Hustle Into Love - Chapter Eleven, Part Four

Hey all,

It's getting hot in here again!  Don't forget your fan!  Enjoy!!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Tears trickled down Chantal’s cheeks at the softly spoken promise. Only Mace could make her melt with just a few chosen words. Only he could make her so weak with longing. Suddenly, she wanted him with a desperation that was painful. She loved him with a joy that threatened to explode her heart out of her chest.

And then he kissed her. 

There. Right on the tender bud that quivered with her need. A gentle kiss followed up by a slow, sultry lick that sent her pulse skittering and her legs quivering apart.

“Mace,” she gasped, holding his head so he couldn’t move. “More. Please. Give me more.”

He growled out her name. A low, sexy sound that reverberated against her thighs, sending more intense heat shooting through her. Then his mouth was on her most intimate spot. His tongue licked, caressed, twirled around her clit, making her writhe beneath him on the bed as the feelings spiraled higher and higher.

One of his hands moved up, and his fingertip slowly circled a nipple. Soon, his tongue and finger were moving exactly the same way. A gentle flick, a more potent pinch, followed by more tender caresses. Long, pleasurable minutes went by until she could barely take any more.

Chantal moaned and arched closer. She felt him shudder against her and then his hand slipped back down her body. Almost desperately, he grabbed her ass and lifted her up off the bed. At the same time, he took her clitoris between his lips and sucked.

She literally felt her eyes roll back in her head. Her arms and legs stiffened. Stars exploded and her body convulsed as her climax hurtled her up and over the edge of reasoning. She shouted out Mace’s name, but she wasn’t sure it actually left her lips. She couldn’t breathe, let alone scream. Everything in her world had been narrowed down to Mace’s lips and the feelings he wrought in her.

Her mind went blank as he sent her up and over again. Yet still, he didn’t stop. He used his fingers, his mouth, his teeth, his oh-so-talented tongue. Chantal lost count of the times she came. It could have been minutes or hours later when he finally gave her curls one last nuzzle and eased back up her body to kiss her lips.

She felt as if she was made of melted wax. Every single nerve ending was singing and dancing, yet she couldn’t even move. She was exhausted. She was enervated. She wanted to sleep for a week, and she wanted to do it all over again.

“I love you,” he whispered against her mouth. “I want you. Understand this, Chantal. I’m never going to let you go.”

And then he slipped inside her and it started all over again. His thrusts were slow and measured, as if he were possessing more than just her body. He moved deliberately, branding her with his touch. Showing her exactly what they could have together.

Slowly, he built the desire in her back up again. She’d thought she was done. Hadn’t expected to be able to climax again, but he was proving her wrong. She wanted him all over again, yet somehow she knew in her woman’s heart, this time it was different. They were making love, yes. But this was more. This was something she’d never experienced before.

“Mace,” she breathed out his name. Loving the sound of it, loving the feel of his body moving against and inside of hers. Everything about him was what she wanted. His strength. His honestly. His loyalty. Even his temper. She wanted him to look at her with love. She needed him to gaze at her with fire in his eyes. She longed to know his secrets and solve all the masculine mysteries that surrounded him. She blinked as the truth was suddenly made known to her.

He was her world.

A sob burst out of her as the realization sent her into an even more powerful orgasm. More important than her career….more necessary even than dancing…she now knew her love for Mace was more powerful, more essential, more fulfilling than anything she’d ever experienced before in her life. He might never want to let her go, but that was okay. 

She would never let him go either.

Her climax sent Mace into his own. His body stiffened and his eyes went wild. Control snapped and he plunged into her like a desperate man looking for redemption. His thrusts were deep, hard and oh-so-satisfying. She didn’t want him to ever stop, but eventually his body found what it had been seeking, and with a hoarse shout, he poured himself into her with such force she cried out in gratified response.

His heart pounded like a jackhammer against hers as he collapsed on top of her. She sighed and held him close, murmuring her love for him as she smoothed her hands up and down his sweat-slick back.

“I think I almost killed us,” he groaned after several long minutes had ticked by. “Christ, woman. What you do to me.”

Chantal felt remarkable peaceful, even after the heart-bursting realization of what she had felt. Mace was hers and she was his. That was what was important. All the other things in their universe would just have to get in line. “I don’t mind.” She sighed. “Let’s do it again.” 

A corner of his mouth turned up. “Can I have a few minutes first?”

She offered a heavy sigh. “If you must.”

He chuckled against her breasts. “Are you going to be this insatiable when you’re eighty?”

“Oh—” the thought made her smile dreamily, “—I certainly hope so.”

Mace rolled, taking her into his arms and keeping their bodies close together. “I can’t imagine ever getting tired of you. Not now, not when I’m a doddering old man.”

“Please.” She snorted out the word, glancing up at his contented face. “I’ve seen your father, remember. I know what you’re going to look like in forty years. And it won’t be doddering.”

He laughed. “I guess it’s nice having good genes.”

“I—” she murmured, running her hand down his thigh, “—kind of like what’s in them.”

“Damn it, woman,” Mace swore, amusement coloring his words, “you promised me a few minutes.”

She sighed again, but ruined the affect with a giggle. Mace’s chest shook with silent laughter beneath her cheek. “I love this, you know,” she said suddenly, tracing her fingers up his strong thigh.

“This?”

Nodding, she kissed his shoulder. “This. Everything. The fact you can tease me into laughter as quickly as you can kiss me into wanting you. Hearing you say I love you to me with the same sincerity you say it to your family. Knowing you can call me a diva to stop me from being stupid—” she glanced at him from under her eyelashes, “—even though you know I hate that term.”

He shrugged. “It worked.”

“Yes.” She scrunched up her nose at him. “And I hate you were right. I was acting stupid. I know I’m not responsible for what happened, but oh, I do want to make them pay. In fact—”

Before she could say another word, Mace had her on her back and he was looming above her. A part of her admired the speed of his attack. The rest of her fought back irritation that he was stronger than she was and could force her to do his will. 

“No.”

She blinked up at him. “No?”

Mace shook his head. “No. Whatever you’re thinking…whatever you’re planning, whatever you want to do, the answer is no.”

Chantal frowned. “You’re not the boss of me.”

“Oh, that’s mature.”

“It’s as mature as not even letting me say anything. Are you going to cover your ears next?”

He actually rolled his eyes. “Chantal, don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’ve already told me that once tonight.”

“And I’m saying it again. This isn’t something you need to worry about. It’s not your problem. We don’t need your help. Lì and I will handle it.”

That was exactly the wrong thing to say. The irritation she’d been feeling morphed into fury within seconds. With all her strength, she pushed him hard in the chest. He wasn’t expecting it, so he tumbled back and to her surprise went right off the side of the bed.

“How dare you?” she shouted, leaping to her feet and grabbing his robe from the end of the bed. “Not my problem? Are you insane? Now who’s being stupid?”

“Damn it, Chantal.” Mace got to his feet and rubbed his elbow where it had banged against the side of the bed. “It’s too dangerous. You know that. And I’m not going to allow you—”

“Allow me?” Her bellow of rage shook the entire room. “Allow me? Who the hell are you to think I need your permission to do anything?”

His eyes flashed a dark warning. “Don’t go there. We’ve already had this discussion—”

For a second time she cut him off. “You’re right. We have. But it wasn’t a discussion. When I disagreed you used force to get what you wanted. That was beyond wrong. I let it go because you were worried about me, but you were wrong then and you’re wrong now. And I’m not going to let you do it again.”

~*~ 

Oops!  I'd forgotten Chantal's temper.  Mace still hasn't learned he can't boss her around.  Will they come to a meeting of the minds?  Find out next week!

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com/secondchances/lifesadance.htm
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Eleven, Part Three

Hey all,

Here is our next installment.  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

The last thing Mace expected was to have Chantal burst into tears. They always unnerved him, but usually he knew why she was crying. This time he couldn’t figure out why she’d reacted this way.

“Honey,” he murmured, going on instinct and pulling her into his arms. “Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”

If anything her weeping got louder. “It’s my fault,” she wailed. “All my fault. I got Lì’s beautiful casino destroyed.”

He blinked. He hadn’t expected that. Just what was going on in that mind of hers? He held her tighter and probed gently, “How is it your fault?”

She clutched at his arms. “I did it. My stupid temper. I’m an idiot. It’s all my fault. Chóngdé. Oh my God. What have I done?” She went off into fresh gales of tears.

Quickly he sorted through her rambling words.

Chóngdé.

Her fault.

“Oh, Christ.” Mace shook his head. He’d barely had time to put it together himself, but Chantal had already figured it out. She was as clever as she was beautiful. And now she was wracked with guilt and brokenhearted.

“Sweetheart. Chantal.” When she only cried harder, he gave her a little shake. “Stop it. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t make Chóngdé act like a bitch and you didn’t force her father to step in. And you sure as hell didn’t plant that bomb.”

Tears blurred her golden eyes as she met his gaze. “B-But none of it would have happened if I h-hadn’t f-f-fired Chóngdé.”

This was a little trickier. She was right. Her firing of Hui Sun’s daughter was probably the catalyst to set everything in motion. But that didn’t mean she was responsible.

“Chantal—”

“I love Lì, and he’s given me so much,” she wept. “And look what I’ve done. I’ve destroyed his dream.”

Mace decided Chantal could have gone into the theatre. Her sense of drama was quite amazing. Enough was enough. “Oh, for God’s sake,” he growled. “Are your responsible for nuclear warming, too? How about the hole in the ozone layer? Maybe I should call the police and have you arrested for crimes against humanity while we’re at it.”

Chantal stiffened in his arms then jerked away. “That’s not funny!”

“Actually it is,” he disagreed quietly. “If you’re going to be silly enough to take credit for the bombing, you might as well go for the rest of the world’s problems as well.” He tapped his chin. “The recession. I bet that’s your fault, too. You stopped buying dancing shoes.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You think this is a joke?”

“My love—” he cupped her face in his hands, “—I make light of it because you being responsible for this mess is a joke. Seriously. Do you think Lì blames you for what has happened?”

Her gaze dropped. “Ummm…probably not.” She looked up at him. “But he should. It is my fault.”

“Now you are being a diva,” he said flatly. He had to get her to snap out of it. She wasn’t responsible, and he’d be damned if she took that on herself. “It’s all about you, right?”

Her eyes widened at the insult. Her mouth opened and closed a couple times before she shot, naked out of bed. “How dare you?” she breathed. “How can you say such a thing?”

He rolled to his feet and shrugged. “You’re the one saying it, Chantal. I’m disagreeing with you.”

“You. I. We.” It was the first time other than making love Mace had seen Chantal completely tongue-tied. All she could do was put her hands on her slender hips and stomp her foot at him.

“What if I were to tell you I think it was my fault,” he went on. “After all, I was the one who backed you up. Buck stops with the boss and all that rot. Plus, I broke off my relationship with Chóngdé. Yes—” he gave a nod, “—if anyone is responsible, it’s me.”

“Mace,” Chantal gritted out his name, “you’re being ridiculous.”

“Yes, I am.”

She blinked at him, looking like a startled golden cat. “Excuse me?”

“Come here.” Risking her wrath, he pulled her down next to him on the bed. “I’m no more responsible than you are for what has happened. We made a choice. Firing Chóngdé was a business decision and it was the right one for you and for The Golden Tiger. Furthermore, I made a personal choice because once I’d met you I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. My breaking it off with Chóngdé was inevitable. Meeting you only speeded up the process.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” Mace said firmly. “We may have set things in motion, but we are not responsible. If Hui Sun or Chóngdé had anything to do with the bombing, then it was their choice…their responsibility. We…you can’t take that on yourself.”

Chantal sighed and hid her face against his chest. “Oh, God. I know you’re right. But I just feel so damn bad.”

“I know, love.” He gently lowered her to the bed and kissed away the tears. “I feel guilty, too. I’m angry and hurt and sick that it’s come to this. But we aren’t responsible for the choices that Chóngdé or her father may have made.”

She traced her finger along his jaw. “Lì shouldn’t have to pay this way. It’s not right. That’s why I feel so guilty.”

“Would you do it again?” He nibbled at her ear and felt her shiver. “Knowing what you know now, would you still fire Chóngdé?”

There was a long silence as Chantal thought it over. Then she sighed. “Yes. I knew as soon as I watched her dance I would have to replace her. She doesn’t belong on a stage, and Lì means too much to me to ever give him second best.”

Mace smiled. “Exactly. And I promise you Lì knows that. As do I.”

Her eyes softened. “I love you. Even though you make me crazy, I love you so much.”

His body, already aroused, went even harder. “That’s good,” he said hoarsely. “Because I love you even more than that.”

“Maybe you can give me a taste?”

He grinned. “I can give you the whole buffet.” And his mouth crushed down on hers.

Heat, need, astonishment, joy. All the emotions raced through him without end. How could he ever have imagined he could live his life without her? The taste of her lips…the unique scent of her skin. It was everything he wanted…needed…craved.

His hands raced over her naked flesh, teasing, tormenting, tempting. Hers slid down his back, cupped his ass then pulled him even closer. Desire turned desperate. Wanting, loving, giving everything was all he could do.

He moved down her flat belly, licking his way down to the soft curls that beckoned. Carefully, he blew out a breath, and gently separated the soft folds that held Chantal’s womanly secrets.

She was already wet. Already swollen. Already open to his touch. His mouth watered, his cock throbbed. He wanted to taste her, fill himself with the bounty of what she offered. She was his and if he had his way, she would be his until the day he died. Before he’d understood desire, but now he understood belonging.

Chantal was the other half of his soul.

“I love you,” he murmured as he nuzzled her sex gently. “For the rest of my life I will love only you.”

~*~ 

Wow!  <sniff>  How romantic is that?  <sigh>  I can't wait to see what happens next.  Can you?

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com/secondchances/lifesadance.htm
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Eleven, Part Two

Hey all,

Ready for more?  I have the feelings it's the calm before the storm, but I honestly don't know why.  Oh well, I guess we'll see.

Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

* * * * * 

“That’s so sad.” Chantal rested her chin on her folded hands where they rested on Mace’s bare chest. “To have loved for all those years and not been able to show it. It breaks my heart.”

Mace ran his hand down her naked back. “It was hard at first. Listening to him, I mean. But I think he really does love him. This Aaron.”

“I wonder what he’s like. He’d have to be a good man. Lì wouldn’t choose anyone else. But I wonder if he’s handsome or kind or likes pizza.”

Mace laughed. “Pizza? Why pizza?”

She shrugged. “Why not pizza? It’s a major food group you know.” She grinned. “Though I don’t get to have that one very often.”

“I don’t see why not.” Mace’s eyes smoldered. “Your figure is fine just the way it is.”

“That’s because I don’t visit that food group very often. Remember today’s word.”

“Abstemious.” He took on a long-suffering look. “Characterized by eating and drinking in moderation. I remember.”

“Exactly.” She patted his cheek like a teacher rewarding a bright student. “Still, I’m glad he opened up to you. It’s important for you two to be honest with each other.”

“You could have told me.”

She shook her head. “No. I couldn’t have. I didn’t know the details.”

His eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

Chantal giggled at the astonishment on his face. “I didn’t know, Mace. Yeah, I knew Lì was gay, and I knew he had someone special, but that’s all. I didn’t know his name or how they’d met. Lì never told me.”

He still looked shocked. “But…you’re his best friend.  Ummm...other than myself of course.”

“Yes. But I’m also a woman and a much younger woman at that. We don’t have sleepovers and tell secrets while we braid each other’s hair.”

“That’s good to know,” Mace growled.

She rolled her eyes. “What I’m saying is Lì wouldn’t feel comfortable talking to me about it. The only reason he shared his lifestyle choice at all was the night we met he had to tell me the truth. If he hadn’t I would have had him tossed him out of the club.”

“Why?”

“Lì wasn’t the first man to ‘offer’ me the sun and the moon. I had guys like him come in once a week.” Chantal lay back on the pillow and assumed a dramatic pose with the back of her hand against her forehead. “I can make you a star, baby,” she growled in a masculine voice. “Stick with me and you’ll make millions. Jerks.”

Mace snorted and rolled to his side. “Then how did you know—”

“I didn’t.” She shook her head. “No. That’s not quite true. I knew from the beginning there was something different about Lì. I was actually disappointed when he made the offer. I thought he was like everyone else. I was ready to call security. But then he told me he didn’t think of me that way. I put one and one together and actually came up with the right two.”

“But you knew about this Aaron.”

“Not the details,” she repeated patiently. “Lì and I have known each other for almost ten years. He has never tried to pretend he wasn’t what he is. When it was time for them to spend time together, he told me. I didn’t ask for more and he didn’t offer. And that was okay with me.”

Wrapping one of her curls around his index finger, Mace frowned. “I don’t think I want it to be that way. Not with me. He shouldn’t have to hide what he is.”

“I’m glad.” Chantal shifted so she could look at Mace. “Lì needs to know you love him no matter who he chooses to have sex with.”

“Jesus, Chantal.” Mace’s cheeks went ruddy. “I don’t need a word picture.”

“Stop it,” she said unrepentantly. “People in love have sex. And Aaron and Lì are in love. If you want to your brother to feel comfortable talking to you about this, you have to accept all of it.”

“You’re right. You’re right.” Mace pulled her closer. “I do love my brother and he deserves to be happy. If he wants Aaron in his life, we should give him the chance to be. Here in Macau or even coming back home to Chester for the holidays. If our mother knows—”

“That won’t happen.” Chantal shook her head, interrupting him. “Your mom may understand and accept, but Lì would never flaunt that in front of her. He’s just too Chinese.”

There was a moment of silence as Mace thought it through. Then he sighed. “Yes. Of course. But that doesn’t mean he can’t come to England at all. He can come visit me. They’d both be welcome and comfortable there.”

Her heart melted into a gooey little puddle. “You’re pretty special, you know that?”

Mace flashed her a grin then pulled her beneath him. “For letting my brother visit?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah.” He kissed her. “So now Lì will have at least two places in Europe he can use as vacation spots.”

Chantal frowned. “Two?”

“You have a place in Paris, right?”

She nodded.

“Then if he’s not staying with us in London, he can visit us in Paris. And bring Aaron.”

What was left of her gooey heart pounded out the rhythm of the fastest Irish jig. Her longing for a future with Mace made it hard to breathe. They loved each other, of that she had no doubt, but he’d never said anything about what might come next.

She swallowed hard and touched his cheek. “What exactly are you saying?”

He brushed his lips over hers. “What do you think I’m saying?”

“Mace!”

He chuckled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease.” He bent and kissed her again, this time with more passion. “I love you, Chantal. Do you really think that would stop at the border of Macau?”

“So—” she took a deep breath, praying he was saying what she hoped he was, “—you’re thinking we might have a future together?”

“For someone so intelligent, there are times when you are incredibly dense.”

“Damn it, Mace,” she wailed.

He laughed aloud this time. “You are so ridiculously easy to mess with, I can’t help it.” He framed her face in his hands. “But it only makes me love you more.”

“Mace.” But this time she said it breathlessly.

“You are the most important person in my life,” he whispered. “I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life—”

The phone rang, interrupting whatever he was about to say. Chantal’s eyes narrowed. “I’m getting really tired of you getting phone calls right in the middle of something important.”

Mace winced. “I’m sorry. It might be Lì. He was supposed to get the results about the bombing. I…um…probably should get that.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Chantal pulled away and waved her hand. Disappointment made her chest hurt, but the irritation and worry on Mace’s face added amusement to the mix. “Talk to your brother rather than about our unimportant future together. See if I care. See if I give it another thought. See if I—”

His passionate kiss shut her up, even as the phone blasted next to them. She was aware of his arousal throbbing against her and she melted against him like chocolate warmed in the summer sun.

“Okay,” she panted when he broke the kiss. “So, I guess I can forgive you. This time.”

Mace chuckled as he rolled towards the phone. “My love, you always say and do the unexpected.”

She lay quiet as he answered. It was Lì, and Mace listened more than he spoke. When his back stiffened, she instinctively put her hand on his shoulder in comfort. She waited until he hung up the phone before asking,

“What is it?”

There was fury in Mace’s face as he turned back towards her. “The bomb results came back. It was built from a material manufactured in Thailand. Because it was imported, they know who brought it in.”

Chantal sat up in surprise. “You know who planted the bomb?”

“We know who purchased the materials.”

“Who?”

“A company called STM Incorporated.”

She suddenly got a very bad feeling. “And STM stand for…”

Mace’s face went even grimmer. “SunTrust Manufacturing.”

She swallowed hard. “And the reason you have that funny look on your face is because it’s owned by…”

“Hui Sun.”

~*~ 

Just a heads up.  I'll put March and April's comments together for the monthly prize.  And then we'll get back on track.  Hope you liked today's installment.  A little more of the mystery is revealed...

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com/secondchances/lifesadance.htm
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Eleven, Part One

Hey all,

As promised, we're starting up again.  Hopefully with no more delays as we wind down to the end of our story.   Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Chapter Eleven

“It is a sad thing to see.” Lì stared at the destruction and sighed. He was dressed casually in slacks and a polo shirt but was still every bit the businessman. “So much damage. So much waste.”

Mace flinched at the soft words. His brother had arrived on the earliest flight he could arrange and demanded to be taken to The Golden Tiger immediately. Mace had worked nonstop to get as much of the mess cleaned up as possible, but there was nothing he could do about the structural damage left behind by the blast. He ran a hand through his hair and wished for the umpteenth time he hadn’t screwed up. “I’m sorry. This shouldn’t have happened. It was my responsibility and I let you down.”

Lì frowned and turned towards him. “I do not understand.”

“Damn it, Lì.” Mace paced away and then back. The dark suit he wore made him feel even more funereal, but he felt the need to meet his brother as a professional. Face to face. “I should have been prepared. I should have taken more precautions. This is my fault.”

“Ahh…so the mystery is solved. I can call the police and tell them you blew up my casino.” Lì shook his head. “Our mother will be most surprised to know you have turned into a criminal.”

“What?” Mace stared at him. “No. Shit. Of course not. That’s not what I—”

“Chantal told me you had taken too much on yourself. You almost died making sure all the guests were out safely.”

Mace felt his face turn red. “I did what was necessary. She’s overreacting.”

Lì nodded. “She is a woman. It is a common event.”

Mace wanted to roll his eyes, knowing how Chantal would take Lì’s statement. “I just did my job.” His gaze drifted over the ruined casino floor. “Unfortunately I did it too late.”

“Do not be stupid.”

“Stupid?” A coldness grew in Mace’s chest. “You trusted me and I let you down. I was supposed to take care of the casino not let it be blown up. But I was too busy worrying about Cha—” He cut himself off and swore loudly. 

Lì chuckled. “I knew you two would enjoy each other. Both so stubborn and yet compassionate. Perfect for each other. Mother will be very pleased.”

Mace gaped at him. A moment ago he’d been apologizing for letting Lì down and now they were talking about Mace’s love life? He’d entered an alternate reality. It was the only explanation. “Mother?”

Lì picked up a money chip that had been missed in the clean up. The picture of a golden tiger shimmered in the low light. “Mother could never understand why you refused to meet Chantal. When I decided to take my sabbatical and have Chantal revamp the entertainment we decided it would be a perfect time to force a confrontation.” He turned and met Mace’s astonished gaze. “You are both very important to us. We wanted the family whole again at holidays.”

Mace briefly wished for the scotch Lì had hidden in the office. “You arranged all this so Chantal and I would meet? We’d wondered, but…” He shook his head. “Son of a bitch. That’s so damned Victorian.”

Lì laughed. “Perhaps. But it worked, did it not?”

Mace sighed. “If I’d been honest and told you I thought she was your mistress, you wouldn’t have had to do this.”

“And perhaps you wouldn’t have missed ten years of happiness.”

That shaft hit home, Mace admitted. “I know. I’ve kicked myself a hundred times. Believe me. I was an idiot.”

“This is so.”

Mace tossed him a rueful look. “You don’t have to agree.”

“But I have always admired your intelligence.”

Giving up, Mace laughed. “I guess I should say thank you.”

“Do you love her, my brother?”

Lì’s face was serious, but it was easy to look him straight in the eyes. Mace nodded. “I do. She’s everything to me.”

A smile creased Lì’s gentle face. “And does she love you?”

Mace grinned at the memory of her shouting her love at him in this very casino. Love, fire and heat. Oh yeah, she loved him all right. And had shown him just how much every night since then. “Yes. Amazingly, she does.”

“Then it is good. You have each other now. Just as it should be.”

“I’m going to marry her.” The words popped out without Mace consciously thinking about them, but as soon as they left his mouth he knew the rightness of his statement. He said it again, slower this time, savoring each word. “I’m going to marry Chantal.”

Lì’s smile grew bigger. “I am pleased. Very pleased. She is special.”

“It won’t be easy.”

His brother shook his head. “No. Chantal is like a golden flame burning brightly for all to see. She is well loved, Mace, and a part of her will always belong to her audience. But her heart is true. Once she gives it to you, she will never ask for it back.”

Mace’s throat went tight. “I know. And I swear I will do everything I can to make her happy. It won’t be easy making our lives mesh, but I can’t be without her. I want it all, Lì. A home, children, a life together. Somehow we have to make that all work together.”

“Love can make anything happen if you want it enough.” Lì’s thoughts seemed to turn inward. “There must be compromise and honesty. Passion and pain. You must want the best for each other and give everything to make the other happy. It must be all or nothing.”

“You sound as if you know.” Mace spoke carefully. His brother’s sex life was still an uncomfortable subject.

“I know enough to understand I have been as dishonest with myself as I accused you of being.” To Mace’s surprise, Lì’s dark eyes narrowed in pain. “You lied about how you felt about Chantal. I have lied about my whole life. You have admitted your wrong, yet I stand here telling you how to take care of the one you love and I cannot do the same.”

“You…love this man?” Mace touched his brother’s arm. “The one you’ve been with?”

“Love him?” Lì smiled sadly. “It is not easy to speak of. I am not used to putting a name to how I feel about him. He…” Lì sighed and shook his head. “Even now I hold back.”

“Tell me about him.”

Lì closed his eyes. “His name is Aaron. We met years ago at a business meeting. The…attraction was immediate and mutual, but…”

Mace nodded. “Forbidden.”

“Yes.” Lì rubbed his eyes and for the first time Mace saw how tired his brother was. “We tried to pretend we were just friends, but after time we knew the truth. Forbidden or not, I loved him. And he loved me in return.”

“But you couldn’t show it.” Mace might still have trouble thinking of his brother as gay, but the pain he saw in Lì’s eyes ripped at him.

“No. So we stay in the shadows and enjoy the times we can sneak away. It is not what I want, but if the truth were to come out, the damage would be most severe.”

“I won’t judge you.” Mace said the words knowing they were true. Whatever he might have felt before, he loved Lì enough to want his happiness. Especially after falling in love with Chantal. “I don’t think anyone who cares about you will.”

“My family is my strength,” Lì said simply. “And my only regret was you not understanding my choice and misreading my interest in Chantal. But for both Aaron and myself, those outside our families would never forgive or forget. All we have built would be destroyed and ruined if the truth were to be known.”

Mace wanted to disagree, but he couldn’t. The cultural bias in Asia was real against homosexuality. Both Lì and Aaron were trapped and unless they wanted to lose everything of monetary value, they would have to keep their love, as Lì said, in the shadows. 

His throat tight, he swung his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “I love you, you know. No matter what you decide. Chantal and I will be there for you. For both of you.”

There was a suspicion of tears in Lì’s dark eyes. “As I love you, little brother. And I thank you for the gift of your support.” He gazed around at the smoke-charred room. “I think I will continue to need it, too. I hope you have no plans on going back to England.”

Mace squeezed his shoulder before letting his arm drop away. “I’m staying right here. No one messes with us and gets away with it. I’m here for the duration.”

Lì nodded. “Then I think the first thing to do is to figure out who hates me enough to destroy what I hold dear.”

~*~

I liked the idea of learning more about Li.  I hope you did, too.  Let me know what you think and I'll be back on Thursday with another installment.

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com/secondchances/lifesadance.htm
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

A Quick Announcement

Hey all,

I wanted to apologize about not having the FREE READ up and going.  It's all very good and well to have the scheduling ability of Blogger, but if I can't get online to do it, it doesn't help much.

And as many of you know, it was going online that was the problem.  But I'm back and Tuesday will start up with the next installment of my FREE READ.

On another front, check out my CHAT BLOG on Monday.  It will have some news you might be interested in.

Hugs and thanks to all of you for your patience!


 CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/secondchances/lifesadance.htm
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/