Unwound

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AMERY was outside, securing the metal drop downs over her windows, when she heard someone call her name. She glanced over to see Shiori leaning against a black limousine. She wandered over, brushing the dust from her hands. “You’ve stopped by twice in one week. Are you bored?”

Shiori smiled. “As a matter of fact, I am. But that isn’t why I’m here. I wanted to see how things went with Ronin last night.”

“You didn’t talk to him today?”

“No. I’ve been busy since early this morning, and I’m not teaching at the dojo tonight. So what happened?” When Amery hesitated, Shiori said, “We can discuss this in private, if you like.” She opened the limo door.

“Cool.” She slid across the gray leather seat to the other side.

Ms. Impeccably Dressed practically floated into the car. Her champagne-colored linen pants didn’t have a single wrinkle, and her soft pink silk shirt had zero static. The woman never had a hair out of place. Even the night she’d shown up at the hospital at three in the morning, she’d looked like she’d just stepped away from a fashion shoot.

Amery checked out the interior of the limo. Tinted windows, plush carpet, tons of legroom. Seats that were both firm and cushiony. Beneath the sliding window was a console with a mini fridge. Even the ceiling was upholstered in velvet.

“I’ve been in a limo only once, when my friend Alyssa got married. I suppose that seems strange to you since having a car and driver at your disposal is your life.”

“It’s not like I have a choice. I don’t know how to drive.”

“At all?”

Shiori shook her head. “I don’t need to drive in Tokyo. And other countries I do business in frown at an unlicensed driver on their roadways.”

Amery laughed. “I suppose that’s true. But I can’t imagine not being able to climb in my car and drive wherever I want to.”

“Where would you like to go now?”

“Oh. I thought we’d just sit curbside and talk. Especially since it’s rush hour.”

Shiori pushed the intercom button. “We haven’t chosen a destination yet, so we’ll just stay here for now.”

“Let me know when you’re ready to go, ma’am.”

After winding her long, black tresses into a knot at the back of her head, Shiori secured it with a pair of chopsticks. Then she slid open a door on the face of the console.

“Holy shit. This is a fully stocked limo.”

“A requirement for an Okada executive since my job drives me to drink. What’s your poison today?”

“Rum and Coke would be great.”

“A favorite of mine as well.” Shiori flipped open another compartment, which contained ice. She filled two glasses and mixed the drinks like a pro, even adding a wedge of lime.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I hate to admit I usually drink alone, so this is nice.” She kicked off her heels, five-inch leopard-print Pradas, spreading her bare toes into the carpet with a soft sigh.

Amery sipped her drink. “I appreciate you coming by last night. By the time I got to Ronin’s place, he’d worked through some of his anger.”

“Did he tell you what Naomi said to him?”

“We discussed it this morning, which brought up some issues between us that we’d both conveniently shoved aside.”

“Can you talk about those issues?”

She studied Ronin’s sister. The big bad international corporate executive with tremendous sway in Amery’s career didn’t look so scary with her shoes off and her hair twisted into a messy bun. It occurred to her that since Shiori knew Ronin’s proclivities, she’d be a good one to talk to about her fears.

“Why are you sizing me up?” Shiori asked with that haughty edge.

“Relax. I’m just wondering if we’re off the record right now. I work for you, and I want to keep things professional.”

“Technically you don’t work for me since I . . .” She stopped. “Not important. But you’re also involved with my only sibling, so we’ll have a personal crossover regardless. I’m sure I’m probably the last person you’d trust, but I’d like to prove you can trust me. Obviously my first loyalty is to Ronin, and if you do or say anything that would put him in physical or emotional jeopardy, naturally I’d tell him.”

Good to know that after all the trauma Shiori had helped create in Ronin’s life that now she looked out for her brother’s well-being. “Fair enough. Our off-the-record time is just girl talk. But if you say or do something that might hurt him, same goes. I’ll tattle on you like a six-year-old girl.”

Shiori laughed. “Deal. And off the clock, my friends call me Shi.” She held her glass up for a toast. “May our shared secrets be as juicy as the men in our lives.”

Amery clinked her glass to Shiori’s. “Oh, I got that covered.”

“Did Ronin attack a heavy bag last night to work out his frustrations?”

“He was in the pool when I got there. His knuckles weren’t scuffed up like other times when he used his fists. But he was exhausted, so I imagine he did some punishing activity in the dojo.” Amery was a little clinical when she summarized what Ronin had told her.

“That’s not all of it, Amery. Probably not the worst of it.”

Why was she surprised Shiori had picked up on what wasn’t said? “Naomi told him she’d heard at the club that I refused to be his rope model in public. She asked him how he let a student dictate lessons to the teacher, which when phrased that way . . .” She swallowed a mouthful of courage. “It puts him in a bad light. But the thing is, since we reconciled, we haven’t discussed whether he’ll continue with demos. Or whether I’d be okay if he used someone else.”

Shiori cocked her head. “Being his rope model in public was a hard limit for you?” When Amery blinked with confusion, Shiori clarified. “Something you will not do under any circumstances, which means you’ll safe-word out.”

“We don’t use safe words. If I get panicked by a binding, I tell him and we talk through it. We don’t um . . . practice any aspects of BDSM.”

“Besides the tying-up-with-ropes and having-sex-tied-up aspects,” Shiori said dryly.

“We don’t practice any other aspects of BDSM besides bondage,” Amery clarified. “He told me this morning that he’d gone to the club during our break.”

“I’m not surprised, but at least he told you. He could’ve lied and you wouldn’t have ever known.”

“I realize that.”

“Were you pissed off, or hurt or what?”

“All of the above. But I don’t have a right to any of it. We weren’t seeing each other at the time, and he told me he didn’t fuck her.”

“And you believe him?”

Amery looked up. “Yes. Public sex after the binding became an issue between him and Naomi. I don’t have to tell you that your brother is a very private man. Sex isn’t sacred, but it is the ultimate intimacy. He and I are in agreement on that. But I have the same sense of privacy when it comes to baring all. Not to him. But to people I don’t know? That terrifies me.”

Shiori reached for her hand and squeezed. “Understandable. Maybe the reason it doesn’t seem like a big deal to him is—”

“Because he’s not the one who’s naked!”

“There is that. But Ronin has been around people in the lifestyle long enough to know they’re not judging you. I’m sure he feels that should allay your fears.” She smiled. “And as a man, he wants to show you off. He wants to demonstrate how in synch the model can be with the rope master. How beautiful you are bound in his rope designs. He wants every person in attendance to feel the sexual heat between you two, because that, more than anything, will prove to everyone that kinbaku is a sensual art.”

“It makes sense . . . Until I imagine myself wrapped wrist to ankle and exposed to the point they could see up into my tonsils.”

“There’s a visual. Look, you have to set limits. Ronin won’t know where to start unless you tell him what you won’t do. It’s give and take. I can’t imagine he wouldn’t let you wear a thong if he was focusing on chest harness techniques. It’d be different if he was teaching a class of basic rope knots rather than giving a demonstration of a full binding.”

She hadn’t considered that. Heck, she hadn’t thought beyond no, and yet she remembered her irrational jealousy when Ronin had bound that woman at the club. That brought her full circle. “The other reason Ronin was so angry yesterday? Naomi offered herself as his model if I wasn’t up to the task. I think that made him wonder if I’m right for him.” Amery finished her drink. “When it’s just us . . . it’s beautiful and sensual, and I don’t know why my willingness to hand him the ropes behind closed doors isn’t enough for him. But I’d never give him an ultimatum because I’d definitely lose him.”

Shiori thoughtfully tapped her fingers on the back of the seat.

“What?”

“Wearing a mask wouldn’t solve anything either. And I would imagine, like most men, he prefers to look at your face while you’re in the scene.”

“Unless he’s directly in my face, I doubt that’s where either one of his heads is focused.”

“True. It’s just too bad you can’t wear a wig and a mask. You’d be amazed by how many people you’d fool and how freeing anonymity can be.”

“Speaking from personal experience, Shi?”

“Yes. But to get the real scoop on that secret?” She rattled her empty glass. “I’ll need several more of these.”

“Fill ’er up. It’s not like we’re driving.”

• • •

AND that’s how they ended up club hopping—after zipping through the McDonald’s drive-through for burgers and fries to soak up some of the alcohol.

Amery wished she’d invited Chaz along since he knew all the hottest clubs. Once Shiori let her hair down, she really let it down. With her exotic looks, men flocked to her. She took it all in stride, not acting like a billionaire heiress, a badass ninja, or the VP of a global corporation.

They danced and laughed and drank. Amery tried to pick a guy for Shiori, but every guy had a flaw that precluded Shiori from approaching him.

“What about him?” Amery asked. “Brown shirt.”

“The one who looks like Curly from The Three Stooges? Pass.”

“How about his friend? The tall blond?”

“Possibly. He looks European. Had enough of those types. I hate competing for the mirror the morning after a hookup.” She shuddered. “I actually had one guy get out of bed after we finished banging the headboard, so he could complete his nightly skin-care regimen before he fell asleep.”

“Bullshit.”

Shiori held up her hand. “True story. As soon as he slipped on the cooling eye mask? I was gone.”

“I definitely have to introduce you to Chaz. You two can try to one-up each other on bizarre hookup stories.” Amery’s phone buzzed on the table again.

“Is that my brother?”

“Yes.”

“How many times has he called tonight?”

“A few.” She squinted at the recent calls list. “Wow. He’s called eight times before the last two times.”

“Why didn’t you answer it?”

“Been having fun with you. If I tell him I’m hanging with you, he’d try to horn in.”

Shiori leaned closer. “You’re really having fun with me?”

“Of course. Why? Am I holding you back from hitting something like that?” She angled her chin to a guy with long hair decked out in biker gear who’d been hovering near their table.

“You suck at trying to nail my type,” Shiori said. Then she laughed. “But I suck worse at nailing my type.” She squeezed Amery’s forearm. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a girls’ night out. Thank you.”

“You start in with the ‘I love you, man’ stuff and I’m decking you. Wait. You’re a ninja badass like your brother. You’d whale on my sorry butt.”

“He’d shudder to hear you say that.”

Amery picked up her phone. “How do you say ‘I love you’ in Japanese?”

“Aishiteru wa.” Shiori took a sip of her drink. “One thing to remember. Japanese people don’t feel comfortable verbally expressing their feelings like Americans do. So that’s said only on rare occasions. Telling Ronin you love him in English would probably mean more to him.”

“If it’s rarely said, then they’re definitely words I need to know. So say it one more time. Slowly. Phonetically.”

“Eye-she-teh-rue wah.”

Amery repeated it four times.

“You want another round?” Shiori asked.

The music had dropped a decibel, allowing Amery to call Ronin. “Probably not. But I’d take a Coke straight up.”

A devilish look entered Shiori’s eyes. “Did you say a cock straight up?”

“No, I did not say I wanted a cock straight up. You do need to get laid.”

“Amery? What the fuck?”

“Oh, hey, ah . . . hi, baby. I was just . . . you know . . . talking.” She flipped Shiori off. “What’s up? I see you called a few times.”

“A few? Try ten times. And where are you that you can’t answer your fucking phone?”

“A club.”

“What club?”

“Not the kind of club you prefer.”

Shiori choked on her drink.

“Where. Are. You?”

Ooh, that was his not amused tone. “Shi, what’s the name of this place?”

“Shi?” Ronin repeated. “Who are you with?”

“Your sister.”

“Since when are you and Shi drinking buddies?”

“Since today. And we’re not only drinking buddies; we’re club-hopping buddies.”

“Where are you?”

“A strip club,” Shiori shouted into the phone.

“Shi! He’s making that pissed-off sound, so knock it off.”

“Amery. Focus. For the last fucking time. Where. Are. You?”

“We’re at this sixties-themed club. It’s on—”

“I know where it is. I’m on my way. Be ready.”

“For what? Let’s get ready to . . . rumble!” She snickered at her lousy cage announcer impression. “Oh, come on, Ronin, that was a funny MMA joke!”

No response.

She squinted at her screen. He’d hung up.

“So how pissed off is my big brother?”

“Some.” She smirked. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Or submit to,” Shiori said with a grin.

“Shut. Up.”

“You blink at him with those big blue eyes and you get pretty much whatever you want?”

She shook her head. “Sadly, I never learned to use the whole ‘feminine wiles thing.’ What about you?”

“I’d claim to be a rebel, but everyone knows I follow the rules.”

“I hardly think that you being a—”

“Look at you two, hitting all the classy clubs in town. Or is it just the limo that makes you think you’re classy?”

Amery turned toward the voice to see if the woman’s face matched her sneering tone. Yep. The ugly twist to her lips marred the slender Asian woman’s beauty. A niggling warning started at the back of her neck. She scrutinized her. Could this be Naomi?

Nah. What were the odds that out of all the clubs in Denver, they’d end up at the same one? She glanced at Shiori. But her angry eyes confirmed Amery’s suspicions, and her pulse quickened.

“Quite the little adventure you two have had tonight.”

“And how would you know that?” Amery asked. She didn’t try to keep the loathing out of her voice.

“Because I’ve been following your trail of empty lowball glasses since you left Lodo. I’d hoped to have a word with you alone, Amery, but you closed up shop early today. When I saw you and Ronin’s traitor sister partaking of the Denver nightlife, I thought I’d see what you two consider fun.” She waggled her cell phone. “Maybe videotape the shenanigans. Put the clips up on YouTube. The VP of Okada getting her drink on.”

Shiori froze.

Then Naomi focused on Amery. “If I know Ronin—and trust me, I do know the man better than you ever will—he’ll be livid at the footage of you dancing, seeing how you let your male dance partners put their hands all over you.”

Amery laughed. “Your life really must suck big hairy donkey balls if the only way you get your kicks is by spying on other people.”

“Ronin and I never had to go out to have fun,” Naomi cooed.

Don’t fall for her stupid taunts. But that didn’t mean she’d allow herself to be verbally assaulted. “That’s right; you preferred to go to the club on your own without Ronin. How did that work out for you?”

“Fine for several years. How long have you been with him?”

Amery ignored the last comment and focused on the first part. “Fine? Really?” She leaned closer. “Oh, right, then he figured out that you were desperate to be whipped and humiliated before some strange man fucked you. No wonder Ronin dumped your dumb ass.”

The crack across Amery’s face landed so hard it snapped her head back. Before the shock registered, she saw that hand flying toward her face again.

She reacted instinctively. She grabbed Naomi’s wrist and twisted her arm, standing up to put her body weight into it. Then she kicked the back of Naomi’s knee. As soon as the woman lost her balance, Amery was on her, bringing her to the ground. Keeping Naomi’s arm behind her back, she pushed the side of her face into the ground and stepped on her other hand.

Naomi screamed.

When bar patrons circled them, Shiori warned them off.

“You disgust me, and that was even before I met you in person,” Amery said with pure venom. “Stay the fuck away from Ronin. Go back to whatever hellhole you climbed out of. You’re a fucking idiot for what you did to him, and that eats at you, doesn’t it? Knowing what your big mouth and your greedy pussy cost you. No one cares about you anymore. Out of sight, out of mind, bitch. And if you ever touch me or what’s mine again?” She leaned down to whisper, “I’m from North Dakota. Which means I know how to use a goddamn gun.” Amery released her, but she backed away slowly, keeping an eye on Naomi in case she tried to attack her.

A heavyset Japanese man cut through the crowd and helped Naomi to her feet.

Amery and Naomi glared at each other, hatred burning the air between them.

A hand landed on the back of Amery’s neck. With adrenaline coursing through her, she just about started throwing elbows, when his hard body pressed against hers.

Ronin.

Naomi’s eyes stayed on Ronin. Her lip curled when he placed a soft kiss on Amery’s burning cheek. “You’ll never keep him.”

“Luckily he doesn’t want to be a kept man.”

Her face turned red and she shook with rage.

“Oh, and for the record? I am Ronin’s rope model. His only rope model. In private and in public. Someone at the club fed you what you wanted to hear. So next time get your facts straight before you start offering your”—Amery gave Naomi a sneering head-to-toe perusal—“second-rate services to my man. We will be doing a demonstration soon. And trust me; it’ll be something they’ll be talking about for years to come.”

Ronin’s hand tightened on the back of her neck.

Shiori stepped forward. “And also for the record?” She waggled her cell phone. “You’re not the only one with videotape capabilities. If a single image from tonight ever shows up anywhere—and trust me; I’ll know since I have teams of computer techs who live for this kind of shit—I will upload this to every media outlet. You’re done fucking with my family forever, Naomi.”

Her bodyguard or whatever he was stepped between them and ushered Naomi out.

After Naomi disappeared into the crowd, Shiori launched herself at Amery. “You are the shit! We are drinking to celebrate.”

“She’s had plenty to drink. I’m taking her home.”

Before Amery could remind Ronin he didn’t speak for her, Deacon tugged her away from Ronin and hugged her.

“I am so freakin’ proud of you, darlin’! You reacted to the situation calmly and showed adaptability. Score one for Black Arts and the girl who paid attention in class.”

“Don’t you mean the flavor of the month who paid attention in class?”

“I only said that to get you to punch harder.”

“You are a sadistic asshole.”

“Yep, but it worked, didn’t it?”

Ronin gently maneuvered Amery away from Deacon and slanted her head back to scrutinize the raised welt on her face.

“I’m fine.”

His eyes were black with fury. “She marked you.”

“I marked her back worse.”

“We need to get you home and ice this before it swells.”

“Killer here,” Deacon said slyly, “ain’t leavin’ until we get to toast her victory. The girl deserves it.”

“One drink.” Then Ronin hauled her body against his, right there in the middle of the bar, and pressed kisses over every inch of the red mark. Twice.

After the toast, Ronin towed her to the dance floor. He entwined their bodies, and they swayed to the sultry song. He kissed her with sweet heat and the urgency that made her girl parts tingly and her panties slick.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with her.”

“I’m not. Now she knows I’m not afraid of her.” She nuzzled his neck and inhaled Ronin’s scent: salt and clean cotton. “How much did you see?”

“All of it. Deacon kept me from jumping in. I saw some of the self-defense training stuck with you.”

“I can’t believe I won my first fight.”

“Got the fever now?” he whispered in her ear.

“Just for you.” Amery kissed him. “Because you are worth fighting for.” She whispered, “Aishiteru wa.”

His eyes softened, turning that beautiful liquid gold. “Baby.”

They danced in silence for a while, just holding each other.

Then Ronin said, “Were you high on victory when you threw down the gauntlet about doing a rope demo at the club?”

“Maybe. She pissed me off. I’ve been mad at her since this morning when I heard what she said to you last night. And her look of shock when I informed her she was wrong? Totally worth it.”

Ronin stopped dancing. “What won’t be worth it? Your look of shock in the club when I’m binding you in front of a crowd. Letting her push you into doing something that scares you gives her power.”

“No, I took the power. I talked to Shiori about my concerns about a public binding.”

At first it looked like he might protest about her choice of confidante, but he said, “I’m glad you talked to someone.”

“Shiori also said depending on the type of technique, maybe I wouldn’t have to be naked.”

He gave her that patient Sensei stare.

“Aren’t demos more about the completed rope configuration instead of the individual knot techniques?” She swallowed hard at the coolness in his eyes. “In a few of the books you had me look at, the rope models were partially clothed. The clothing even adds to the rope configuration.”

“But you are serious about letting me bind you at the club?”

Amery inhaled and exhaled before she spoke. “I’m willing to take it situation by situation. I don’t want to lose you, Ronin. And I meant what I said to Naomi. I want to be your only rope model. Giving people a glimpse of the passion between us, the sensuality of how you tie me . . . maybe that’s not a bad thing to show off, since I know you respect the intimacy between us.”

His mouth crashed down on hers hard. The blistering kiss set every nerve receptor in her body into overdrive. “Need you.” He barely brushed his lips over hers. “Come home with me.”

“Yes.”

“I may fuck you in my car just to take the edge off.”

Amery smiled against his lips.

“You like that idea.”

“Actually, I’ve always wanted to fuck in a limo, and your sister has one parked outside. What do you say we ask if we can borrow it?”