“Come for me first, baby. You always come first.”

How well she knew that.

“Did you touch yourself this week when I wasn’t around?”

“No. Please, Ronin—”

“You like this,” he murmured. “But you love this.” He did that slide-slide-slap maneuver with his thumb on her clit. It only took four sets and she lost it.

He whispered sweet, filthy things in her ear as she pulsed and creamed around his finger.

Then he made space between his legs, widening her knees until they were groin to groin. His hair tickled her chest as he kissed her collarbone.

Amery’s hand circled his cock. “Sensei Daichi is mistaken. There’s nothing soft about you, Master. Black.” She lowered onto his shaft, and let his hiss of satisfaction reverberate through her.

“Has it been a year since we last did this?” He cupped her ass and rocked his hips.

“Just a week.”

“Goddamn, you feel good. Every time. Whether it’s been a week since I fucked you or five minutes.”

She put enough space between them so he could watch her tits bounce as she rode him harder.

“Not gonna last,” he warned. “This all just hit me in my happy place and I’m too exhausted to hold off.”

She rubbed her lips down the shell of his ear and gently blew inside. “I love that my sacred pussy is your happy place.” She stopped plunging his hard cock in and out and ground her pubic bone against him. “Kiss my neck.”

His warm lips glided across her wet skin, making her shiver. Her entire body trembled when he latched on to that secret spot that sent her soaring.

Amery arched even farther as she thrust forward. The orgasm sideswiped her with tiny, powerful pulses that milked Ronin’s cock and set him off. They barely moved in the heated water, letting the synchronicity of their bodies take over.

After she opened her eyes, she noticed the banks of fog. “I think we heated up the air and the water several degrees.”

“Either that or it’s a temperature inversion.”

“Spoilsport. I think we oughta do that again so I can prove I’m right.”

He sighed. “As much as I’d love to stay out here all night and fuck you until you scream, if I don’t move soon I won’t be able to move.”

“You are too solid for me to heft in the house.”

As she separated their bodies, he squeezed her ass. “I wouldn’t be much of a man if I let you even try to carry me.”

Amery stood and held out her hands. “But you can lean on me if you need to.”

Ronin let her help him out. “I know.”

Her eyes searched his. “Do you?”

“Yeah.” He framed her face in his hands. Then he gave her that wicked, wicked grin. “But you can give me a reminder like that anytime.”

Chapter Five

Amery told herself it was natural to be nervous.

She held the platter of muffins as she started up the long path to the front door. Ronin hadn’t been clear on whether the place where he trained was Sensei Daichi’s home, or a training facility.

The place was certainly off the beaten path. Trees arched in a canopy over the walkway. A barrier of thorny bushes lined either side of the structure—nature’s way of saying KEEP OUT. The door itself was imposing; heavy iron strips crisscrossing the distressed wood. As far as she could tell there wasn’t a handle anywhere.

Then how the devil did anyone get in?

She lifted the heavy knocker and banged it into the rusted metal plate.

The door creaked open and an older Japanese man stood in the doorway. He bowed to her. “Welcome, Amery Black.”

“How’d you know who I am?”

“Ronin-san sent photos from your wedding.”

“Oh.”

He gestured for her to come inside.

“Thank you.” Amery stepped onto the mat and immediately kicked off her shoes. “Forgive me for asking, but are you Master Daichi?”

The man barked out a laugh. “No. Master Daichi doesn’t answer the door since he prefers no visitors. I am Yasuji. I live here and I’m delighted with visitors. Especially beautiful ones.”

Amery blushed. “Thank you. Your English is very good.”

“I spend more time with English speakers than Daichi.”

“It shows, Mr. Yasuji.”

“Not Mr. Yasuji. Just Yasuji.”

“Okay.” She handed Yasuji the platter. “These are chocolate chip muffins.”

“Thank you. Would you like tea?”

Tea? Crap. Protocol for a formal tea ceremony was one thing she hadn’t studied. Since Ronin loathed tea she assumed it wouldn’t be a possibility. “Ah, sure. But I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

He smiled. “Do you share Ronin’s dislike of tea?”

“No, sir.”

“Then I will prepare it for us.”

Left alone in the foyer, she wasn’t sure if she should follow. Offering to help him would be an insult. Wouldn’t it?

Maybe not.

Yasuji didn’t seem surprised to see her enter the kitchen. He gestured for her to be seated at the low table in the corner. After she’d settled on the cushion on her knees, Yasuji brought over the tea service. He poured the pale brown liquid into two delicate teacups.

“This is wonderful. Such an unexpected treat.”

“For me also. We have few visitors this time of year.” He slipped three small squares—a lemon bar, a date-filled pastry, and a marshmallow cookie on each of the two plates, pushing one toward her. “The older Daichi gets, the more he turns into a . . .” He tapped his lips as if searching for the right word. “Troll?”