I kiss her forehead again. “You’re safe. It’s okay. Go slow, little rebel. Take your time.”
She nods and sniffles again. “I thought you were going to a party on the yacht. I-I thought there would be strippers and stuff, and I got mad and–”
I can’t contain the snort that escapes me. “You thought I was going to some other woman when I had you in my bed?”
Her brows draw together. “I mean, I guess … Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
I laugh so hard it makes me cough, my lungs singed from all the hot smoke, but damn if she isn’t funny. “You think there’s any woman in the world who could tempt me now that I’ve had you, Mei?”
Her frown turns into a small smile. “You mean it?”
“Of course.” I press my forehead to hers. “Don’t doubt that, Mei. Ever.”
“Okay.”
I tighten my grip on her. “And don’t ever put yourself into danger like that. Got it?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“But you did. If you want to ask me something, ask. If you want to know where I’m going, ask. But do not put yourself in harm’s way. I could’ve lost you.” My voice cracks at that thought, at the pain of voicing it out loud. “Don’t do that to me, Mei.” I whisper and stroke her cheek. “Please don’t.”
She buries her face in my neck and nods. “I won’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, little rebel. We’re going to be okay.” I hold her close, and I seriously debate ever letting her outside the safety of my two arms ever again.
12
Mei
Kazuo stands at the end of the bed with his arms folded over his chest. He is practically glaring at the doctor as he checks me over. Dr. Hunt fights a smile, not seeming bothered by Kazuo. That makes one of us. I, myself, am starting to grow annoyed.
It’s been almost three days since that terrible night. I didn’t think Kazuo was mad at me at first. Not with the way he held me close like I would disappear if he let me go for even a second. He’d brought me back to the house, where he barked growly orders at everyone but me before taking me upstairs to his bedroom. He stripped me out of my clothes, pulling me into the shower with him. He’d done the same with his own clothes but left his stupid boxer briefs on.
Even with my head pounding and my lungs feeling like they were on fire, all I could pay attention to was how Kazuo’s hands felt on my body as he washed away the smoke from my hair and then my skin before doing the same to his own. I saw the outline of his erection, but he made no move to do anything about it. He never does.
Once he was satisfied that every bit of soot was cleaned off me, he brought me back to bed, where the doctor came and checked me over. By then I felt a million times better, but the doc said I needed to take it easy. Now this bed has been my prison for the past 72 hours.
At first I was loving it. Kazuo gave me lots of cuddles, and we lay in bed with Kuzi beside us. But every time I tried to take things further, Kazuo would put his hand inside my panties and make me orgasm. I thought I was in paradise. Except now I’m realizing I’m on bed arrest with only lame orgasms.
Okay, they aren’t lame. They’re mind blowing. So much so that I forget about being on bedrest when Kazuo starts kissing me and giving me his sweet touches. But I’m realizing I need more. A lot more. Kazuo is keeping me at an arm's length while still managing to hold me close. It sounds insane, but it’s true. I’m growing more impatient with each day that passes.
“Your lungs sound good. I think you can let her out of the bed now,” Dr. Hunt says as he lowers his stethoscope from my back.
“Are you sure?” Kazuo's frown deepens.
“I’m sure. She’s a healthy young woman. There’s no further need for her to remain on bedrest.”
I want to stick my tongue out at Kazuo, but I manage to control myself. Before Dr. Hunt came, Kazuo was talking about me staying in this bed for a week. There is no way I’ll ever be able to sit still for that long. I’ll go insane.
“Can we speak?” Kazuo motions for the doctor to follow him out of the bedroom. I know he’s going to try to convince the doctor to change his mind. I roll my eyes. I would call Kazuo on it, but I don’t, knowing the second he is out of this room means I’m out of this bed.
“We can,” Dr. Hunt agrees. “But her health isn’t going to change outside in the hallway.”