The room was perfect, set against the backdrop of the sea, with a full moon shining in through the window. Soft American love songs played through the speaker of the stereo. The room was a suite with every amenity known to man and now they sat on a sofa toasting each other with iced glasses of oolong tea. Ichiro had given up on sake after she had returned and he promised he wouldn't drink another drop until his kids were born and only then to celebrate.

Ichiro pulled his blushing bride to her feet and danced her around the spacious living room and into the bedroom. They hadn't danced this way since their wedding reception, and Shaundra felt good in his arms. "I've been dreaming of this night a very long time," he told her. He kissed her and Shaundra kissed him back. He danced her over to the bed.

Shaundra sat down to rest.

"Have I told you lately just how much I love you," he sung to her.

"Every day, baby," she replied. "But they're just words."

Ichiro got down on his knees and bowed before her. "I am so sorry for everything I've done and I apologize for calling you that nasty name. It was rude and so untrue." He looked up at her and found her watching him intently. He never knew what she was thinking anymore. Her brown eyes sparkled with uncertainty and confusion.

"I forgive you, Ich," she finally said.

But there was something in her eyes that told him she was lying. He knew he'd hurt her and parts of him wasn't sure he could handle it if the babies weren't his, but he was willing to give it his best shot. He rose and sat down next to her.

"I need for you to let me love you," he said.

Shaundra sat by watching as he began to undress her, exposing those melon-sized breasts. In a couple of months they would be full with milk and his babies would feed from them, but tonight they were his.

Ichiro pushed her back on the bed gently and ran his hand across her chest. The nipples darkened and budded beneath his touch. "I hope this means you want me as much as I want you?"

Shaundra did not answer. She just blushed lightly and then smiled.

Ichiro rose from the bed and stripped out of his clothes.

Shaundra just kept her emotions hidden as she watched. A long time ago she would have stripped him herself before they were in the bedroom. He sighed. He didn't think he would miss her aggressiveness. Shaundra ran her tongue over her bottom lips as he removed his briefs and stood before him. He saw her eyes do this freaky little sultry number where they lightened and then smoldered. He'd only been joking with Satoshi and Takumijo about her being possessed but now he wasn't sure. She stared mesmerized by his thick erection. Then she gave him a smile that had cougar written all over it. His dick hardened even more. "This is what you do to me," he told her. She smirked and Ichiro melted. If she didn't stop looking at him like that he was going to come.

"Sit down, jail bait," she told him.

Ichiro quickly sat down on the bed.

Shaundra rose and for a moment she seemed like her old self. She slowly began moving her hips to the music. And she rolled her stomach like she wasn't pregnant, totally captivating him as she eased out of the rest of her clothes.

His eyes followed those hips as they spoke to him. His body tingled with excitement. Shaundra was serenading him with her sensuality, and she had his nose wide open and knew it.

The red panties she wore finally disappeared, and she stood before him. His eyes lowered. Brazilian waxed? Damn he was in trouble now. She had to be the sexiest pregnant woman in the world. He didn't know if it was safe for them to attempt intercourse since Shaundra was entering her seventh month of pregnancy, but he would just pray for his kids' safety, because he was going in. She walked over to the edge of the bed and he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her abdomen. "Forgive me," he told the babies. "But daddy needs loving." He lifted her from the floor and put her on her back. Shaundra still stared at him aloofly. "I am going to make love to you," he said using his manly voice. He raised her legs and moved between them. "I am going to make this a night we both remember."

He went down on his knees and buried his face into her slit before Shaundra could protest. Shaundra smelled and tasted like everything good in the world. He pulled her down closer to the edge of the bed. Her skin felt so warm and inviting and he wanted her so damn badly.

Shaundra moaned sexily above him, obviously enjoying what he was doing to her. A year ago he would have been afraid to attempt such a daring act but with Shaundra oral sex seemed so natural. His efforts were rewarded by his bride trembling erotically on the mattress above him and drenching him with her juices. Damn, she is ready.

Ichiro rose, trying to figure out his next move. He moved onto the bed and stared down at his wife. She looked up at him with those cougar eyes and he gulped. She was about to take the decision out of his hands. She pushed him onto his back and mounted him.

"Ah!" he gasped as she sank down on his swollen member.

His hands automatically went up to her hips to control her movement. She had a lot more hips, more ass, and more everything and she had everything moving slowly and steadily until he bit his bottom lip to keep from shouting to the world how good it felt. He steadied her roll, knowing how much damage she could cause once she got aroused. His baby wasn't shy about taking the lead and getting what she needed from him. But apparently she wasn't in the mood for anything but slow easy loving. Ichiro breathed a sigh of relief.

Ichiro moved his hands up to her breasts, gently squeezing the nipples until they budded again. One hand slid down her sternum until it reached her abdomen. The babies responded to his touch.

"They're okay," Shaundra told him as she slowly rode him.

"They're protected."

"Are you sure," he asked. He could not live with himself if he'd caused them pain.

"Very," she told him.

"That's all I need to know." Ichiro rolled his wife off him and placed her on her back. "Every now and then I like to be in control," he said, sliding his hand up one of her thighs.

Shaundra chuckled in her deep sultry voice. "Okay," she said. "Show me what you got."

Ichiro crawled between her thighs, positioned her legs on his hips and entered her again.

Shaundra gasped and shuddered. "Oh shit."

Ichiro pulled her down, impaling her. Heat washed all over him as she came again from just a couple of his thrusts. He feared he'd never grow tired of seeing the look on her face as she came. Her feminine juices soaked him and mixed with the sweat they'd worked up. He slid out a little and then eased back in. He didn't think there was any better sensation in the world than ecstasy.

Shaundra rotated her hips and tried to suck him in deeper.

She didn't need to make the effort because he didn't plan to leave her warm nest until the wee hours of the morning.

"I want you on your knees," he told her, turning her over slowly and carefully. "Your ass looks phenomenal." He mounted her from behind, careful not to put too much of his weight on her. In this position he could really get deep and make it enjoyable for both of them. His knees trembled as he moved in and out of her. Shaundra balanced on her elbows and knees, rocking back to meet him as he moved deeper.

She used her Kegel muscles to tighten her pussy around him.

She had that move down to a science.

The heat still emitting from her proved too much for him.

"I am going to blow," he said as his hips moved faster. He grabbed both sides of her hips and moved her back and forth quickly.

"Ooh, me too," Shaundra told him as her body shook.

Sweat ran down his face as his cum left his body. It had built up for a long time that he didn't think it would stop erupting. "Ah!" he cried out as his body jerked. Each spurt felt like a ton of weight lifted from his loins. Finally it stopped and he slid off Shaundra, panting hard. Shaundra cuddled up in his arm.

"I'm whipped," she said as she laid her head against his chest.

Ichiro kissed her on the head. "Go to sleep, wifey. I'll wake you if I get all lusty again."

Shaundra chuckled wearily. "Yeah, you do that."

Satoshi sat in the music room tying to put music to Ichiro's lyrics. Takumijo had returned and sat across from him trying to recover from a night of partying.

"You struck out didn't you?" Takumijo asked.

Satoshi took his fingers off the keys. "I made it to third base and was about to slide into home when Yi-jun telephoned Cristal."

"Bummer," Takumijo said yawning. "Well, maybe the time wasn't right."

"I'm beginning to think that I am cursed," Satoshi said.

"Even Jae likes her."

Takumijo suddenly sat forward. "She met Jae?"

Satoshi nodded. "Yes. I took her home to meet the family."

"What? That's a pretty big step in a relationship. What the hell did you do that for?"

"Because she wanted to meet them. What else could I do?"

"And they liked her?" Takumijo asked.

"Yes, especially my mother. I think the two of them are going shopping next week."

"And she didn't even sleep with you after all that? You poor pathetic bastard. You are cursed...by stupidity." He rose.

"I hope Ichiro is having better luck than you."

"I doubt it," Satoshi said. "Shaundra's not finished making him pay for calling her a whore."

"Then why did she agree to go out of town with him this weekend?"

"They're not home?" Satoshi asked. "I thought they were just going out on a date."

"He took her to meet his family finally and then he had reservations at this swanky hotel in Kyoto."

Now why did that just piss him the hell off? "I was wondering when he was going to take her to meet the family.

I wonder why he waited so long."

Takumijo shrugged. "You know Ichiro only dances to his own music. He must have had his reason."

"I suppose," Satoshi said. "So how was your evening out with Osamu?"

"Fun. I danced with this really cute chick."

Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "You?" He whistled. "She must be something special if you still remember her."

"Her name is Ametersa. That means, shining over heaven.

She's a backup dancer."

"A dancer? And you remember her name?" He pinched himself. He must be dreaming. Not Takumijo. Half the time he couldn't remember his own name after a night out with Osamu.

"Got the digits too."

"For what?"

"Just in case," Takumijo said. He strolled out of the music room.

"What? For hell to freeze over?" He went back to the song wondering if Cristal was asleep yet. No, he didn't want any rebound sex. He would just take it easy until he was sure Cristal worked Yi-jun out of her system. Besides, Yi-Jun would be in the United States for another few months and everyone knew that long-distance relationships never worked.

Satoshi yawned and looked over at the clock. It was three in the morning. He sighed. Ichiro and Shaundra were probably sleeping too. He frowned. How come Takumijo knows about Ichiro's plans and I don't? Probably because Ichiro still suspected him of being the father of his babies. He smirked, guessing anything was possible.

Satoshi rolled the piano cover down over the keys and rose. He supposed that everything would look bright and cheery after he'd gotten a couple of hours of sleep. He left the music room and walked down the hall enjoying the peace and quiet. In a couple of months it all would be disturbed by the sound of two newborn babies wanting to be fed or changed.

He walked up the stairs and down the hall toward his room. He heard someone crying. Satoshi turned. It came from Cristal's room. He was just about to knock but changed his mind. Sometimes people just had to work problems out for themselves. He turned and continued to his room.

The view of the ocean was breathtaking at sunrise.

Shaundra sat on a beach chair on the patio outside the room watching it happen. Ichiro was still sound asleep, obviously euphoric from sex. He'd probably be out a couple more hours giving her time to write. She owed a new book to her New York publisher but this time she decided to do something different. She was tired of writing about the same old thing and wanted to do something deep and meaningful. The rising sun inspired her.

Shaundra thought about a premise because a story wasn't anything without one. She wasn't one for outlining but in this case outlining would help keep her focused. She wanted to set the book in a faraway place, which meant a ton of research. She hadn't decided on a country but she knew the United States was out. Why not set it in Japan? A little voice said to her. Technically she thought she could do it, and maybe she'd learn more of the language. And Ichiro could help her with the customs and food references if she was still in town. Well, she knew she would be there until the babies were born and she got past the christening celebration.

Damn, she thought. She was just digging herself in deeper.

Maybe meeting Ich's family hadn't been a good idea.

She sighed, thinking about the christening. She supposed it involved some type of religious ritual, and she hoped she wouldn't get struck by lightning when she entered the church since she hadn't been inside one since her wedding. The ink formed into words and spread across the lines of her legal tablet as she world built.

"What are you doing out of bed?"

Shaundra turned. Ichiro stood in the patio door clad only in a pair of dove gray drawstring athletic pants. Her gaze ran across his finely chiseled abs and muscular chest. Her fingers continued to move the pen as she described him on paper. He wasn't typical leading man material but she wasn't writing the typical romance.

He ran his fingers through his hair.

Shaundra gulped. "I couldn't sleep," she finally said. "My stomach wouldn't stop wiggling."

Ichiro came out to join her.

She got a whiff of him. He smelled delicious, like he'd just stepped out of a shower.

"Maybe they wanted to witness this beautiful sunrise." He inhaled, which made his chest expand. "The smell of the sea reminds me of happier times when my father used to take me fishing."

Shaundra tried to pay attention. Ichiro didn't speak much about his parents who died a long time ago in a boating accident. Daichi took on the adult roll after that, refusing to allow the siblings to be separated so he went to work to support them. "I didn't know you liked to fish."

"I don't," Ichiro replied. "But I did like spending time with my father. He called me his golden child because of my eyes.

He said I inherited them from Japanese royalty."

"He sounded like a wise man. What was your mother like?"

"I barely remember her. But she liked to cook."

"Like you?"

"Yes, I suppose. But my grandmother helped raised me and taught me a lot about cooking and tea ceremonies."

She had heard about that but never actually seen him perform one. She hadn't seen him in a kimono either, which meant he wasn't being true to himself and trying to man up for her.

"I want to be a big part in our children's lives," he said. "I want to take them fishing."

"But you don't like to fish," Shaundra reminded him.

"It has nothing to do with fishing. It's all about spending time with them. Boys should learn how to fish."

"And girls?"

"You're carrying boys," Ichiro said sounding like a member of the arrogant Aomori. "They will carry on the Yoshida name." He chuckled. "Next time you'll have girls."

Shaundra groaned, lucky Ichiro could not see the look on her face or read her mind. There wasn't going to be a next time if she could help it. Six children were enough for any sane person.

He changed the subject. "I can't wait to build our new home. I want Japanese traditional but with a modern kitchen.

Of course you will need space for your office and we need a music room for me. The nursery will have to be close by so we can hear the babies when they cry."

Look at my baby making plans. When the hell did he grow up and become so manly? He sounded like he was making plans for the very near future. "Have you found the property yet?"

"Not yet," Ichiro replied. "You do remember that I talked to you about moving here?"

"Yes." Some things she still remembered. "You also talked about building it near your new restaurant, near the ocean."

"It will be a nice place to retire."

Shaundra chuckled. "That's about ten years away from some of us."

"I will still love you when you're one hundred," Ichiro said.

"Sekai."

"I thought the word was saranghae?"

Ichiro chuckled now. The sound made her all wet between the legs. "That's Korean."

"What's the difference?" Shaundra asked, knowing it was Korean but like messing with him.

"Okay, saranghae it is."

"Sekai," Shaundra said to him. "See, I just learned a new word."

Ichiro turned to face her. "Are you writing another yaoi book?"

"No, I've decided to try something different this time. Kind of a multicultural romance."

"I read one of your books. The one with the two men."

"Grossed out much?"

"No," he admitted. "I found it tastefully done, but can't imagine how you know what two men do together."

"It's not much different then when a man and woman couple," Shaundra explained. "Just an extra penis."

Ichiro sighed. "I suppose you're right." He headed back toward the door. "Would you like me to get breakfast?"

"Not at the moment. I was thinking about crawling back into bed."

"You're sleepy?" Ichiro asked.

"No, horny," Shaundra answered.

The look on his face was priceless. "Oh, the babies need feeding. Come on, I think I can whip them up a quick meal."

He helped her out of the patio chair.

"You will let me lead, won't you?"

"I'll think about it," Shaundra said. Right now she just couldn't get the picture of his six-pack abs and all that hair out of her mind.

"You look like hell," Amaya said to Cristal. "Your eyes are all swollen like you've been crying all night. No wonder Yi-jun ran away to the United States."

"Yori, so help me if you don't move her out of my sight I am going to pull every hair out of her head," Cristal told Aomori's dashing leader.

"Warning noted," Yori said moving his wife away from Cristal and plopping her down in a seat at the table. "But your eyes are swollen. Did one of these losers do something to upset you?"

"Who are you calling a loser, pretty boy?" Takumijo asked as they sat around the table eating breakfast.

"You," Yori said. "And Satoshi."

Satoshi raised his head. "No, I'm afraid we aren't guilty this time."

"Well I know I'm not," Takumijo said. "I would never make Cristal cry, except in ecstasy."

Cristal chuckled. "You are ridiculous."

"And delusional," Satoshi added. "Cristal would never take you to her bed."

Cristal looked over at Takumijo. "I might. He's kind of fine."

Satoshi lowered his glasses and snarled at her. "Why, because Yi-jun broke your heart?"

"Don't mention his name," Cristal said. "He is such a creep."

"The sentence is music to my ears," Satoshi said. "What did the big lug do?"

"He's thinking about permanently moving to the United States."

"Oh, that would mean you wouldn't get to see him that much," Satoshi said happily.

"Try ever," Cristal said. "Unless I visit my parents or he flies here."

"Sound like he dumped your ass," Amaya said from her seat on the other side of Yori. "He's probably living it up with some little blonde starlet."

Cristal rolled her eyes at Amaya.

Satoshi chuckled. "My money is on Cristal."

"Where are the parents to be?" Yori asked.

"Kyoto," Takumijo replied. "They went on a weekend date."

"What? I thought he was just taking her out to dinner."

"Same thing I thought," Satoshi said. "I had no idea he'd planned a romantic weekend. He must be desperate."

"No horny," Takumijo explained. "He planned to charm her panties off."

"Urg," Amaya said. "She's pregnant."

"And hot," both Satoshi and Yori said simultaneously.

"Do you two rehearse your timing?" Cristal asked them.

Both Yori and Satoshi shrugged at the same time.

"Well I'm proud of Ichiro for taking the initiative," Cristal said. "He's bound and determined to win back Shaundra's love."

"When did he lose it?" Yori asked as he sipped his tea.

"Why are you worrying about that?" Amaya asked. "You should be worried about my love."

Cristal chuckled. The look on Yori's face was priceless. Ah, young love was wonderful. "Why did he have to take her all the way to Kyoto?"

"That's where Ich is building his new restaurant and where he took Shaundra when we first returned to Osaka from Korea, before the hurricane. It has sentimental meaning to him," Takumijo explained.

"He took her to meet his family too," Satoshi said. "I'm sure they have all fallen in love with her."

"I just wonder why he took so long to do it," Yori said.

"Would you take her home to meet your parents?" Amaya asked. "Hell, she's old enough to be your parent." She laughed at her own joke.

Yori frowned at her. "I thought we had this discussion before. If you can't say anything nice about a person, don't say anything at all."

Fat chance of that happening, Cristal thought.

"I am a grown woman, Yori, and I can say what I want."

Ooh, Cristal mused. Drama.

"Remember that the next time the two of you get into a bar fight. I won't interfere this time," Yori threatened.

"There wouldn't have been a fight if you hadn't danced with her," Amaya argued back.

Both Satoshi and Takumijo laughed.

"She's fat and pregnant now. I can take her."

"Don't put any money on that," Cristal replied. "She's still pretty feisty."

Satoshi sighed. "She probably has poor Ichiro in tears by now."

"I should be so lucky," Yori mumbled.

"Can't you two losers think about anything else?" Takumijo asked.

"How was your date with Osamu?" Amaya asked Takumijo, ignoring Yori. "He's so fine."

Yori didn't seem a bit upset by that comment.

"I'll remember to tell him the next time I see him,"

Takumijo said.

"You do that. Tell him to put me in his next drama."

"Since when did you want to be an actress?" Yori asked her.

"Since I was a girl. But my mother talked me into becoming a designer. I like that too but I still want to make a drama."

"I'll tell him that too," Takumijo said. "There might be a walk-in part for you in this drama."

"That's why you're my favorite," Amaya said to him.

Takumijo just chuckled. "I'll give you a call the next time Yori is out of town. We'll hook up."

"You don't have to wait until I'm out of town," Yori said arrogantly. "Feel free to take her any time."

Masaaki and Kenshin entered the kitchen and said good morning to everyone. Kenshin headed straight for the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. "Yuck, who made this? Where is Ich?"

"What's wrong with the coffee?" Cristal asked.

"It's weak," Kenshin told her.

"Remind me not to get out of my bed in the morning to fix you spoiled bunch of pop tarts breakfast ever again. The next time you can starve."

Kenshin rolled his eyes at her like that hurt her feelings.

"Don't mess with me Kenny," she warned him. "I'm postal this morning."

"Ich took his wife to Kyoto on a date. They're coming back tomorrow," Takumijo told Kenshin.

"Tomorrow?" Masaaki asked. "Darn. I wanted to tell you all the good news."

"What good news?" Yori asked.

"You guys are going to Europe. Mr. Niigata has booked a tour for you."

"When?" Satoshi asked.

"In two months. You'll do several major cities and will be there until the end of November."

"But the babies are due in October," Cristal said.

"Shaundra can't travel to Europe."

"Shaundra is not performing, Ms. Gentry. Her husband is.

I'll see that she has someone to stay with her until she delivers and then I'll fly Ichiro back when she goes into labor."

Damn, what a fucked up situation, Cristal thought.

Interference before Shaundra and Ichiro can get their relationship back on track. "But that would mean they'd be separated again."

"I hope their love is strong enough to last this time,"

Satoshi said.

"Yes, let's hope," Yori agreed.

Why did she get the feeling that neither of them meant what they just said?

"We're home," Ichiro announced as he and Shaundra entered the farmhouse.

Cristal came down the stairs to greet them. "Welcome back, guys. How was your romantic weekend?"

"Splendid?" Ichiro said. "It was the best two days of my life. Where are the others?"

"In the music room with Masaaki. They're waiting for you."

Ichiro kissed his wife of the cheek and carried their luggage up to their room, and then he ran back down and headed to the music room.

Cristal led Shaundra to the den. "You have to tell me all about it."

"It was very romantic," Shaundra said. "I got to meet Ich's family and they're planning some type of big, elaborate christening celebration when the babies are born."

"It could be some type of family tradition," Cristal told her.

"How come you know so much?" Shaundra asked sitting down on the sofa. Cristal sat across from her.

"I've lived here most of my life."

"So what does it involve?"

Cristal shrugged. "It probably involves some long religious ceremony."

Shaundra groaned. "I hate stuff like that. Ich is a Christian not a Buddhist."

"He was probably born a Buddhist, but don't fret. I'm sure it will only last a day. Once it's over the babies' births will be registered and they will be officially and legally Japanese citizens."

Which meant she had to make a decision before then?

"And you'll be..."

"Forever tied to Japan," Shaundra continued.

"Awe, honey. You're still trying to make a decision?"

"Yes, Ich has been unbelievably sweet and attentive lately, but I have the feeling that the bottom is about to drop out."

"Damn you Louisiana voodoo women and your premonitions. It is. Aomori is going back on tour."

"What?" Shaundra asked. "When?"

"In about two months. Mr. Niigata has arranged for them to tour Europe."

"Europe? I can't..."

"Yes, I know. Masaaki said he's going to arrange someone to stay with you."

"And Ich never mentioned a tour."

"Ich doesn't know yet. Masaaki just told the rest of them yesterday."

"How long this time?" She didn't know if she could stand another separation.

"Until November."

"But..."

"Masaaki is going to fly Ichiro back for the births."

"It's nice how they plan our lives," Shaundra said sarcastically.

"Sorry," Cristal said. "But it comes with Aomori. You knew Ichiro was a superstar when you married him."

Shaundra sighed. "Yeah, I did know. I just didn't know I was still fertile. Now he's talking about having other babies."

Cristal chuckled. "That must have been some weekend. I wish I could stay with you but I have to travel with them."

"Thanks, honey. I might get my daughter to stay with me."

"Tricia?" Cristal asked.

"Yes, Juanda has her own brood to deal with."

"Didn't she and Satoshi used to date?"

"For a while," Shaundra said. "But she had to finish college and he had to return to Japan."

"Were they serious?"

"I don't know," Shaundra said. "I was too busy worrying about marrying Ich. Anyway I know what you're thinking.

Satoshi will be in Europe."

"Yes, I guess so." Cristal sighed. "One other questions. Do men gravitate to her like planets like they do with you?"

Shaundra chuckled. "No. My baby is a quiet good girl.

She's never given me a day of misery and as far as I know she's only dating one boy at a time."

"Oh," Cristal said.

"So what went on while I was away?"

"I met Satoshi's family, and Yi-jun dumped me."

"What?" Shaundra asked. "You met Satoshi's family?"

Cristal nodded. "His parents and his older brother. He's a lawyer and a bit of a jerk."

"Honey, that's good news. That means Satoshi is serious about you."

"Not really. I kind of bullied him into taking me to meet them," Cristal confessed.

"It wasn't his idea?"

"No, he asked me out on a date and asked me what I wanted to do and I told him I'd like to meet his parents and see where he lived."

"But he still took you. That counts for something. And you say he has an older brother? What's he like?"

"Tall, good-looking, and a bit of a stuffed shirt. He spent the evening trying to insult Satoshi."

"But that's what older siblings do. Does he resemble Satoshi?"

"A little, but Satoshi looks more like his mother. What about Ichiro's family?"

"They all resemble, but he's the only one with blue eyes."

She chuckled. "Isn't this an interesting development? We've both met our extended families."

"They're not my extended family," Cristal argued. "But Mrs. Hayashi liked me. We're going shopping next week."

Shaundra laughed. "Argue if you want but I was married a hundred years and I never went shopping with my mother-in- law. Cristal, my dear, I hear wedding bells in your future."

"How come you didn't say anything when I told you that Yi-jun dumped me?" Cristal asked.

"What did you want me to say? Months ago you asked me for a sign about which one of them you should chose. Now you have it."

"I think I kind of blew it with Satoshi the other night. We were right in the middle of taking our relationship up to the next level when Yi-jun called."

Shaundra frowned at her. "You mean you turned down a night of passion with one of the sexiest guys in Asia for a phone call?"

Cristal nodded.

"Poor Satoshi."

"Well, I hadn't heard from Yi-jun in weeks. I didn't want to be rude."

"I would have been rude," Shaundra replied. "It keeps them on their toes."

"So, did you give in?" Cristal asked her.

Shaundra smirked. "Yeah, he brought out the big guns...romantic music, plush hotel suite and the saddest puppy dog eyes."

"And?" Cristal asked.

"The biggest erection you've ever seen."

"I knew it," Cristal almost shouted. "I just knew it. I knew those pretty boys are packing. Nature could not have made them so beautiful and just made them mediocre in the pelvic area." She sighed. "I thought Yi-jun was just the exception."

Shaundra nearly rolled of the sofa laughing. "Girl, you're going to send me into premature labor. I had that all checked out moments after I met them. I call it my eye to thigh flirt."

"What?" Cristal asked laughing.

"My eye to thigh flirt. I look them in the eyes and then I make my way down. Guys love it."

"I'm going to try that," Cristal said.

"But not on Ich," Shaundra warned.

"Oh, no way," Cristal said. "But I did volunteer to be the cream in their cookie if he and Satoshi ever take their relationship to the next level."

"What?" Shaundra asked laughing.

Cristal nodded. "Poor Ichiro almost passed out from embarrassment when I told them that."

"He says that American women are to forward. I just think we are not afraid to say what's on our mind."

"Speaking of brainless women, Amaya stopped by yesterday?"

Shaundra stopped laughing. "What did that heifer want?"

"She and Yori came over for breakfast and she started insulting me five minutes after she got into the door. My eyes were all puffy from crying all night over Yi-jun and she just had to bring it to everyone's attention."

"She's just jealous," Shaundra said. "You're still prettier than her even with raccoon eyes."

"She even stood up to Yori and flirted with Takumijo."

"What?

"Satoshi made a crude joke about you making Ichiro cry during sex, and Yori mentioned something about he wished it was him."

"The man cried once on our wedding night and that's because it was his first time. He's a big boy now." She smirked. "He was so cute, and screw Yori."

"You're horrible," Cristal teased. "And a romantic."

"It helps. So I'm going to be here all by myself for two months."

"Look at it as a vacation and it will give you time to make that decision," Cristal said.

"That's right. It will give me time to work things out, plus finish the book I'm working on." She rose. "I guess I better go up and get some rest. I have a doctor's appointment in the morning."

"Is Ichiro going with you?" Cristal asked.

"He's supposed to, but I better get used to doing things by myself. It always ends up that way."

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