Suddenly, he pulled back, his erection still pressed tightly against her. He was breathing as hard as she was and his look held desperation and pleading. His dark eyes reflected the torchlight in their depths, so real that it looked like flames actually wrapped around his pupils for a brief moment.

  Francesca moaned, grabbing his face and forcing him back to her lips. She kissed him deeply until she had conquered every last inch of his mouth.

  Aggressively, he pressed her tight against the rail as she reached between them to pull up his silk tunic. She succeeded and the length of his chiseled body fitted to hers, firm and unyielding, until every flex of his strong hips seemed to grind his erection into her softer stomach. Parting her thighs to let him rock more intimately against her, she wished his pants would just melt away.

  He ground his arousal along her, stimulating her sensitive bud through his clothing. She moaned into his mouth, lightheaded from his deep kiss and unwilling to break it to get air. Frantically, she pushed at his waist to untie his waistband. He broke the kiss, gasping for breath as she caught hold on his naked shaft.

  A growl sounded it the back of his throat. He ripped her gown open, revealing a breast as his palm cupped her, squeezing the mound as he pinched her nipple hard. Jin was tense, rigid to the point of demanding. He looked dominant, virile, strong, and so very beautiful outlined in orange torchlight. It wasn't just his tight, muscled body either. It was in the way he held himself, the gracefully superior way he moved against her.

  Francesca stroked him as she parted her thighs. He grabbed her hips. Lifting her up, he angled his body to hers. It didn't matter that they still wore clothing. The need to feel him was too strong. She clutched at him, pulling him closer.

  Jin guided himself into her willing body, pushing hard as he filled her completely. Her body hung precariously over the rail, but she wasn't scared. Jin held her hips tight, keeping her from falling. Wildly, he pumped into her, hitting hard against her core as he buried his face against her naked chest. His hot mouth brushed along her exposed nipple and he sucked it hard between his teeth.

  There was so much heat and friction that she couldn't help but moan his name over and over, urging him to take her harder and faster. He did, moving with swift speed in and out, in and out. She arched her back, taking all he had to give.

  "Bâobèi," he groaned against her breast. "Nî hâo mêi."

  She smiled at the compliment as he told her how beautiful she was. Francesca wanted to be beautiful—for him.

  Pleasure exploded throughout her body and she was unable to scream even as her mouth fell open. Jin only thrust harder, forcing her to ride out her climax. He pumped into her trembling depths, his movements becoming jerky as he neared his own release.

  Suddenly, he stopped. His hips jerked one last time as he came inside her. Francesca closed her eyes. For a long moment they didn't move, their bodies pressed tightly together. Her body soared to know that he could still be with her like this, that he didn't hate her too much to have sex with her. It might not be love, but it was something and she clung to what they had with both hands and refused to let go.

  Jin pulled away. The cool air caressed her skin as her silk gown fell around her legs. After he righted his clothing, Jin held his arm to the side, silently motioning to the end of the bridge, urging her down the path with him. The shackles stayed on the bridge as he walked with her in silence. Francesca didn't want there to be words between them. Not now. What could they really say to each other?

  Going into the royal chambers, Jin opened the door to his room before stepping aside to let her go in first. He didn't protest as she went to his bed to lie down. Exhaustion overtook her and she didn't want to think. Jin crawled in beside her, not touching her as they both fell asleep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Francesca opened her eyes, Jin was resting on his side, studying her intently. He wore a dark green bathing robe with black dragons on it. It was belted along the front. He smelled fresh and exotic, like he'd already been in the decontaminator and his skin glistened as if he'd rubbed herbal oil on it. Her first sleepy instinct was to smile, but his words stopped her.

  "You said last night that Chen Sun found you. Where did he find you?"

  Pushing up from the bed, she held her disheveled gown to her chest and slowly stood. One of her shoes had been kicked off in the night and the other was still on her foot. Kicking, she flung the remaining shoe off and walked toward the decontaminator. It was the only place she could think of to hide her face from him without running out the door. “Can't we leave the past be? Do you really wish to discuss this more?"

  "I am your husband. I think I have a right to know these things,” he said.

  Francesca lifted a brow as if to say ‘Oh, really?’ and slid the door to the decontaminator room closed. When she was out of sight, her expression fell and she held completely still. She took a deep breath, doing her best to keep her breathing calm so he couldn't hear its staggering pattern.

  "Would you tell me as your friend then?” he called from the other side. “If not as your husband?"

  She rolled her eyes, not really mocking him but more herself. “Are we friends?"

  "I think it might make for an easier time together, don't you? Unless you prefer to fight me all the time."

  Francesca slipped out of her gown. His voice was muffled by the door, but she could understand him fine.

  "He bought me at an auction,” she answered as she stepped into the unit. A tear slipped over her cheek and the decontaminator's lasers automatically targeted it, drying the moisture instantly.

  There was a long pause. “So you really were his s-se...."

  "Sex slave?” she offered. Another tear fell and that one was cleaned up just as fast as the first.

  "You were?"

  "No."

  "Then, why did he purchase you?"

  Francesca shook her head. Lasers scanned over her body, their green light tickling as it ran over her form. She lifted her hair, making sure it was thoroughly cleaned. “To save me. I was an orphan raised by a religious sect. The monastery was raided ... blessed comet, it must have been fifteen, sixteen, maybe even up to eighteen years ago now. Honestly, I can't really tell you, I lost track of time there for awhile and the monastery wasn't big on personal information like ages and birthdays, let alone things like keeping track of the years. Truth be told, I didn't even know how to tell time until I met Chen Sun. As for my age, we guessed at it one night and I've kept track by that ever since."

  "So you do not know what your parents are?"

  "No one ever told me if they knew. I assume humanoid.” She took a deep breath, not saying more.

  "Go on. What happened after the raid?"

  "I was brought to the Torgan slave auctions. I had a knack for escape and got away. From there I lived in the Torgan ductwork for a time before they flushed the pipes and out came me in the dirty flushwater supply. The men who found me didn't know what to make of me so they decided to earn some extra space credit. I was put on the auction block and that's when Chen Sun found me. He said I had spirit."

  "What made him think that?” Jin's voice was closer. Francesca jumped and looked at the door. She could see it easily from her place in the decontaminator unit. She had no idea why she felt so shy this morning, when that had never been a quality she possessed before. She saw Jin's shadow through the white of the thin door. His hand was lifted against the frame, but he didn't make a move to enter.

  "I bit the ear off of one of the auctioneers."

  Jin laughed. “Now that does not surprise me."

  Francesca kept an eye on his image. The shadow of his finger traced absently along the door.

  "And he taught you Wushu?” Jin asked.

  "Yes.” For a moment, her eyes clouded as she remembered. “He started my training. He said I had a natural aptitude for it. I've always had stamina and healed fast and am a quick study."

  "And who finished your training?"

  "I did.” Francesca couldn't stop herself from answering. Jin asked, and she answered. She wanted him to know about her, wanted to tell him, wanted him to understand so maybe someday he'd forgive what she had done, even if he couldn't forget.

  "How was that?"

  "The night the Imperial guards kill ... came, I found some old manuscripts with translations written in so that I could understand them. Sun had left them where he'd known I would look. I devoted every moment to study and I even picked fights for practice. As my talent grew, I became bolder, stealing small and then bigger. I am hardly a master, but my talent increases. Perhaps someday I will have perfected the art."

  "What if I asked you not to practice it? To let the art form die?"

  "I wouldn't agree. I can't Jin. I promised Sun on his dying day to continue the way of Wushu."

  "What if I asked you to teach me?” His voice had softened. “Would you now consider me worthy of learning?

  Francesca took a deep breath. Teach Jin Wushu? Stepping from the decontaminator she made her way to the door. Her hand shaking, she pushed it open. His eyes met hers. He was serious.

  "I thought your people didn't approve of Wushu.” She watched him closely as he answered.

  "Maybe they were wrong.” His expression didn't falter.

  "Why do you wish to learn?"

  "Because the ways of the past should not die.” His lids fell over her gaze, shading his features from her. She loved the look of his face, the shape of his eyes, the darkness of their depths. “Because I believe it is not the art that caused the problems of the past, but a man. Master Ming Bo started the Wushu Uprisings. He and his followers. The tradition is not to blame, but those who misused it."

  Francesca swallowed. Was this what Sun had sent her to do? To give Wushu back to his people? Did he know that the Jade Phoenix would be recovered? Did he see this in his dreams?

  The Jade Phoenix, Sun had said to her. Go after the Jade Phoenix. Its power will lead you down the right path.

  Was teaching Wushu her path? All this time she thought she was supposed to bring down his killers. Was instead her goal to reform them?

  Very carefully, she whispered, “Before Chen Sun died, he said to me, ‘You must promise me not to let all I've taught you die. Our ways must live.’”

  "Does that mean you will teach me?” Jin cupped her cheek, pulling her gaze back up to his.

  Francesca nodded. When Sun had spoken the words, this might not have been what he had in mind, but in a way it did fulfill his wishes. The truth was, she no longer knew what he had in mind. All she could do was do her best to honor him and that's what she'd done. Teaching a Zhang prince would ensure the legacy of the Wushu lived on.

  Jin lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head before her. “Then I become your willing student, Master Francesca."

  Francesca shivered. “I'm not a Master."

  Jin's eyes met hers. “You are the only one we have. Do you accept me?"

  Francesca reached out, placing her hand on Jin's head as he bowed once more. Standing naked before him, she stated, “I become your willing Master, Pupil Zhang Jin."

  Jin surged to his feet, a grin on his face as he lifted her around the waist. Carrying her naked body to the bed he flung her down and crawled on top of her.

  "This wasn't the lesson I had in mind, Pupil Jin,” she laughed as Jin stopped to kiss each breast. His sudden burst of energy surprised and excited her. Her heart beat hard against her chest.

  "Ah, well, perhaps I should take you on as my pupil.” He pulled the belt free and parted the front of his dragon robe, revealing that he was completely naked beneath.

  "You think to be a master in the bedroom?” she asked, grinning. Never had she felt so giddy. With Sun, there had always been an overwhelming sadness between them. There was love, but it wasn't carefree or without its wounds. Scars from the past had affected them both. With Jin, there was something else. She refused to say deeper because that didn't seem fair, but it was what it was and it definitely was different.

  "I have ways I have yet to show to you, my princess.” Jin traced his finger from her neck to her navel.

  Francesca shivered, running her hands into his hair. She couldn't help thinking yet again that they might fail when it came to emotions, but this part they were pretty good at. “Well, if you put it that way, I become your most willing pupil, Master Jin."

  "Mm,” he chuckled against the valley of her breasts, nestling his face between the two globes. “I like you calling me Master."

  "Aren't you forgetting something?” Francesca looked down, seeing his dark hair against her skin. Running her fingers into the soft locks, she toyed with the ends.

  "Oh, yeah.” He ran his hand down her stomach and cupped her sex with his palm.

  "No,” she laughed. “Do you accept me as a pupil?"

  "Mm,” he nestled between her breasts before lifting up to look at her. “Yes, I become you most willing Master, bâobèi. Now turn on your stomach so I can explore my pupil."

  * * * *

  Francesca looked around the table as she played with the two ivory eating sticks. She'd almost forgotten the horror of her first taste of Líntianese dining culture, but now it came back to her full force. The table was larger than before with two floor cushion seats added to accommodate Jarek and Mei.

  Like the first time, the plates were handcrafted pottery, but instead were painted with gold stripes on red. As Jarek and Mei told stories from their time together in space and discussed Mei's upcoming labor, Francesca skated the sticks over the table. At least this time they weren't sitting in silence staring at her, and the hall wasn't crowded with nobles as it had been before.

  Jin caught her eyes, as he was silently watching her in the seat beside her. He gave her a small smile. There was an easiness between them that hadn't existed before. She was scared of saying too much about it for fear she'd ruin it.

  "What are these things called?” she asked softly, holding up the sticks to Jin.

  "Kuay tzu," he said, cupping the small bowl and taking a drink. “Chopsticks."

  The soft sounds of the family's conversation were punctuated by the more robust sounds coming from Jarek's crew who were seated a few feet away at their own table. There were no guests in the large hall, just the two tables. Francesca noticed that everything was still precise with decorum, but the family seemed more relaxed. Rick smiled at her and winked. Francesca had begun a friendship with the playful man while on the ship and knew he was offering to help make her husband jealous. The last thing she needed was trouble. She shook her head slightly and he laughed before looking away. Jin caught the gesture and turned around to study the other table. When he again looked at her, he'd quirked a brow. Francesca shrugged nonchalantly and quickly pretended like she was interested in what Mei and Fen were discussing about baby names.

  "What do you think of Shaming?” Fen asked. The woman smiled at her. They hadn't spoken since Francesca's return, but the princess didn't seem to be holding a grudge. Francesca had worried about that since Fen had been so nice to her the first time she was there.

  "For a boy or girl?” Jarek asked, confused.

  "Boy, of course,” Fen said. “And for a girl, Rong or Da-Xia."

  "Huan Yue,” Haun offered.

  "Or Shu Fang?” the empress added.

  "I was thinking Sying,” Mei said. To her husband, she offered, “It means star."

  "I like Star.” Jarek nodded thoughtfully.

  "No, Sying,” Mei corrected.

  Jarek frowned. “But my people will understand Star."

  "Don't your brothers, the other ten nai princes, have children?” Fen questioned Jarek.

  "Ten nai?” Francesca quietly asked Jin.

  "Tiger men,” he answered just as softly.

  "Ah.” Francesca nodded in understanding. Jarek's brothers were shifters as well.

  "What are their names?” Shen asked.

  "Korbin, Roderic, Payton, Aliya and Emma,” Jarek answered with obvious pride.

  The Zhang family made faces of uncertainty.

  "A-li-ya?” Fen repeated, looking at Lian for confirmation.

  "This will be a royal child,” the emperor said delicately to Mei, as if it needed explaining. “He must have a name he can be proud of."

  Francesca watched Jarek to see if he was insulted. He shared a look with his wife, but didn't seem upset. He winked at her and they both took a drink of the sweet liquor.

  Servants brought the food, placing it on the table. Red dishes with gold stripes matched the dinnerware. The empress served the meal, giving Francesca an extra helping of the steamed red flowers from the nearby farmlands.

  "Francesca favors the hong jio ju?” Mei asked.

  "She is a sù shí zhe,” Lian said.

  Mei laughed, shaking her head. “No. She ate meat on the ship every day. In fact, she hardly ate anything else."

  The royal family turned to look at Francesca, who in turn looked helplessly at Jin. Her husband smiled, but didn't offer any help.

  "Uh, the religious observance is over,” she answered faintly.

  The emperor and empress nodded, satisfied with the answer. Mei quirked a brow, nudging Jarek in the ribs with her elbow when he started to chuckle. They'd gotten into a religious conversation on the ship and both knew she was lying. Jin hurriedly changed the subject.

  "I like Park,” Jin said, “for a boy or girl."

  "Huh,” Jarek said thoughtfully, turning to Mei. “Parker."

  "Park,” Mei repeated. “I like it."

  "Parker,” Jarek said under his breath.

  "We'll discuss it later,” Mei answered just as softly.

  The emperor stood raising his bowl. The hall instantly quieted. “Finally, names are chosen. Park and Park!"

  The hall cheered. Mei and Jarek exchanged looks. In unison they said, “Park it is."

  The emperor sat and it was one of the rare times Francesca had ever seen the stoic man smile.

  "And when might we expect a child from you?” the empress asked, looking directly at Francesca and Jin. “Now that you are home, I expect Jin has explained our expectation to you."

 

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