“As long as my wife can come with us.” Maybe Amery could keep him calm because he was seething.

“Of course. Follow me.”

Ronin held out his hand to Amery when they passed by their row. He expected her to demand to know what was going on—the language barrier put her on edge—but she remained quiet.

Go-jen said, “I apologize for the lowbrow entertainment that forced you to take action.”

“That guy knew little about rope play. How can you pretend those types of scenarios bear any resemblance to kinbaku or shibari?” Ronin demanded.

“I don’t.”

“But don’t you advertise this club as such?”

“Advertising as a ‘bondage club’ leaves the definition open to interpretation. Tonight my usual performer and his model were both out sick. I couldn’t cancel tonight’s first show because of the second act”—Go-jen shot Amery a questioning look—“so my day manager found a replacement. Iggy dabbles in rope play at a fetish club. His job was to tease attendees with a soft-core S-and-M scene. But he is a performer and he took it too far. I would’ve been here to oversee the scene, but transportation issues made me late.”

Ronin translated everything up to that point for Amery.

“So the first time Master Black is in my club is the night everything is fucked up. I imagine the chances of you doing a demo are pretty slim now.”

That took Ronin aback. “What gave you the impression I was here for any reason besides to observe?”

Go-jen looked at Amery.

“What did he say?” Amery asked Ronin.

“He seems to think I’m here to do a demo.”

“You are. Well, technically we are. It was supposed to be a surprise. So, ah . . . surprise.” She looked away.

Ronin touched her chin and forced her attention back to him. “Did Yasuji guilt you into this?”

“No.”

“Then what changed?”

“You changed.” She closed her eyes before she continued. “You don’t understand what it’s been like for me watching you struggle, not only with your jujitsu training limitations, but the limitations I’ve placed on you with public rope play. I told you months ago I’d be willing to do private demos and you’ve not scheduled anything because I don’t think you believe I will actually go through with it.”

She had that right. The owner of Twisted had practically offered Ronin his first-born child if he’d return to the club strictly in an instructor’s role for private lessons. Ronin kept putting him off because after Amery first mentioned the possibility of her participating in private instruction with him, she’d never broached it again. And he’d sworn to himself he wouldn’t push her. “Why now?”

“Yasuji told me about his wife and their joint decision to give public rope play demonstrations to show the beauty and the intimacy of kinbaku. They felt it was Yasuji’s responsibility to teach the right way. You saw what happened tonight when people do it the wrong way.”

“Was the scene just a setup to see what I’d do?”

“No.” Amery’s eyes softened. “Not only did Yasuji form you into a rope master, you seeing Rikya demo with Yasuji all those years formed you too. You’ve always held out for that kind of partnership.” She paused. “I can be that partner, Ronin. I promise you I came to this decision on my own. I didn’t have anyone to explain my worries, fears, and frustrations to until I met Master Yasuji. He’d been through it all with his wife so he helped me come to grips with things, from the perspective of a teacher and a husband.”

Despite the excitement building inside him, he knew he had to play it cool. “And so that’s what tonight is? A way for you to prove it?”

“Yes. I was so sure I’m ready for this that I had your ropes, your gi, and my robe sent here.”

“When?”

“Three days ago.”

Before any of the stuff went down with Master Daichi. Before Yasuji’s cryptic, Trust in Amery to know her own mind. She will be what you need.

Looking into her eyes, he saw love and determination, but no fear. That’s when he trusted she had cleared the last barrier. He held her face in his hands and kissed her until she rested her body against his in total surrender. With reluctance he broke the seal of their mouths and let his lips drift up to her ear. “Let’s go to the dressing room and get ready to do a demo.”

“Get ready together?”

“Yes.”

“But you always get ready alone.”

“Not anymore.” Ronin held her tightly. “Now I’ve got a partner.”