After half an hour, the violinist had eased her melody into a lighter song and my gorgeous helpers arrived in lovely gowns.
They strolled into the grieving space carrying silver trays with folded steaming cloths, small porcelain cups of tea, and sweet little rice cakes with red bean paste.
They moved through the Claws the way nurses moved through a military ward of wounded soldiers.
Silent.
Gentle.
Offering without asking.
One woman pressed a warm cloth gently to Toma's face and he closed his eyes and lowered his shoulders. She held the cloth there until the steam faded and then she replaced it with a fresh one from her tray.
A minute later, Toma hugged her, and she widened her eyes in shock.
Another woman set a cup of tea beside Kaede on the floor and stepped back. Kaede looked at the tea for a long moment. Then he picked it up and drank.
Two women surrounded Hiro and Daisuke, offering the steaming cloths and tea, hugging them and wiping their faces.
I smiled as they happily received the love.
Two more surrounded Reo, doing the same, and even his waitress who held the tray of mac and cheese skewers returned too. There, he sipped tea, munched on the skewers, and sighed as they wiped the dried tears from his face.
Good. You deserve all the love and pampering, Roar.
Finally, Kenji moved against me.
The Dragon gathered himself.
My hand slid from his back as he straightened, and I held my breath because I did not know what state he would be in whenhe stood. Whether the tears would have made him tender. Or whether they would have made him more furious.
He rose and lifted me with him at the same time. Those strong hands went right under my arms and easily brought me up off the marble.
My feet found the floor.
My heart climbed into my throat.
For one long minute, he just looked at me like he had never seen me before. Like I was the answer to a question that had been ripping him apart.
“Naughty Tiger.” And then he kissed me.
Oh shit.
The space disappeared.
It was such a hungry, intense kiss. Possessive. Demanding in a way that bypassed my mind entirely and went straight to my knees.
My pussy.
His trembling hands moved up to cradle my face. His tongue pushed into my mouth, tasting of cherry sake.
It was a claiming so profound my soul recognized it before my heart and body could respond.
His chest pressed against my breasts and I could feel his heart hammering through the fabric of his suit.
I gasped into his mouth.
My hands flew up to his jaw.
