Page 18 of Who Said Mobsters Were Scary?
Then I hear two clicks.
Oh fuck. His men. Don’t tell me they are actually armed!
Panic floods me as he raises his hand, the smile not dropping from his face. I snap my head back at the two men. They halt mid-step, hands tucked under their suit vests, where I can see the outlines of concealed guns.
“And so does your history of training Muay Thai. You even competed at the national level back in the US, I’m told.”
My attention snaps back to Chai.Holy shit. How does he know that? What have I gotten myself into?
I scowl at him. “I’m not interested, man. I’m sorry.” I angle my body so I can keep an eye on the two goons he came with. In case they end up being the trigger-happy type. “I trained, yes, but that’s in the past. I’m just an exchange student now, okay? I’m here to study, not to look for trouble.” Wrinkling my nose, I let my eyes roam him. “No offense, but you look exactly like that.”
For some reason, that has him smiling at me again, his eyes shimmering with glee. I take a few steps back, breathing out in relief when he motions his men to stay put as they attempt to follow me. He sags against the wall, looking amused rather than annoyed as I expected him to.
“Think about it, Leo. You get a lot of perks if you agree to work for me.”
Maybe he’s telling the truth, maybe he’s messing with me. I don’t care either way because I’ve made up my mind. I smell danger here and I don’t want any part in it.
“Sorry, no. Have a good night,” I say as I keep putting distance between us.
He doesn’t move from his spot, observing me until I cross the intersection and we are no longer in each other’s line of sight.
Chapter 10
I grin long afterI can no longer see Leo.
I like him. He has balls. Few dare say No to me, whether they know who I really am or not. I’ve got an intimidating aura about me, I’ve been told, triggering people’s fight-or-flight responses left and right.
Usually.
“Mr. Akiyama, should we fetch the American for you?” Takama says, tilting his head in the direction Leo went.
“No. Let him be. Pressuring him now won’t do any good,” I say, waving the suggestion off as much as I’d like nothing more than to drag Leo’s ass to my penthouse.
Honestly, I should let it go. I know that. I’m sure Aran can find me someone as good as, if not better than, him eventually. Someone who understands how things around here work. The problem is that I don’t want someone else.
The tightness in my stomach lets off as I get in my black SUV, but my mind is still fixated on the exchangestudent. It’s not just his martial arts skills that intrigue me; it’s him. I like his face too; it’s the right mix of masculine and pretty with those cheekbones and angles, but his eyes are probably what drew me in. There is a spark in them, a flame that can turn into a wildfire at any moment. He’s snarky—perhaps even bratty—and that riles me up for some reason. It makes me want to mess with him just to see his reaction.
I stare out the window as we leave the parking lot, my gaze locking on the wall where I had him caged. Before he turned the tables on me. I lick my lips, picturing the exact moment. He smelled like the mountains at dawn. Fresh, invigorating. My nostrils flare, seeking that scent, but all I get is the lemony smell of the car freshener mixing up with the luxurious leather of the seats.
Draping my arm over the headrest, I wonder how he’d look in my car. Lounging here on the backseat, he’d have his legs bent at the knees so he can fit. Slightly spread. His eyes would be on me, gorgeous and blue like the sky just before a storm, watching me as I lean in and trace my fingers along his inner thigh.
A shiver sends a hot wave of pleasure down my spine. It concentrates at the base and then spreads further, reaching my core. My cock gives a jerk inside my pants. I suppress a groan and palm it through the fabric.
This is a first. For a man to get me so hot just thinking about him. Or is it because I haven’t fooled around for a while? Helping my father has kept me busy, so I haven’t had time to indulge in anyone.
I pull out my phone and load the folder with Leo’s information, opening his ID photo. He’s a little goofy on it, but I forget about that almost immediately as I focus my attention on his full lips. They look soft and kissable.I wonder how they taste. The image of them stretched around my cock flashes in my mind and that gets me fully hard in a heartbeat.
I moan softly so the guys up front won’t hear me. It’s not that I care if they did, this is just… new. I’m having a very fundamental moment right now and someone butting in would be a total mood killer.
Thinking back to Leo, I picture him on his knees in front of me. That wicked spark is in his eyes, challenging me as I unzip my pants. I swallow and wrap my hand around myself, squeezing hard. But before I have time to explore my sudden interest in another man, we arrive. Aran opens the door as soon as the car stops. He gives me a curious look when I crawl out.
“Is everything okay?”
I consider his question, standing in such a way as to conceal my erection. “Yeah.”
He nods at the guys with my bags of random groceries. They head for the elevator, the two of us trailing behind.
“I am told you made a detour on your way back,” Aran states, his voice like steel.
