She stared at the petals decorating her body and then glanced up to see they were beneath the cherry tree. A soft laugh tumbled from her.

“What?”

“And you tell me you’re not romantic. This is perfect. You’re perfect.” She held out her hand. “Come here. I want to share this with you.”

When he stood to take off his gi pants, he smacked his shoulder into the lowest tree branch, sending hundreds more petals floating down around her.

Ronin watched the scene play out in slow motion like an art-house film; snowy white petals highlighting the flush of passion on her skin, the satisfied tilt of her kiss-plumped lips, her hair spread out with moonlight glinting off it like rose gold.

But this wasn’t a movie, or a dream montage. This woman was his. This life was his.

Another soft laugh sounded and for the first time tonight, he felt silly. Maybe he had gone too far over the top in setting a romantic scene. His gaze collided with hers.

But in the depths of her eyes he saw love and passion and gratitude.

He levered himself over her until they were skin to skin. Even the cherry-blossom scent couldn’t compete with the sweet musk that was all Amery. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” She slipped her arms around his neck. “Thank you. I really love this.”

“What specifically do you really love?”

“This time away from our everyday lives. Just you and me. I didn’t realize how much we needed it until we’ve had it the last week.”

“Me too. But I want to warn you that the next three weeks won’t be like this.”

“So let’s make tonight count. Since you’ve gone to all this trouble to form me into a swaying tree, then showering me with heavenly scented flower petals, and I’m pretty sure you plan to make love to me outside in the moonlight beneath the cherry blossom tree.”

“You are right. But first, I need this.” Ronin pushed back onto his haunches and scooped her ass into his hands. He lowered his head at the same time he lifted her sex, opening his mouth wide over her succulent flesh.

He painted her clit with fast lashes of his wet tongue until he felt her clit swelling. He relentlessly pursued her orgasm until that moment she gave it up to him with a sexy cry. The way her back bowed off the blanket kicked in his primal hunger as he greedily sucked down her sweet nectar.

After she stopped writhing against his face, he shifted into the cradle of her thighs and fed his cock into her hot, snug walls. Gritting his teeth against his natural instinct to rut on her like a beast beneath a full moon, he tried to slow himself from the intense pace he desired.

Then Amery’s soft hands were running up his chest and she pulled him down on top of her. She threaded her fingers into his hair and held his face a breath away from hers. “I love you. Thank you for giving me the perfect night.” She brushed her parted lips across his. “Make this last, Master Black. Show me that stamina you’ll need in the next three weeks.”

Three times he built them up to the tipping point and backed off at the last second. Falling petals stuck to their sweat-soaked skin when he drove them to the edge and at last let them spiral into the void together.

As they indulged in kisses and caresses in the afterglow, Amery said, “What number was that?”

He laughed. “I lost track after twenty.”

Chapter Four

Amery missed her friends.

She missed going to the office every day.

She missed being able to drive wherever she wanted.

She missed junk food.

She even missed the dirty sweat-sock smell of the dojo.

But mostly she missed her husband. Which was ironic because of all the things she missed, he was the only thing that was close by.

They’d been in the village outside of Sapporo for two and a half weeks now. The house Ronin had rented for them was in a secluded spot. The people in the village were friendly enough she supposed—not that she could converse with any of them since the locals didn’t speak English and she didn’t speak Japanese.

The first day they’d arrived, Ronin had shown her around. Given her detailed instructions on where to go and not to go. The second day, she’d been on her own. As well as the third day. And every day after that.

Initially she’d hoped Ronin had exaggerated his training schedule, but if anything it was more demanding than she’d expected. On the first day of training, Ronin had returned a different man. And as the days rolled on, he pulled deeper inside himself and further away from her.

Part of his withdrawal, she knew, was from exhaustion. Even after being on medical restrictions for half a year, the man was still a specimen of physical perfection with his lean, muscular body because he challenged himself daily to remain in top condition. The fact he was so worn down every night that he could barely keep his eyes open through dinner indicated how rigorous this training regimen was.

It wasn’t like he didn’t warn you that it’d be like this.

Although she’d had a restless night of sleep, she got up when Ronin got up. He’d been gone an hour by now and she’d done nothing but drink a pot of coffee, and brood while gazing out the window at the mountain she could only admire from afar.

Tired of moping, Amery called her office in Denver. It took some time before the connection went through and the line began to ring.

“Hardwick Designs, this is Molly.”

“You sound chipper. Is it because your workday is almost over?”

“Amery! I was just thinking about you and missing you, you jerk.”