Page 95 of The Dragon 1

I nearly crushed the cup in my hand.

Is she trying to start a war in Japan?

I had to calm myself.

She didn’t know who she was playing with.

Not yet.

I didn’t even lift my cup to drink. “You won’t go to any other soaplands.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Look. I came to Tokyo to write a book about the underground sex industry.”

I stayed silent.

“How am I going to do that if you’re banning me fromallof Japan’s red-light districts?”

“Your research is dangerous.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should.”

Her chin lifted. “You don’t get to be as successful as I am from being afraid to do things.”

Mmmm.

The way she said it. Like a woman who had already walked through fire and would do it again with no hesitation. It all made my cock stir in my pants.

Then—she smiled. “However. . .if you think it would besodangerous. . .maybeyoucan be next to me when I do my research.”

A hum of desire pulsed through me—low and deep, centered between my ribs and my cock.

She’s very good.

I imagined it all in one blinding flash.

Standing beside her in a red-lit corridor while shadows danced behind paper screens. The scent of sweat, perfume, incense. Watching her gaze linger as a woman in a latex suit moaned on a rotating stage.

Seeing Nyomi’s pupils dilate, her breath hitch, her thighs clench.

Knowing she was turned on.

KnowingIwould be the one to deal with all that heat later.

I grinned slowly. “Naughty Tora, I believe you’re starting to understand your power.”

“Sounds like you want to be my research assistant,” she tilted her head. “Do we have a deal, Kenji?”

“We do.”

The surprise in her eyes made my chest thrum. She hadn’t fully expected my quick agreement. She probably thought it would have been more of a verbal battle. Perhaps, she had even more counters to raise spinning around in her head.

Either way, I liked that I surprised her.

“Well. . .” She blinked. “Then. . .thank you.”

I nodded and took a skip of my saké.