Joseph: Bentley Legacy (8 page)

“I quit there this morning.” Again he was quiet, and that was when Joey pointed to the next item on the list. “Myra sends her regards, by the way. She said that you’ve been ousted by the council. That must have hurt. And Angel was a powerful witch. I have her magic.”

“What do you mean you have it? It should be mine.” When he said that, Garth pointed to the next question, but Jackson spoke before she could say anything. “You’ll be giving it to me as soon as I see you. I’ve plans for that. And as for the council, I’m not worried about them. Soon enough I’ll be in charge of it, and things will change then.”

“Did you kill her?” Jackson laughed and told her that he’d had her killed. “Why? What did she ever do to you?”

“Nothing, but for the fact that she had something I wanted. And now you do. What do you suppose is going to happen to you now?” She didn’t answer him because the pain in her heart was twisting her up inside. “Nothing to say, Chris? I knew what you were the week before I came to work at the firm. It was my plan to kill you for your little bit of magic, but then I found out about your sister. And there was some power. But it was lost to me.”

“You’re confessing to murdering my sister and that you plan to kill me too?” She looked at Joey when he touched his fingers to her cheek. “You killed an innocent woman just for her magic. What kind of sick bastard are you?”

“A smart one. And I don’t know a great deal about the law, because let’s face it, we both know that I didn’t crack a book while in college. But I do know that you can’t use what I say to you because you’d have to be able to prove it. And I don’t think you can. Unless…. You aren’t recording this, are you, Chris?”

She was but said nothing. Garth pointed to the next question. “You lied about your boards too, didn’t you? When you got your job with Roger, Roger, and Rocklin?”

“Of course I did. I had to be close to you.” She looked at Joey, then at the man sitting across from them. When he nodded and stood up, Garth moved away too. He was at his computer in seconds, clicking away at something, when Jackson spoke again. “I’m coming to find you, Chris. And when I do, I want you to be ready to turn over everything. I’m not fucking around with you any longer. I’ve found that…well, this town might be too small for the two of us. So I’m afraid you’re going to have to go. One way or another.”

“You mean you like my little store on Tenth, the House of Magic? I had to figure out a name quickly, and was afraid that it would just be too simple. But apparently you’re just a simple kind of man. You saw just what I wanted you to see. But I have to be honest. If you look in your little bag, all you’re going to find is papers that are nasty with dirt and mud on them.” She laughed then. “How about the chicken you had for dinner? Did that fill your belly? You should have taken a better look at what you were eating, Jackson. You might have seen what was really on your plate. Were the maggots as tasty as I made you think they were? And the rolls. Mary said you had five baskets of them. She did tell me that she wrapped up some for you to take with you. Maybe you should have a little peek at what you’ve been eating.”

Waiting, she knew just when he opened the large container. The chicken that he’d left on his plate had been put in the box, as well as four more rolls. When he started retching, loud belly emptying noises that made her own jump in protest, she heard someone ask him if he was all right.

“No, I’m not fucking all right. Look what she had me eat.” The person, whoever he was, told him he was sick. And Chris had a feeling that he was going to be a good deal sicker before she was finished with him. “You fucking cunt. You’re going to pay for this. Who feeds a man rotten meat? And what is that putrid smell coming from that bread?”

“Feces. I had it brought in from the nearby dog pound just for you.” He was puking again, and she laughed. It was nasty and cruel, but no one deserved it more than Jackson did. When the line went dead, she figured that he’d either hung up on her or he’d dropped the phone. Chris looked at the people in the big room that was going to serve as her office when she started working with Joey.

“Remind me never to piss you off.” Chris nodded. “Nor to allow you to cook for me when you are. You’re a vicious person when you want to be, aren’t you?”

“I never knew I was until this.” She stretched out her legs, putting them across his lap. His cock started to thicken as she moved her feet over him. “You’re going to find it difficult to walk if you keep that up.”

“I don’t plan on walking all that far. You’re going to use a little of that awesome power of yours and make everyone go away. Then you’re going to let me lay you across this table and feast on you.” Chris wondered if she could do it when Joey pulled her shoe off and started to roll her foot in his strong hands. “What I’d really like to do is have you suck my cock. Then, when you’ve made me come, I’d watch you while you brought yourself to peak.”

The agent from the FBI left them first. If she knew his name, she didn’t remember it now. Then she told Garth to leave them. He stood up, looking slightly confused before he left the building too. The last two men, workers who were trying to get their new offices up and running, just closed up the paint they were using and walked out. Chris locked the door when they were alone.

“I had no idea I could do that.” Joey nodded and stood up. He was undoing his pants as she dropped to her knees in front of him. “I’m going to have to have some sort of incentive to make you come. What if I don’t want to play with myself to come? Maybe I’d like for your panther to eat me.”

She saw him then, the great black panther, as he moved over his skin. When she put her hands up on his chest under his shirt, the feeling of his cat seemed to be all over her. Freeing his cock, Chris took him into her mouth and swallowed him. His cry of pleasure had her looking up at him.

“I’m going to come if you do that again.” Chris nodded and swallowed him again. He didn’t come, but she could taste him. His own thick cream was filling her mouth as she rolled her tongue around him when she lifted her head.

As he fucked her mouth, gently at first then harder, she unbuttoned her blouse and freed her breast. Tugging at her nipples, she could feel her pussy swell with need, and she knew that she was wet. Sliding her fingers up under her skirt, she touched her clit and moaned around his cock.

Before she could do it again, bring herself to climax, she found herself on the desk, her panties gone and Joey’s panther between her legs.

“Eat me.”

His head lowered to her even as she cried out her first release.

Chapter 8

Joey wanted to fuck her, eat her, and then come all over her all at once. But his cat had wanted her too, and he knew that she loved it. When she screamed out her release before he’d even touched her, Joey encouraged his cat to enjoy her. And he did. Over and over.

As soon as his cat was ready to let him have his fill of her, Joey took his body back and slammed deep into her. Holding her still while the table moved across the room, all he could think about was that she was his. Now and forever. Taking her breast into his mouth, he bit down on her nipple before sucking hard on just the tip. The taste of blood filled his mouth even as his balls tightened to his body. When she came this time, her fingers tearing into his back, Joey let his cat go enough to mark her again while he filled her with his cum. Christ, he ached when his balls filled a second time and emptied deep within her. Joey threw back his head and pounded her until he couldn’t move. Dropping atop her, he only had one thought. She was both their mates.

Her fingers jerking his head up from her had him snarling loudly. Joey thought for sure he’d hurt her when he saw the tears in her eyes, but she told him she was happy. Happier than she’d ever been.

“Turn me.” He was dazed for several seconds before he asked her to repeat herself. “I want to be like you. A panther. Do it. Change me. I want to taste you like you do me.”

“It’s painful. I don’t want to hurt you.” She told him she didn’t care, that she wanted this now. Joey felt his cat snarl at him. He was telling him that she was theirs, in all ways, and that he should do it. Joey felt his teeth shift in his mouth, like they did when he shifted. When Chris told him again to do it, Joey let his cat take him and he tore into her soft belly.

Her scream had him thinking that he’d killed her. But her hand curled into his fur and she told him she was fine. To not stop. Joey looked up at her through his cats eyes and could see the pain she was in.

I should have waited.
Her small laugh had him aching more for what he’d done.
You might die. I don’t even know what I was thinking. Micah is going to kill me.

“I’ll eat him alive if he touches you.” She was weaker now, and he told her to stop talking. “I wanted to tell you that I love you. And I think I want to have children right away with you. Do you think it will hurt Reggie if we do?”

It took him a few seconds to realize what she was talking about.
No. She has her daughters now, and I think she’s as happy if she’d given birth to them herself. Honey, please let me stop this. I can have Burke or Nolan here in a minute.

“You stop this now and I’ll never forgive you. Where do you have to bite me now?” He realized then that she’d planned this. Had talked to someone to see how it was done. “Joey? Where? I can’t think right now.”

Your thigh. I have to bite you hard enough that it breaks bones
. She told him to do it.
I can’t, love. I’ve hurt you enough.
The slap to his nose had him backing away from her.

“You want Jackson to be able to kill me? You want him to win? And I so am looking forward to running in the woods with you. And licking your cock until you come.” She lay back down. “Do it, or so help me I’ll call Micah in here and tell him you’re a pussy.”

His cat whimpered but moved to her leg. When she lifted it up, his cat, apparently stronger than him, snarled once before snapping his mouth over her and tearing into her flesh. Joey closed his eyes when Chris screamed, but his cat didn’t let go. And when Chris finally fainted, Joey called out for his brother Nolan.

You don’t need me.
He told him that he thought he’d killed her. He didn’t really think that, but he wanted Nolan to come help him.
Is she naked right now? I mean, I’m assuming that she is. Do you want me there to see that? Besides, I think she’s right in having you do this. I was going to suggest it myself.

I cannot wait until you meet your own mate. I hope she’s human and has no idea what we are, and runs screaming in the night.
His brother laughed, and Joey told him to be quiet
. I hear it. Her heart is…it’s getting stronger.

Of course is it. I told you she’d be fine. That girl is going to give you a run for your money, big brother. And your children are going to be horrible little brats. Who I will watch whenever you need me to so I can teach them everything I know.
Joey laughed this time, feeling better all the time
. When you do finish this, come to see me in my office. I’ll make sure she’s okay and having no ill effects. I doubt she will, but I can look her over for you.

After thanking his brother, he moved away from Chris. Shifting back into his human self, he pulled on his clothing while he kept an eye on her. She was simply the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. And Joey was more in love with her with every beat of his heart than he ever thought possible.

When he was sure that she was all right, he picked her up and took her to his car. He was going to have to get her one as well soon. And her things would be brought here from her apartment. Allen said he’d go back and pack things up once they were finished with the lawsuit against the other firm. He was never going to have to worry about money again.

Once home, he carried her up to their room. Carol told him she’d fix him a tray, and if she was surprised by the fact that Chris was unconscious, she didn’t act like it. Joey laid her gently on the bed and tried to think what to put on her after he cleaned her up. The blood nearly made him sick.

“I’ve taken one of your shirts from the dryer, sir. She’ll be nice and warm in it.” Carol stood next to the bed and then looked at him. “I’m just going to use a wee bit of magic to dress her. No point in making her all sore, too, from moving her about.”

In seconds, less really, not only was Chris in his shirt but her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was under the covers. Carol, true to her word, had him a tray brought up ten minutes later with enough food for three people. Joey only ate a little of it. He was too worried to bother with it.

After Carol came up and took the tray, tisking at him for not keeping his strength up, he moved to the bed to lay down with Chris. He could hear her heart beating as well as his was, and felt better for it. But he was still terrified at what he’d done. And what he’d taken on in such a short amount of time.

There were four more horses coming in next week. One of them might need to be put down, Davey had told them. She had suffered terribly since birth and was treated like a monster. The loss of her foal had simply sent her over the edge. Then there was the thing with Jackson. He was going to come here and try to kill his mate, and then take whatever magic she had. Micah was going to be worked on magically to remove Angel’s magic that had been stored in him for Chris.

You’re thinking too hard. Stop it.
Joey smiled at his mom’s advice.
I can almost feel it down here. And I wasn’t snooping, but I know when one of my children are hurt. What do you think will happen when that man gets here? You have it all worked out in your head, so tell me.

He’s going to come here with his guns blazing and I think he’s going to expect her to be…I don’t know, easy. She might have been before all this—not just me changing her, but with everything that is going on. Chris is much stronger than she was when she came here to find Micah, don’t you think?
Mom told him that she knew she was stronger.
I love her very much.

Of course you do. So do I. At least she doesn’t call me Miss Gracie. I thought I would have to brain Reggie before she stopped doing that.
He felt his mom’s laughter, and he smiled again
. Joey, what are you going to do with those ponies? Some of them, from what Tony told me, might be dangerous.

We’re going to give them a second chance. It might be their last, but we’re going to try.
She told him that was a good name
. Name? I don’t understand.

You’re a rancher now, aren’t you? Both you and Chris are going to work to get justice for these animals, and your ranch needs a name. Second Chances is as good as any.
He told her he liked it.
Good; now go to sleep. Didn’t your grandda always tell you that things always look worst in the middle of the night? And that by the bright of the day, you wonder why you worried?

He did.
Joey rolled over, and Chris moved closer to him. It was a wonderful way to let his worries move away.
Mom, I don’t tell you this enough, but I really do love you. I don’t know what we would have done without you all these years.

You would have survived, as I have done. But with grandbabies and new blood in the family, I’m finding that getting up every day is a good deal easier. Your father would have been so proud of all of you.
She told him she loved him
. Now go to sleep, young man. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow, and we need to be on our toes.

Joey closed his eyes. He let go of as much of his thoughts as he could, but some were there until he could work them out. But when Chris laid her head on his chest, things suddenly didn’t seem that bad any more.

~~~

Chris woke in the big bed alone. She could hear the shower running and thought about going in there to see if she could get Joey to scrub her back. Getting out of the bed, she moved to the large room and had a sudden thought. What if it wasn’t him? But then why would someone use his shower in his room? Sneaking into the room, this time with the sheet around her body, she was relieved to find Joey there and not someone else.

Dropping the sheet, she reached for the door just as he turned. She could see that he was upset about something, but she had no idea what. Before she could ask, he pulled her to him and held her. When he sobbed, she felt her own heart break.

“Emmett.” She nodded, not sure what he was saying, but knew that something had happened to the big vampire. “He was killed this morning. His house was…it caught fire when one of the houses next to his burned. I told him to move to the country.”

Chris held Joey while he cried. She knew few men that would do that, and loved and respected him all the more because he’d been willing to do this with her there. He started telling her what had happened as she held him.

“He called out for me. I thought it was…I really had no idea what he was doing, but he screamed out in pain before he started talking. The house had fallen in on him and he said that he was dying.” Chris nodded, thinking of her own sister saying the same words to her. “I told him I was coming to him, but he said it was much too late. But that he left me everything, and if I didn’t make it worth something for him, he’d come back and haunt me. He was my best friend.”

“I know. I really liked him too.” She had too. He was a very old-world gentleman, and she had enjoyed talking to him. “What can we do? We should go there. Perhaps he was mistaken and he’s going to be okay.”

“A stake…one of the beams hit him in the chest. He’s gone.” Chris nodded and watched as Joey turned off the water and reached for a towel. “I’m sorry. How are you feeling? Mom thought you’d be down for a few more days.”

“I feel wonderful.” She did too. But she didn’t tell him just how wonderful she felt because she knew that he was hurting too. “I’m very hungry. Are you hungry?”

“Not really.” She’d noticed the tray of untouched food when she’d come in here with him. “I guess you’d like to take a shower. I’m going to go down to the office for a little while.”

“How about you scrub my back?” Chris had no idea how to be a seductress, but she did reach for him. “I need you. I know that my timing could be better, but I’m nearly jumping out of my skin with need.”

Joey pulled her body to his. He was still warm and wet from the shower, and she loved the way her hands slid over his body when he kissed her. As he lifted her up and pressed her against the warm tile, she moaned when his cock moved against her pussy.

“I would love nothing more than to eat you right now.” She begged him to do it. “When I do, I want you to scream as loud as you can. I want to feel your climax too.”

It wasn’t hard for her to tell him she’d do just what he asked. But when he slid down her body after standing her on her feet, she felt every bite, every kiss as he marked her. Before he touched his mouth to her pussy, she’d come once already.

There was no build up as he sucked her clit into his mouth. When he bit down, not hard but none too gently either, she screamed. And when something moved along her skin, she looked down at her body and saw her cat; the black silky fur of her cat was making herself known.

“I want to take you in the woods today and run you down as my cat.” Nodding, she felt her cat agree. “Then when I find you, I’m going to fuck you like an animal before my cat takes your pussy again.”

“Please, Joey. I need you to take me. Please.” He stood up. Chris leaned in and licked her juices from his face as he lifted her up again. This time he didn’t kiss her as he slammed himself into her, but watched her face, as if he was trying to see into her soul. Grabbing onto his shoulders, Chris let him take her. His emotions were as strong as each of his thrusts. When he came, he leaned into her throat and bit her, tearing at her flesh like he’d been trying to tear it from her. Her cat, not to be outdone, shifted in her body so that when she bit Joey, Chris knew that it was just as painful for him.