
Horny man.
I shook my head.
The rest of the meal drifted away from Marcy and the cookout, turning towards lighter talks of moving my sisters in officially and how we would make room for them in our lives without disturbing the peace we had just established.
Once we were finished, Lei showed me around the garden some more, and we traveled around barefoot and naked under robes.
It was such a delightful experience, like we were kids with no real responsibilities.
Under another lit cherry blossom tree, he gathered me into his arms and kissed me with so much passion I came close to exploding.
There was so much peace with him, and I felt this deep sense of belonging.
Our love was magic.
Poetic.
The night deepened and the stars shone brighter, and the staff cleared away the dishes and went to bed, and we remained out there in the garden among the scent of jasmine and gardenias.
Fireflies danced around us.
And we made love in that garden, our bodies drawn together by an irresistibly erotic force.
Our souls entwined.
If only every moment could be this way.
Just us with the world faded and invisible.
But there was tomorrow full of all types of craziness—a tea ceremony and a homicidal father-in-law along with a cookout among two groups of people who would love to kill each other.
I still wasn’t sure if Lei truly understood that he could not harm Marcy.
Did he let all of that jealousy go?
Or would it still be a problem later?
And more important. . .my sisters were coming. . . home .
Moving to Lotus Blossom.
Were we ready for all of that?
How would my love with Lei change our family dynamic?
Also, what else would tomorrow bring?
What new challenge?
What new ridiculous problem to solve?
I should have worried about all of that more. . .but in Lei’s arms. . .all worries vanished and there was nothing but this all-consuming, breathtaking love.
It made me calm.
Made me feel safe.
Protected.
Please, God. Let everything be okay.