Page 60 of Cunning Lies
“If it weren’t for the yakuza, neither of us would be here right now,” he says, and a deep pressure fills me. He’s absolutely right, and I’m grateful for the paths we chose. That he found Tomo. That he agreed to meet with Uncle Jay about an arranged marriage with me. That I agreed to that first date at the gala.
Kenzo’s hand caresses my back as his eyes roam over me. “To be honest, you shouldn’t trust anyone, Vi. Especially me.”
“You’re right,” I say. But Idotrust him; I just won’t admit it. Saying it aloud will make that bond real, and I’m already losing so much of myself to Kenzo.
So instead, I whisper, “Kiss me.”
His lips press to mine, and I melt into his arms. He’s hard and inked up, but he feels like love, like safety, like protection, like I can bury myself inside of him and never come out. He pulls up my sweater and undershirt, then squeezes my breasts in his palms. We spin around until I’m facing the road. The breeze rustles through the desert, tickling my exposed chest.
“What if someone sees us?” I whisper.
He chuckles in my ear, and his dick stabs between my ass cheeks.
“My wife exposed like this. For anyone to pass by and see. What if Iwantthem to see you?” he says in a low voice. “What if I want the world to see that you’re willing to do anything for me? What if I want everyone to know thatyou—”
His warm words bounce across my ear.
“—are—”
His tongue leaves a trail of wetness along my neck, his teeth scraping my flesh.
“—mine.”
He whips me around, kissing me so deeply that I can’t breathe. The bonfire cracks behind us, and as he explores my body, I forget everything. My whole world is absorbed by Kenzo, by someone who choseme.A man who doesn’t ask what I can give him. Who doesn’t teach me a lesson. Who doesn’t expect me to get blackout drunk and fuck whoever he puts in front of me.
My world is absorbed by a man who even told me that I should run away from him. Who said he’d give me the respect of making that choice.
But we’re still here.
He lays me on the gravel, pulling my pants off of my hips. The rocks dig into my back, but I let him do exactly what he wants to me. His cock slides between my legs, finding his home deep inside of me, and he moans. The flames flicker in his eyes, and it’s different like this. Something has changed between us. I don’t know what it is, but his eyes stay on mine, and I know he feels it too.
We’re safe with each other.
“I’m glad you’re part of the Endo-kai,” I whisper between his thrusts. He pulls back to look deep into my eyes. A warmhearted smile forms on his lips, as if to say that he’s glad too. He brushes the hair out of my face and shoves deep inside of me again.
“One day,” he says in a low voice, “you will be too.”
CHAPTER19
KENZO
The sun shinesin the blue sky like a cartoon. I go across the street to DuPar’s Bakery. All I see in the display case are pies, not pastries, and so I call it safe and get my wife pancakes to go and one of their apple pies. It’s not an apple tart, but it’ll do.
I leave the food on the counter for her, then head to the Samurai Castle. Tomo gives me information about my latest hustle, Legendary Analysis. They’re not as suspicious as we originally thought, but still, I’ve got a stockholder’s meeting to attend for another company, so I twist around, heading to the valet.
“Ossu!” Ronin shouts, grabbing my attention.
“Hey,” I say back. Ronin ashes his cigarette and I rest against the counter next to him. “Dice been treating you well?”
“He’s fine,” Ronin says, waving the question away. “Look, I wanted to ask about your wife.”
His accent, though it was mild before, is even softer now. In a few weeks, he’s already blending in, like I’m sure Tomo did when he first arrived. I’m hesitant to indulge in this conversation, but I do, because that itch burns inside of me. What does he have to say about my wifenow?
“What about her?” I ask.
“She’s a spy,” he says. Irritation rumbles in my chest, my muscles twitching, but Ronin continues: “You have to know that too. She’s not who she says she is.”
I roll my eyes. This is why he shouted at me?
