Nine

Misha

So far Tokyo had been amazing. It had surpassed my expectations even though the first couple days had been nothing like I envisioned it. After the spicy noodles on the first day, we stopped at so many different noodle shops I was sure my stomach would burst at the seams. Or at least I might have to buy my pants a size or two bigger. But the next day Ethan had insisted on a grand sushi tour and it was amazing.

We had no more than four bites at nearly a dozen different shops throughout the day, savoring moist bites of spicy tuna, strange bits of uni, eel and a spicy dragon roll that I was pretty sure had no real dragon in it. I hoped. But it was delicious and I’d eaten one of his because he claimed it was too spicy. Amateur.

Another perk of the day was that somewhere between raw bits of yellow fin and endless cups of sake, Ethan had opened up to me. He hadn’t revealed much, just a morsel. “Savanna Stevens’ question made me remember a girl I once knew.”

I didn’t push because I knew it wouldn’t help. Instead I joked. “Are you hoping to distract me from conveyor belt sushi?”

He shook his head with a smug grin and—literally—turned his nose up at it. But he’d eaten them and actually liked both bites. “I’ll hold my judgment until I make it all night without losing this all-day lunch.”

“Oh please, we’ve had so much sushi today there’s no way to tell which one will make you sick. Not that I think any of them will,” I added hastily to his knowing smile. The day was a progress and he’d promised that after the first shoot we’d get to visit one of those far flung island temples before going home. I couldn’t wait.

But I had to because Ethan was currently being doused with several buckets of water while he smoldered at the camera. The look was so damn hot I thought my panties might catch flame at any moment. Though his gaze penetrated to the camera, he didn’t seem to pay any mind to the small Japanese men dumping buckets of water over his head. Personally, I had no idea what any of it—including the tiny black speedos—had to do with vegan Matcha tea snacks, but I appreciated the view because, hot damn, Ethan Mahoney in a suit was devastating. In jeans and the perfect t-shirt molded over his sculpted muscles, he was a wet dream. But Ethan in nothing but water, speedos and sexy bedroom eyes, well I was pretty sure I came at least twice before the shoot was over.

I was impressed at how well he took everything during the shoot, especially all the water, which I imagine grew old pretty damn fast. But from where I stood every shot looked great. They’d used up every hour of the six they’d reserved for him and had gone a little over. Lost in deep blue eyes gazing back at me from the laptop, I snapped to attention when I heard those magic words, “That’s a wrap.” When I looked up the living, breathing version of the speedo shoot strolled towards me wearing a crooked grin.

“Sorry about that. It took a lot longer than it should have.”

I nodded at his words but his wet, rippling abs distracted me. All six ridges mesmerized me by the way they moved with every breath he took. I wanted to curse the assistant who hurried over with a robe to cover him up because when my gaze finally traveled back to those sparkling sapphire eyes, his lips parted in a knowing grin. “I’m going to dry off and get dressed. Then I have a surprise for you.”

A surprise? Seeing that body up close and personal was all the shock I could handle for one day, but I nodded and struggled to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor. “Uhm, yeah. Okay.”

It’s a good thing I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes from that fine physical specimen because a small brunette with a pixie haircut blocked his path. “Ethan Mahoney, Tamara Walker from Daily Gossip. Is it true that you’ve been in rehab dealing with a drug problem?”

He froze at her words and I marched over, sliding between them. “I don’t think so. You want to talk to him, set up a time with his assistant. This is my time.” I grabbed his hand protectively and pulled him along, with no choice now but to follow him to his dressing room. “Sorry about that,” I told him and turned to face the door while he undressed.

“Don’t apologize, I’m grateful. You don’t have to turn away Misha, we’re not kids.”

Definitely not kids, that much was certain. “Believe me, I’m aware.”

He chuckled behind me and I rolled my eyes. The man knew he was gorgeous as hell but I didn’t have to indulge his ego. “Come on.”

An hour later we sat inside—of all things—a kitty café sipping coffee. “While I do appreciate this surprise, this is supposed to be about you Ethan.” I loved the idea of snuggling with cats while I sipped a delicious dark roast. “How’d you find out about this place?” I never would’ve found it without him.

His deep laugh drew a few interested stares from men and women, at least the few who patronized the shop. “Hiro, the guy on the ladder pouring water over me, wanted to know how I landed a hottie like you and I told him I was always doing funny shit just to hear you laugh. He said this place would keep you happy.”

And I did laugh because what a great story. I laughed with my whole body, feeling a flush stain my cheeks at the genuine smile in his eyes when I did. I felt something akin to affection spread through my body at this moment we shared and I had to bring myself up short. He was a client. A very handsome client who smiled rather than cringed at my loud laugh. Something none of my exes could say truthfully. “I’m glad you did because this place is amazing. And I think you are far too charming for your own good, Ethan Mahoney.”

“Not always,” he muttered as a dark look crossed his face.

I laid a hand on top of his, feeling the pain he couldn’t always hide. “Well none of us are anything all the time . Do you think I’m always this ball of sunshine you see before you? Hell no! Sometimes I have to phone it in and I hate it, but we all have jobs to do. So there you go.”

“That’s it, there you go? What does that even mean?”

The man was…I didn’t know. I feigned shock and placed a hand on my chest, head tilted to the side. “Oh, you poor thing, you don’t know?”

His brows dipped low. “Know what,” he grunted, clearly put out by the ambiguous question.

“That you’re not perfect.”

The look he shot me was priceless and I couldn’t help it, I laughed again.

***

“This place is breathtaking. The perfect view to remember Tokyo by.” Ethan held my hand, not in a romantic sense but just to connect in this moment of awe, as we took in the Daigo-ji temple. We took a long peaceful hike to the third structure of the temple, both of us lost in silence and beauty. It was strange but, Ethan seemed more at ease today than at any other time since I met him.

“It really is something special.” He laughed and flung an arm around my shoulder. “I never would’ve come here if not for you.”

“Probably not, but I’m sure you would’ve found something equally enchanting.” The man had traveled the world but he didn’t take any time for himself. “You need to do more things like this for yourself Ethan.”

“I’ll do that as soon as I add five more hours to the day.”

As we stood there looking at an endless sea of green and blue, I turned to him. “Don’t take this the wrong way Ethan but, how much is enough?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I understand you working hard for the past decade, modeling and then mogul-ing. But now you are a billionaire so, how much more will you need before you stop going full throttle like this?”

“What am I supposed to do?” He stared at me like I might have the answer.

“I don’t know, delegate? Sell? I’m not judging Ethan, I really want to know the answer.”

He sighed, remaining quiet as we found our way back to the main street and into the city. We stopped for dinner at a beautiful steak house, drinking too much plum wine before Ethan finally said another word. “It’s not about the money. I’m too young to retire so what the hell else am I supposed to do?”

“Surf? Let someone else run the company so you could enjoy all those years of hard work you put in?”

“Yeah,” he grunted and poured more wine.

“Yeah,” I echoed and took a long sip from my glass. We enjoyed dinner, talking about lighter subjects. “That is the best steak I’ve ever had.”

He laughed and slid the final bite on his plate over to me. “It was superb but I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Thanks,” I stole the piece and chewed, moaning deeply at the rich flavor and moist texture. “Damn I could eat one of those every single day!”

“I’m sure even your curves would have something to say about that.” The look he sent me was hot enough to char the thickest slab of meat. I sucked in a breath.

“I’d just have to exercise a little more. It would be totally worth it.” My attempt to shake off the serious heat with humor worked a little, but by the time we left the restaurant, a thick layer of sexual tension settled between us. Dammit. “Whoa!” A group of young people slammed into me and I slammed into Ethan, who brought his hands around my waist to settle me. “Thanks, Ethan.”

“My pleasure.” His head dipped low. I’m not sure who bridged the gap, him or me, but suddenly we were kissing. Mouths crashing together in a tangle of lips, tongue and teeth. His hand fisted at my hips and pulled me closer so I could feel the way his cock grew for me. The kiss was explosive, nuclear even, and it only got hotter as it lasted.

I wanted this man, more than I’d wanted anyone in a very long time, and I couldn’t have him. I broke the kiss, pulled back and looked at him, searching. For some kind of sign, anything to confirm that this was a monumentally bad idea. But there was nothing and it terrified me. “Sorry. I-I shouldn’t have done that.”

His big hands slid up my waist, over the swell of my breasts and shoulders until they cupped my jaw. “Yes you should have and you damn well know it. Don’t worry Misha, I wouldn’t force you to do something you didn’t want to do.” His voice was thick, tortured and maybe a little angsty.

“Yeah I know that, just like you know you wouldn’t have to. That’s the problem. Me.” I turned and continued the path to our hotel, lost in thought as he fell in step beside me. As soon as the suite door closed behind us, I turned to apologize and my face slammed right into his chest.

A low groan came from him at my touch, which turned into a caress and I pulled him down until his lips collided with mine in a frenzied kiss that was both hot and sweet. His body pressed into mine and my back slammed into the wall, his cock pressing low into my belly. I moaned at the feel of his hard prick pressing into me and he swallowed it up, pushing me further into the wall. He moaned my name and his mouth traveled down my neck, his tongue brushing over soft skin leaving a trail of wet heat that pulsed through my body. “Misha,” he groaned. “Stop now if you don’t want this. One kiss of your sweet mouth will never be enough.”

My breaths were labored but I craned my neck to get another taste of his mouth. I didn’t want to talk about it, I just wanted to keep kissing him. Tasting the masculine goodness that was Ethan’s mouth. But he took over the kiss, controlling everything from the tilt of my head to the drugging, torturous drag of his lips against mine. I couldn’t breathe but I didn’t dare to pull back, to miss a moment of the hottest kiss of my life. But Ethan made the decision, blue eyes searing into me like a laser, burning my skin. “Ethan, please.”

“Say it again,” he commanded.

“Please.” His mouth went to my neck again and I arched back to give him better access, my hands explored his chest and abs, enjoying the feel of hard, rippling muscles. The shuddering breath he released made the decision for me and my hand snaked beneath his waistband. “Please,” I moaned again.

Suddenly his hands moved at lightning speed, removing what felt like miles of billowing fabric over my head, and I let my head fall back with a thud against the wall. “You’re so fucking soft,” he told me as he kissed his way up my legs, to my thighs before he placed a kiss right at my center. The moisture from his mouth causing wicked friction between the wet fabric of my panties and his hot mouth. “You smell so good.” In one swift yank, he tore the panties off me and licked me right up the middle.

“Ethan.” His mouth felt so good, so wicked. Hot and hungry as desire pulsed through me. “I want you.”

His blue eyes sparkled up at me as he gave me one long, slow lick before he stood, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Too slow.” In a move I’d never done before, I grabbed the fabric and pulled until the buttons flew apart to reveal smooth, tan skin, ripe with muscles. My hands moved in a frenzy, freeing him from his pants and his pin-striped boxer briefs until my eyes settled on his beautiful cock. “You really are gorgeous everywhere.”

A low growl sounded from him moments before our mouths crashed together desperate and hungry for more. I stroked his long, thick length, bringing him closer and closer to where I ached, dripped, throbbed for him. His hands went to my ass and lifted me in the air, impaling me on his cock in a fevered, fervent thrust.

“God, yes Ethan.” Then we didn’t speak, our bodies did all the talking and teasing, tasting and tempting. We came together raw and sensuous, fast and hard as though we couldn’t get enough. He was thick inside me, filling me up deliciously as his mouth scraped against my neck. Competing sensations skated over my skin, slithered through my blood until my nails dug deep in his shoulder, my teeth sank into the muscle between his neck and shoulder. And all too soon I erupted, shattered around him in hard and fast pulses that squeezed him and pulled him deeper, triggering another wave of orgasm. “Ethan,” I panted his name over and over, like a spell on my lips while his hips thrusted faster and harder, deep into me until he exploded inside me with a thick, fevered growl that I felt from the core of me all the way to the surface of my skin.

“Misha.” He pulled back, fused his lips to mine. That mouth sent me to heaven and back as he walked down the hall to one of the rooms and laid me on the bed. “You’re a fucking goddess. So lush and soft, wet and pink.” His hand moved up my leg and over my hip as his lips fused to my breast. His teeth tugging a nipple.

“Your mouth is…magical.”

His deep laugh rumbled through my body, setting off sparks everywhere his mouth landed. “I’ll show you magic, sweetheart.”

“Yes, Ethan.” My fingers tangled in his hair, holding him close while that magical mouth took me places I’d never been before. Sent me soaring high above the Tokyo night. When his mouth finished the final exploration of my body, I was sated and loose-limbed. Happy and boneless.

“Misha, Misha, Misha. My sexy little bohemian goddess. How about a shower?”

That woke me up. “I’ll wash you first,” I told him with a hungry look in my eyes.

“Deal.” He yanked my leg and tossed me over his shoulder, carrying me into the bathroom with a sharp smack on my ass.

It was the most erotic shower of my life, soaping up every inch of his toned body. Licking every plane and valley until he felt as satisfied and boneless as I did.

All the while ignoring the warning bells clanging in my mind, screaming that I’d just made a monumental, irreversible mistake.