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.
His smile was tight and desire burned in his eyes. His hips ground against hers and his mouth closed over hers in a deep claiming kiss. Each stroke took her higher, her muscles tightening as she lifted against him. His tongue thrust deep in time with his hips. He reached beneath her and lifted her hips into his strokes as they became faster and harder.
She clung to him, nipping his lips as the urgency built. Her breath rasped as she drew in raw pants. He hitched one leg higher. The move allowed him to penetrate a little deeper. She gasped as the move sent a shot of sensation shooting through her and hurled her right over the edge. She trembled, moaning as the pleasure rolled over her in waves that had her inner muscles clenching around him. He continued to move against her until, finally, he came on a shout. His weight settled on her for a few moments as he pulled in heaving breaths.
Her hands stroked over his back, but now that she wasn’t aching with need, doubts returned. She wasn’t sure of his feelings. When they’d been together before he’d left, she hadn’t had a single doubt that he wanted a life with her. Now she didn’t know if she could be that certain again.
He rolled them both to the side and pulled her against his body. One foot hooked over hers. She settled against him. Not sure what to say, she remained silent. She didn’t want to argue right now. On the other hand, she didn’t want to lie to him either. A tug on her hair drew her eyes up to his face.
“Charleigh, consider yourself kidnapped.” He met her gaze and smiled before relaxing onto the pillow. As if that was the last word on the subject, he closed his eyes.
She wanted to scream. He thought he could get away with some lazy, half-assed kidnapping. Having her brother help to trick her here wasn’t going to work. Not with her. Not now. That settled it. If he wanted her, he was going to have to come and get her. The bastard.
Chapter Four
Jericho stretched as he woke. He reached across the bed and encountered nothing but the cool sheet. He jerked upright and looked around the room. He didn’t see any sign of her. Even her clothes from last night were gone. Frowning, he rose to his feet as suspicion grew within him. She wouldn’t leave. He didn’t even finish the thought before he shook his head. She would. She was a contrary little minx.
He quickly dressed and pulled on some shoes. Her family wouldn’t come get her, but the woman was stubborn. He didn’t think she’d call on anyone else. Which left her trying to get out of here on her own. She’d go for his Duce. He’d known she wouldn’t buy the story of him not having transportation for long.
She knew him. He wouldn’t leave them without a way to get to help if there was an accident or emergency. It wouldn’t take her long to realize where he’d stashed it either. The only good thing was she wouldn’t be able to get it started even if she had the keys. He just had to get there before she did too much damage trying rewire around the security system.
Jericho left the house and headed for the closest neighboring cabin, which was well out of sight of her family’s cabin. He’d arranged to leave his silver Duce glider there so that Charleigh wouldn’t know anyone was waiting for her. Now he cursed the distance between this cabin and the glider. He didn’t know how long she’d been gone, but he hoped it hadn’t been long. They could actually be without transportation if he was too late.
Weaving his way along the path to the other cabin, he focused on getting to her. His stomach tightened with nervousness. He should have expected something such as this. Charleigh had always had definite opinions and a way of seeing things in a way that he never expected. It had fascinated and surprised him for as long as he’d known her.
The trees were so thick that he didn’t even see the next house before he emerged almost right in front of it. He sighed in relief as the landing pad and garage next to it came into sight. The door was slightly open, but not thrown wide. She’d need it wide open to get the Duce out of it. He didn’t slow, though. He’d like to get there before she destroyed the inner workings of his new vehicle.
He pushed the door open a little wider and walked into the garage. Charleigh didn’t notice him at first. Half her body was hidden inside the cockpit of the Duce as she did something beneath the control console. He didn’t want to know what she’d done so far, but knew he’d have to try to fix the damage at some point.
If she wasn’t trying to run away from him and probably doing significant damage to his Duce, he’d lean against the wall and just savor the sight of her bent over at the waist. Her curves took his breath away. Her dark-blue pants stretched over her sweetly curved ass. His cock hardened as he thought about moving in behind her and pulling her back until his cock nestled between those lush globes.
“Ready to go back to the cabin, Charleigh?” he asked loudly to stop her from trying to crosswire any more circuits than she already had.
He heard a thud and a curse. He grimaced and felt a flash of guilt. He didn’t want her to hurt herself, but the woman shouldn’t be trying to leave. She wanted to be with him. The fire between them hadn’t faded. It was enduring and strong.
He wished he knew what set her running. Did she have doubts? Was she angry because he’d been gone so long? He shook his head. None of that would matter. He’d walked away in the past to gain a future with her. He wasn’t letting anyone rip it away from him now.
“Jericho.” She straightened and turned, rubbing the back of her head with one hand as the other landed on her hip. Her curly light-blonde hair fell over her shoulder as she glared at him. “Start this and get out of my way. I’m going home. I’ll send my damn brother back to get you.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I want you with me. Now come back to the house and start talking. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do and why you left this morning is only the start of it.” Jericho kept his voice even and calm. He knew it would push that hot temper of hers. She’d been stubborn and wild before he’d left. That streak seemed to have gotten out of control in his absence.
His eyes swept down and lingered on her full breasts for a moment before coming back to her face. The only things more distracting than her ass were those glorious tits. They’d starred in his fantasies for years.
“No.” She lifted her chin and her full, red lips thinned. “If you won’t start this, I’ll walk out of here. I don’t have anything more to say to you.”
She started to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm. He wasn’t letting her walk off into the forest. He didn’t think she’d actually try to walk back to the city. Still he wasn’t letting her walk off into the forest in a huff. She stopped and glared up at him.
“We’re going back to the cabin and we’re going to talk.” He switched hands so that he could walk beside her.
“I don’t owe you any explanations and
you can’t make me stay with you.” She kicked him in the ankle. Sharp pain slammed up his leg. Before he could curse in pain, her temper exploded. She jerked back. At first, he thought she was trying to get free. Then her fist swung toward his face. He managed to jerk back in time to avoid the blow.
He ducked in and lifted her over his shoulder before she could try another swipe at his face. “I see you’ve forgotten a few of the lessons I taught you.”
A slow smile curled his lips and his hand tightened on one rounded buttock. He definitely didn’t mind. He’d intended to warm her ass for leaving and now he had even more reason. Little Charleigh better remember that he wasn’t some young boy to be ordered around and forgotten. Or replaced.
Her fist smacked against his buttock. “You can shove your lessons. They’re about as important to me as I am to you.”
He raised an eyebrow at that. She’d missed something. She was the most important thing in his life. If she didn’t know that or doubted it, they had more problems than he’d thought at first.
“I’ll have to make sure you realize you’re my first priority, since you seem a little confused about that. First, though, your punishment for trying to run away and swinging at me.” He made sure his step was a little bouncy as he carried her over and took a look inside the cockpit of the Duce.
The bottom console was off and he saw a few wires, but it didn’t look as if she’d severed anything. He smiled, closed the hatch and walked out of the garage before carefully closing the door behind him.
“You said consider myself kidnapped. It’s practically a rule that the person kidnapped should try to escape if there’s an opportunity.” She slapped at his leg.
He felt his lips twitch and wanted to laugh, but held it back. She didn’t need the encouragement. “Not when the kidnap ‘victim’ wants exactly what the person holding her does. You’re just too stubborn to admit that you still hunger for me and want to spend the rest of your life with me.”
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