Bride of the Moso Prince Read online

  Without a consideration she blurted out, “A fatherless and chair-less society?”

  His smiled vanished quickly. “What did you say?”

  Feeling the threat in his eyes, she wavered, “A society without fathers, that’s what Moso is called.”

  “That’s bullshit created by the media. And don’t ever say that again.”

  She regretted her sarcastic remark but she argued nonetheless. “Isn’t it what walking marriage is about? A free relationship. Men seek women for pleasure and children do not grow up with their fathers?”

  “No, that's not what it is. And there are fathers.” The shadows in his eyes became darker.

  That look made her curious. She had a feeling that she had touched a sore spot of this man. But she went on. “Of course, if a father is someone merely begets a child."

  He didn't respond, but stared at her silently without a smile.

  Oh my god, she had definitely hurt his feelings. Sharon began to regret her comments and added quickly. "Well, whatever it is, you have the envy of many. The Han man who sat next to me on the bus today said so…”

  He seized her hand suddenly, “You have no right to judge my culture.”

  “I’m not judging it!” she said while trying to break free, and when he let go of her hand she said, “But if I were to judge it, I would say it’s a wonderful system, for both men and women. There are no contract and no responsibility. You're together only when there is love, and when love vanishes, which it often does, you separate, no fetters, no worries.”

  Sharon was hoping that Nobul would at least nod, but he didn't seem to be pleased with what he heard. Instead, he frowned and looked away from her.

  Then they sat down silently on the pine-leaf matted floor.

  Nobul had taken off his shirt and was holding it above the flame. His smooth, bronze skin glowed. His muscles were taut from shoulders down to waist. The sight made Sharon's mouth dry. She tried to quench further wild thoughts, reminding herself that she wasn’t here to seek romance like those tourists. Her mission was to take care of Charlene, and possibly rescue her out of this backward, chairless region.

  But before long her eyes wandered again at that beautiful bronze statue in front of her, separated from her by a flame of fire. How would it feel to run her fingers along the curves of those arms, and to put her cheek on the center of that chest? She could anticipate the sensation…sizzling was the word.

  He must have sensed her glance for he turned to look at her. She shivered as the dark twinkling beads fixed on her.

  “Are we close to the village?” she managed to say.

  “Yes, very close. But the rain won’t stop any time soon. Are you cold?”

  “I’m fine.” She said quickly with nonchalance. Her t-shirt was damp but not wet. Her jeans though felt like a layer of cold skin. Only a second later a sneeze betrayed her.

  He grinned. “You might want to take off that shirt to dry it. We don’t want another sick person in the hotel.”

  She blushed at the suggestion. She had a camisole underneath but he was a stranger.

  He laughed. Putting on his half-dried shirt he went to the opening of the cave and sat down with back towards her. “I won’t look.”

  “But you aren’t dry yet.”

  “Then you’d better hurry up.”

  Warily she took off her shirt and held it up close the fire. Then she was ashamed of her coyness. Teenage girls in LA frequently showed up in camisoles in public, and she wasn’t even a teenager.

  “It’s ok,” she called to him after a moment’s hesitation, “you can come back.”

  “So soon?”

  “Yes,” she stammered, “I…have something on.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  He turned and as his eyes met the sight of her he froze for a moment.

  Through the silky camisole he could see clearly the curve of her small but firm and well rounded breasts.

  After a gulping movement of his throat, he walked towards the fire quickly and sat down opposite of her. His gaze above the flames made her self-conscious. Perhaps unlike same teenagers, she wasn’t wearing a bra under the camisole. The heat of the fire seeped through the thin fabric and made her breasts swell. She felt naked. To battle the awkwardness she was feeling, she removed the hair band and let her hair cover her naked shoulders. But the gestured only attracted more attention from him.

  “I like your hair,” he said huskily, “looks silky.”

  “Thanks,” she shuddered at the gentleness of his voice and thought of an appropriate response before she got carried away, “I like yours too.”

  “Oh?” he ran his fingers through his damp hair and grinned. “Thank goodness there is at least one thing you like about me. I was worried that we were turning into enemies at first sight.”

  She giggled at that. “It's all your fault. Ordering to go with you without even introducing yourself. What I hate the most are bossy men.”

  “Oh! Is that so?” he raised his eyebrows, then without much sincerity he folded his hands in front and bowed to her, and said mockingly, "I apologize. Forgot that you’re a big sister.”

  “Hey! it's not my problem. It's you!" Sharon raised her voice and argued, "anyway, don't ever boss me around again!"

  He smiled teasingly, "Is that an order? Well, unfortunately I don't take orders either. You see, I’m a big brother myself. Looks like we’ll have a hell of time getting along with each other.”

  Or not getting along. Sharon thought with a sigh.

  With the fire burning fiercely, their clothes were thoroughly dried before the rain died down.

  Nobul lay down naked on the floor, using his shirt for a sheet. The heat made Sharon drowsy too. Putting her shirt on her side, she hugged her knees and put her head on her knees to rest. It had been a long day for her.

  She was dozing off when she felt a tickling sensation on her left foot. “Ahh!” She screamed as soon as she saw a black worm with tiny hairy legs crawling on her skin.

  Nobul sat up at once. “What’s wrong?”

  “A worm!” she said with a shaky voice.

  “Don’t move!” He came over quickly and put his arm around her waist to steady her.

  Seeing what it was, he laughed, “It’s just a harmless fluffy worm from the pines.” Then with a flashing of hand, he brushed the creature back to the floor.

  But she was still in shock. She remembered the “fluffy worms” from childhood. They were infinite horrors. A naughty boy in first grade had once put one in her collar during class and she had to wait for a whole hour before she could run to the bathroom to get it out. Her skin had itched for days after the trauma.

  “It’s not harmless,” she muttered.

  As if to convince her, he picked up the worm again and put it on his own arm, “See, it won’t bite.”

  “Stop it!” she said, “I don’t like worms.” What she meant to say was she was afraid of worms.

  “Oh. OK.” He took the worm off his arm. “Although worms aren’t as scary as they look.”

  “I’m not scared of them!” She shouted, “I just don’t like them!”

  He was startled by the volume of her voice and her agitation. He threw the worm on the floor in an instant.

  Sharon realized that she was trembling and was embarrassed at her overreaction. She tried to break from Nobul’s arms, but he caught her tightly.

  Her heart pounded as he turned to face her, put his other hand on her shoulder and pulled her to him. She looked up in surprise, and saw the flames in his eyes. As those eyes traveled from her eyes down to her lips, she felt the corresponding trail of the heat. She was so close to him that she could hear his heartbeat echoing hers. Her upper body was separated from his bronze chest by only a flimsy camisole, from which her breasts were already eager to break free. She inhaled deeply and desperately to subdue her fervor.

  Nobul felt her frantic heartbeat through that thin layer. He wasn’t sure whether it was c
aused by the worm or himself. She still looked poised and aloof. There was no way to tell whether she was feeling what he felt. A fire was burning in him and he wanted to put it out but it was nearly impossible. Her skin was soft under his palms, her hair silky against his chest, and her jasmine scent was strangely arousing. Against his rational self, he stroked her hair, then her cheek. That tender gesture and the gentle voice made her tremble. It was a new sensation and it scared her. Various men had said more provocative things but they had never made her tremble. Yet almost instantly his caresses became harsh and his breathing quickened. She thought if she were really snow as he called her, she would have melted in the heat that seeped through her skin from his.

  When he was bending towards her, Sharon stared at the stranger with wide eyes, was he going to kiss her? How could it be happening? They had met less than an hour ago! It would be insane to let him do it!

  “Don’t!” she whispered.

  “Why not?” His eyes were smoldering.

  “We don’t know each other.” She felt powerless under his gaze.

  “Our bodies seem to disagree.” His voice was husky.

  “My body is under my control,” she said, closed her eyes and jerked away from him.

  He sighed and let go of her reluctantly.

  “How long are you going to stay?” he asked, still holding her hand.

  “Not sure,” Sharon answered, puzzled by the sudden change of subject, “a month at most.”

  “Good, that’s plenty of time,” he said.

  “For what?” She pretended not to know what he meant.

  “For us to know each other. Or rather, for you to know me.”

  She pulled away from his burning gaze and looked at the opening of the cave.

  “The rain has stopped. We should get going.” She suggested.

  As they got out of the cave she shivered at the cold air. Looking back at the cave and the surrounding mountains, she had a feeling that she had stepped into an adventure. Excited by the unknown events ahead, she walked faster, to catch up with the big man ahead.

  Chapter 3

  Soon they came out of the mountains and into the open plain. The pleasant view of Algae Village entered Sharon's view in an instant. Maize fields flanked the road and log houses sat among the fields. Smokes rose from the roofs and hovered above the surrounding treetops. The smell of the smoke and the sight of the village soothed Sharon. They rode passed fields and log houses before they reached the lake which looked like an immense piece of smooth sapphire shrouded with mists from a distance. Passersby waved at them along the road, some carried bamboo back-baskets of potatoes, some carried stacks of hay.

  When they reached the end of the village marked by towering mountains, the road turned and they were greeted by an entirely different view. A hotel made of logs painted in red and yellow stood on a vast piece of land surrounded by blue water and green mountains. Billowing silky clouds bordered the edges of the mountains and reminded Sharon a scene of a paradise. When they reached the red iron gate guarded by pine trees Sharon saw the name of the hotel, “Shangri-La.” It was carved out on a wood block in broad strokes of calligraphy. The name couldn’t have been more precise. She was entering an unworldly world.

  When the motorcycle stopped in the courtyard Sharon was still in a daze. The courtyard was divided into sections of flowerbeds, with paths going through. Native species such as azaleas and dahlia bloomed among dwarf bamboos. Four connected rows of log buildings surrounded the square courtyard. Balustrades were carved in wood with patterns of birds and flowers, and painted in red, blue and yellow.

  A woman in a Moso costume came out of a room in the first floor facing the entrance and greeted her. “Hello, you must be Summer’s sister.” She put her hand on Sharon’s arm and helped her get off the vehicle. “I’m Sadama, Nobul’s mother.”

  Charlene was right about her, Sharon thought after a casual glance at Sadama. Although tall and strong, the woman’s kindness was written on her plump face and her humble smile.

  “And I’m Sharon. Nice to meet you.”

  Sadama tried to pronounce Sharon’s name in English with great difficulty. After a few attempts Sharon suggested that she could call her Snow.

  “Snow! That’s pretty!” Sadama exclaimed.

  “You see?” Nobul looked smug. Sharon rolled her eyes.

  “I’m really sorry that you have to come in that motorcycle. It must’ve been uncomfortable.”

  “Not at all,” Sharon said quickly.

  A child about six with shaved head ran to them across the courtyard, yelling “Uncle Nobul!”

  “Come here, you little rascal!” Nobul held that child up high and he giggled.

  The child climbed up to the seat of the motorcycle, honked the horn, and pretended to drive.

  “Binma! Where are you?” A woman’s voice got their attention. The child ran back to where he had come from.

  While Sharon was wondering who the child might be Sadama studied her face carefully.

  “Amazing,” she mumbled.

  “What?”

  “You look exactly like, like someone I know.”

  “I see.” Sharon nodded. She probably had some tourist in mind.

  Sadama patted on her arm, “Are you tired? Coming from such a long way! Come rest in the living room. Let Nobul carry your luggage to your room.”

  “I’m fine. Thank you. I’ll rest later.” Sharon reached out for one of suitcases after Nobul had taken the other. But Sadama wouldn’t let her. She grabbed the suitcase from Sharon’s hand.

  Sharon tried to stop her. “It’s heavy. I’ll get it. At least let’s share it.”

  But Sadama ignored her. She carried it as if it was a toy box. Sharon was amazed by the woman’s strength.

  They went up to the third and the top floor and walked down the veranda overlooking the courtyard, and stopped in front of a room.

  “She’s here!” Nobul opened the door and said to someone inside.

  “She is?” Sharon heard the joyous voice of her sister before she saw her.

  Charlene was sitting in her bed holding a book in hand.

  Seeing Sharon, she threw the book aside and extended her arms, shouted “Sharon! My big sister!”

  Sharon gave her sister a big hug. “Charlene! How are you feeling?”

  “I’m feeling fine. I’m able to sit up slowly without feeling dizzy.”

  “What did the town doctor say?” Charlene hadn’t seen the doctor before Sharon got to the airport that night.

  “He said it was caused by ear stones gotten out of their proper place. And he taught me some exercises to guide them back to the right place.”

  “Ear stones?” Sharon frowned and switched to English, “I’ve heard of kidney stones and bladder stones…Listen, Charlene, darling, you need to go see a real doctor. Not any magic performing shaman or vegetable vendor/doctor. Anyway, I came to take you back to LA.”

  “No you didn’t!” Charlene looked surprised.

  “Yes I did. I was worried to death.” Sharon murmured.

  “Oh I’m sorry, Sharon. But I’m getting better… The doctor isn’t bad at all. He’s very experienced. He had practiced in the city before returning home many years ago.”

  “Still. What if it’s the sign of some bigger problem. He wouldn’t know, would he?”

  “Stop it, Sharon, you sound like an old lady. I’ll be fine, really!”

  Sharon sighed. It would take her some effort to convince her little sister. Turning to Sadama and Nobul, who stood patiently aside, she said, “Thank you very much for taking care of my sister. I’m sure she’s been difficult.”

  “Not at all!” Sadama said quickly. “She’s a good girl.”

  “And no more difficult than her sister,” Nobul added.

  Sharon didn’t retort since Sadama was already scolding him. But Charlene giggled.

  “Sorry about the truck thing, Sharon. Oh, did you get wet?”

  “A little. But we stayed in a cave
for a while.”

  “You did? Oh those caves are my favorite spots,” Charlene said. “Clever idea to use them for rest stations, right? After I get well I’ll take you to all the caves around here. The best one is of course the Goddess Cave on top of the Gemu mountain. It’ll take us half day just to get to the top of the mountain.”

  Sharon suppressed a grimace. She wasn’t an adventurous type. Besides she wasn’t looking forward to sit on the hard stone floors and be crawled on by some cave worms. Her butt still hurt. As if being reminded of something she looked around, and then she said to Nobul, pointing at the bamboo couch in the room, “You said that chairs weren’t your culture?”

  “Really? You said that?” Charlene looked at Nobul who was smiling, and then looked back at her sister, “and you believed him?”

  “Of course not!” Sharon lifted her chin.

  Not until that moment Sharon noticed how messy Charlene’s room was. Books, clothes or other articles strewn on every piece of furniture. Half of Charlene’s queen size bed was covered with books.

  “Am I going to sleep on the top of those books?” Sharon shook her head.

  “No,” Sadama said quickly, “We’ll open another room for you.”

  “But…” Sharon looked at Charlene.

  “Don’t worry about me,” Charlene said, “I’m not that sick and don’t require 24 hour assistance. Besides there are phones and I can call your room if anything goes wrong.”

  “You can stay next door if you wish.” Sadama said.

  “Sure,” Sharon nodded, then asked with curiosity, “Is there a bathroom?”

  “Yes there is.”

  “Don’t worry, sister,” Charlene smiled, “it’s an executive suite. Usually reserved for high ranking officials. And the price is very reasonable.”

  Nobul opened the door of the next room for Sharon and motioned her to enter with a slight nod of his chin. The room was spacious. It had the combination of rustic charm and modern luxury. Night table and a couch were made of bamboo. Except the lamp and the ceiling lights that were made of marble, everything else was wood and wood carving seemed to be a theme of the room. The bed panel and frame, the wardrobe, and the partition that separated the living area and the bed, were all carved with exquisite patterns of nature, and unpainted. The bathroom was luxurious: a shower compartment and a marble bathtub took each side while in between was a huge vanity table also made of marble. It was more than she had expected. The lake view was gorgeous from the glass door that opened to the balcony. And when she stood on the balcony she could see the entire lake and its islands, the mountains beyond, and some houses on the other side. She was absolutely stunned.