Under the Panther's Protection [Black Panthers 3]

by Leah Brooke

  Chuckling, Joshua sat on the bed and pulled on his socks and boots. “There doesn’t seem to be much I won’t do for you, my mate.” Taking her good hand in his, he pulled her closer. “I know you don’t believe it, but I do need you. Now that I have you in my life, I don’t know how I lived without you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Fiona smiled up at Joshua and held up her now healed wrist, pleased that Mitch had finally removed her cast. “See? Now you can stop fussing over me.”

  Joshua slid a hand over her slightly swollen abdomen. “Not a chance. I plan to spend the rest of my life fussing over you.”

  They’d just left the clinic and her weekly appointment with Mitch, and Joshua seemed a little more relaxed than he had since her abduction.

  Joshua stopped, pulling her to his side. “You’re showing.”

  “Barely. That pleases you?”

  “You have no idea how happy it makes me that you’re carrying my child, and that now everyone can see it.” Bending low, he brushed her lips with his, slowly deepening his kiss.

  When her knees buckled, Fiona clung to him, the hands at her waist holding her securely. Lifting his head, he nuzzled her temple.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Hungry.”

  Her answer seemed to amuse him.

  Sweeping her off her feet, he held her against his chest. “Mitch is very happy with your progress.”

  “And my weight.” Fiona grimaced. “Soon I’ll be so fat that you won’t be able to lift me.”

  Joshua’s lips twitched. “I can’t imagine that ever happening.”

  Sliding both hands into his long, silky hair, she rained kisses over his jaw. “In a few months I’ll be so fat that you won’t want to make love to me anymore.”

  He looked down at her, his eyes darkening and becoming hooded. “And I can promise you that that will never happen.” He nipped her bottom lip. “I’ll want you on my death bed. I can’t stop wanting you.”

  Tightening her hands in his hair, Fiona smiled slowly. “Show me.”

  “With pleasure, my mate.” Joshua bent to take her mouth with his, striding toward home.

  Dizzy with pleasure, she clung to him, delighted with the passion that tightened his arms around her and had low, growling noises vibrating from his chest.

  Each swipe of his tongue against hers made her pussy clench, and by the time they made their way to their home and up the steps to the porch, her panties had already become soaked with her juices.

  When he paused just long enough to open the front door, she broke off their kiss. “I ache. I never stop wanting you.”

  “Good. I hope you never do because I just keep wanting you more and more.”

  He strode into the bedroom and kicked the door behind him, something he’d done since the others had begun to visit more frequently.

  He placed her gently on the bed and began stripping off her coat and boots. “Nobody’s here demanding your attention. Incredible.”

  Sitting up, she took off her sweater and bra, watching Joshua strip out of his own clothing. Her mouth watered at the sight of him because, as usual, he finished undressing before she did.

  Scrambling to her knees, she ran her hands over his chest. “You’re so damned beautiful.”

  His hands went to her breasts, gently stroking her nipples. “Your nipples tender, my mate?”

  Smiling up at him, she moaned at the delicious pleasure and closed her hand around his cock. “Oh yes.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  Fiona bent and licked the drop of moisture from the head of his cock. “Don’t you dare. Oh!”

  Joshua tumbled her back, his features hard as he worked her out of her sweatpants. “I’m too impatient for that.”

  After tossing her pants and damp panties aside, he slid between her thighs, hooking his arms beneath her knees and lifting them high as he moved over her. “The way I want you is too intense to wait.”

  Fiona sucked in a breath when he thrust into her. “Good. Damn, Joshua. How can it feel so good every time?”

  He bent to swipe his tongue over her nipple. “Because we were made for each other, my mate.”

  He kept his thrusts slow and deep, his hands clenched into fists on either side of her. “I never stop wanting you. Never. The scent of your arousal drives me out of my mind.”

  “And the feel of you drives me out of mine.” She ran her hands up his muscular arms to his wide shoulders. “You’re so solid. It makes me feel so safe.”

  Surrounded by strong muscle and heat, Fiona felt so womanly, something she’d never felt until meeting Joshua.

  Bending to touch his lips to her temple, he groaned. “You are safe, baby. You’re so soft against me I’m afraid of hurting you. I’m too big for you.”

  She lifted up to him, taking him deeper. “Never. You make me feel soft. Weak and strong at the same time.”

  Her inner walls rippled around him. The full, stretched feeling combined with the heat and vibrations drove her wild, but the friction of every bump and ridge of his cock made sex with Joshua a mind-numbing experience. “It’s so damned good.”

  “Incredible.” Joshua began to move faster, making a growling sound in his throat. “Your tight pussy is like hot velvet, and those little vibrations play hell with my control.”

  “I’m glad.” Gripping the back of his neck, she lifted to him, scraping her teeth over his jaw. “I like playing with your control. I love those growling sounds that you make when you take me, especially now that I understand them.”

  He sucked in a breath when she used her teeth, making another one of those deep sounds. “You challenge me, especially in bed. It brings out the beast in me.”

  He slowed his strokes, staring down at her. “I was afraid it disgusted you.”

  Using her legs, she lifted herself into his thrusts. “Does this feel like I’m disgusted?”

  The angle of his thrusts changed slightly, taking him deeper. “You’re drenched, my mate. You don’t know how it feels to know that you want me so much, even now that you know the truth.”

  Opening her eyes again, Fiona stared into his dark, glittering ones. “I love every part of you, my mate.”

  He growled again. “I love when you call me that.”

  “I know. Oh!”

  He moved faster, taking her hard and fast and driving both of them to the edge and over.

  Her orgasm seemed to trigger his, the pulsing of his cock inside her layering another rush of pleasure over the first.

  Crying out his name, she clung to him, pressing her face against his throat. “Joshua.”

  “Yes, my mate. God, the way your pussy clenches on my cock—hell!”

  Breathing in the scent of him, Fiona moaned. “Do you want to hear something crazy?”

  Rolling to his back, Joshua settled her over him, gripping her hips to move her on his cock. “Tell me something crazy, my mate.”

  Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she frowned down at him. “I may be mistaken about this, but it’s really strange. I think your scent gets to me, too.”

  His eyes narrowed, his hands moving up and down her back. “What do you mean?”

  Fiona shrugged. “I hope this doesn’t sound weird, but after what I’ve learned the last few months, nothing seems too weird.”

  Wrapping an arm around her hips, he sat up, propping himself against the headboard. “If you’re looking for normal, my mate, I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place. Tell me what you mean about my scent.”

  “When I woke up after you kidnapped me—”

  Joshua smiled and ran the backs of his fingers over her nipple. “I didn’t kidnap you. I just went to get you.”

  Shaking her head, Fiona smiled. “Whatever. Anyway, when I woke up and didn’t know where I was, it scared me a little.”

  Joshua gave his attention to her other nipple. “It scared you a lot. Don’t forget. I can feel and smell your fear.”

  Finding it difficult to concentrate w
hile he played with her nipples, Fiona straightened. “Do you remember pulling me onto your lap?”

  Grinning, Joshua took her now healed wrist in his and examined it. “Very well. Surrounded by your scent, and with you wiggling on my lap, I was hard as a rock and knew there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it.” Looking up from her wrist, he frowned. “What about it?”

  “Well, I didn’t really think about it at the time, but just sitting there on your lap, I felt your warmth and smelled how good you smell, and it calmed me down.”

  “Really? Are you sure it was that? I did try to reassure you. Maybe it was something I said.”

  “Maybe, but when we had sex the first time, it was a little overwhelming.”

  “A little?”

  Smiling, Fiona lay over him again, propping her chin in her hand. “My own reaction scared me, and when that vibrating started, it really scared me. I’d never had an orgasm before, and the loss of control really shook me.”

  Joshua nodded, his smile filled with affection. “I can understand that.”

  “You held me, and I leaned into you.”

  With his fingertips, he pushed a few strands of her hair back. “I remember.”

  “I breathed in your scent again, and it calmed me.”

  Joshua smiled. “What do I smell like to you?”

  “Clean. Fresh. Warm. Masculine.”

  “What the hell does masculine smell like?”

  Fiona pursed her lips in thought. “It’s hard to describe. You smell like a man. Outdoorsy, with a hint of musk maybe.” Smiling, she traced a pattern on his chest. “Good. Sexy.”

  Joshua smiled and caught her fingers. “And you think my scent calmed you?”

  “Not then, but when you rescued me and held me close, I just wanted to breathe you in. I felt calmer with every breath I took.”

  “Maybe it was just because I was there.”

  “Maybe, but when you came to the farmhouse after I’d been sick for hours, you grabbed me and held me against you.”

  “I was scared to death. Edward came to get me and told me that you were sick and that it was bad.”

  Grimacing at the memory, Fiona blew out a breath. “It was horrible, but then you were there. I kept breathing in your scent, and my stomach started to settle.”

  “I’m glad. You scared the hell out of everybody.” Closing his hands on her waist, he sat up, lifting her from his cock. “Let’s get showered and dressed. We’re going out to dinner tonight. Wear your new bra and panties and don’t forget the red lipstick.”

  * * * *

  Wearing just her black lace bra and panties and matching garter and stockings, Fiona slipped her feet into her new high heels.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw that Joshua had stopped buttoning his shirt and turned from the mirror to watch her.

  Even without seeing him, she would have known of his scrutiny because she actually felt a tingling warmth on her skin wherever his gaze touched her.

  She turned to him with a smile, stilling at the fluttering low in her abdomen.

  Joshua lifted his gaze to hers, his smile falling as he rushed toward her. “What?” Gripping her arms, he started to lead her to the bed, but Fiona smiled again, her eyes welling with tears. “The baby moved.”

  “What?”

  Holding her close, he flattened a hand on her abdomen, their gazes locked when the fluttering came again. His eyes darkened and, to her amazement, became moist. “My mate.”

  He bent to kiss her with a tenderness and love that made her cry.

  Lifting his head, he wiped her tears. “God, I love you.”

  “And I love you.”

  “I’m going to call Mitch and tell him, but if he wants to see you, he’s going to have to wait. Tonight, you’re all mine.”

  Dropping to her knees in front of her, he bent to touch his lips to her abdomen, running his hands up and down her bottom to the backs of her thighs, his fingertips lingering on her skin between her panties and stockings. “When I saw you in this, I thought it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.”

  Fiona smiled and slid her hands into his hair. “Even with my belly sticking out?”

  His lips moved over the slight swelling. “This makes it even sexier.” Lifting his head when her stomach growled, Joshua clenched his jaw and rose. “Get dressed. I need to feed you before I give in to temptation.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I know. It makes it even more difficult, but you and the baby need to eat.” Smiling, he touched his lips to hers again, running his fingertip over the edge of her bra. “Besides, you and I don’t get much time for foreplay. Tonight should be an interesting exercise in restraint.”

  Once outside, Joshua paused at the door to the SUV, sniffing the air.

  “What is it?”

  “Someone.”

  “Not one of you?”

  “Not one of us.”

  “Is it him?”

  Joshua felt her fear before he heard it or even smelled it. “No, my mate.” He opened the door and lifted her to the seat. “It’s not any of the ones who took you. It’s someone else.”

  “A shapeshifter?”

  “Yes.”

  She gripped his arm. “Joshua!”

  Taking her hand in his, he lifted it to his lips. “You’re safe, my mate. Dane and Brock are already going after him, but I think he’s long gone.”

  Leaning close, he ran his fingertips over her soft cheek. “Do you really think I would leave you alone?”

  She nuzzled against his hand, the automatic gesture tugging at his heart. “I know how much you want them.”

  “I wouldn’t risk your safety for anyone. Oh, my mate.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, coated with red lipstick. “When are you ever going to learn just how much you mean to me?”

  On the way to the restaurant, he called the farmhouse to tell them about the scent and then called Mitch.

  “Mitch, it’s Joshua.”

  “What’s wrong? Is Fiona okay? I’m at the hospital. I can be there in about a half-hour.”

  Joshua turned to smile at her. “Fiona’s fine. We just wanted you to know that the baby moved.”

  “Really? That’s great! I want to see her. I should be able to leave here about nine. It’s early, but I want to do an ultrasound and—”

  “Not tonight. Fiona and I are on our way out to dinner.”

  Mitch chuckled. “That’s good. You’ve been living in a fishbowl ever since she got there. Make sure she eats good.”

  Bristling, Joshua clenched his jaw. “I know how to take care of my mate, Mitch. You don’t have to remind me to feed her.”

  Some of his irritation eased when Fiona giggled.

  “You saw for yourself today how well she’s doing.”

  “I did, and I’m thrilled about it. I want to see her tomorrow, though.”

  Aware of Fiona’s amusement as she listened to their conversation, Joshua smiled and glanced at her. “As long as you’re not planning any needles. You took blood today, and you know where my mate will stick that needle if you try to do it again tomorrow.”

  Mitch laughed. “Does your mate realize that I’m a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than she is?”

  Fiona leaned toward him. “And do you realize that my mate is a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than you are?” Sitting back, she grinned at Joshua. “You might be his pack mate, but I’m carrying his baby. Which side do you think he’s going to be on?”

  A long silence followed before Mitch chuckled again. “I knew you had a mean streak.”

  “Count on it.”

  After disconnecting, Joshua leaned toward her, pride swelling his chest at her insistence that he would take her side. “I know you were joking with Mitch, but you do believe that I’ll always be on your side, don’t you?”

  Smiling, she leaned close and lifted her face for his kiss. “I hope so.”

  He brushed her lips with his, his cock twitching. “It’s good to know I’m good for
something.”

  “Oh, you’re good at lots of things.”

  “Such as?”

  “Wait until we get back home and I’ll tell you.”

  Joshua took her to an intimate restaurant in a nearby town, one that had recently been renovated.

  Keeping her hand in his, he led her across the parking lot, his eyes watchful.

  “We’re safe here, aren’t we?”

  “Of course. Why?”

  “You look as if you expect someone to jump out at us any moment.”

  Joshua smiled faintly, pausing to open the door. “It’s just part of who I am, baby. Just think about that if you ever try to find another man.”

  Laughing at the thought of it, Fiona went through the doorway and turned back to him. “I can’t even imagine that, but you might want to think about what I’d do if you even thought about looking at another woman.”

  “Not possible, my mate. Just the thought of touching another woman makes me sick to my stomach.”

  The maître d’ looked up from his podium, his practiced smile falling comically when he saw Joshua.

  Despite Joshua being dressed in black dress pants and shirt, nothing could disguise his sheer size, his shoulder-length hair and sharp, watchful eyes, which all combined to give him a wild look with an aura of danger surrounding him.

  Amused that he intimidated the other man with no effort, Fiona fought not to smile when the maître d’ gulped audibly and led them to a table.

  As they crossed the restaurant, Fiona couldn’t help but notice that every woman they passed followed Joshua’s progress with their eyes.

  Grateful that she’d spent extra time with her hair and makeup, Fiona followed the maître d’ to a table near the back, with Joshua’s warm hand at her waist guiding her.

  Once they’d been seated, Joshua pulled her chair closer and turned to glare at the other diners who still stared in their direction.

  Giggling, Fiona laid a hand on his arm, which he immediately covered with his. “You don’t have to glare at them. I’m sure women stare at you all the time. You have a wild look about you that I’m sure every woman dreams of taming.”

  “What?” Joshua turned to her. “What the hell are you talking about? Don’t you see the way all the men are staring at you?”