He slipped outside into the cool evening air.

There was only one person he wanted to share this moment with—and she was in Tokyo.

He quickly made arrangements to get there as soon as possible.

***

Amery let herself into Ronin’s apartment on the forty-first floor of the Okada Garden Tower, a high-rise in the Tokyo business district. This corner apartment was small, according to Tamara, but Ronin had refused anything bigger because he loved the view. The interior was bland—nothing like the charming minimalism of their penthouse, which seemed to get less minimal the longer she lived there.

She’d spent the morning in the main Okada offices, which took up floors twenty through thirty of this building. Then Tamara convinced her to go shopping. Amery had no idea how much money she’d spent, and that bothered her because it wasn’t her money.

That’s not what Ronin would say. In fact he’ll be happy you bought things.

Amery kicked off her heels and dropped the shopping bags by the door. She’d pick them up later. Right now she wanted a glass of sake. She checked her cell as she wandered into the living room, hoping for a message from Ronin.

“I hope the rattling of packages indicates you’ve bought something kinky and sexy?”

She gasped. Then her gaze moved over to the shadowed form in the corner. Her husband lounged with his jean-clad leg draped over the arm of the leather club chair. A lowball glass with half an inch of amber liquid was clasped in his right hand. His black shirt was untucked, his feet were bare. His hair was in delightful disarray and dark stubble lined his lean cheeks.

He was magnificent.

He was here.

When she saw that heated look in his brown eyes—the look that was for her alone—she launched herself at him.

He laughed between her avid kisses as she attempted to rip open his shirt. “Hold on there, tiger. Let me put my drink down first.”

“Hurry.”

“If I was wearing a tie you’d be yanking me up by it.”

“I can do that with your belt loops too—right before I yank your jeans down.”

Ronin pushed to his feet. Then he framed her face in his hands. “I missed you. Let me show you how much, baby.”

She closed her eyes when his lips met hers, letting herself sink into his kiss. Being away from him drove home the point of how essential he’d become to her life.

He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. He undressed her slowly, kissing, nibbling, licking on her skin as he bared it. So by the time she was naked, she was also wet, and ready for his possession.

Ronin had swept the covers back on the bed before he’d laid her on it. He kept his gaze on her as he removed his clothing. “That’s a sight I thought I’d never see.”

“What?”

“A wife—my wife—in this bed.”

Amery watched as Ronin pushed his jeans and boxer briefs to the floor. She couldn’t help but lick her lips at seeing how weeks of training had defined his musculature even more.

He strode toward her, that stiff-backed martial arts posture undeniably sexy. “I never thought I’d find a woman like you, Amery. I saw my life played out much like my sensei; devoting my time and energy to teaching.”

“Nothing wrong with that, Master Black.”

“Not until life throws you a curve. Or in my case, a curvy strawberry blonde.”

“Regrets?”

“Never.” He ran his fingertips down her arm, from the ball of her shoulder to the inside of her wrist. Just that simple touch sent goose bumps racing down the left side of her body.

That’s when she knew something had happened that’d brought him to Tokyo a full day early. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

“I will be now that I’m here with you.”

She touched his jaw and he rubbed his face against her wrist, brushing his lips over her pulse point. “Show me how much you missed me,” she whispered.

And he did.

Ronin was an amazing lover whether his mood was raunchy, urgent, playful, sweet, or dominant. This time the man was reverent—making love to her slowly as the sun dropped and the city lights came on. The shimmer of the Tokyo skyline dimmed in comparison to the light in Ronin’s eyes as he watched her unravel beneath him. Twice. And when he reached the tipping point, her name drifting from his lips was the only sound he made as he poured himself into her.

Afterward Amery rested her head on his chest, listening as his rapid heartbeat slowed. “I’m happy that you’re here earlier than you’d planned. But what happened that allowed you to cut out of training a day early?”

When Ronin began to talk, she realized how far he’d come in such a short amount of time. During this trip Ronin had crossed yet another hurdle—she didn’t have to pester or pick a fight with him to get him to share what was on his mind. He wanted to tell her, to include her in all aspects of his life.

Maybe that was a small thing for other men, but it was huge step for Ronin.

“I can tell you’re wondering what comes next for you, but I’m happy you won’t be beholden to train in Japan at your sensei’s whim anymore.” She raised her head and looked at him. “Are you past the point where you need a teacher?”

“Part of me wondered when he kept having me perfect the techniques that I’ve done for a while if there wasn’t anything new for him to teach me. But I don’t feel like I’m done learning. I feel like I’m a better teacher when I’m also a student. There are a couple of masters in the U.S. who’d take me on.”