Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“What will our eyes say?”
“We should be thinking about our bond and loyalty, but I will be thinking about taking off your clothes and licking between your thighs as soon as the ceremony is over.”
“Don’t do that because I’ll see it in your eyes and drop the tea.”
“You better hold onto the cup tightly because apparently I am pussy whipped.”
I chuckled. “No. You’re just insane.”
“Regardless, the act of presenting your first cup of tea is a symbolic gesture of offering yourself to me. It’s about our trust and connection. And the cameras will record it all.”
“My first cup of tea in the East.”
“I’ll accept the cup with a nod of gratitude, acknowledging the effort and the love that went into each step.”
I grinned. “You better.”
“Then, I’ll lift the cup to my lips, inhale the aroma of the tea, and take a sip.” He smiled. “And. . .if you made it to my liking.”
I scowled at him. “You better like it.”
“We’ll see.”
I tapped his hard chest. “I’m not playing with you, Lei.”
He laughed. “Once I show my approval, then you’ll give cups of tea to the other unimportant guests.”
I smirked at him saying unimportant. “So. . .I should serve the Grand Mountain Master next?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
“Then, Uncle Song?”
“Not if you want Chen to resent you for the rest of the year.”
“So, first you—”
“I am always first—”
“Okay, Lei. We got it. You get my first cup of tea.”
“Damn right I do.”
I laughed. “Then, I serve your father—”
“Yes. If I haven’t killed him by then—”
“Lei, that’s not funny.”
He rolled his eyes again and let out a long sigh. “Fine. Yes. My father is second.”
“Then, Chen.”
Lei nodded. “He’ll feel respected.”
“Then, Uncle Song.”
“Yes.”
“Which aunt gets served first?”
“Aunt Suzi. Higher rank and older sibling.”
“She put your father in place today.”
“She always puts him in place.”
“You won’t fight your father tomorrow?”
“The tea ceremony is important to you. It’ll be a somewhat official introduction to the East.”
“What would be my official one?”
“A small party with important families and officials. Of course the news will be there for that too.”
“Lots of traditions and ceremonies.”
“Many of them.”
I returned my thoughts to the tea ceremony. It was a beautifully choreographed dance, where each step was infused with meaning and poetry. The preparation of the leaves, the careful heating of the water, the ritual cleansing, and the patient steeping all spoke of a deeper understanding of life and relationships.
Even the act of pouring and presenting the tea was a silent dialogue, a way of expressing feelings that words could not capture.
I looked back at him and raised my hand to touch his hair. “So. . .there was no tea or press conference today.”
“Just my father testing and plotting. Even when you think you know his intentions, you still have no clue. He’s always three steps ahead, always playing a game that’s nearly impossible to decipher.”
A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest.
Lei continued, “He’s testing you, testing us. Every move he makes is calculated, every word has a purpose. The tea ceremony, the changes to Lotus Blossom, even his approval of your answers today. . .there’s a deeper reason behind it all.”
“All of that puts me on edge.”
“It’ll be fine, we just have to trust each other and always keep the other informed.”
“Okay.”
“And. . .” Lei gave me a sad smile. “I bet. . .my statement just now is something he wanted me to say to you.”
“He wants us to trust each other.”
“He does, and I’m sure he wanted me to explain the tea ceremony to you which would mean that you would have had to convince me to do it in the first place.”
“Another test?”
“Can you get me to bend to your will. . .that was his question.”
“And what is the answer?”
“Fuck yes. You can get me to do whatever you want.” The levity in his voice brought a small smile to my face, diffusing the tension knotting my insides.
“I’ll do what you want.” Then, he pulled me closer to him. “As long as it’s reasonable.”
“I’ll try to be reasonable.”
“We’ll see.” Fast, he rolled me onto my back and hovered over me.
I gasped and looked up at him.
“Make sure Banks knows to bring your sisters after the tea ceremony is done and the reporters are off the property, I want their first visit to their home to be peaceful.”
Loving his thoughtfulness for my sisters, my voice went soft. “I want their visit to be peaceful too.”
“Good,” he murmured, his eyes full of hidden meanings as they searched mine. “God, I’m falling for you so hard, I can’t even process it.”
I shivered. “Me too.”
Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in and pressed his lips against my forehead, and his kiss was as light as a petal falling from a blossom.
Next, his lips moved lower to my eyelids.
I shut my eyes, and he kissed each one lightly.