"Do I look okay?" Shaundra asked Dorothy as they walked into the ballroom after the grand opening of KiNii.

"You look smashing, and red is definitely your color."

Shaundra hated formal events, dreaded wearing a long gown, and after an hour of walking in high heels, the balls of her feet would be screaming for mercy. She pulled at the straps of her gown. "I hope I don't flash anyone in this halter top. My boobs are just popping out of this thing."

Dorothy chuckled. "Like I told you before, if I had your figure, I'd be letting it all hang out."

Dorothy was dressed for her age in a long blue gown with a matronly collar while she was showing a lot of cleavage. She had to stop Harper from choosing her clothes and underwear. The thong and garter he had picked out for her tonight was simply shocking.

"You look beautiful. Stop fidgeting."

"This thong is sliding up my butt and cutting off my circulation."

Dorothy chuckled, led her into the ballroom and up front to the podium stage where she and the rest of the authors would sit during the beginning of the program. Jackson, Riley and the four Asian writers were already seated.

The next couple of hours went through in a blur of boring speeches followed by the introduction of the authors to the audience. Hordes and hordes of publishers, editors and the news media made the evening complete with reporters pushing mikes and cameras in their faces, asking the same type of questions about their careers and seeming pretty shocked to learn that she wrote erotica. The highlight of her day so far had been the book signing, which had taken place earlier. Both Temptation and her latest, Rapture, literally flew off the shelves because they were translated in Japanese. The other authors did equally well and they even received orders that Harper and Mr. Niigata promised would be shipped the first thing in the morning.

After another round of questions, Mr. Niigata thanked everyone for coming and announced that dinner and dancing was to take place shortly in another room. Crowds piled into the second ballroom, which also would serve as the dining room. Aomori had yet to put in an appearance.

Mr. Niigata had sectioned off tables for the authors and their guests.

She and Dorothy led the way over to the table to look for their spots.

"Where is Aomori?" Dorothy asked after they arrived at the table.

Shaundra found her spot. She was seated right in the middle between Yori and Ichiro. Her eyes landed on the place card to Yori's right...Amaya Saitama. She picked it up and showed it to Dorothy.

"I thought she went home two weeks ago?"

"I thought so too. Maybe she's flying back in for this special occasion."

"Maybe," Dorothy replied.

They were both answered when the young woman entered wearing a cute purple evening gown that looked like it was made just for her, which it possiblly could have been since both her parents were famous fashion designers. There was nothing flashy about her, just pretty and polite with long, black hair styled in long waves.

She approached. "Hello, my name is Amaya Saitama, Yori's fiancee. I have wanted to meet you for some time now...since I saw the two of you together on that magazine cover." She bowed and extended her small hand out to Shaundra, which Shaundra accepted with grace since most Japanese did not like to shake hands. She still didn't trust her, though, after that little rolling of the eyes incident in the restaurant.

"Hello, it is nice to meet you. I didn't know that you were still in town."

"I wasn't. I flew back in because Yori asked me to. I'll have to fly back out tomorrow because I have to attend class."

"You're in college?" Shaundra asked, trying to ignore the fact that Yori had sent for her.

"Yes, my last year. I will be joining my parents full-time in their business when I graduate and Yori and I will be married shortly afterwards."

There it was. Amaya had round about told her that Yori was hers and that she better keep her hands off of him. She did it so cool and calmly.

Shrewd for someone so young.

Dorothy nudged her from behind, which Shaundra chose to ignore.

"That's nice, dear. I wish you happiness and success in both endeavors."

With that, Amaya bowed again and then sat down. Shaundra and Dorothy slid into their seats.

Harper finally broke away and came over to talk to them, looking stunning in a white tuxedo with a black cummerbund and bow tie.

"Are you three ladies enjoying yourselves?" he asked, grabbing three glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and giving it to them before taking one for himself.

"I've just arrived," Amaya announced. "Sorry that I missed your speech."

Shaundra put down her glass. Okay, when had the two of them become friends, and why? Had he made a pass at her the night of the after-concert party? "I'll make sure you get a video of the entire event," Harper told Amaya.

"Thank you."

Okay, they are too chummy, Shaundra thought.

Harper turned his attention back on her. "Stand up and let me look at you."

"Why?" Shaundra asked, still perplexed by Harper's conversation with Amaya.

"To see if it fits the way I imagined it would."

Harper had a warped sense of reality, but he had very good taste in female clothes. She wondered if he was a closeted cross-dresser. She rose and he spun her around.

"You can still bounce a coin off that ass."

Shaundra slid back into her chair. "How much have you had to drink today, boss man?"

"Not as much as you think. Mr. Niigata and I just shared a bottle of sake earlier to celebrate."

"I must try some of that before I return to the United States," Dorothy announced.

Shaundra shook her head rapidly. "No, you shouldn't," she replied.

"You will not like it."

"Have you tried some?" Dorothy asked.

"Yes, it takes like..." She didn't want to finish the sentence and be insulting.

"What does it taste like?" Dorothy asked.

Shaundra stuck out her tongue. "Not tasty."

Harper laughed. "Yes, I thought it was horrible, too, at first, but after several of those tiny little cups, it grew on me."

"You can't convince me of that," Shaundra said sarcastically.

"Where is Aomori?" Amaya asked as their table began to fill. Jackson and Riley had arrived with Chirau and Izanami in tow, and Hideohi and Iwao arrived with two female friends she did not know, but could possibly be their girlfriends. John Sampson also entered and sat down next to Dorothy, leaving two seats next to her and Amaya.

Harper pointed to the stage. Both she and Amaya turned to look.

Aomori had arrived and were about to perform. "Mr. Niigata wanted it to be a surprise. He didn't want fans camped outside all night so he didn't mention that they were scheduled to entertain." He walked away for them and over to his seat on the opposite side of the table and sat down just as the lights dimmed.

Japanese young people hopped to their feet as soon as Aomori began to sing. It reminded her of when she'd attended concerts and dances when she was younger. Aomori performed five song and the then the lights were raised. The crowd applauded like crazy and begged for more songs. A half hour later, all four men came out through a side door wearing white suits.

Yori arrived at the table first and sat down next to Amaya, but not before winking at her and looking her directly in the eyes. Tease.

Satoshi arrived and sat across from them right next to a pretty young woman with blonde hair. Takumijo's date surprisingly turned out to be a young woman whom she later learned was a famous Japanese actress that he'd once performed with.

Ichiro bowed to her and then sat down. He had done something different with his hair. Instead of the long ponytail, he had wound it into a bun at his neck. It looked neat and went well with the tux. But the moment she saw it, Shaundra's mind started releasing it from the band and spreading it out on her pillow. Why does it do that? Dinner was a Japanese menu, during which they socialized and got to meet the other people at their table. Most of the women were very interested in Amaya once they learned that she not only was Yori's fiancee, but also the daughter of two famous Japanese fashion designers.

Shaundra caught a glimpse at something she hadn't noticed earlier, a diamond engagement ring on Amaya's finger. Jealousy stabbed her in a chest and then it subsided. What good would it do to fret about something that was done long before she'd arrived? The music started up again and people got out of their seats.

"Would you care to dance?" Ichiro asked her.

"I'd be delighted, Mr. Yoshida." Ichiro helped her to her feet and did not miss the delighted look on his face when he finally saw her in that gown. "You look so beautiful."

All she could do was smile as he led her onto the dance floor and took her into his arms.

"I do believe I am the envy of every man here," he told her as they danced slowly to a song she'd never heard before.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because it is true. That gown fits you perfectly."

"Then you'll have to thank my boss because he picked it out for me."

Ichiro chuckled. "He has excellent taste."

She thought it would bother him more that another man picked out her clothes. "And the shoes and the underwear."

His grip tightened around her waist. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. I think he used to play with dolls when he was a kid."

"What type of underwear did he pick out for you?"

"A thong."

Ichiro's body hardened below the belt and an erection quickly rose.

"That's going to be hard to hide in a white tuxedo," Shaundra teased.

"I have a very vivid imagination when it comes to you."

"So does Harper."

"Is it red?"

"What?"

"The thong."

"Yes, the same color as the gown." Ichiro groaned and Shaundra chuckled at his discomfort. "Would it help if I told you that wearing a thong is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn in my life and I can't wait to take it off?"

"Not really," he said hoarsely. "I think it made it worse."

Lucky for him, the dance floor was pretty dim and they managed to get back to their table without anyone noticing. Ichiro rushed off to the men's room to put his hands in very cold water.

"What's wrong with him?" Dorothy asked as both of them watched Ichiro walk away. He had a great butt.

"He has an unexpected rise in a very tight pair of white pants."

Dorothy laughed. "That's what I like about young men. It doesn't take much to get them motivated. You're so lucky."

"At least you've gotten some since you've arrived. I'm still at the starting line."

"May I have this dance?" a man asked from behind her.

It was Satoshi.

"I don't know. It wouldn't be nice if a fight broke out here tonight."

"Go on," Dorothy told her. "I'll entertain your little angel when he gets back. I'll keep him from blowing a gasket."

Shaundra rose, not sure that what she was doing was right, and let Satoshi lead her on the floor to dance. He, too, was good at it and he was just tad bit taller than Ichiro, which made him about six-one.

Satoshi wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. "What did you do to Ich that made him hurry away from the table?"

"What makes you assume I did something to him? The man had to use the restroom." She continued to dance and not pull away from him like her instincts told her to do.

"He doesn't like to use public restrooms. He has this germ phobia."

"Maybe he had to go real bad and couldn't hold his bladder."

Satoshi chuckled. "I love your sense of humor and that gown you're wearing." He dipped her and then pulled her back into his arms.

She wasn't going to feed him the same story about Harper and the underwear. One horny pop singer was enough for her. "My boss picked it out for me."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted me to get noticed. He thinks it's great for publicity, me being an erotic author and all."

"It worked," Satoshi replied. "You're the prettiest woman here."

"I would stand out like a sore thumb in anything I wore here. I think I may be the only African American female present."

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, I can fit in anywhere I go."

"But I still think you're the prettiest woman here," Satoshi insisted.

"I doubt that. Amaya is a stunning young woman."

Satoshi missed a stepped and then got back on track. "Oh, so you finally got to meet her."

Why did Ichiro and Satoshi think that she wouldn't find out about Amaya? "It was pretty hard not to since she walked up to me and introduced herself. She's very pretty, pale and petite."

"And she's quite the little bitch." He dipped her again.

Shaundra gasped. "I didn't expect you to say that."

Satoshi moved back into position. "But it's the truth," he whispered into her ear. "Don't let that sweet smile and manners fool you. Beneath that designer gown and groomed hair lies the heart of a cunning little bitch." His body stiffened.

"Let me guess, you do not like her." She didn't either, but it wasn't her place to say.

"No, but I would never tell Yori that. He sees her differently than I do.

She has always had him wrapped around her little finger."

Had she hit a nerve? "So you have to get along with her since she's about to marry your best friend."

"I did not expect for you to be okay with that."

Shaundra finally felt relaxed in his arms. "The two of them getting married has nothing to do with me. They were engaged long before I came here and will be after I leave."

"But I thought you liked Yori," he whispered in her ear like it was a secret.

"I do, but I am not foolish enough to believe that he would break his engagement just because he thinks he wants me. And I don't expect him to since I'll be leaving shortly."

"Would you still leave if things were differently? If he did broke up with her?"

"I don't know. I have a life in the United States."

"Poor Ichiro will be devastated when you leave. He is so different now that you're here."

"I'm worried about that too. I like to hear his voice, but I'm afraid he'll crawl back into his shell once I leave."

"And he knows you're leaving?"

"Yes, he says he understands."

"But you don't believe him?" Satoshi asked.

"No, I do not. I care for Ichiro. I don't want to hurt him."

"Then don't." The music ended and he walked her back to the table, bowed and turned her back over to Ichiro who had returned. Satoshi turned on his heels and left.

Shaundra frowned and sat down. What is wrong with these men? "He didn't try anything, did he?" Ichiro asked suspiciously.

Shaundra smiled at him. "No, we just talked. He's really not so bad."

Ichiro smiled back at her and nodded his head up and down. "Yes, he is. Don't let that innocent baby face fool you. Satoshi is a player."

She patted his hand. "I already know that. But at least he talks to me and doesn't treat me like an outcast."

"I don't know if I should be jealous or not. Even Takumijo thinks highly of you and usually he's only concerned with himself and his image in the mirror."

Shaundra laughed. "Don't worry. I think your friends are great, even Takumijo."

A waiter came with another tray of champagne and Ichiro commandeered one for both of them. He handed one to her. "How long do we have to stay here?" he asked.

"Probably until it's over since we have no other way of getting back to the hotel. Or did you rent another car and plot an escape?"

Ichiro shook his head. "Masaaki and Yori threatened to kick my ass if I did something like that again," he confessed.

She winked at him. "It must be tough being the youngest."

Ichiro smiled and then looked around to see if anyone had noticed.

"I'm just a couple of months younger that Satoshi, and yes, it is difficult.

Everything we do is for the group."

She leaned closer. "So what's the plan? Even I know you're not going to let a little threat stop you."

Ichiro smiled innocently. "There is a garden on the left side of the building. I think I can manage to sneak away for a couple of minutes without Masaaki having a heart attack."

Shaundra put her glass of champagne on the table. "You want me to steal away with you to a garden outside?" She smiled. "I think I can handle that."

Yori watched Ichiro and Shaundra slip out the side door.

"They seem happy," Amaya replied from his right. "I thought the age difference might be a problem, but Ichiro seems to adore her."

"He's comfortable with her." A little too comfortable, Yori thought as he moved around in his seat.

"What is he going to do when she goes back to the United States?"

"I don't know." And he really didn't care.

"And what about your heart? What will you do once she leaves?"

Yori turned and looked at Amaya. Why the hell is she asking me this? It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he would die inside once Shaundra left. "What do you mean? Her staying or leaving will not have any impact on me."

Amaya chuckled. "I told you once before that I wasn't a fool. You feel something for her even if you won't admit it to yourself."

He dusted an imaginary piece of lint from his trousers. "She's a very nice person, but there can never be anything between us. You and I are engaged. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Then what is it that makes you stare at the door they just went out?"

Was there no end to her questioning? "Hoping he's just staying in the garden and not try to slip off with her again. He took a pretty big chance knowing some of our fans do not like her. Not to mention that a lot of them would kidnap him if they got the chance to."

"I think it is romantic that he would break rules to have a few moments to be alone with her." She sighed. "I wonder what they talk about."

"Knowing Ich, it's probably food. His restaurant here in Tokyo is almost complete."

"Yes, I've heard about it from father. He says he's going to send all his clients to eat there when it does open."

"Ichiro will appreciate that. It has been his dream since he was young, in honor of his beloved grandmother."

"Hmm, do you think there's a chance that he and Ms. Morrison might get married?"

"I don't know." He did care about that. He looked at the door again, wondering what they were doing. They were probably kissing and holding hands. He frowned and thought they'd better not be doing anything else.

Shaundra was his.

"Do you know that Harper Kehoe picked out that gown she's wearing tonight?"

"No, I didn't know that," Yori replied. "But it doesn't surprise me since he purchased all the other clothes she's been wearing to functions."

"I got the info straight from one of our salesclerks from one of our clothing stores. She told me he came in and ordered several outfits for her and that other woman, Dorothy." She giggled. "He even purchased lingerie for her...the good stuff."

Yori stiffened. "The good stuff?"

Amaya nodded. "Yes, frilly, lacey and very expensive. My father said Mr. Kehoe has a good eye for fashion and the two of them have plans to get together to discuss some business plans before he leaves Japan."

The thought of man purchasing underwear for Shaundra did not appeal to him. "Did he also purchase the underwear she's wearing right now beneath that red gown?"

Amaya nodded. "He purchased a red thong and a garter belt."

Yori crossed his legs. There was something not right with this picture.

"Why would her boss buy her seductive underwear?"

"Maybe he wants to see her in it. He might be interested in her too."

"That would make sense." Yori did not like that. If anyone was going to see her in that red thong, it was going to be him.

The door opened and Ichiro and Shaundra came in. Ichiro was fixing his clothes and wiping his lips again.

"It looks like the two of them were getting busy in the garden," Amaya said with a giggle.

"He would not do something like that in a public place. He might be coming out of his shell, but he's not that daring."

Amaya picked up her glass of champagne and sipped. "I don't know.

Lust makes men do foolish things."

"How do you know about what lusting men do?"

"I mean, I've heard," Amaya corrected.

Her legs were still trembling even though they had come from the garden nearly an hour ago. Ichiro was just too much. A private secluded garden under a starry summer sky in Tokyo had set the scene for the perfect liaison between lovers. His kisses were soft, yet demanding, and his rock hard erection pressed against her crotch through their clothes did nothing but keep them both very turned on, even though it was impossible to complete the act. She couldn't wait to leave the party so she could take him back to her room and make a mess of him in her bed. She looked down at her watch, wondering how much longer she had to sit there being tortured.

Masaaki and Mr. Niigata walked over to the podium and thanked everyone for coming to the party.

Not much longer, she thought.

Amaya got up excused herself and walked off to the restroom. Poor Ichiro had dashed back to the men's room just as soon as they came in from the garden. The thought made her thong more uncomfortable.

"Are you okay?"

Shaundra turned to her right and found Yori watching her with a little too much interest. "I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." Her heart started beating fast again. The two of them hadn't spoken in a while and she actually missed hearing his voice and seeing him.

"This is almost over and you can go back to the hotel and sleep."

Sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. "Yes, I can't wait to get out of these clothes and get comfortable."

"Yes, I suppose a red thong is uncomfortable."

Shaundra scowled at him. "How do you know what I'm wearing under this gown? Can you see though the material?"

"No, Amaya told me that Harper Kehoe purchased this outfit for you along with some sexy underwear from one of her father's stores."

"So, it's no big secret. He thinks I'm a doll that he likes to dress."

He moved in closer to her. "Does he often buy you lingerie too?"

Shaundra stepped back suddenly realizing that she was still emotionally attached to him. "Not often, just since I've been here. He has had some really nice taste up until now. Thongs are for young women."

"I bet it looks good on you against that chocolate skin."

Shaundra gasped and clamped her thighs together. "Shush. Someone will hear you."

"I don't care."

She sniffed at him. "Are you drunk? You should care. What if Amaya hears you?"

"She's in the ladies room."

"You still shouldn't say it."

He touched her face with his finger. "You don't seem to have a problem with Ichiro seeing you in it."

Shaundra rolled her eyes at him and moved away from his hand. "No one is going to see me in it. I plan to get out of it as soon as I get to my room."

"Do you need any assistance getting out of it?"

Heat roared up through her body like a hot flash. "Stop teasing me, Yori. You are on a date with your fiancee. Should you be taking such liberties?" Damn her traitorous body.

"No, but I'm not stupid enough to pass up an opportunity like this."

"Sorry, but you had the chance and you chose your fiancee."

Yori removed his finger.

Ichiro and Amaya walked back into the ballroom together just as the party ended. Ichiro winked at her.

Anticipation rushed through her. This was really going to happen between the two of them. She smiled back. In less than an hour, she'd have him naked and ready. Finally, this trip to the other side of the world was starting to be fun.

Masaaki approached as the group walked toward the exit. He called the band members aside and told the rest of them to get into the limousines.

Ichiro squeezed her hand. "I'll be back in a second." He left and she followed Harper and the others out the door and into the waiting cars. Her cell phone went off. Shaundra dug into her clutch and retrieved it. "Hello."

"It's me, Ichiro. You're going to have to go back to the hotel without us. Mr. Niigata has arranged a business meeting for us at this very moment."

"Crap."

"What's wrong?" Harper asked.

Shaundra pounded the seat next to her with her fist. "Nothing. Aomori isn't coming back to the hotel with us. Mr. Niigata has called a meeting."

Stupid meeting.

Harper pushed the button and relayed the message to Kenshin.

The driver moved the car away from the curb.

"I'm sorry, Shaundra," Ichiro said to her through the receiver. "It's my job."

"Yes, I know. I'll see you later."

"If it's not too late. Sometimes these meetings go on to the wee hours of the morning."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow." She disconnected the phone call. Damn Mr. Niigata. Once again, Ichiro had been torn from her grasp. She shoved the cell phone back into her purse.

Dorothy patted her hand. "A cold shower will help."

She leaned her head back against the seat and through her hand over her forehead. "Am I that transparent?"

Dorothy fanned the air around her. "Girl, I could feel the heat from the two of you all night."

Harper moved into the seat next to her. "It's business. You do understand that Mr. Niigata has to keep them in the public eye?"

Shaundra lowered her hand and straightened up in the seat. "I don't know what's you are implying."

Harper chuckled. "Mr. Niigata has put a cramp in your plans to get busy with Ichiro."

Shaundra placed him playfully on the shoulder. "I think both of you are mean and are just doing things to torture me. First, you put those pretty men in my face and now you're taking them away. I think both of you are using me for your own selfish reasons."

"Now would I do something like that?" Harper asked, lying back in the seat.

"Hell yes," Shaundra and Dorothy answered. Riley and Jackson laughed.

Harper patted her hand. "You know me so well. Don't think I don't know what's been going on between you and those over-sexed boy toys."

Shaundra turned up her nose at the term. "Nothing has been going on."

She looked at Dorothy for sympathy and Dorothy just shrugged her shoulders.

"You've got them competing to see who you're going to sleep with."

"I have nothing to do with that. I can't help it if they have overactive imaginations."

"And overactive sexual appetites. I happened to run into Ichiro in the men's room earlier. He was in a bit of a fix and wearing lipstick the same shade as the one you're wearing right now."

Shaundra rolled her eyes. "It was just a kiss."

"And what I saw was just an erection and a pretty impressive one, if I might add."

"Damn, how did I miss that?" Jackson replied.

Shaundra giggled. "He is so cute. He makes me feel like I'm twenty- one again."

"I just bet he does," Harper replied. "Just remember that you're not."

Boy, did she hate her boss right at that very moment. "So what are you trying to tell me?"

"Just think how you would feel if someone was doing this to one of your sons."

"You're not going to lay a guilt trip on me, Harper. You know I wouldn't care if my sons dated someone older than they are. Look at what they're dating now. Those lazy heifers don't care about anything except getting their hair and nails fixed."

"You're leaving for the United States in a couple of days," Harper reminded her.

"What does that have to do with now?" She knew what he said was true, but her raging hormones weren't listening.

They arrived at the hotel and parted ways after the elevator dumped the others on their floor. This was one time she was thankful that she didn't have to talk to Harper any more about her morals. He was just pissed that she didn't want him. She went into her room, undressed and put the gown into the cleaner bag. The shoes got deposited into a box and then she returned calls to both her daughters who had left her messages.

She also called her mother down South to see how she was doing. Other than the usual eighty-year-old aches, she was well and asked Shaundra to bring her back a kimono to impress her friends at the senior citizen center she visited a couple of times a week.

She still hadn't heard from Donald, and she hadn't expected to. She guessed he was having a grand time with his new girlfriend. Having nothing better to do, she donned a robe, pulled out her laptop and went back to writing her new novel for KiNii. The book involved two young men who met while on a cross-country trek to Taiwan. She glanced over at the clock several hours later. It was two in the morning. Her telephone rang. Shaundra reached over to answer it.

"I saw your light was still on when I passed your room." "Ichiro?"

"Yes, can't you sleep?"

"I'm working on a book and lost track of time. How was your meeting?"

"It went well. Mr. Niigata introduced us to some entertainment people from China. They liked the songs we performed tonight and want us to do a concert in China next year when we return from the United States."

"That's great. Aomori is going to take the world by storm and you'll make plenty of money and friends."

"What are you wearing?" Ichiro asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"A robe and a smile."

"Are you tired?"

"No."

"I'll be there in five minutes." He hung up before she could stop him.

He was at the door in four minutes still dressed in his white suit. Shaundra pulled him in quickly. "I hope you weren't followed."

He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the floor. "No, I was stealth. Everyone thinks I'm in my room."

Shaundra raised her head and kissed him. He tasted so innocent and delicious, and he showed amazing upper body strength by carrying her into the bedroom. He placed her on the bed, removed his jacket and tie and tossed them on the chair.

"Ooh, I think I like this new side of you." He was down to his black bikini briefs faster than any older, more experienced man. He had a nice body - brand new, young man muscles, a developed chest and a narrow waist. The legs weren't bad either. A healthy erection strained against the briefs. "I think I have died and gone to heaven."

He reached up and unloosed his hair and it cascaded down past his shoulders.

The little triangle piece of cloth between her legs moistened.

He helped her off the bed and sat down on it. "Please, remove the robe now."

Shaundra untied the belt and opened the robe just to give him a peek.

She wasn't prepared for the look of shock on his face when she fully removed the robe. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "Do I not please you?"

His head bobbed up and down quickly. "You please me more than you'll ever know."

"Then what's the problem?"

"You're the first naked woman I've ever seen."

"Well, technically, I'm not naked." She pointed to the thong. "Oh my.

Did I just hear you right? You mean you're a...?"

Ichiro blushed.

"I am honored." Ooh, hot damn, she had hit the mother lode.

Everything was falling into place. Everything was perfect. She turned, giving him a full glance at her buttocks as she started peeling the band of the thong from around her waist and over her hips. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Yes," he said huskily.

Shaundra moved the thong down her legs and then she kicked them away and turned around to face him.

Ichiro gulped and reached for her, burying his face into her stomach.

Shaundra shuddered from the softness of his lips on her abdomen. The fire alarm in the room sounded. She groaned. "Do you think it's a real fire?"

Ichiro said something in Japanese that no doubt was a swear word. "It probably is. Let's get dressed."

Shaundra hurried into some clothes while Ichiro put the white suit back on. They slipped out of the door and into the hall. The alarm sounded much louder out there. They followed other people from the floor down the stairwell and out the hotel. Harper waved them over.

"We're just trying to account for all our people."

The rest of Aomori arrived along with their manager, their chauffer and Mr. Niigata.

"Everyone is here," he told Mr. Niigata.

The fire truck arrived.

"This better be real," Ichiro said as he hugged Shaundra from behind.

Shaundra nodded her head in agreement. Ichiro still had a semi-hard erection.

Satoshi inched over toward them. "What's up?"

"My patience," Shaundra replied.

"Nothing," Ichiro said.

"Why are you still in your suit?"

"I had just taken it off when the alarm went off. Then I had to put it back on." He kissed Shaundra on the back of the head and released her.

Satoshi reached up and tenderly touched Ichiro's hair. "You better put that away before you start a couple of fires out here. Can't you see how all those women are gawking at you?"

Ichiro looked around quickly. "Damn." He took a band out of his pocket and fixed his hair.

The firemen went into the building and left them standing outside for a couple of hours.

"I am so damn tired," Dorothy said as she sat down on a curb. "I had just dosed off."

Shaundra sat down next to her. "Yeah, it couldn't have happened at the worst time. I was preparing for bed myself." She looked over at Ichiro.

"You're fighting a losing battle," Dorothy replied, getting her drift.

"The fates are fucking with you."

"Yes, I know." There was no way Ichiro could sneak back to her room tonight with this ruckus going on. Yori walked over with Amaya. She'd bet the two of them had been together getting busy when the alarm had gone off.

The firemen exited and told them that it had been a small electrical fire in the restaurant and that it was safe for them to return to the room. She walked back inside with Ichiro and the others, stopping just outside her door. He looked at his watch. "It's very late."

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you need me to come tuck you in?"

"No," Satoshi answered for her. "It is very late. Time for you to go to bed."

Shaundra rolled her eyes at Satoshi, knowing there was no way she could invite Ichiro back in without drawing suspicions. Masaaki had probably ordered them to keep a close eye on him. Ichiro smiled one of those devastating smiles at her.

She nodded and used her key to go inside her room. Her phone rang shortly after she undressed and crawled into bed. "Yes, Ich."

"It's not Ich."

"Yori?"

"Yes, I just wanted to make sure that you're back into your room safe and sound."

"Yes, thank you."

"And alone."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I saw the way Ichiro was looking at you while we were outside."

"So what does that mean?"

"Nothing, good night."

"Good night." She hung up. That man, she decided, was so strange.