Blake

Shanghai, China

The last couple of days had been a whirlwind. They’d arrived at the Imperial Hotel yesterday. Since the bride and groom had their own suites, it was easy for Blake to check on Lamb, who had stashed Lido in a third room. If Lido got out of line anytime during the events leading up to their wedding, he’d decided to have Lamb snuff her out. The People’s Love Project had just attested to how good of a woman Mila was. Blake knew his wife deserved to have what she wanted, which meant Lido would stand in on photo ops beginning tonight at the bridal shower. And she’d do it with a smile.

He took a deep breath while working at his tie in Mila’s suite. The room had ponds, bonsai trees, and bridges throughout that maximized the lavishness of the aesthetics.

“Gotdamn, you fine,” Mila joshed, planting herself behind him. Her head rested on the broad planes of his back.

“Choice words from my good girl.” He slid his arm back and around Mila, who was wearing white lace panties and bra. His cock became hard instantly as he pulled her tiny, curvaceous body in front of him. His chin rested on her freshly pressed hair. “And why aren’t you dressed?”

“Baby, this is the first day of the rest of our lives. I must purposefully be late.”

“Purposefully?” He reached down to bite her lip.

“Yes.” Mila smacked his lips with a hard kiss. “I love it when we go out, and you search the crowd for me. No matter how dominating you are in bed. Smacks. Bondage. I have the upper hand when I walk in the room.”

“Now that’s strategy.” He nodded. He headed to the door.

Mila strutted back to the bed. She crawled over the mattress like a lioness, stalking its prey. With sparkling eyes, she gazed back at him, making sure he was watching her ass.

He winked. “You’ll pay later.”

“Gladly,” she giggled, her legs rising and sliding apart.

“Get dressed, Mila.” He gritted out the words. Man, did he want the world to wait. Usually, he wouldn’t care about how much he delayed people, but he had to check on Lido. This is all for you, baby.

“Okay, it’ll take me a second to dress. I’m not wearing much.”

“If you don’t think I’ll approve—”

“You’ll love it.”

“Of course, I will, baby. But I’ll spank you good if what you’re wearing tonight is too revealing.” At that, Blake closed the door to their hotel room. His lengthy strides took him to the room Lamb had reserved for the better part of the week.

With the spare key that Lamb had sent to him, Blake opened the door. He hadn’t gotten a foot inside when he was stopped. Gift bags and designer boxes lined the ground and were piled high. This was the cost of having blood attend a wedding of someone he or she loved. He hated it. Blake was paying dearly for it.

Lamb staggered from the bedroom in jeans and an army fatigue shirt. “She’s resting. We just got in from Milan as you can see.”

The grumpy scowl on Lamb’s face read that he couldn’t wait for the entire ordeal to end.

“Is she presentable?” Blake asked.

A grunt came as a response. “Rarely ever is.”

“Tell her to get up. Wear one of these new gowns she bought. Remind her to act like a lady, and the car is hers first thing Sunday morning.”

“Yeah. Thanks for reminding me that I’m stuck with this woman until the day after your wedding.”

Blake headed to the door.

“Oh, and . . .” Lamb began. Blake met him eye for eye sensing the seriousness of the moment. “My wedding gift to you and the misses came early.”

Blake’s eyebrow peaked. “That so?”

“Showers can be a dangerous place, Blake.”

Aware that Lamb had no intention of elaborating further, Blake grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

Todd Welsh was dead.

Blake expected to feel a morsel of guilt. He didn’t.

That was for touching Mila.

***

The Oriental, the rooftop restaurant at the top of the hotel, had bejeweled walls with jade jewels in the shape of Oriental lilies throughout. The entire restaurant had been closed for the night’s event. Streaming down from the twenty-foot ceiling along the walls were jade crystals woven through the vines of oriental lilies. Even Blake was impressed by how enchanting the restaurant appeared. The exterior of the restaurant had a 360 balcony with a view of the nightlights and skyscrapers off in the distance.

Kiyota and his wife were about the only non-family member guests. After the customary bows, Kiyota handed over an envelope. “This is not work. It is a gift.”

“Oh, that is not necessary.” Blake started to hand it back, but Akari placed her hand over his.

“Please. You must accept. My family, we have customs. That is one.” She opened her diamond-studded purse and held out a tiny box. “The women in my family have another custom. Something for every day of the festivities. May I?”

It took Blake a second to realize that she would like to go to Mila’s room and give her the gift herself. He offered her room number, and Akari left their side.

“I’ll take a drink at the bar.” Kiyota excused himself as well, and Blake continued to check on his early arriving guests, which were most of Mila’s family.