Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
We both took a bite at the same time.
She groaned in pleasure.
I almost did too.
The combination of the crispy skin, the flavorful meat, and the sweet hoisin sauce, complemented by the fresh crunch of scallion and cucumber, created a delightful harmony in my mouth.
She swallowed. “This is now my favorite too.”
“Good. I’ll make sure you have this every week.”
She chuckled. “You’re going to send your palace servers to Lotus Blossom and have them carve it at my table?”
”Or. . .” I shrugged and took a bite.
She paused from eating. “Or what?”
“Or you'll be living here.”
“That um. . .” She shook her head. “Lei, that's moving too fast.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. Let's get the battle done and bury our fathers. And by the way, when my sisters are with me, I'm different. I’m in mommy mode.”
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah but it's not as sexy and adventurous as Moni has no responsibilities mode.”
“I can't wait to see you in action.”
She blushed and returned to eating.
I took a bite and then placed my food on the plate. “So, Duck gave you The Essence of the Cloud Dragon?”
She coughed a little and then grabbed some water.
I smirked.
After a few seconds, she put the glass down.
I studied her. “Did he?”
“I can't confirm or deny that.”
“You're not in court.”
“But I'm still in front of the Mountain Master.”
“In this moment, I'm just Lei—”
“And Lei is still crazy as hell.”
“This is true.” I watched her. “But did he?”
“No one handed me the book. I found it under my pillow.”
Very clever, Duck.
“And did you enjoy the book, Moni?”
“I read it all and was completely captivated.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Hu had a point earlier today. Your becoming the Mountain Mistress would be a rocky journey. I think knowing about our history could help.”
Terror filled her eyes. “Let's. . .talk about something else for now.”
You can run from the title but there's no hiding.
Still, I slowly nodded. “Okay. New topic.”
“Yes.” She picked up her chopsticks and started eating small pieces of meat.
“But this still deals with my cousin.” I tilted my head to the side. “Did he give you back your panties?”
A slice of meat fell from her chopsticks. She chuckled. “What is wrong with you?”
“Since we’ve gone over a lot of difficult topics, I figured we should end the rest.”
“But Duck having my panties?” Smirking, she held her hands out. “We're on a romantic date.”
“Did he give them back?”
“He tried to.” She picked the meat back up with her chopsticks. “But. . .”
“But?”
“I told him to keep them.”
I didn't mean to but I rose in my seat and towered over her. “What?”
Startled, she looked up at me, holding the meat in mid-air. “Sit. Please.”
Fuck. Calm down, before you scare her.
Clearing my throat, I lowered. “What do you mean you told him to keep them?”
“Lei, when he told me that he had the panties we were at the feast for your sister and you were gone and everyone was watching my every move.”
“O-kay.”
“So. . .as you can see it wasn't the best moment for him to just place panties in my hand.” She ate the duck.
“That moment was fine.”
Chewing, she shook her head. “No way. There's already Meatball Gate.”
“I don't give a fuck about Meatball Gate and what anyone else thinks—”
“But you do care about the location of my panties that I didn't even know were missing?”
“Yes.”
“Well stop caring. I told Duck that there was no chance of anything happening between us.”
“Still, he has your panties.”
“You better drop it or I'm going to stab you with one of these chopsticks.” She grabbed more duck and rolled her eyes.
I smirked, finding that little threat adorable. “I'll drop it but he has to give you the panties back—”
“Lei, I don't want them back. You think I'm going to wear them now?”
“It's not about wearing them. It's the symbolism—”
“Get over it.” She pointed at me. “Or you get them.”
“Hmmm.”
“I have more important things to think about like the fact that you said I can take your virginity.”
My body hummed with desire. “That is more important.”
“Do you know when you want this momentous event to happen?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
I grinned. “After we're done eating.”
She widened her eyes. “Today.”
“Fuck yes.”
Another server entered with the final course, sweet red bean buns.
As the server placed the plate of sweet red bean buns on the table, Moni and I exchanged a mischievous glance.
The anticipation of what was to come hung in the air between us.
When he left, she whispered. “I can't believe we're actually doing this.”
“I put some things in place to make sure it was special for the both of us.”
“What things?”
“You'll see.”
With that promise hanging in the air, we turned our attention to the plate of sweet red bean buns. They were soft and fluffy, filled with a luscious red bean paste that oozed out temptingly as we bit into them.
The flavors danced on my tongue, a delicate sweetness that perfectly capped off our romantic meal.