Page 176 of The Dragon 2

His expression cracked—barely—but I saw it. The tension in his jaw. The death behind his eyes. The part of him that decided to cage me in silk and gold and never let me leave.

“I want you,” he said, and it sounded like a curse. “I’ve never wanted a woman like this. And you think I’ll just accept distance?”

“No. I think you’ll have tolearnwhat compromise feels like when love is real.”

“Love. . .” He watched me for a few seconds and then his voice lowered. “Is that what this is?”

I hesitated and then I nodded. “Maybe. . .at least for me it’s the beginning of the fall. . .”

My heart hammered in my chest.

“You say that to me and my body hums.” He pierced me with his gaze. “And you think I would let you get on a plane to leave me?”

“Kenji. . .eventually I would have to. My life is in New York.”

“Itwasin New York, and understand this. . .” He moved my way until he was close to me with his arms over my shoulder, pulling me toward him. “With you. . .I will never do long distance. But. . .I will do obsession. I will do devotion. I will do war if I have to. But distance?”

He leaned in even further and his lips ghosted the shell of my ear. “Never.”

Hiroko cleared her throat, signaling to me to get Kenji back in check.

I did what we practiced, a gentle hand to his chest and my leaning away but that didn’t work.

His hold was firm and his gaze was locked on me. “I’m sorry about not telling you about the pregnancy sooner. You came into my life. Then my father did something horrific and that took up my time. . .I’m sorry, Tora.”

“I accept your apology.” I tried again to gain control, the subtle slipping away from him, but he would not have it.

Hiroko cleared her throat once more.

I swallowed.

“I’ll make sure to never fuck up again.”

“Okay, Kenji.”

“But since we are discussing tough topics, it is time for you to understand that your place is now in Tokyo.”

“It is not.”

“It is.”

“There will be distance in the beginning of our relationship.”

“Hmmm.” He came in closer and exhaled a breath that danced against my neck. “Don’t ever say that again, Tora. Not unless you want me to scorch every border, fill the ocean with bodies, and bury all miles in blood.”

My breath caught.

“After all that you have done for me tonight, if you think for one moment that I will ever let you go. . .you’ve lost your mind.Even if you ran, even if you hid, I would find you. Fuck you until you forgot your name. Whisper mine into your spine until the idea of leaving makes you sick.”

A shiver skated down my spine.

He pressed his body closer—just enough for me to feel the heat of him. The unmovable weight of him. Like gravity chose him instead of the other way around. “I meant it when I said this changes nothing, because. . .Tora. . .I am currently rearranging my entire empire for you. I am carrying your scent into war.”

“What?” My pulse pounded.

I couldn’t speak.

Couldn’t breathe.