Lover's Return (3 page)

“I think I’m safe from arrest. Aside from that, you’re such a little liar. You want to be with me even more than you want revenge for me leaving you.” Jericho drew her over to the black couch.

“Safe because your brother’s the law in Cassid and has contacts almost everywhere.” She rolled her eyes as he stopped in front of the couch. “You’re deluded.”

The couch. Her mind went wild with possibilities. It latched on to one particular favorite though. Her hands pressed him down into the soft cushion as she straddled him. His hands fastened at her waist, unable to give up all control to her as she took his cock deep into her cunt. Her hips rocked and she rode him, but his hands guided and controlled the pace.

She bit back a moan. Her memory and fertile imagination were tormenting her. The desire for him and what they once had didn’t make it easy to stay mad at him.

“Sweetheart, the only one you’ve fooled is yourself.” He sat and tugged her down beside him. “Your family, your friends and even acquaintances know you’re in love with me.”

She hadn’t fooled herself either, but damn it, she was still mad at him. “You left. You didn’t try to get in touch with me. For eight years I didn’t know what you were doing or where you were.”

“My brother told—” Jericho began.

“Your brother Abram told me you were fine every six months or so. When your brother Rio was almost killed, your brother Abram told everyone he was fine. Not reassuring.” Her finger dug into his chest. She turned on the couch to glare at him. “Where’s your vehicle? I know you have one. You’re taking me back now.”

“No, I don’t have one. We’re here for two weeks to restart the relationship.”

“You’d never leave yourself stranded.” She shook her head. The man she knew would always have a way to get help if needed.

“Not stranded. I’m with you. If we need to contact anyone, this house has the standard holo-com in almost every room. No one’s going to come get you, though.” His fingers brushed over her arm. “Tell me that you haven’t dreamed about me.”

He was probably right about no one coming to get her. If Daniel was part of it, she was sure he had help from other people. The holo-com might let her communicate with almost anyone, but it would be useless unless she could think of someone who wouldn’t take his side or be stopped by his brothers before they could help.

She looked down at her lap. She’d like to tell him her dreams of him had stopped long ago, but she couldn’t do that. Although she’d like to give him a kick in his ego, she wasn’t going to lie to him. “I dreamed of you. Why did you leave? We were talking about a life together and then you were gone.”

“We were going too fast. I had nothing to offer you then. At best, I could go into law enforcement, work the ranch or bounty-hunt. My brother loves his job, but I knew then it wasn’t for me. I’d be bored out of my mind.” Jericho sighed. “So I joined the United Coalition for a few years, learned the trade business and set up my own operation in this sector.”

“So why didn’t you tell me about that before you left?” She pulled back. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like his answer.

“I didn’t know if I’d succeed.” He shrugged.

She lunged to her feet, incensed. Her fists clenched as she faced him. If what she suspected were true, he had a lot of nerve even coming back here. “You weren’t coming back if you didn’t make the trade company profitable, were you?”

“No.” Jericho watched her intently, but didn’t rise to his feet.

She spun and stalked to the door. Shock and hurt blasted through her. Her mind locked on that simple “no”. He wouldn’t have returned. If his trading business had failed, she’d still be wondering what happened to him. She’d rather walk through the seven pits of hell than stay with him.

She made it to the bottom step of the porch before a heavy hand landed on her shoulder. Jericho’s other arm banded around her waist. He lifted her off her feet. Without any perceptible strain, he carried her back into the house.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He put her down in front of the couch, but kept his hand on her arm.

“Away from you. I’ll walk home if I have to.” She shoved against his chest. “I don’t want to be anywhere that you are.”

“Don’t push it, Charleigh. I promised myself I’d give you space and wouldn’t carry on the family tradition with you.” Jericho’s voice lowered in a distinct growl.

Chapter Three

Charleigh lifted her chin. She wasn’t letting him intimidate her with that threat. So his family had a history of abduction marriages, they also had a tradition of loving marriages. He hadn’t cared enough before and would have stayed away if he’d failed to make a success of his trading business. His feelings for her were plain. She gritted her teeth and concentrated on the anger. If she didn’t, she might break down and cry. After all these years, it shouldn’t hurt so much to discover that his feelings for her weren’t as intense as hers were.

“Right. Let me go, Jericho.” She jerked her arm, but his hand tightened.

He tugged back. He leaned in until his breath feathered over her lips and they were almost touching. “No. Show me that you don’t want me. That your anger has burned out the desire for me. Maybe I’ll believe you enough to let you go home.”

From the hard look in his brown eyes, she didn’t think so. “I don’t have to show you anything. As if I’d believe you’d make the kind of effort your grandfather, father and uncles did. I don’t matter enough.”

“You don’t matter?
You
are the only reason I’m here, the only reason I came back.” Jericho grasped her shoulders.

“Don’t even try that. Your family is here. Everyone knows how close you are to them.” She shook her head. He could run his business from anywhere, but he’d come back to his family. She was just a second thought. Hurt lanced through her. Damn him. Couldn’t he at least tell her the truth?

He glowered at her. His expression tightened. “You’re here.”

She lifted her head and refused to comment on it. They could argue about it for the rest of the day and it wouldn’t make any difference. She pressed her hands against his chest.

“Totally unreasonable. I knew I should have started off with this.” His palm cupped the back of her head.

He pulled her close in spite of her resistance. His lips brushed over hers. She clamped her lips shut, but her hands clenched on his shirt. His tongue probed at her lips. Torn between anger and desire, she froze. His hand remained at the back of her head while his other settled at the base of her spine, tugging her close.

It had been so long since she’d been this close to him. In spite of the anger and hurt, the warmth of his hard, muscled body slowly relaxed her. She couldn’t resist opening her mouth for his kiss. He took full advantage before she could change her mind. His tongue swept into her mouth, taunting and teasing. She rose on tiptoes to get closer to him and deepen the kiss.

His hand slid lower, cupping her buttocks and lifting her against the hard ridge of his cock. “Does that feel as though you don’t matter? You’re the only person who matters. Before we go home, you’re going to know it.”

She moaned. Her mouth opened. She had to say something, show him that this wasn’t going to change her mind. She didn’t know how he did it. The moment he touched her, she began to burn. It didn’t matter if the touch was sexual or casual.

His mouth closed over hers again. His hand slid down from the back of her head, but she didn’t take the opportunity to rip her mouth away. Her tongue stroked over his. His hand gripped her thigh, guiding it around his waist. His hips rocked, rubbing the hard ridge of his cock against her pussy.

She tore her mouth away from his and dragged in a harsh breath. As much as she grabbed for a bit of sanity, she couldn’t reach it. For her, there had always only been Jericho. He made her insane with desire as much as anger. She pressed kisses to his neck.

“This won’t solve anything.” She rested her head on his shoulder, but her hands roamed over his chest.

“Not solve, but at least you’ll know that what’s between us isn’t going way. I walked away from you once. I’m not letting you do it this time.” He lifted her completely off her feet and carried her through the house.

“Jericho…” She didn’t know what she was trying to tell him.

He continued on and didn’t stop until they were inside one of the bedrooms. The door to the bedroom slid closed behind them. Torn between desire and uncertainty, she couldn’t untangle her muddled thoughts.

He put her feet on the ground and stared at her. “Tell me that you don’t want me. That time has made what was between us fade.”

“You know I want you. It’s not that simple.” She pushed away a little, but didn’t move back, even though his hold had loosened.

“It is that simple. What’s between us isn’t going away because of anger and pride.” Jericho’s fingers brushed across her cheek.

He didn’t give her time to say anything. His lips claimed hers. Their tongues dueled. Her hands slid down his chest and abdomen. Easing them under his shirt, she savored the warmth and hard muscle. She pushed the fabric up, wanting to get it out of her way.

When it bunched under his arms, he tore his lips away and whipped the shirt over his head. She drew in a sharp breath. He’d always been muscled and broad in the chest, but the years had enhanced that. Her nails scraped down his chest.

“I’m not going to let you fool yourself that I forced you into this. If you don’t want me, then say the word. I’ll stop, but I won’t stop trying to get you to admit what we both know. We belong together. If you want me, you’re going to tell me where you want to be touched.” He stood in front of her, not touching her.

She sighed. He had to be difficult. That was so Jericho. She’d wanted to let the moment happen without confronting the details. She had to admit she probably would have blamed him and his aggressive tactics instead of admitting the truth. It was easier. He stepped back and looked down at her. The impossible man seemed prepared to wait for the answer.

“I want you. I want you to fuck me and use those hands as I remember.” She didn’t know what would happen or how she’d feel after the sex.

It wasn’t only that she was angry over what he’d said. She wasn’t even sure it wasn’t some kind of remembered attraction that would fade once they touched again. Then there was his presumptuous attitude that, after all these years without a word, she should drop everything and restart their relationship.

His smile widened in smug satisfaction. “I’ll make sure you feel my hands everywhere.”

The smile irritated her, but before she could think about it too much, his mouth brushed over hers. The kiss teased and drew her into responding. His hand stroked up and down her back. She relaxed against him, content to enjoy the moment and worry about the details later.

His large palms settled over her buttocks and squeezed before lifting her against him. He urged her legs around his waist. She complied readily, her thighs wrapping around him and holding him tight. The ridge of his cock nestled against her pussy. She knew what he wanted. Remembered it so well that her skin tingled with anticipation.

“Take off your shirt for me, Charleigh.” His hands tightened and rocked her hips slowly.

She braced one hand on his shoulder and leaned back. Flicking open the fastenings, she worked quickly. She pushed the left side wide, wriggling her arm free of the fabric. Using her left hand for balance, she gave a single tug. The garment slid down her arm and fell to the floor. Since she wasn’t wearing a bra, he had an unimpeded view of her breasts. Returning her hands to his chest, she drew her fingers across his nipples. He drew in a hissing breath. She drew her thumbnail over the hardened little bead.

“Well, that’s done. What now?” She raised an eyebrow. She knew that challenge would draw a reaction, just as she realized what her touch did to him.

“Your hand. Cup one of your breasts for me. You know what I want.” His voice rumbled, low and sexy. His hands tightened, holding her still as he waited for her response.

“What are you going to do if I do that? Because doing this seems to be a great idea.” She smiled as she plucked and twisted his nipple.

“Oh, just this.” His hands moved her against his the ridge of his cock.

She closed her eyes. With her legs wrapped around him, her pussy pressed right against his cloth-covered shaft. The friction of fabric sliding over her sensitive cunt drove excitement higher. She groaned. Such sweet torment and he knew she loved it. One hand lifted to her breast, cupping the mound.

“Roll your nipple for me, my Leigh.” He guided her hips up and down, but his eyes locked on to her breasts and her hand. “I could rock you to pleasure. Do you remember?”

“I’d kill you.” She glared at him, but she remembered how he’d tease her. As good as the orgasm would be, it would feel hollow when she ached for him. They’d been apart so long. She wanted to feel his body, warm and solid, against her and his cock sliding deep into her pussy.

He smiled and dropped a kiss onto her cheek. “I’m not sure I could hold out myself. The last thing I want is to come in these pants when I have your pussy so close.”

“I want to be a little more naked before we fuck. What about you?” She leaned forward and drew her lips across his.

“That’s the ultimate goal. I’ll work on it. You give me something to watch.” He carried her over to the bed.

She looked down to where her hand cupped her breast. “Don’t take too long.”

She flicked her fingers across her nipple and glanced up to find him watching her. Seeing his reaction was more exciting than the simple touch. He lowered her to her feet beside the bed. His hands went to the button of her pants, but his eyes locked on her breasts. With both feet on solid ground, she began playing with both breasts. She drew her fingers over her nipples in slow circles to keep his attention. His head dipped and his tongue swiped across her nipple and her fingers.

She drew in a sharp breath, her body tensing as the wet slide of his tongue sent desire slashing down to her stomach. He chuckled as he pushed the loosened pants down her thighs along with her silky underwear. She squirmed, resisting the urge to grab his head and guide it straight to one of the aching points. Instead she plucked at one and deliberately moaned low to torment him.

His eyes met hers and she swept her right hand down her stomach. Cupping her pussy with her fingers, she let her fingers trail over the slick lips. It was a challenge. Had he become so civilized that he wasn’t the same man she remembered? She knew what the old Jericho would do, but this man, no.

He grasped her hand and shook his head. Lifting it, he pressed it to her side as he urged her onto the mattress. “Keep that hand there. I’m going to get rid of my clothes.”

Sprawled on the mattress, she watched as he took off his shoes and pants. His cock thrust forward, thick and long. Her tongue swept out at the sight of the darker, rounded head. He climbed onto the bed and lie down beside her.

She didn’t have time to wonder what he was going to do. His mouth fastened over her breast. He sucked and his tongue flayed the hardened nipple. Her hands lifted and stroked over his shoulders and arms before moving to his chest, stomach and back. The hard length of his cock beckoned her, but she wanted to savor touching him for a little while.

His hands stroked down her stomach. She widened her thighs in invitation. His hand cupped her pussy. Two fingers pushed between the lips. They stroked down, feathering over her clit once before moving down to the slick opening of her cunt. He pressed and circled the entrance before two fingers stroked deep. She gasped and her hips rose up to meet the thick digits.

“You’re so wet. You missed this, didn’t you, Leigh?” He drew them slowly back until the tips circled her entrance before he thrust them deep again.

“So much.” She licked her lips and ran her fingers over his chest and down his muscled stomach. She’d woken from dreams and ached for them to be real.

Slow, smooth strokes pushed her desire higher until she writhed on the bed, desperate for his touch and taste. His lips left the aching tip of her breast, but claimed her mouth in a quick, hard kiss. Her fingers circled his cock. She couldn’t take more of his teasing. She barely managed a stroke before he groaned and pulled her hand away.

“I’m too excited for that. I want to come inside you, Charleigh, not on the bed.” He pressed her hand down to the bed.

He moved between her legs, pulling her knees higher. She hooked one leg over his hip, wanting to get closer to him. His cock brushed her thigh. She lifted against him. Her inner muscles clenched at the thought of feeling that thick length inside of her. Reaching between them, she guided his cock to her entrance. He pushed forward.

Her inner muscles clenched around him and she savored the fullness. Her hands ran over his back and down to his buttocks.

“I’ve wanted to be right here since the moment I stepped back onto this planet.” He nipped at her lips. “I’m not waiting any longer. You’re mine.”

“Fuck me.” Her lips brushed over his before she nipped at his lip. He talked too much. Her body ached with need. Everything else could wait.

Her nails sank into his back. His hips jerked forward. So good. She tightened her legs around him. His hips drove against hers with each deep thrust. She met the strokes eagerly. His chest rubbed against the tips of her sensitive nipples. Each brush sent a tingle arcing straight down to her pussy. The building tension tightened low in her belly. Jericho’s panting breaths brushed over her cheeks and neck as his lips planted kisses along a meandering path.

“Please, I need more.” She searched for his mouth. Her entire body ached with hunger. Her hands ran over his back. She couldn’t get enough of touching him.