Amery stretched and stood. “Do I need to change clothes?” She picked up the pile of clothing and slipped on her bra and panties. “I’ve been in them . . . ? How many hours?”
“The time change will really screw with you if you think too hard about it.” His gaze moved over her as she yanked her black jeans up over her hips. “And technically once we ended up in the bedroom you didn’t have your clothes on for very long.”
Such a smug look. “I’m reminded again why I don’t wear clothes that need ironing since you tear them off me and throw them on the floor every time the opportunity presents itself.”
“At every opportunity, sexy wife of mine.” Ronin flashed his roguish grin before he pulled on his black cashmere mock turtleneck. He’d already slipped his jeans back on. He sat on the edge of the bed and donned his socks and motorcycle boots.
Amery loved watching Ronin get dressed as much as she loved watching him get undressed. Maybe it was a power thing; he wasn’t comfortable showing skin in public. The only time he let down his hair, so to speak, was around her. Only she knew what a powerful, muscular, hot body was hidden beneath his gi or his clothing.
He emitted a growl and she glanced up at him. “What?”
“You know what. Stop looking at me and licking your chops or we won’t get off this plane for another hour.”
She kept her gaze fastened to Ronin as she buttoned the bottom half of her pale pink sweater, leaving the gray lace of her silk camisole peeking through the top. “Might I remind you we’ve joined the mile-high club twice in the past however many hours?”
“That’s the only way to fly, baby.”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
“You ready?”
“Give me a couple minutes to freshen up and then I’m at your command.”
By the time she exited the bathroom, the plane had come to a complete stop. Ronin was in conversation with the pilots and Nick but he broke off the discussion upon seeing her.
“Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” Ronin answered quickly. “Shall we?”
“Don’t I need my coat?”
“Not today. The weather in Osaka is beautiful,” Nick said.
Osaka? But weren’t they spending the first week in Kyoto?
“Everything onboard has been loaded into the car as per our instructions,” Nick added. “Your driver is waiting inside the terminal.”
“Thank you.” Ronin stepped aside so Amery could descend the stairs first.
A temperate breeze stirred her hair and she lifted her face to the sun. Even the sky looked different here. But she didn’t have time to gawk as Ronin steered her across the tarmac and toward the open doors.
A pudgy man in a bellman’s uniform came forward and bowed to Ronin. Their discussion seemed formal and Amery couldn’t pick out any familiar Japanese words besides udon and Kyoto. Then the driver gestured for them to follow him. A black limousine idled at the curb and another liveried man bowed before he opened the rear door.
After they were ensconced in the back, she poked her finger into his chest and teased, “A limo, Ronin? Really? Sweetheart, I already know you’re a billionaire heir so you don’t have to try to impress me.”
He snatched her hand and lightly bit the finger that’d been poking him. “So you’d rather we rode Shinkansen from Osaka to Kyoto and schlepped two months’ worth of luggage ourselves?”
“What’s a Shinkansen?”
“The Japanese bullet train.”
That sounded entertaining. “Why didn’t we just fly into Kyoto?”
“Because Kyoto doesn’t have an airport. Osaka is closest and it’s an hour drive to Kyoto. The limo wasn’t my idea. My grandfather sent this to welcome us to Japan. It’d be rude to refuse his hospitality. Besides, this vehicle belongs to Okada. It has special tags that will allow us quicker and easier access to the part of Kyoto we’ll be staying in. Since we’re both hungry I’ve asked the drivers to stop for lunch first.”
Udon. Now that made sense. “So we’re having noodles?”
“You picked that up from the conversation? I’m impressed.”
“Don’t be. Noodles and bathroom are the extent of my Japanese language skills.”
Ronin’s fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his hard gaze. “Buck up and understand you will have to rely on me for a lot of things on this trip, as much as it pains you to do so.”
That brought a smile. “It doesn’t pain me.”
“Then what is it?”
Amery studied him. His long black hair was unruly. His cheeks and jaw sported dark stubble. His bottom lip had a swollen spot on the left side. Thinking about how he’d gotten that mark sent a shiver of awareness through her. The second time he’d had his wicked way with her on the plane, he’d plowed into her with such force, with such unquenchable need he only showed to her, that she’d bit him. It hadn’t fazed him. He’d put his mouth on her ear and growled, “More. Use your teeth on me. I want to wear your passion on my skin.”
So she had. She’d given him a hickey above the edge of his collarbone. It had shocked her that her nails digging into the back of his neck while she sucked a love bruise on him had set him off.
“Amery?”
When she met his gaze again, she noticed his golden-brown eyes had softened and he’d relaxed his grip on her chin. She released a sigh, amazed as always this beautiful man was hers.
So he wants to show off a little. Spoil you a bit. Is that really so bad?
No.
Because of their financial disparity, she’d been insistent they were partners in their marriage, which worked on many levels—the most important ones for sure. But on other levels . . . she knew she’d never be his equal. And she had to accept that fact as much as he had to accept that she’d be uncomfortable with certain aspects of being with him because of who he was.
“Baby. Your silence is scaring me. What’s going on?”
Amery leaned in and licked the swollen bump on his lip before she sucked it hard. She smirked at his quick, surprised intake of breath. “I remembered I know another Japanese phrase.”
“Yeah? Which one?”
She whispered, “Aishiteru wa.”
He closed his eyes and his exhale drifted over her lips. “I love you too.” His hand slid down and curled around her throat. While feathering his thumb across her rapidly beating pulse, he pulled her close. The kiss started out slow and sweet. But things would heat up quickly and they’d be going at it in the back of the limo if she didn’t stop it, because heaven knew Ronin wouldn’t.