by S. K. Yule
Her nipples puckered into peaks when his gaze rested on them. He reached for her and their mouths met in a fierce mating. Nipping, licking, devouring. She practically ripped his shirt and pants off him, and he pulled her up his big frame, dragging her slowly, skin on skin, along his length. The hairs on his legs and chest tickled and inflamed her. She wrapped her legs around his narrow waist, and he tumbled them back on the bed, twisting her underneath him, pinning her to the mattress.
“God, Sabrina. I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you. I want to fuck you until you scream, and then I want to do it again.”
“No.”
His lips pulled into tight, thin lines, and he started to get off her, but she reached for him, halting his escape. “I meant I’ve never wanted a man like I want you. But I don’t want you to fuck me. I want you to make love to me.” She watched as his shoulders relaxed.
He gave her a grin, or as close to a grin as she’d seen on his gorgeous face up to that point. “I think I can do that.”
“Good. Now please shut up and make love to me.”
He took her mouth and slid into her, slow and deep. They both groaned, and he rolled his hips in a lazy rhythm. She met each thrust, urged him faster. He complied, but just as she neared her release, he slowed, balancing her on the precipice of ecstasy. They danced like that for what seemed like forever—her body the vessel, and his, the sea—until he pushed his hands under her and, palming her ass, stilled her.
“No, I want this to last as long as possible.” The words came strained from his clenched jaw, betraying the urgent need coursing through him to take her fast and hard.
She knew he was trying to be gentle, trying to take it slow for her. “Jericho, please take it slow next time. I need you too much right now.” She wanted to love him long and hard, but her body screamed for release. She arched hard into him, ran her heels down his calves, and sighed at the feel of the crisp hairs on his legs sliding against her smooth skin.
He growled in relief. “God, I was hoping you’d say that.” He took her mouth roughly while he possessed her, taking fulfillment, taking pleasure, giving everything.
She moaned and writhed, strained toward him to take him as deep as she could with each thrust. Then suddenly she realized something. The feelings she’d had earlier with Jericho, the sense of calm and rightness that she was unable to term, she now knew exactly what to call them. Love. She had fallen in love with Jericho Tavi. When had that happened? She thought about it, and the answer was a little crazy but nonetheless true. She’d fallen in love with him the same night he’d thought she killed Jade. The moment his black eyes—even full of anguish and thoughts of revenge—had fallen upon her, her heart had been lost to him.
She’d never understood how anyone could fall in love with someone else from a mere glance, but now she knew. Even though her brain hadn’t recognized it at the time, her heart and her soul had seen him for what he was: her soul mate, the one man for her, her other half. She’d never think anyone was silly again when they talked about love at first sight.
Her muscles tingled, and lightning pulsated through her veins. Each time he invaded her, the pulses grew stronger, longer, brighter. They were one, and she could no longer tell where she began and he ended. Teetering on the edge, she wrapped her arms around him, held him tightly. The storm broke free when she felt him swell impossibly large inside her. He threw his head back, and the muscles running the length of his neck had corded into tight ropes. Instinct and need clawed fiercely at her. She sank her teeth into the valley between his shoulder and neck and drank his spicy essence. His blood was rich and revived her denied cells of the nutrients they craved, replenishing her strength.
His orgasm exploded inside her. Her cries of release were muffled by her lips pressed tightly against his skin. She drank from him as he took her, spilling his seed deep with each thrust of his hips. He groaned when she pulled her teeth from him and then sank his fangs into the top of one white creamy breast while their muscles contracted with the aftermath of their orgasms.
When Jericho’s fangs sank into her, her satiated body roared back to heated delight and another streak of pure, muscle-quivering pleasure ripped through her. She came again, hard and fast, right on the heels of the aftershocks of her first climax. Her eyes flew wide-open, and she knew her skin must be on fire. She felt complete, fulfilled, and, at the same time hot, achy, needy, and wanton. Then she knew. No matter how many times he took her, she’d never get enough of him. “God, Jericho. I love you!”
He pulled his fangs from her and stared at her mouth. She stared back in wide-eyed confusion when he slid himself free of her, and she strained toward him, mourning the loss of his possession. The mattress dipped as he sat up and then stood. He bent to grab his scattered clothing then hurriedly dressed, never uttering a word in response to her confession. Was the idea that she loved him so appalling to him? Did he still secretly believe that she could have had anything to do with Jade’s murder? His eyes were dull, emotionless, giving away no hint of his thoughts. She had no idea what was going through his beautiful head, and she didn’t know what to do or say, so she lay there on the big bed, satiated, nude, and abandoned.
“I have to go.” His voice was a mere whisper.
Her heart thumped nearly out of her chest, and a lump formed in her throat as she lay staring at the ceiling. Now it was her turn to cry, and she knew she’d have much more than one tear.
* * * *
He couldn’t believe he’d allowed that one betraying tear to escape earlier. He didn’t even think himself capable of the emotion of crying, which he guessed that’s what it would be called. Even one tear must be considered such. He wasn’t such a jerk to think men were pussies for crying and had to admit it had actually felt damn good. Jade would have laughed at him, but Sabrina hadn’t. No, his little red-headed witch hadn’t mocked him in the least. In fact, she’d simply eased his discomfort with her hands, mouth, and body. He wondered if she knew everything that one single tear represented. Anguish, anger, and regret for believing Jade had actually cared for him; for years of hate and revenge; and, most of all, the tear stood for hurting Sabrina. He had been so wrong in so many ways.
He wanted to tell her he was sorry for doubting her. For hunting her, for treating her badly, but when she kissed him, all thoughts fled, chased away by the hounds of lust and need. Then after she’d loved him with wild, abandoned tenderness—something no woman had ever done—he’d left her. No explanation, no response to her confession of love. He’d simply pulled his clothes back on and left. He knew she’d been confused by his actions. But she couldn’t be anywhere near as confused as he was.
When her sweet mouth uttered, “I love you,” dread and fear had snaked through him like venom. She couldn’t love him. He wasn’t a man who deserved love or was really even capable of giving love. He thought he loved Jade, but now he realized that it had been infatuation, not love. How could he have been so wrong? He’d never misjudged someone so completely in his entire life. And now Sabrina was declaring her love for him just like Jade had. If there was only one thing he was sure of about this whole situation, it was that Jade had never really loved him at all. She’d merely seen him as a prize. She’d never once worshipped him in desire or given him kind words. She’d never been tender with him, only used him for her own pleasure. They had simply shared blazing hot sex and nothing more. He just wished he’d realized that sooner. He knew Sabrina was nothing like Jade. Yet he still wasn’t sure he trusted himself to recognize real love.
He needed to clear his head. He needed some space to see if he could find a glimmer of sanity. See if he could decipher the emotional blizzard going on inside his brain. But first, he had to put Jade’s murder to rest once and for all.
Chapter Four
Jericho was speechless, his jaw slack in astonishment as he stared at Rick. It was even worse than he had thought. He’d not only misjudged Jade, but he obviously had not known the woman at all. He’d be
en a blind, lovesick fool and had allowed Jade to lead him around by the balls. Everything Sabrina told him about Jade was true and much worse. Out of pure enjoyment, Jade had manipulated everyone she had ever come into contact with. She deliberately taunted the wives of married men she slept with and had no shame or remorse for her actions. It had all been a big, fun game to her. Jericho wasn’t for sure where he had fit into her little game plan, but he was sure it wouldn’t have ended well for him had Jade survived.
Rick told Jericho that Jade’s own callousness had been her downfall. Apparently, several scorned wives finally had had enough and planned the ultimate revenge. They paid a very nice-looking man, one who fell into the same category of men Jade liked to prey on—dark, tall, and married—to carry out their plan. Although the man wasn’t actually married, he pretended to be to attract Jade. He proved too much of a challenge to resist, and she’d paid for her mistake with her life. What a surprise it must have been to Jade when the man slit her throat shortly after their arrival at Jericho’s home. The one he had shared with Jade. He couldn’t believe she had brought another man to their home and wondered how many there were before. He thought she’d definitely missed her calling in life since she’d been the best damned actress he’d ever seen.
Jericho thought of the irony that humans would have picked one of only two things that could kill Night Wanderers. The fact that Jade had not fought back before she became too weak practically shouted Jade’s shock. Jericho knew she would never have suspected such a scheme as she thought herself irresistible. He also now knew deep down that he really couldn’t fault the women for planning such revenge. He’d harbored thoughts of vengeance for a hundred years for a woman he thought himself in love with. Every person involved in Jade’s death was long dead. He couldn’t imagine knowing that the woman he loved was being touched by another man. He had no doubt he’d kill any bastard who tried. Only one woman came to mind when that scenario played through his brain. A beautiful vixen with sea-green eyes who made him harden at the mere thought of her creamy skin. The woman he loved?
My God! I am such an ass! “Thanks, Rick. I gotta go.” He hurried out the bar door into the blackness of the night.
He’d been a blind fool. Sabrina did love him. How could he ever have compared her with Jade? The two were polar opposites. Jade had been dark, manipulative, and hurtful, where Sabrina’s light, loving manner was soothing. Sabrina comforted his soul, and he knew without a doubt that he loved her. He thought he’d feel anger at such information about Jade, but in reality, he only felt relief. The information proved Sabrina’s innocence beyond all doubt, and as much as he hated to admit it, a tiny bit of him had still doubted Sabrina before he talked to Rick. He hadn’t wanted to doubt her, but he’d carried the vow of revenge with him for so long it was hard to believe he’d been so thoroughly wrong.
He had to get home and tell her he was sorry. Tell her that he’d been a complete ass. Tell her that he loved her. He hoped like hell that she’d forgive him for hurting her, for shunning her when she told him she loved him, and for abandoning her for two nights to wallow in his self-pity. He smiled when he thought of how her green eyes would seem to spit fire at him in anger and then how they would soften in forgiveness. He’d think of no other outcome because she had to forgive him. He’d do whatever it took to make her see how sorry he was for treating her so callously. He’d even chain her up again if she insisted on leaving him. He was not going to let her go.
Twenty minutes later, every item of furniture in the basement room Sabrina had occupied lay shattered, its pieces scattered on the floor at Jericho’s feet where he’d smashed it to smithereens. She had left him. His heart thumped in denial. He would find her. There was nowhere on Earth that she could hide from him now. He had tasted her blood, and that simple act enabled him to track her anywhere, anytime. He took deep breath and calmed the angry blackness swirling inside him long enough to hone in on her location then ran out of the house in a blinding blur of speed.
* * * *
Sabrina remained in the basement for two whole nights after Jericho had released her, after he’d left her. She hadn’t seen so much as a glimpse of him since the night she told him she loved him. Her chest ached deep inside, and she decided she would give him until eight tonight to show up. If he didn’t, she’d leave and never look back. If he didn’t want her, then she wouldn’t pant after him like a lovesick fool.
She watched the clock tick down. Each second that passed widened the gaping chasm of pain cutting through her heart until each breath was laced with pain. She knew she’d never be the same. A part of her would remain with him forever. Promptly at eight o’clock, she left Jericho Tavi’s house and life forever.
Sabrina walked down the deserted, dark road, tears streaming down her face. Jericho was a rotten bastard, and she hated him for breaking her heart. She still couldn’t believe that he had used her and discarded her so callously. She still couldn’t believe she’d let him. Maybe he and Jade had been perfect for one another after all. She still wanted him, would always want him, and she was a fool for it. He obviously didn’t give a rat’s ass about her or her feelings. Before she could think any further nasty thoughts of the man, a shift in the wind alerted her that someone else was near. She took a deep breath. Oh, hell no!
She turned slowly and saw nothing but the deserted road and trees leading into the woods to her right. His familiar scent taunted her, enticed hope into her shattered heart, and ignited anger for what she knew was impossible. “I know you’re there, Jericho. Just go away. I don’t want to see you.” Nothing but silence and an occasional chirping cricket greeted her. “Enough, Jericho! I said go away.” Even though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was in the trees. Finally, after a few agonizing moments passed, he stepped out of the woods onto the road, barely twenty feet in front of her.
She balled her fists at her sides, and he smiled at her. She wanted to throttle him. “Sabrina. Why did you leave?” Her heart sped at the sound of his low voice.
“Why did I leave? Why did I leave!” Her voice rose in anger, and he smiled at her again. The nerve of the man!
“Yeah, that’s what I asked. Why did you leave?”
“I didn’t leave. You did, remember?” She turned her back to him and started walking away, tripping over the cuffs of her jeans or, rather, his jeans. She was relieved that she had found her own shoes under the bed in the cellar earlier. Because while she had been able to tie the robe belt around the jeans she took from his closet to keep them from falling off, she would have never found a way to keep his shoes on since they were at least four sizes too big.
“Don’t walk away from me, Sabrina.”
Her spine stiffened, and she kept right on walking. “Don’t tell me what to do. Go away.” When she heard him approaching, she ran.
She ran as fast as she could, which was pretty impressive. A human wouldn’t even be able to detect her. All they would see is a blur, which they would shake off as their imagination. She knew he was faster and she knew he’d chase her. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, encouraging her legs into an even faster pace. She quickly swerved off the road into the trees.
She knew he was enjoying the chase, and if she were honest, she would admit she was enjoying it, too. It was in their nature. They were predators, and a good chase never ceased to be exciting. She leaped over fallen logs and rocks as graceful as a deer, and she knew the longer she ran, the hotter his desire burned. The hotter you burn, too.
He was closing the distance between them, so near now she could practically feel his breath on her neck. Her breathing came hard, not because she was tired but because she was aroused. How could she hate him one minute then be turned on by him the next? She knew he would catch her and couldn’t wait for what would come after. She laughed and put on one last burst of speed, her feet slowed a little by the ground’s softness. Not a second later, he tackled her from behind, wrapped himself around her, and held her tight while he took most of the imp
act and shielded her from the fall.
Neither one of them was hurt, because it took a lot more than that to hurt a Night Wanderer, but she hoped he got at least one lump on his head that would hurt for awhile anyway. She breathed hard as she stared down into his black eyes. He was feral, dangerous, beautiful. Suddenly, he rolled and she was pinned beneath him on the soft ground. His nostrils flared, red flames danced in his black eyes, and he looked wild. His black hair fell in tangles around his face, and she gasped.
“Don’t run from me ever.” He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, breathing in long, deep breaths.
“But it was such fun. Now get off me.” Her ragged breaths matched his.
“I don’t think so.” His mouth clamped down hard on her, biting, possessive, demanding.