Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He shook his head and stepped back into my arms.
After a moment, I explained that the prime minister was following the developments and had hopes the situation would be resolved soon. “There is a lot of pressure to reinstate the safety measures at the mine. Global sentiment is on the side of the locals, not the government officials.”
He shuddered. “I hope they get it resolved before anyone else gets hurt.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked gently.
He shook his head.
I reached for the shower gel and managed to fill a washcloth without letting him go. As I scrubbed his back and arms and ass, I couldn’t help but get even harder than I’d been watching him undress.
I wanted him so fucking badly, but I wasn’t going put the moves on him while he was so vulnerable and when I had so much I needed to tell him. Instead, I worshipped his body with the soapy cloth, moving him this way and that until I’d cleaned his entire person.
Once we were both clean, I dried him off with one of the thick towels, then pointed to the clothes I’d set out for him. He pulled them on before crawling into the bed and pulling the duvet up to his chin.
I watched him while I dried myself and dressed again. He looked tiny on the large bed, which was also unusual. Kenji was technically small in stature, but he always stood up straight and wasn’t afraid of taking up space in the world.
Kenji didn’t do vulnerable, and seeing him this way made me want to erect a force field around him, to protect him from any further discomfort or upset.
I closed the window shades and turned off the lights before sliding into bed at his side. He immediately reached for me and yanked me closer until I was spooned around him.
I held him close and nuzzled my nose behind his ear. His damp hair was in a knot on top of his head, otherwise I would have gladly eaten mouthfuls of it if I could stay close and give him the comfort he so clearly needed.
We both drifted off to the sound of the airplane’s white noise. A couple of hours later, I woke up, suddenly remembering I hadn’t updated the Brotherhood on Kenji’s rescue.
I snuck out of bed as quietly as I could and made my way to the main cabin. Jamie was asleep on one of the sofas, and his father was sitting at a table working on his laptop.
When I took the seat opposite Jim, he glanced up. “Is he okay?”
“Not really. What about Jamie?”
He shrugged. “He’ll get on with it.”
I blinked. “They saw some bad stuff, Jim. They feared for their lives. That kind of experience isn’t easy to set aside.”
“I’m sure he’ll handle it.”
Instead of arguing with him, I pulled out my laptop and started a group message to the Brotherhood to let them know Kenji was safe on our plane.
Silas
What happened? How’d you get him out?
I sucked in a breath. How the fuck was I supposed to explain the situation?
Long story. I had to pull some strings to make this happen and now I owe someone a favor.
Silas
Is he hurt? Upset?
I thought back to the image of Kenji alone in bed.
He has a cut on his temple. Not sure what from. He hasn’t said much yet. Showered and went right to sleep.
Bash
Is he coming here or going to NY?
We have to drop some people off in London first. Will update as soon as we know.
They asked a few more questions I didn’t have answers to before I ended the chat by saying I’d explain more after getting some much-needed sleep.
The next message was easier to send. I pulled up the contact information for Kenji’s grandmother.
I don’t know if you’ve been following the San Cordova story, but I wanted to let you know Kenji is safe.
Mrs. Toma
Thanks for letting me know! Will you ask him to call me?
We’re on a plane so he can’t call until we land, but I’ll tell him as soon as he wakes up.
Mrs. Toma
Are you with him?
Yes.
Mrs. Toma
Thank you, Landry. Please take good care of him.
That’s an easy promise to make.
After the chat ended, I messaged Nan and Cora to update them on the situation. Nan wasn’t thrilled that I’d made a deal with the devil, but she promised she’d have a room set up at Hawling House, where Kenji could rest.
After reassuring anyone who needed to know that Kenji was safely away from San Cordova and messaging Kenji’s assistant to upgrade the damned Wi-Fi on this plane to allow for video calls, I made my way back to the bedroom, stripped down to my underwear, and slid into bed again, trying to figure out the best way to tell Kenji the truth about who I was.