Page 87 of Pragma
The sexy, white lace top of sheer mesh with a double tie-front closure at the triangle cups and matching thongs Joel made especially for me is waiting in the en suite bathroom. I don’t want River to see it yet. I want him to rip it off my body with his teeth later.
I’m about to head there when the heavy knocking starts outside the fitting room door.
“Who is it?” I ask as I grab some wet tissues to clean myself.
“Thekumichowould like you to know that if you don’t come out in the next ten minutes, she will castrate both of you and then hang your appendages at the entrance of her house,” a man’s voice states, surely one of her guys in black.
“Which house?” I ask without an ounce of fear. River throws a towel at my face, coming out of the bathroom.
What?I mouth at him. She has like ten properties.
“We are coming.” River raises his voice enough to reach the other side of the door.
“Get ready.” He uses hissircommanding voice, but the peck he lands on my lips is sweet.
“In a minute.” I’m enjoying the lines of his body, the shapes of his tattoos, and the way his muscles bunch beneath his skin while he moves so fluidly as he gets dressed. Also the bite marks I left on his body make me want to beat my chest.
I sigh as I head to the bathroom and quickly put on the lingerie and the wedding wear. When I’m done, I go back to the room and move in front of the big mirror on the wall to fix my hair.
River is sitting, looking fucking hot in hismontsuki, but I can’t let him distract me. He’s watching me get ready, and I take comfort in the familiarity of it; he always stares while I make myself presentable.
“I see myself in your eyes, and fuck I’m handsome,” I tease him, while I apply some red eyeliner—I need some color.
“Idiot!” he mutters…with affection.
“Love ya too, baby bunny.”
He lets out a huff…of love.
I go for my pack of gum, and quickly push one inside my mouth. Then I slip on the traditional Japanese shoes calledgetaover the white socks.
“Let’s go!” I say just as another bang makes the door shake, but my heart is so full and about to burst that I don’t stab the guy when I open it.
What a sappy idiot I’ve become. Eh, who cares.
Our wooden shoes make quite the loud noise as side by side with River, I cross the beautiful living room of the Japanesehouse that thekumichobuilt for us in the Hamptons as a wedding present, and walk out into the simple, serene, and elegant garden. The weather is sunny today. Spring is coming, but there’s still a chilly breeze in the air.
Few people are scattered around—all influentialpeoplethekumichoinvited, my crew, and River’s brother with Moretti.
They are the first to greet us, together with Sebastiano Leone, the head of the Leone family.
“Mr. Hebikawa, thank you for the invitation. I enjoy experiencing uncharted territory.” The boss raises his glass at me and River.
“Don Leone, always a pleasure.” And I mean it. This man's cold exterior and his rigid appearance are very intriguing. Plus, he has a fantastic sense of style—I ogle his dark green Valentino suit.
River clasps my hand in his as he greets the Italian boss with a courteous but lukewarm demeanor.
“You both look gorgeous.” Joel’s smile is filled with brotherly affection.
“I feel even more fabulous than usual thanks to your present.” I wink, sharing only with him my lingerie secret.
“I’m so glad you are here.” River looks straight at his brother, nobody else. And something profound passes between them.
Something Moretti breaks with a sarcastic statement. “Wewouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Oh, dear lord, one of these days I will know what punching him feels like.
“Where’s Nero?” I ask. Bantering with the scarred giant is much more fun.
