The Dragon (G.O.N.Y. - Double Dragon) Read online

  The sound suddenly lowered and Jezebel opened her eyes. Standing near her bed, dressed in black pajamas, was Ramsey Stone.

  She sat up, pulling her duvet to her breasts despite being clothed. She’d opted for a large t-shirt and shorts. Of late, she’d been warm under the covers. “What are you doing in my room?”

  Unfazed, he placed the remote on the end table. “I knocked.”

  “I didn’t hear anything.”

  “That’s why I turned the TV down.”

  “You can’t just walk into someone’s room if they don’t answer,” she sputtered.

  Ramsey gripped the edge of the duvet and lifted. Shock made her immobile as he slid under the covers and shifted around in an attempt to get comfortable. When her voice returned, it was to demand, “What are you doing?”

  “Making myself comfortable.”

  “What?”

  He shifted until he was lying on his side, facing her. The TV light made him appear paler, and cast in a blueish glow. “Come here.”

  Jezebel laughed. He couldn’t be serious. Laughter faded. He was. “Get out of my room, Ramsey.”

  “No.” He yawned, rolled over for the remote and placed it on the comforter between them. Almost instantly, he was lying on his side again.

  Maybe it was the shock of him laying next to her so casually, or perhaps it was the fact that her thoughts were already jumbled before he made an appearance, but Jezebel was at a loss for words. She glared at him before shaking her head. It did nothing as he’d closed his eyes and seemed so still, it was possible he was already sleeping.

  Un-freakin-believable!

  Before long, she’d ignored him and was back in her thoughts. Although she was irritated with Delilah, Jezebel knew where she was coming from. Jezebel was pregnant and hormonal. While she still had rational thoughts, a few of them gave way to her emotions, which was the only reason she’d slept with Ramsey a few nights ago. Right now, she didn’t know what was her, and what was her pregnancy. And when this was over, where would she live? She still owned the house in Astoria, and although she’d enjoyed living there and liked her neighbors, Jezebel knew she couldn’t return. She’d just be gossip-worthy material. No one would take her seriously anymore. So she’d have to put that property on the market, maybe move upstate or to Long Island, even switch states. As for her company, Carter Investors, if she still even had a company by the time that nitwit interim CEO was through with it, she’d have that to consider when deciding what to do with her life after Ramsey.

  “You’re thinking too hard.”

  Jezebel jumped and whipped her head in the direction of the voice. When had he moved? Ramsey was now perched against the bed-head, staring at her. She scoffed and growled, “Go back to sleep, Ramsey. Isn’t that what you came here to do? Sleep?”

  The sudden sound of gunfire made her flinch and a memory she wished to keep buried, reared its head. It was only the television but she was back under the desk, holding the recoiling gun as the man dropped before her. Her heart lurched against her ribcage, but gradually began to settle. The volume cut out completely, and she saw Ramsey place the remote between them again.

  “What were you thinking about, Jez?”

  She could tell him where to shove it or lie, but Jezebel had questions and he was here. The least he could do was answer them.

  “I killed a man.” At his sharp inhale, she glanced over at him. Under the flickering lights of the television, his face was impassive. “What happens now?”

  “Nothing.”

  She swallowed. “I killed a―”

  “You protected yourself, Jezebel. Anyone would have done the same thing under the same circumstances. I’m sure the American legal system would agree.”

  “How sure?”

  “Positive.” When she only lifted a brow and waited for him to continue, he added, “I doubt any charges will be filed, but if they are, Brandon and the rest of his team will defend you.”

  Jezebel nodded. It was bad that she’d taken a life, but having Ramsey confirm the improbability of her being tried for it, gave her some peace.

  “After you’ve taken care of the threat, how soon can my sister and I return to America?”

  “Jez…”

  “Just give me a time frame, please. One month? Two?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Then simplify it for me, Ramsey.”

  He sucked in a slight hiss of breath. “I’d like you to stay with me until the baby is born, and some months after.”

  Jezebel froze. Her entire body went numb. “What?”

  “I think it’s the best option right now, Jezebel.”

  “In South Korea?”

  “If necessary.”

  “Is it necessary for me to stay with you for so many months?”

  “It’s the safest option.”

  “And what’s the other option, Ramsey, because I haven’t heard any other options, just what you want.”

  His face tightened. “The other option would be you returning to America with your sister…”

  “I like this option. Sounds like a good option.”

  “…but you’ll have to live in a house of my choosing, have armed bodyguards follow you wherever you go, and guards to work the perimeter of the property. You’d also have to give me access every week―”

  “A-access?” She sputtered. The entire thing was incredulous but her giving him access was what had released her vocal chords. “Give you access to what?”

  His lips lifted in amusement. “To you and our baby.”

  Jezebel shook her head. “You have no access to me. I already told you, your only concern should be this baby.”

  Ramsey leaned forward and before she could draw away, his hand pressed to her belly through the covers. “Right now, the baby is inside of you, so my concern is both you and the baby.”

  She pushed his hand away. “What’s the other option?”

  He leaned back. “Those are your options, Jezebel. Stay with me or allow me to protect you until I’m certain there are no other threats.”

  “I thought once you took care of this threat, they’ll all go away...” She allowed her voice to trail off as she realized how naïve she sounded. Would she ever truly be safe? Even if this threat was taken care of, what was to stop another threat, and another? With her permanent connection to Ramsey, what was to stop them from coming after her, her baby, her entire family?

  “Removing a threat can sometimes have repercussions, Jezebel.”

  Leaning back against the headboard, she sighed. “Life as I knew it is over, isn’t it?”

  “Jezebel…”

  “I’ll never be truly safe again, will I?” She didn’t wait for an answer, didn’t need one. “Never be able to run the company I built from scratch, never be able to go out without having someone follow me, never be able to take my child to the park whenever I want. I’ll never be able to be normal again.”

  The low sound of the TV was the only thing heard for long minutes before Ramsey spoke, “You were never normal, Jezebel.”

  She snorted and harsh laughter bubbled from her lips. “Of all the things I said, you choose to respond to that.”

  He moved closer and before she could focus on what he was doing, his arm was draped across her shoulder. She fought against his hold for a few moments before allowing her body to relax into his. “I’m sorry.” His fingers stroked down her arm. “I was selfish. I should have never gotten involved with you.” Jezebel tried to hold onto her righteous anger but she was just…tired. The exhaustion she’d been searching for as she lay tossing and turning, seemed to weigh on her now. “But you’ll be safe, Jezebel. I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby―”

  “Unless something happens to you, right?”

  His fingers never stopped their comforting caress. “Even then, you’ll be protected.”

  “But you can’t tell me how?”

  “No.”

  “Wow.” She sighed and shook her head
. “The next time I see a cute face and sexy body, I’m running for the hills.”

  Ramsey stilled, but his caress soon continued. “You think I’m sexy?”

  Jezebel ignored him. Why was he injecting humor into their conversation? This was serious! She didn’t realize she was sliding down the bed until her head was on the pillow. The lulling sound of the television faded away and hard heat brushed her back. A hand stroked the side of her belly and Jezebel sighed. As she felt the warm arms of sleep enfold her, she could have sworn she heard him whisper, “I think you’re pretty sexy too.”

  ***

  “Where are they, you smug son-of-a-bitch?”

  Although the Korean words were screamed, and the sound blasted his eardrums, Ramsey found a cold smile. “I’m not sure I know who you’re referring to― ”

  “You took my daughter, my grandsons!”

  “Did I?” Ramsey leaned back in his chair, watching as Vince moved across the room to the liquor bar. At four in the morning, it was too early for a drink, for this phone call, but his cousin removed a decanter filled to the brim with brown liquid and two glasses anyway. Ramsey understood the reason. When Vince had knocked on Jezebel’s bedroom door to tell him he had a phone call, he’d known who it was. Ramsey had expected the call earlier but the time didn’t matter as long as it came.

  “You weak little half-breed, goja! If you touch them, you’ll be sorry.”

  “I’ll be sorry, Chang?” he cut in. Ice cubes clinked as Vince dropped them into the glass and moved to his desk. “You don’t even know where your daughter is, where your grandsons are, but I’ll be sorry?”

  The older man inhaled once, twice, before he snarled, “What do you want?”

  Revenge. Justice. “A meeting.”

  “A meeting?” Chang spat. More curses streamed from his lips. Ramsey’s smile only grew. He’d never heard Chang so flustered before. “Where are they?”

  “I’ll send you the details,” he drawled. Vince filled both glasses to the half-way point. “You show up alone and they continue breathing.”

  “You cowardly son-of-a-bitch!” his rival roared. “A woman and two children? Are your balls bigger? Your cock longer? Goja!”

  “Alone,” Ramsey repeated. “If I even think you’re accompanied, your grandsons will die first. Your daughter might have some uses yet.”

  “Goja!”

  Ramsey ended the call.

  Pushing one of the glasses his way, Vince lifted the other. With a nod, Ramsey did the same before bringing the glass to his lips and taking a mouthful.

  Whiskey.

  The burn was harsh but he reveled in it. He wasn’t a drinker outside of social functions, but the occasion was celebratory. It called for one. Neither man spoke as they drank, until Vince replaced his empty glass on the table, and asked, “When should I set up this meeting?”

  Ramsey smiled.

  Long enough for Chang to worry, to suffer, but short enough that he couldn’t get word onto the streets of Gwangju. Loyalty only went so far when a copious amount of money was being offered to working-class families. Chang might part with his daughter, but his grandsons were his only living heirs, his legacy. He’d probably part with all of his wealth if it meant getting them back alive.

  “Two days.”

  “Thursday?”

  At Ramsey’s nod, Vince asked, “Time?”

  “We don’t need any witnesses.”

  “4 a.m.?”

  With a smirk, he looked down at the digital clock on his desk. 4:15. “It only seems appropriate.”

  “He’s not coming alone,” Vince noted with ease.

  Ramsey wasn’t stupid. He knew that. Chang Chul-Moo was coming with his mob, as many as he could fit onto a plane for the trip to Gwangju, but he wasn’t worried. In the grand scheme of things, he had the upper hand and in two days, Chang would be dead.

  ***

  Jezebel was awake when he re-entered the room.

  She’d awoken when Ramsey closed the door as he stepped out, and finding herself alone, had been unable to sleep. Instead, she’d used the bathroom, turned on the TV for a bit, and finally, after shutting the TV off because there was nothing interesting on, had stared into the dark, wondering if he’d just gotten up early and was preparing for his day.

  Ramsey was light on his feet as he made his way back to her. The bed barely moved as he slid under the covers and inched closer to her. “Where’d you go?”

  He sidled closer to her and settled in. “I was thirsty. I went downstairs for something to drink.”

  “Something strong.” It wasn’t a question. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

  Instantly, his body tensed before relaxing once more. “Sleep, Jezebel.”

  Remembering the nightmare he’d had nights ago, she couldn’t help but say, “I still think you should see someone.”

  When he didn’t respond, she continued, “The nightmares are so bad you’re getting up early in the morning for alcohol?” Next to her, Ramsey exhaled but remained silent. “Does it help you sleep?” As the silence stretched between them, she sighed in frustration. Why did she care? She didn’t. She was just making an observation and a suggestion. “Whatever. Do whatever you want.”

  As she made to roll over and hug the corner of the bed that was “hers” due to Ramsey’s imposition, his arm moved to her side, boxing her in and holding her still. In the dark, she could see little, but she felt him move, felt the soft brush of his lips against hers.

  “Thank you,” he murmured. “I’ll look into that…later.”

  A part of her wanted to be outraged at his stolen kiss, while most of her was just glad he’d acknowledged what she was saying and seemed to be considering it. Jezebel nodded. “Good.” He was going to be a father, the father of her child, and she needed him to be mentally fit for the baby. It wasn’t about him. It was about the baby.

  His lips caressed hers again.

  Jezebel froze. It gave him time to trace his tongue along the seam of hers, and as she parted her lips instinctively, she tasted the woodsy drink on his tongue.

  “Ram…”

  His tongue penetrated, swooping into her mouth and laying claim. Whiskey, she thought with a moan, stroking her tongue against his for more. She didn’t even like whiskey.

  The next few seconds were a haze.

  Her shirt went over her head. Her shorts and panties disappeared. Jezebel didn’t know where they went. One moment they were on, the next, his hand was cupping her sex, his fingers sliding through her slit. She tossed her head aside to take great gulps of air. She felt like she was drowning. Ramsey was undeterred, running his lips across her cheek, down her neck, her collarbone, her breasts. As his hot mouth closed over her nipple, she tossed her head back and arched into him. He groaned, and the vibrations sent a jolt of heat to her sex.

  Suddenly, he pulled away. The slight chill on the air brushed her wet nipple and she shivered. There was rustling, then silence. About to call his name, Jezebel halted when the bed shifted and he came over her. She parted her legs and moaned as his hot, steely flesh stroked her. He’d removed his pajamas.

  He kissed her again, this kiss a passionate devouring of her lips and tongue. Jezebel arched into him, sliding her fingers through his hair, rubbing her breasts against the muscular hardness of his chest. His cock brushed her again and she tried to take him home but failed.

  “Now,” she moaned, tugging her lips from him long enough to get the word out.

  Ramsey ignored her. He teased her with his kisses, and the quick, unfulfilling brushes of his sex against hers. She remained unfilled, empty…

  “Ramsey!” she growled.

  “What?” He nipped her bottom lip before kissing the hurt. “What do you want?”

  He rocked against her again and she gasped, preparing herself for the fullness, but once more, she was denied. “You know what I want!”

  Ramsey moved down her body. His tongue flattened against her nipple and dragged.

  “O
oh!”

  He did the same for the other nipple before moving down her body. As he passed her belly, he placed light kisses upon it, and then his fingers were twirling in the curly hairs of her mons. Briefly, the thought of her lack of landscaping occurred to her. As soon as Ramsey pinched her clit, the thought vanished.

  “I’m going to kiss you here, Jez,” he murmured, rubbing her sensitive button between his fingers. “And then, I’m going to lick along here.” One finger slid along her wetness. “And lastly, when you’re trembling in my arms and screaming my name, I’m going to put my tongue…right here.” His finger traced her opening.

  If her breathing was erratic before, it was a wonder she could even get air into her lungs after his declaration.

  “Any objections?”

  She released a snort-laugh that ended as a moan. That had to be a rhetorical question. She’d grabbed hold of her senses to speak when he started following through on his promises. As his tongue stroked her button, Jezebel’s body live-wired. She arched against him, her hands finding her heaving breasts as she whimpered his name. In a matter of seconds, she was contracting on herself, her body gradually going limp as he placed soft kisses to the inside of her thigh.

  Minutes, perhaps, hours later, his voice intruded on her post-orgasmic calm, “Are you ready for the rest, Jez?”

  His fingers traced the length of her slit. She shivered. No, she wasn’t ready but she wanted more. She’d never had an addiction before, but now Jezebel admitted to herself that Ramsey was her drug.

  And this was just the beginning.

  ***

  She was ready.

  Ramsey pulled away from the quivering feast that was Jezebel and made his way up her body. In teasing her, he’d teased them both. He had to get inside of her soon, now. Before she could recover from her second orgasm, he was sliding into the tightest, softest heat he’d ever known. Home. The thought was instant but easily pushed aside.

  Bracing his hands on the bed, he leaned down and caught her lips again. Her tongue was as eager as his, stroking into his mouth as he thrust into her, harder and deeper. Her body told him when he needed to retreat, her little whimpers broadcasting that he’d given her too much.