JAMIESON
To say it was a long flight is one thing, but to step off a plane in Osaka in high humidity was another. It added twenty pounds to me, and immediately caused me to sweat it off.
Then to see her standing there, gorgeous as ever, awestruck and surprised by my appearance...well, let’s just say I’m not the only one with surprises, am I Kaori?
To say I’ve had a while to think about it all is true, but have I come to deal with it? No. This is not what I had in mind when I fucked Carli on the porch of my rented room. Or in the shower. Or the bed. Even on the table. I’m not a teenager worried about my parents finding out, but I sure as shit was surprised.
To look at her, you wouldn’t see a change. I thought Japan would harden or soften her. I bet she’s bent them to her will. She’s still a fiery, opinionated, crash course in high grade bitch, but she’s somehow quieter.
That’s scary. That itself puts the fear of God into me.
“So now that you’ve all piled out of my jet like a clown car, what am I to do with you? I only wanted the lady that couldn’t keep it to herself, and my plans didn’t include sightseeing with all of you.”
Looking her over from head to toe, really looking for the changes in her, I see nothing. It’s been months, and she’s just as sexy as ever. There’s nothing I’d rather do right now than to spank her while I wrap her hair tight around my hand. My cock is jumping at the chance, just hearing her speak.
“Carli,” I say over the din of everyone asking questions, or arguing that it was her fault anyway. No one hears me, so I say it again louder. “Carli!”
Dropping my bag to the ground, I stomp across the space until I’m right in front of her. “Katana.” Which finally grabs her attention.
“What do you want, Crown? An award? A trophy for knocking me up? I was an independent woman before you came along and I’ll—”
Pressing my mouth to hers, I halt her complaint as she melts into my touch. Fuck, I love it when she’s this way. Wrapping my hands through that silken hair, tugging it, Carli moans into my mouth. It’s like cotton candy to my ten-year-old self. Nothing tastes better, nothing seems better, and nothing compares. Meshing hers with mine, we fight a tongue war, clacking teeth and smacking lips. This goes on for a while, until I hear my brother clear his throat with a derisive, “Whiskey.” When we don’t break away, the rest break into snide remarks. If I only had a room right now, the things I’d do to her. Finally backing off, I relent my hold on her mouth. Carli is out of breath.
“Not your best, but it’ll do for now, Carli,” I say. I’m totally trying to garner another rise out of her. That to me is when she’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met. Flushed, pissed, and spoiling for a fight.
Picking up my bag, but not releasing my hold on her body, I wrap an arm around her waist. She pushes me away. “Not owned, Crown. Not owned,” she says, and I laugh out loud.
“Never dull, Carli. Never.”
“Clearly I can’t get rid of you immediately because the jet needs fuel, but I’ll find a way to send your asses packing.”
“You don’t have to send us away, Carli. Wyatt already rented a set of rooms at the Ritz Carlton,” Circe informs her, trying to defuse the situation.
“Wait.” Pulling out her phone, Carli types away like a woman on a mission. “I may not want you all here, as I just didn’t expect it, but I’m not having you stay at that place. It’s unethical.” Placing the phone to her ear, cracking off succinct Japanese so fast that every letter seems to blend together, she clicks back and forth in her heels on the tiled floor. As quick as she started, she pockets the phone again as she walks over to one of the airport stewards. Speaking to him just as fast, he bows reverently and with respect. With a hai, which I looked up on the way here, meaning yes, he quickly turns tail and spins off into another room.
Picking her phone back up, typing away fast, texting someone at lightning speed, I watch. No, I look. I know it’s only been just shy of two months since we’d seen each other, and that she’s now carrying my child, but if anything, I’d say she’s lost weight.
“Done,” she says gleefully as she turns back toward us.
“What’s done, Car?” Circe asks in that kind of ‘what the fuck did you do’ tone. I’m starting to see these things about my sister-in-law to be. Shit, that still seems weird. Wyatt is going to marry this woman before I get a chance to beat him down the aisle.
“I cancelled your reservations because it’s owned by a rival family, and I’ve cleared out one of my hotels for everyone.”
“We’re just fine to—” China tries to protest, but she’s halted by Carli with a quick no.
“Look. You know LA gangs, and you know US customs, but you can’t even fathom the insanity that is Yakuza in Japan. Trust me on this one. Even Risen would pee his former gang ass in this instance.”
“That, I’d pay to see,” China quips. Bumping her on the shoulder, Risen smacks her ass and she squeals.
“Risen. Sister.” I remind him, but his smirk just says it all.
Ignoring the sexual tension, Carli chirps off nonchalantly, “They’re prepping the helicopters. And as soon as my sisters arrive with their entourage, we’ll head off.”
“She said helicopters, right? I heard that right, right?” Circe whispers to Wyatt with a wicked grin. Nodding, he tucks her close, and I feel like the odd man out. I’m not jealous. I just want to pull Carli close and caveman that shit.
But I don’t.
China has to have her two cents too. “And I thought we had money.”
“Yeah, not here, sister. This is my domain and I’m queen.”
“We’re obviously in the wrong family business.”
Pulling her phone out again, she looks over a few texts. “This is not one you want, trust me. Now, I need to get clothing sent to the hotel, arrange the guest rooms, and prepare the exits of those there. Excuse me.” Trotting off to a back room, Carli leaves us all standing around like gaping fools.
“Is there anything I can get you as you wait? I’m Kato, Obayun’s…assistant.” He looks at everyone before zeroing in on me, and I find myself shocked when he says, “Mr. Crown, how pleasant it is to see you again.”
Yeah, not sure he means that as I’m the baby daddy, but I’ll take it at face value for now. “Nice to see you again.”
“What does Obayun mean?” China asks. Thankfully she did or I would have.
“It is a term we use for the head of the family, the boss,” he states.
Wide-eyed, China smirks. “And Carli is the head of the family? She’s the boss? Your boss?”
“Yes. Kaori is head of Ryu. I am her second.”
“Well fuck,” Risen remarks.
Nodding, Kato doesn’t say another word. He walks off, leaving us all in awe. Well, all but me and Circe, as we already knew. We’re alone in the private airport with nothing to do until they say.
Pulling up a seat on one of the couches, reclining as much as I can without taking up too much room, I make myself comfortable. As the rest follow suit, we wait for Carli to return.