Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Then after the ceremony, I planned to take Lei aside and tell him the truth in a more private, respectful manner.
But the thought of sitting through the ceremony, pretending everything was normal while knowing the horrifying truth, made my stomach churn.
I walked into that ceremony thinking that Leo’s test was cruel but that I had to rise above it.
I had to be smarter.
Stronger.
But. . .Lei knew something was wrong as soon as he saw me.
My heart warmed at that.
Despite the chaos in my mind, I couldn't help but love that Lei was really learning my nonverbal cues. He picked up on the slightest changes in my demeanor and I didn’t know what it was but he caught it.
Was it my unsteady breath?
Or the tremor in my hands?
It didn’t matter.
His noticing showed how attuned he was to me.
How deeply he cared.
God, I love him.
But his being attuned with my subtle differences also terrified me.
How can I get him to believe that everything is okay so we can go back into the tea ceremony?
I needed him to think that I was calm, collected, and ready to perform my duties without lying to him.
Shit.
Meanwhile, Lei remained silent as he led us to the door and opened it, guiding us out of the suffocating atmosphere of the house.
The cool, crisp air enveloped me and a sense of relief washed over my senses.
Whew. I needed this.
Descending the stairs, he took us straight toward the garden.
Lush flowers and plants greeted me. The scent of earth and blooming buds filled my senses rejuvenating my spirit even more. It was like stepping into a peaceful, manicured paradise.
But Lei didn't stop us at the edge to talk to me; he continued walking, guiding me deeper into the garden's heart.
The more we walked among this natural beauty, the better I felt.
Did he know that would happen?
I cleared my mind of all thoughts of Leo and glanced at him.
His expression remained stern and his gaze stayed forward.
We moved past the perfectly trimmed hedges and blooming roses, the scent of jasmine and lavender filling the air.
Sunlight sparkled on petals.
The further we went, the more secluded it felt too. The noises of the house, ceremony, staff, and reporters faded into a distant hum.
Finally, Lei stopped at our cherry blossom tree. Its delicate pink petals fluttered gently in the breeze.
My heart warmed.
It was the same tree where we had made love the previous night.
Damn, Lei. You’re good, baby.
Last night, everything had been so simple. Under the canopy of cherry blossoms, with Lei's arms around me, the world had melted away.
But now, standing in the same spot, the weight of reality crashed down on me.
The simplicity of last night seemed like a distant dream replaced by the harsh truth I had to deliver.
Don’t say anything but don’t lie either. Just. . .get us back in the tea ceremony.
Lei turned to me, let go of my hand and his gaze turned so intense that I felt utterly naked in his view.
Shit.
Then, he spoke. “You did an amazing job.”
I swallowed. “Thank you.”
“You were beautiful and perfectly graceful. The tea was delicious, even now as I stand out here with you. . .I want another cup. In fact. . .when we go back in, I will politely demand another cup.”
I gave him a weak smile.
“I am proud of what you did, Moni and I’m fucking grateful that you took the time and dedication to do it for me.”
Guilt slipped into my heart.
“But. . .”
I parted my lips.
“You were nervous and not just normal nervous. I think it was more because. . .I also think that. . .I’m learning you, really getting you and the perfect nuances of your movements. . . your emotions. . .the way you walk. . .the way you hold things with your hands. . .the different ways your face expresses itself. . .when you’re stressed. . .angry. . .when you’re happy. . .when you’re cumming.”
I blinked.
“And. . .in the ceremony. . .you did a decent job of hiding your terror to everyone else, but. . .I still believe I saw something that suggested to me. . .that you were bothered.” Violence flickered in his gaze. “I would never want you bothered by anyone.”
Tension gathered in my shoulders.
“What’s wrong, Moni?”
I gulped down fear and did my best to keep my voice steady. “Thank you for telling me I did well.”
He watched me.
“I’m glad that you are learning me. It makes my heart flutter.”
He wasn’t having any small talk. “Who was bothering you?”
“Lei. . .”
“My father or someone else? Was it a phone call?”
“I think that the situation. . .should be solved after the tea ceremony so I can—”
“So there is a problem?”
I blinked. “Yes.”
“What is it?”
“I want to tell you after the ceremony.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you that afterwards too.”
He studied me for several quiet seconds and I felt like he was peeling back the layers of my very being.