Bride of the Moso Prince Read online

  After they had gotten back to the hotel and Charlene started to look for the swimsuit. She opened the closet and threw out object after object. She had accumulated quite a lot of ethnic artifacts after ten months’ stay, including hand-dyed tablecloths, embroidered head scarves, embroidered shoe insoles, etc…

  “Well, you have enough things to open a shop once you get home.” Sharon picked up each object and examined.

  “No way! I’ll never sell them.”

  “Are you going to wear these?” Sharon pointed to a cap made of colorful beads.

  “Why not?”

  Seeing what a mess her room was, Sharon started to tidy it up. She gathered all the books and put them onto a shelf on the wall that Nobul had made it just for Charlene. Then she collected all the clothes from the sofa and the bed and stuffed them into the bamboo basket that Charlene used for her laundry. Sharon thought she should clean the room for her sister, but the floor was shiny and clean. Evidently Sadama had come to clean it once in a while, for Charlene would never mop the floor. Well, at least she could do the laundry.

  “Where is the laundry room, Charlene?”

  “Laundry room?” Charlene was digging into a suitcase, “Oh, there is a washer downstairs. Next to the dining room.”

  When Sharon came back from the laundry room, Charlene had found the swimsuit. A dark green Nike with thin straps. It still had the price tag on it. Obviously Charlene didn’t take advantage of the water.

  “You’ve never tried that water? What a pity!” Sharon chided.

  “I’m clumsy swimmer. I don’t even know how to breathe!”

  “That’s because you never practiced hard,” Sharon said, assuming her sisterly tone again, “always just played in the pool, with that boy, what’s his name? Sam? Sammy? And made him cry. His mother complained to me all the time.”

  Charlene giggled, “And you finally gave up on me!”

  Sharon slapped gently on Charlene’s forehead. “At least I got myself a swimsuit. I’m going for a dip later.”

  After the clothes were done, she and Charlene hung them on some clotheslines in the yard. The task reminded Sharon of her childhood again. People in China, whether in city or rural areas, preferred to sun-dry their laundry. The Moso were not an exception.

  “It’s a pity not to utilize the power of the sun,” Charlene said. “Especially we’re so close to it here in the plateau. By the way, sister, are you feeling ok? Are you having high altitude reactions? Dizzy, fainting, nose bleeding?”

  Sharon paused, “No, I’m fine.”

  “I have some pills in case you don’t feel well. I had never had symptoms.”

  Sharon turned on the computer and worked on her project for the next couple hours. Pacific bank wanted some new sign-in features that would enhance security and fend off online criminals. Sharon was thinking a way that would help the system to recognize an alien computer, but that would require a cookie to be installed on a user’s regular computer, and she wasn’t sure whether people would like it. She put that problem aside and worked on other things, such as a periodic message that asked the client to change his password. As soon as the sun got to the west side of the sky, she stopped. Putting on her swimsuit and a robe over it, she went out.

  “I’m going to the lake,” she said to Charlene as she passed her door.

  “Ah, just a second,” Charlene hesitated and pulled her sister to the balcony, “they don’t really allow the tourists to swim in the lake for safety reasons. It’s probably better if you go towards Lovers’ Bay.”

  “No problem.”

  “And it’s pretty shallow near the shore. But it gets deep fairly quickly. To be on the safe side, stay close to shore. Though I know you’re a swimming champion.” Charlene said to her sister before she went downstairs.

  “All right. Since when have we switched roles?” Sharon chided, too excited to be concerned about safety issues.

  She walked directly to Lover’s Bay. When she was in front of the lake she was simply thrilled. Leaving her bathrobe on the shore she went into the water quickly.

  It was chilling at the first contact and she let out a joyous shout. She walked a few steps and soon got used to the temperature and started with breaststrokes. After that she changed to freestyle. She had never felt so free in the water as she was now. She stretched her arms and turned in the water, like a fish, a lucky fish who lived in such beautiful, clean water. She could see the algae below her waving their arms as if to salute her. She didn’t mind when water got in her nose and mouth. It tasted good. No chlorine or salt. It was deliciously pure. The water felt so good that Sharon knew she wouldn’t want to leave it any time soon.

  Disregarding Charlene’s advice of staying close to shore, she ventured out to the center of the lake.

  Soon she was immersed in blueness. She turned on her back and was covered with blue as well. There was nothing else in her sight but the sky as if the universe was created just for her. She felt librated and carefree. With every stroke she felt a sensuous touch of the water, soothing her whole body, smoothing her and made her oblivious of worries and of her own being. She closed her eyes and straightened her body just to float, without any hurry, without the need to get anywhere, just enjoy the absolute freedom and the perfect peace.

  She almost drifted into a dream when she heard the shout of a man. “Hey! Come back here! What do you think you’re doing?” Turning on her stomach she saw a tall man waving fiercely on shore, it was no one other than Nobul.

  “Come back! You can’t swim there. It’s dangerous!”

  Dangerous? What’s he talking about? Sharon thought. The lake is everything but dangerous. It’s calm and the water’s smooth.

  Sharon ignored him and swam away from the bay. In order not to hear his shouts she took a deep breath and got under the water.

  When she surfaced again he was no longer on shore. Feeling relieved, she switched on her back again. Moments later she felt the force of the water beside her. She opened her eyelids, preparing to see a shark, or a big fish.

  But instead she saw a muscular arm rising low above and into the water. Then it was that devastatingly handsome face that had occupied her dream last night, all the more gorgeous with beads of shimmering water.

  She was startled and made a faulty stroke. Her abdomen involuntarily bent and she turned. Just before he grabbed her wrist she had managed to slip away and swim freestyle at full speed.

  “Listen to me.” She heard his voice behind her, “It’s not safe to swim here.”

  She did butterfly strokes and got ahead of him. But he followed closely.

  “Fine, if you insist. We’ll swim together.” She heard him say.

  For a long time they swam side by side. Sharon heard her own breathing besides the splashing of water. Once or twice his hand brushed against her thigh and her heart raced. He swam closer and closer, threatening her with his masculine presence. She did her best to keep a distance from him. While hating him for messing up her peaceful time, she couldn’t help but appreciate how well he swam. His rhythmic movements were quite a sight, and his bronze arms glistering with gold specks were strangely arousing. She found herself swimming on one side only so she could enjoy the spectacle of his body. How graceful and powerful at the same time. Then she found out that he had maneuvered her into heading back to the bay. Enraged, she ducked under him to escape but was caught by the leg. Under the water he dragged her back with one hand and then held her waist with another. Tugging her under his arm, he swam back. “Let me go!” she struggled but it was futile. She was not more than a chicken flapping its wings in the paws of a tiger. “I’ll go back to the shore, I promise!”

  But he wouldn’t release her until they reached the shore and rolled onto the soft sands.

  “And you were calling me a mule. You’re the one who needs to be roped and pulled.”

  He said as soon as he let go of her.

  “You didn’t have to do that!” Sharon shouted angrily.

  �
�Didn’t have to do that? The lake can be tricky for someone who isn’t familiar with it. There are water snakes and rocks, and you could get tangled by the algae.”

  “That’s it? The way you reacted. I thought there were water spirits,” she taunted.

  There was a fierce look in his eyes, but soon it disappeared. “Yes, that too. And they tend to snatch Han women with long slim legs.” He said that in a husky voice while caressing her legs with his narrowed, smoldering eyes.

  Sharon shivered at such a blatant allusion. “How dare you!”

  He laughed and continued to caress the rest of her body with that burning gaze. The setting sun sprinkled gold dusts on his muscular and brown chest, smooth without scary hair. In spite of anger, she longed to touch him. Then she felt weak and struggled to stand up. She picked up the towel and started to dry her body under those annoying eyes.

  “Haven’t you seen a woman in a swimsuit before?” she wiped her thighs roughly, trying to suppress the tingling waves under her skin.

  “No. Moso women don’t swim.” He stood up next to her. “But I must say, that’s a great outfit to attract a man’s eyes. It makes me wonder what’s not shown.”

  She darted a furious look at him.

  He only laughed while standing up and said in a husky voice, “Especially when what’s not hiding is so beautiful.”

  Without warning he pulled her to him. Gazing down on her lips while she struggled to break away. He touched her lips with his thumb and smiling, he took a strand of hair on her cheek and tucked it under her ear. Then his finger slid down, to her neck and slowly to the curve of her breast. He gave her nipple a gentle rob through the thin fabric of the swimsuit and sent a shudder through the center of her belly. She gasped and frowned, her eyes burned with desire. As if that was a signal of consent, he pressed his lips on hers with an urgency that frightened her.

  Nobul was frightened too, by the overwhelming urge that possessed him. He had never wanted someone so badly, at least not someone he had just met. He tried to make sense of his own reckless behavior but it was hard to think, while his body was taking control of his mind. It must have been the chase in the water. She was a superb swimmer and she was as beautiful as a mermaid. He had simply wanted to catch that slippery body and to feel it.

  Sharon trembled at the softness of Nobul’s lips that lingered on hers. It wasn’t until his tongue had made its way in she realized that it was absurd. He being a person she hardly knew. He being a playboy. She tried to break herself free. But he held her tighter, and with his hand on the back of her hip, he pressed her lower body firmly to his. She moaned as she felt his erection and was surprised instantly at the noise she had made. She had never done that before. She had tolerated the touch and the kiss of Douglass but she had never enjoyed them. She didn’t know she could moan. Moaning was something out of a romance novel. What had gotten into her? She couldn’t even think straight. All she knew was that she was under a spell, that her body was on fire. Her senses were giving away to sensations. When the tip of his tongue explored the ceiling of her mouth, she panted heavily. Her heart was dancing in a music foreign to her in a quick and urgent tempo. It was pushing her body to desperation. She squirmed in order to rub against his skin, to create friction, to ignite, to burn. She could hear him groan too as she clutched his back to prevent herself from exploding.

  “Snow, you taste good.” Nobul murmured at her ear and then moved down to kiss her throat. He wanted to taste her entire body. Her skin was soft and velvety as algae petals.

  The absence of his tongue in her mouth created a temporary hunger in her, but quickly she regained her senses as a whiff of cool air hit her face. She opened her eyes and woke from the intoxication. My god! What was she doing? She had told Charlene that she was going to swim but now… The thought of Charlene woke her.

  Her body stiffened and she pushed him. “No, Nobul. Stop it. Please.”

  He paused but he wouldn’t let her go just yet. Looking into her eyes he assessed her true wish. With a great deal of effort he let go of her.

  As soon as they were apart, Sharon got hold of herself, and quickly put on the bathrobe and tied the belt. Then she left him there, without another word.

  Nobul stood watching her back. Nuts, he thought. Why did he let that goddess go just like that? He could have had her. She wanted him too. He knew from the response of her body, the hardening nipples, the passionate moans. But he also sensed that she needed time. She wasn’t one of those tourist women who came for one night stands. And he didn’t want it from her either, somehow.

  The swim had cleared the lethargy from the jetlag. Sharon was energetic for the rest of the day and the night. She hurried through the dinner and worked on her project after that, all the while trying to suppress her memory of the swim. She didn’t go to bed until after midnight.

  Chapter 5

  Sharon woke up midmorning the next day. Since Charlene had already had breakfast, she went to the kitchen alone, and before entering, saw Nobul sitting alone by the hearth, sipping tea. In a grey heather polo shirt and a pair of faded jeans, he looked dangerously attractive. Sharon’s heart leapt to her throat at the sight of him. She slowed down her steps and reminded herself in vain that she shouldn’t let that appearance affect her.

  “Good morning!” Nobul’s eyes flickered as he saw her. She looked well rested. Her cheeks were rosy. That bit of languid look in her eyes made her all the more appealing.

  “Good morning.” Sharon paused at the door. A stream of heat rose from the middle of her tummy. She remembered how those eyes had caressed her body the day before.

  “Come on in, I won’t bite.” He grinned.

  Sharon tossed her hair, “your teeth aren’t sharp enough to bite me.” She went in bravely and sat down stiffly on a stool next to his.

  “Perhaps, but they’re good for nibbling.” He leant over and whispered to her ear.

  The warm breath sent a shiver down her spine. Oh yes, she could imagine the soft bites he was capable of...

  She took a deep breath to stifle the tinkling sensation growing under her skin and gave him a stern look, “You know what? You’re a flirt!”

  “A flirt? Well I like it better than my other two nicknames!” He laughed and poured her a cup of salted tea.

  When she took the cup from his hand her fingers touched his. Her hand trembled and some tea spilled.

  “Ouch!” She cried. It was scorching.

  “Are you OK?” he looked solicitous as he passed her some napkins.

  “Yes,” she said quickly as she wiped the tea from the back of her hand. Red marks burned on her delicate skin but she pretended not to notice them.

  He took her hand gently and blew cold air onto it. It soothed the pain on her hand but the tingling sensation spread quickly to other parts of her body.

  Her cheeks flamed as she withdrew her hand quickly. “Thanks, I’m ok.”

  They were both silent after that. Sharon took up the

  teacup carefully, blew on the tea to cool it before tasting. Although both her parents couldn’t live a day without tea, she never really cared for it because of the bitterness. The one she was holding looked pretty austere. It was a kind of red tea, dark red with intense fragrance, and she imagined it would be very bitter and pungent. Gingerly she took a small sip and was surprised by the soft touch on her tongue. Sharon raised her eyebrows: she loved it.

  Soon she gulped down the whole cup. When Nobul refilled her cup she asked, “What kind of tea is it? Is it Yunnan Red Tea? My mom had it in the house before, but it smelt differently.”

  “Well it’s a kind or red tea grew in Yunnan, but it isn’t the Yunnan Red that’s commonly known. It’s our specialty here. We never exported it. It doesn’t have a name. but the tourists call it Moso Tea.”

  “It’s very good. Strong but not sharp.”

  Nobul was delighted that she liked the tea, and began to boast, “You’re pretty good at tea-tasting. How could it be less than good? It’s gro
wn four thousand meters above sea level, and it’s been dried under the plateau sun, next to a rain forest where micro-organisms thrive, thus ideal for both aerobic and anaerobic fermentation. Many tourists would purchase it by pounds. Someone actually wanted to make deals with us.”

  “Wow!” Sharon smiled and nodded, although she had no idea of what was aerobic or anaerobic fermentation. And since he was complimenting on her ‘tea-tasting’ ability and he seemed to enjoyed talking about tea making, she emptied her cup quickly and asked for another refill.

  “Is everything all right? Are you resting well here?” Nobul asked suddenly after he was done talking about tea.

  Sharon nodded. “Yes, thank you for asking.”

  “Good. I know Charlene isn’t feeling well, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a vacation. We don’t have much entertainment here, but it’s a great place for you to relax.”

  “I know.” Sharon nodded, “It would be even better if I could swim every day...” She stopped abruptly. Why did she mention the word swim? She looked down right away and pretended to drink tea, hoping Nobul wouldn’t notice her embarrassment.

  But Nobul looked at her with a naughty smile and said, “You wouldn’t give up, would you? All right, you can swim, but you must be accompanied by me.”

  Sharon rolled her eyes, “Forget it.”

  Nobul laughed heartily as he unburied a potato in the ash, put it on a plate and handed it to her.

  “Would you like some butter?”

  “No, I prefer it plain.”

  He glanced at her slowly, from head to toe, with gleam in his eyes, “I’m so not surprised. You’re the few women I know who don’t wear jewelries.”

  She was bemused for a second. What on earth did wearing jewelries have to do with liking butter? She was going to protest but the smile on his curled lips caused ripples in her. She looked down at her tea cup and mumbled, “Well, it’s just cultural differences.”

  “I don’t think so,” He laughed, “I’ve seen plenty of women coming from other countries. Even your sister loves necklaces and bracelets.”