Lover's Return (7 page)

“Damn it, Jericho. Fuck me.” She pushed back, taking more of his cock.

That was all the encouragement he needed. He drove forward. Her hands gripped the edge of the counter, but she rocked back to meet him. He kept her upper body pressed onto the counter as he thrust against her. He tried to hold back his own release, determined to feel her orgasm rippling over his cock first. The ragged sighs and moans drifting from her urged him on almost as much as the clench of her sheath around his shaft. Her inner muscles tightened around him as she found her pleasure on a muffled scream. His hips lunged forward and heat seared up his spine. A shudder ripped over his body and he groaned at the pleasure slamming into him.

His hands stroked over her back. He didn’t want to stop touching her, but he’d take her somewhere more comfortable before they both heated up for the next round.

Chapter Seven

Charleigh opened her eyes groggily as she felt the mattress dip. Jericho pulled the sheet over her upper body before stepping away from the bed. She wondered at that until an annoying tone sounded. The holo-com. It could have been sounding for a while. She honestly doubted she’d have noticed it at all if she hadn’t felt Jericho leaving the bed. He’d exhausted her last night and she thought she’d done the same to him.

She watched through her lashes as the image flickered and then displayed Rio. The resemblance between them was clear, but Rio had a harder edge to him. He was also a little taller and broader than his brother. She noticed the intensity in his eyes. Even before he spoke, she knew something was wrong. A burst of anxiety wiped out the last traces of sleep.

“You need to move, Jericho. Get her out now,” Rio said. His voice sounded tight. She didn’t know if he was angry or simply worried. “Nate’s on his way up your way, but Sorensen slipped his tail sometime last night and I don’t know when exactly he left.”

“Fuck, Rio.” Jericho grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt and threw them toward her before turning back to his brother. “I wanted more warning. He could already be outside and we don’t know what he wants or what he’ll do.”

“We deal with what we’re handed, brother. Get your woman out of there if you can. If you see any sign of him, wait for Nate if possible, if not, keep her safe.” Rio cut the connection and his image faded.

Jericho turned back and frowned at her. “Get dressed. We’re leaving if there’s no sign of him.”

She dressed. The look in his eyes worried her. She’d been a little anxious, but she hadn’t thought it would be dangerous. The fact that Jericho was nervous made it all too real. As creepy as the man following her and listening to her had been, she hadn’t thought Tobias Sorensen would come after her. She’d thought he was simply trying to claim a relationship until he could try to form one. But if he came here, it had to be something more than that.

Slipping on shoes, she looked and found Jericho waiting, fully dressed. His mouth formed a hard slash and even beneath his clothing, she could see the corded tension in his muscles. He nodded and held out his hand. She walked over to him and slid her fingers over his palm. She expected him to lead her out of the room, but he tugged her into his arms.

“We’re getting out of here. We’ll get to safety. You don’t go out until I say it’s clear.” He hugged her tight. “Stay close to me, my Leigh. I don’t want you out of reach until we know he’s not here.”

She nodded. Now was not the time to be difficult or argue about how she’d taken care of herself while he was gone. She didn’t want to distract him. Everything seemed so wrong. She shouldn’t have to worry about Tobias Sorensen showing up here. She’d just begun to believe that Jericho really did feel something as intense as she did. Damn, they should have time to settle things between them without this mess. Anger built, pushing past the fear.

He led her out of the bedroom to the front of the house. He activated the monitor near the door. The day outside seemed normal and quiet. She couldn’t even see any of the normal small animals in the grass or trees. It seemed kind of strange to be looking at the monitors. Things such as that were necessary in the city, not here at the retreat.

“Everything seems clear. We’re going out, but stay close and if anything happens, do not interfere. If I tell you to run back to the house, you do it regardless of what I do. Understand?” Jericho cupped her chin and stared down at her.

She met the very serious eyes of her lover. Biting her lip, she hesitated. Her first instinct was to yell out that she wasn’t leaving him, but she knew that they wouldn’t step out the door until she agreed. Sighing, she nodded. She’d stay with him and if there was danger, she’d do as he said, but she wasn’t leaving him if he was hurt. Not that she was saying anything to him about it. She wanted to get out of here before Tobias Sorensen showed up. Well, if he was coming.

Jericho pushed the code in, unlocking the door. “He might not be here, but if he is, he’s not touching you. By my side, remember.”

“By your side. Let’s go. This new place better be good.” She looked up at him with a raised brow.

“It will do. I don’t think we’ll have to be there long at all.” He smiled as the door opened.

There was such smug confidence in that curve of his lips that she wanted to smack him down at least verbally, but held back. She knew he wasn’t talking about hiding from Sorensen. They both needed to concentrate, since they didn’t know anything about Tobias Sorensen or what he wanted.

Stepping out onto the porch, she glanced around quickly. No one waited for them in the clear area around the house. A soft sigh of relief escaped and she relaxed a little. Maybe Sorensen hadn’t come after her. Jericho’s hand settled on her lower back and urged her toward the steps.

As they crossed the grassy clearing to the path through the trees, a man stepped from the concealing branches. An arc burst gun pointed toward them as he moved to block their path. It could be on stun, but as crazed as he looked, she bet it was on kill. She stopped even before Jericho’s arm swept out. He eased in front of her, blocking the man’s view of her.

She focused on the man across from them. Black-haired and almost boyish in appearance, the man stared at them silently. He looked short, much shorter than Jericho. That weapon changed things though. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from that silver-and-black weapon pointing at them. Her breath hitched in her throat.

She’d never seen the man before today. Earlier she’d had a few thoughts that maybe she’d passed him on the street or been at the same social function. Now she was sure. She wouldn’t have missed him. He was just too different from most of the men here for her not to notice him. He looked too effeminate, too soft compared to the men from this colony planet.

“Come away from him, Charleigh. You’re safe now.” The man motioned with his gun as if urging her to move. “I’ve got him. If he moves, I’ll shoot him. He’s not going to hurt you.”

“He wouldn’t hurt me anyway.” She pressed her hands against Jericho’s back and didn’t try to resist as he urged her back toward the porch. Sorensen must be crazy. It was the only reason she could think of that he’d believe she’d go to him when he had a weapon.

“I know you don’t want to be with him, Charleigh. I know your family and his are forcing you to be here. Step away from him.” The man’s voice rose and he took a step forward.

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Jericho’s deep voice boomed. She felt the vibrations of the sound through her fingertips on his back.

“I don’t know you. And you have a gun. Why would I go near you when you come here uninvited and threaten us?” She peeked around Jericho to get another look at the man. If what Rio and Jericho believed was true, maybe she should stand in front of Jericho. If the man wanted to “save” her, he didn’t want to hurt her. Jericho, on the other hand, he’d probably shoot without a second thought. Sorensen seemed to have lost any bit of logic and sanity he once had.

“Quiet.” He kept easing them back. She felt the step at her heel and took a step up. “Don’t antagonize the crazy man.”

“I’m never a threat to you.” Tobias Sorensen’s voice softened and a smile curved his lips. “You know me. Your Aunt Hannah introduced us.”

“No, she didn’t. Her Aunt Hannah loves me. She would ship you back to wherever you came from in several small boxes.” Jericho carefully stepped up onto the next tread without glancing back.

Her aunt always had been supportive of Jericho, so he could be right about the boast of her loving him. As to the small boxes threat, Aunt Hannah had more subtlety than that, but if necessary, she’d do it that way. As she moved up onto the porch, she got a clear glimpse of the man walking toward them. Definitely crazy. His eyes fixed on them and there was a fervent light in that gaze that wasn’t love.

“Get away from her. She’s not interested in you.” Tobias raised the gun and pointed it at Jericho. “Come on. You don’t have to be afraid of him.”

She drew in a gasping breath and her heart slammed in her chest. She grabbed Jericho’s shirt, intending to pull him into the house with her. She wasn’t leaving him out here. They’d lock the doors and wait on Nate. As unstable as the man seemed, she didn’t know how long it would be before he took a shot at Jericho regardless of whether she was close to him. Even if Sorensen fled, they had him on video pointing a weapon at them.

Jericho urged her back. She kept silent. Tobias Sorensen hadn’t seemed to hear her denials. More wouldn’t make any difference. The door opened for them and she let Jericho guide her to the entrance.

“No, stop right there.” Sorensen shouted the order and the weapon jerked with each word.

Charleigh winced, tensing each time it moved. Her breath locked in her throat. They needed to get away from him, safely inside where he couldn’t shoot them. She gripped Jericho’s shirt. He was coming in with her whether he wanted or not. She wasn’t leaving him out here with that insane man.

Peering around Jericho, she saw a flash of black behind Tobias Sorensen. At first she didn’t realize what that large figure was. Then she saw Nate’s face just before he slammed into Tobias Sorensen. Jericho pushed her into the house, almost completely blocking her from the sight outside the door, but she managed to get a view in spite of his large body.

Nate and Sorensen sprawled on the ground. The weapon had come free. She spotted it among the grass and leaves almost half a body-length away from the two men. Sorensen came to a knee and lunged forward. Nate jumped on top of him again and forced him to the ground. Grabbing the man’s arm, he twisted it up behind him and then clapped on the first of the cuffs. In quick order, he had the other wrist secured. Nate stood, hauling Tobias Sorensen to his feet.

“I see you’re still standing and apparently unhurt. I heard some of his raving. He didn’t do anything before I got here, did he? Rio will kill me if you were hurt and I didn’t ask.” Nate held Tobias as he grabbed the weapon from the ground.

“We’re both good. He didn’t take a shot at all. Just waved and pointed it at us. He was gathering his nerve. It wouldn’t have been long, though, before he did shoot.” Jericho pulled her completely out from behind him and hugged her tight to his side.

“I’ll take him in now and leave you two to your privacy. Just so you know, everyone is expecting an announcement when you get back.” Nate smiled and nodded.

“Thanks, Nate, and yeah, I know. It’s not a problem.” Jericho’s arm tightened.

“What announcement?” Charleigh frowned, a little confused. What could everyone be waiting to hear and about what?

Nate chuckled. “This man won’t give you any more trouble, especially with the weapon. We haven’t found record of a permit to own, much less carry. She, on the other hand, seems to be set to give you a few more issues.”

Jericho pulled her in front of him. “I see that. I’ll take care of it. We should be home in the next few days.”

Charleigh felt as if she were missing out on a whole level of conversation. She had planned to be gone for a while to think about things. Everything had changed in such a short time, but she wasn’t thinking about leaving yet. While she might want to be with him, they had a few details to work through. She still didn’t know exactly what he felt for her.

“If we don’t see or hear from you before then, we’ll get in touch. If you don’t answer, we’ll be coming up to check on you. Take good care of her. Charleigh, good to see you.” Nate nodded and urged Sorensen toward the path through the forest.

“What’s the announcement, Jericho?” She tried to turn in his arms, but his right hand tightened and his left hooked under her knee. She gasped and clutched at his shoulders as he swept her high against his chest. Sometimes he took that dominating part of his personality a little too far.

The no discussion about staying was a prime example. She understood the reasoning. Tobias Sorensen had been caught and the threat was gone. That didn’t mean she felt completely at ease here. After what happened, she knew it would take a little while before she relaxed again.

“You don’t know?” He raised an eyebrow, but smiled in good humor.

“I know we still have plenty to talk about concerning our relationship before we make any announcement.” She frowned at him to let him know she wasn’t allowing him to make all of the decisions concerning their relationship.

Jericho paused aftee he carried her inside and secured the door. “You think so. I’m fairly sure that we both know what announcement will be made.”

“I think you’re trying to skip steps again. That’s one of the reasons that we had a problem after you came back to the planet.” She rolled her eyes. He might plan, but one of the joys of her life was disrupting those. She wasn’t agreeing to any announcement until he said the words she needed.

He carried her through the house and straight to the bedroom. She steeled herself, not entirely sure what he was going to do right now. Sex wasn’t going to get him what he wanted this time. He didn’t take her to the bed as she expected.

He carried her over to a large dark-brown dresser and settled her on the solid wooden surface. She clutched at the edge, prepared to hop down. He moved close, widening her thighs to step in between them. She looked at him and down to where his hips pressed against hers, pinning her in place. With both of them fully dressed, they’d probably talk a little at least.