Free Loving Jiro by Jordyn Tracey Page B

insulted at the suggestion, like she wasn't worth anything more than that position in his life.
    Jiro seemed to read her mind. “It's not that I don't care enough for you to make you more than my lover, but it's wise for us both to take it slower than that. Under normal circumstances, we would date, but you need my protection. I have an estate, several in fact, where you can live. Ayumi lives there also and a few others in my family's employ."
    "What would your family think about it?"
    "It's not uncommon to have mistresses, although most of the time, they live somewhere else or in one of the smaller houses, not in the main house.” His lips pressed into a straight line, determination entering his expression. “You will be—are—different."
    "Says you.” She sighed. These people were out of her league, even Ayumi. Their money allowed them to live a life she could not even dream of. His description of his estate made her think of the show on TV she used to watch when it first debuted called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. And would his grandfather also be there, a man she imagined was steeped in traditions. What kind of slap in the face would Jiro be giving the old man bringing home a black woman to live in his house?
    Yet, this was her only option. She could not give an order to kill Odell even if she did wish he was dead. That would make her a killer. She gasped, remembering Jiro's profession. Her stomach churned, and the food she had just downed felt like it was coming back up. I'm in negotiations to give away my body to a cold-blooded killer. Even as she thought it, she knew she would do it. She would give herself to Jiro. Just the thought excited her, made her wish she was lying with him right now, in bed.
    She parted her lips in a soft gasp, and a thrill hit her seeing that Jiro noticed. He was affected also. Maybe he was praying she would decide on being his mistress. How could she live with this? This decision too meant possible regrets, turning her head when she knew he was off on an assignment to murder someone. And opening her arms and her bed to him when he returned. It was all too much, too unreal.
    "All roads lead to...” She didn't finish the sentence. There was no point. “Okay, I've made my decision,” she told him quietly. “I will be your lover."
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Chapter Nine
    They arrived late, too late to see Ayumi awake. No more than the housekeeper greeted them, who seemed a little gruff. If Kiara's eyes widened any more at the decor, they would pop. For all their money, and even living in America for so long, the house was decorated in traditional Japanese styles, simplistic yet tasteful. She marveled at the rice paper lamps and Shoji screens. Paintings and tapestries on the walls showed the Zen brushstroke to which she would have drifted over to if Jiro hadn't caught her, and turned her back toward the hall leading to her room.
    "Tomorrow,” he told her. “I promise, I will take you on the grand tour. “Tonight, we get to know one another."
    She shivered, knowing what he alluded to. The hour being late, she hadn't expected to jump right into bed with him the second they hit the door, but just as he must feel, she couldn't wait to get her hands on his body. Ever since she had agreed to this arrangement, she had had visions of Jiro naked, wondering if his body was as hot as she thought it was.
    Not that she wasn't nervous. She was terrified. For three years, she had been told she was unattractive, too skinny and her boobs weren't enough to get a man up. The thought of having come all this way only to find Jiro wasn't attracted to her was a real fear.
    He led her to her bedroom and stepped in behind her. “This is your room. Mine is down the hall and around the corner."
    She blinked. “You're saying we have separate rooms, not even near each other?” She had glimpsed the end of the hall as they approached her bedroom. It was a long way off. She could only imagine how long the