Under the Panther's Protection [Black Panthers 3]

by Leah Brooke

  With a smile, he opened the door for her. “Come on, Aunt Fiona. I’d bet there’s a waiting room full of people dying to hear the news.”

  As Fiona had expected, the waiting room was full of gorgeous, dark-haired men, who all jumped from their seats and rushed forward, but Fiona’s gaze went straight to Joshua’s.

  Vincent pushed past the others and made a beeline for Mitch.

  “Well?”

  Joshua turned from the window as soon as they walked through the door, his eyes seeming to glow from within as he closed the distance between them. With a tender smile, he cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

  Mitch laughed softly. “I’ll let Aunt Fiona do the honor.”

  Overcome with emotion, Fiona slumped against Joshua, the feel of his arms closing around her like coming home. Smiling at the sea of anxious faces waiting expectantly, she took a steadying breath. “It’s a boy, and he’s perfect.”

  Amid the cheers and demands to see the baby, Joshua picked Fiona up, irritated that she’d allowed herself to run herself so ragged. “Finally ran out of gas, huh?”

  With a sigh, she pressed her face against his chest, losing her battle to keep her eyes open. “I’m fine.”

  Joshua carried her to the other side of the room, away from the noise, and lowered himself to a chair below a bank of windows, settling her on his lap. “Of course you are.”

  It had already gotten dark outside, and she hadn’t had a bite to eat since he’d shoved a hamburger at her earlier.

  He unwrapped the ham and cheese sandwich he’d bought her from the hospital cafeteria. “You need to eat something.”

  “Hmm. Maybe later.” Her eyes fluttered open but closed again almost immediately. “I need to get up.”

  “You’re fine where you are. Just rest a minute.” Joshua picked up half the sandwich and touched it to her lips. “Have a bite.”

  Opening her eyes, she frowned and looked to see what he held. “I—”

  Joshua pulled it away when she reached for it. “I’ve got it. Open.”

  She frowned at him again, but it didn’t have the usual impact when her eyes drooped again. “Damn it, Joshua.”

  He slipped a corner of the sandwich between her lips. “You can yell at me later.”

  She smiled at that and took a bite. “I will.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.” He continued to feed her, but by the time she finished half of the sandwich, she was fighting to stay awake.

  Just when he thought she’d fallen asleep, she clenched her hand on his chest. “The baby was in trouble.”

  Joshua fought not to stiffen, looking up to see that his pack mates had all quieted to listen. “What happened?”

  Fiona sighed, her breath hitching. “He didn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.” A soft sob escaped, tightening his stomach. “So scared.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  Her eyes opened, the remembered horror in them heightening his protective instincts. “Mitch was, too, but he stayed so calm. Glenna was terrified. Leland and Joe tried to calm her.”

  Rubbing her back in an effort to calm her, Joshua glanced up at the others, imagining the hell both Leland and Joe had gone through. “But he’s okay?”

  Fiona smiled, a tear clinging to her long lashes. “He’s perfect. Mitch cleared his airway, and Jonas started flailing.” Her voice caught. “He let out such a scream. Think he was pissed.”

  With a sigh of relief, Joshua chuckled, wiping the tear away and bending to kiss her hair. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  A glance at his pack mates showed their relief and grins.

  After offering Fiona a drink of water, Joshua sat back, content just to hold her. Within a few minutes, her breathing evened out and she slumped against him.

  They sat that way for a long time while the others took turns going in to see the baby and congratulating the Alphas and their mate.

  Graham appeared at some point with a blanket to put over Fiona. Lowering himself to the seat next to him, Graham smiled and kept his voice low. “Glenna and the baby are sleeping. I told Leland and Joe that, when Fiona got to the waiting room, she was running on fumes and that you’re taking care of her. They understood completely, of course. They’re thrilled that you’ve found your mate.”

  Looking down at Fiona, Graham smiled again before lifting his gaze to Joshua’s. “How does it feel?”

  Joshua had never been comfortable talking about anything resembling feelings, but Graham’s genuine interest and curiosity had him biting back a sharp retort. “Wonderful. Terrifying. I don’t even know how to describe it.”

  “How is it different from other women?”

  Joshua smiled when Fiona snuggled closer and sighed. “The impact. Other women can be desirable, but with her, it’s a need. A hunger that doesn’t go away.”

  Running a hand over her hair, he struggled to contain the sharp surge of emotion. “I’ve only known her for a little over a day, and I’d kill for her—die for her—with no hesitation at all. She is my weakness. It’s not comfortable. I can’t even imagine what Leland and Joe went through when Glenna disappeared. Christ, I’d want to kill someone.”

  Graham nodded, frowning as if he was trying to imagine it but couldn’t. “Visiting hours are almost over.”

  Inclining his head, Joshua looked toward the others. “You can drive me home. Every vehicle we own must be here.”

  Graham smiled. “Don’t want to put her down, huh?” He got to his feet. “Let’s see who else is ready to go.”

  In deference to his sleeping mate, the others kept the conversation low on the way back to the farm. Their conversation revolved around the new baby, so Joshua tuned them out, his thoughts centered around Fiona.

  Glenna had given birth, and Joshua fought not to panic at what would happen next.

  Fiona would be leaving soon to help her parents, and he feared that her stubbornness would keep her from ever coming back.

  He had to face that she would be leaving.

  He understood it, as well as he’d begun to understand her strong sense of responsibility toward her family.

  He respected it, even as he hated that it would take her away from him.

  Before she left, though, he promised himself that he would get her promise to come back to him.

  If not, he consoled himself with the promise that if she didn’t, he’d go get her and drag her back.

  Chapter Seven

  Fiona woke up abruptly, jerking upright. “Glenna.”

  A heavy arm tightened around her hips, warm lips brushing over her hip. “Easy, my mate. Your sister’s fine.”

  Fiona blinked, stunned to realize that the sleep-roughened voice belonged to Joshua and that they’d obviously spent the night together in his bed.

  Shaking her head, she smiled and ran her fingers through his thick, silky hair. “I’m in bed with you.”

  A hard, hot arm tightened around her waist, his warm lips moving again. “I noticed.”

  “I’m naked.”

  Both arms tightened, pulling her down to lie beside him, his warm lips moving on her shoulder. “Noticed that, too. I like having you in my bed. Kept me warm all night—after I got your feet warm.”

  Propping herself on her elbows, she reached up to push a lock of hair from his forehead. “Bullshit. You’re amazingly hot.”

  Lifting his head slightly, he made a sound in his throat, a sound of pleasure that sent a shiver of delight through her. “Glad you think so, my mate. I think you’re damned hot, too.”

  Brushing his lips over her breast, he made that sound again. “And beautiful.”

  “I’m not beautiful.”

  “You’re wrong about that.” Pulling her down again, he moved over her, parting her legs and making a place for himself between them. His lips moved over her neck and down to her shoulders. “Beautiful. Sexy. Stubborn.”

  Sliding her hands into his hair, she moaned when he focused his attention on a particularly sensitive spot. “You a
lready know you’re sexy as hell and impossible to resist. When I said you’re hot, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She lifted into him, the heat from his body burning into her. “You give off a hell of a lot of heat.”

  Lifting his head, he smiled down at her, running a hand down her side. “I didn’t hear you bitching about it when you burrowed into me all night or when you slid your feet between my thighs to warm them.”

  Sucking in a breath when he lowered his head to scrape his teeth over her nipple, Fiona fisted her hands in his hair. “I don’t burrow.”

  Lifting his head again, he smiled down at her, brushing his thumb back and forth over her nipple. “You were trying to burrow under me.”

  Lifting into him, she sucked in a breath at the feel of his cock against her thigh. “You must have been dreaming.”

  “No dream ever felt like this.”

  “I need a shower.”

  “Pointless.” He reached into the nightstand drawer, using his teeth to open the condom. “We’re both going to need one in a little while. We can take it together.”

  Sucking in a breath at the look in his eyes as he rolled on the condom, Fiona clenched her hands on his shoulders, her pussy already clenching in anticipation. “The last time we took a shower together I got into trouble.”

  Slipping a hand under her, Joshua lifted her hips. “I’ve got news for you, my mate. You’re in trouble now.”

  Staring into his eyes, Fiona began to tremble. “Am I?” She moaned when his cock pressed against her opening, crying out when he began to enter her, the heat and the incredible vibration so intense that her pussy clenched hard.

  Unsettled by the strong sensation, she clung to him. “Joshua?”

  “I’ve got you.” Staring into her eyes, he slid deeper. “I’ve got you, my mate.”

  “Don’t call me that. Oh God.” Pressing her heels into the back of his thighs, she cried out again when he began to move. “Joshua, it feels so intense. It’s hot. It’s…”

  Joshua made a throaty sound again, each smooth thrust of his cock going deeper. “It’s what, my mate? And don’t tell me to stop calling you that because that’s what you are.”

  She moaned again, struggling to talk while the pleasure kept mounting. “Joshua, it’s too soon. We barely—”

  Gripping the back of her neck, he groaned and began to move faster. “Know each other?”

  The change in his eyes was her only warning. They glittered darkly, so intense they seemed to glow.

  She cried out at his abrupt withdrawal, reaching for him in desperation. “No. I need—”

  Crying out again when he flipped her to her belly and lifted her to her knees, she barely had time to suck in a breath before he thrust into her again.

  Gripping her hair, he tilted his head to the side and covered her body with his. “I know what you need. You need to be fucked well and often.”

  His movements were rougher, primal.

  His voice had deepened even more. “We know each other.” Bracing an arm next to her, he released her hair, his lips brushing her ear. “Mine.”

  Closing his teeth on her neck, he slid a hand over her belly, holding her in place for his thrusts.

  The feel of his sharp teeth on her neck added a decadent edge that sharpened the hunger even more.

  She felt so primitive, so feminine, weak and powerful at the same time.

  Vulnerable in her hunger for Joshua and filled with a sense of power at his hunger in her.

  Low growling noises coming from deep in his throat mingled with her whimpers as the hunger took on a life of its own.

  Flames licked at her everywhere, her inner walls burning around his cock.

  The vibrations made the intensity of being taken even stronger.

  His firm thrusts and secure hold surrounded her with his strength, the kind of strength a woman could rely on.

  Feeling safe with him, she surrendered to the pleasure, belonging to him in ways she’d never expected to belong to any man.

  He controlled her pleasure, guiding her deeper into the world of raw sexuality, showing her a side to herself she hadn’t known existed.

  Her body shook with helpless abandon, her inner walls tightening in sharp spasms that stretched her even more.

  Her clit burned, swollen and throbbing until she fought for release.

  Bucking against him, she threw her head back, struggling to get friction on her clit. “Joshua! It’s too much!”

  Releasing her neck, he ran his tongue over it, the gesture both soothing and arousing.

  “Never. Clit’s throbbing, huh?”

  Both amused and aroused that his voice had become guttural, his words clipped, Fiona flattened her hand on the bed and pushed back against him. “Yes, damn you! Harder, Joshua.”

  The promise of release lay just out of reach, his slower strokes prolonging pleasure too intense to bear.

  “Don’t provoke me. Don’t. Want. To. Hurt. You.” The heat from his body lifted from her and knelt between her thighs, his hands closing on her hips and keeping her still.

  The feminine side he’d brought out in her needed to challenge him. Throwing her head back again, she pushed against him with a groan. “You’re hurting me now by not giving yourself to me. I can’t be yours if you’re not mine! Fuck me, damn it!”

  With a noise that sounded suspiciously like a tortured growl, he covered her body with his again, the heat from his chest hot on her back. His teeth once again closed on her neck, his hands covering hers and linking his fingers with hers as he fucked her hard and deep.

  A guttural groan accompanied each sharp thrust of his cock, his hands and teeth holding her gently but firmly in place.

  She couldn’t hold out against such an onslaught to her senses, going over in a rush of ecstasy that tightened her pussy on him as she let out a cry.

  Her body jerked, another cry escaping as her orgasm crested. Tightening her hands in his, she rode the wave, moaning when he released her neck to soothe it with his tongue again.

  He surged deep, burying his face in her hair. “My mate. Mine.”

  Rolling them to their sides, he remained inside her, spooning her from behind.

  To her surprise, he held her close, running one hand over her while the other toyed with her hair.

  After several minutes, his warm breath brushed over her temple. “I was trying to be easy with you.”

  Fiona didn’t even bother trying to open her eyes. “I don’t want easy.”

  “I noticed. I could hurt you.”

  “You won’t hurt me. I can’t stand being treated like I’m weak.”

  Joshua chuckled, loving the feel of her in his arms and delighted at the growing intimacy between them.

  “It has nothing to do with being weak. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a hell of a lot bigger than you are.”

  Fiona rolled her head back to his shoulder, looking up at him. “I haven’t forgotten anything. It pisses me off when you hold back. It’s like you think I can’t handle you.”

  “Baby, you can handle me, but the fact remains that I’m bigger, stronger, and meaner than you could ever be.”

  “Not with me. Even when you’re mad at me, you’d never hurt me.”

  Blowing out a breath, he withdrew, easing from her and smiling at her moan. “With you, it’s hard as hell for me to hold back, and it scares me.”

  She stiffened, closing her eyes again. “And it scares me when you hold back. It’s like you don’t want me enough.”

  Something in her voice tightened his gut, her attempt to close him out angering him. “Is that what it was like for you before?”

  He hated asking about her other lover while her body still trembled from the pleasure he’d given her, but he had to know. “Tell me.”

  Fiona blew out a breath, shivering slightly. “He never wanted me. Never loved me. It was a game to him to see how many women he could have. It was a game to see how long he could hide one from the other. He had several, but none o
f us were any more than a number to him.”

  She rolled back again, staring up at him. “I need to be wanted.”

  Joshua smiled and gathered her closer, wondering how she couldn’t see it. “Oh, you’re wanted, my mate. Sometimes I’m afraid I want you too much.”

  “Never.”

  Her stomach rumbled under his hand, reminding him that she’d barely eaten the day before. “I promised to take care of you, and I haven’t been doing such a good job. You barely ate yesterday, and last night I could only get you to eat half a sandwich before you fell asleep on me.”

  Frowning, she blinked up at him. “I thought I’d dreamed that.”

  Captivated by everything about her, he ran his hands over her, the scent and feel of her tantalizing his senses. “No. You didn’t dream it. Come on. Let’s take a shower and go get some breakfast.”

  He would feed her, if necessary, to make sure she ate enough.

  Nuzzling her neck, he cupped her breast, smiling when she gripped his wrist and arched, pressing her breast into his hand. “Stay put. I’ll start the shower and be right back for you.”

  Running his hand over her hip, Joshua rose and started toward the bathroom, pausing to take in the sight of her.

  Her eyes had closed again, and lying naked with a satisfied smile tugging at her lips, she had to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.

  Rolling to her back, she opened her eyes, her gaze moving slowly over him and making him want her all over again. “I can make it to the bathroom all by myself. Meet you there.”

  “Good. I’ll get the shower started.”

  Smiling when her eyes closed again, Joshua turned and went into the bathroom, ridding himself of the condom before starting the shower.

  After adjusting the temperature, he went back into the bedroom, smiling again as he approached the bed.

  She’d managed to roll to her side again, with one leg dangling over the side as if she’d attempted to get up but hadn’t quite made it.

  Standing over her, he bent to run a fingertip over her nipple, his cock twitching at her moan. “I thought you said you’d meet me in the shower.”