Lover's Return (2 page)

Chapter Two

The walls around her heart crumbled more each day. Jericho seemed to break through them with astounding ease. Damn the man. This was all his fault. He’d been gone for years, yet now wanted to pick up their relationship as if he hadn’t tossed it away years ago.

Before he’d left, he’d cut short the relationship she’d thought was building to marriage. There had definitely been enough in common and blazing hot sex there to give her hope. The back-and-forth, the provoking behavior, the challenges and teasing had always been so intense between them. They’d been so close.

She hadn’t understood then and still didn’t know how he could just walk away. Anger warred with attraction. How could she want him when he hadn’t even made an effort at a long-distance relationship?

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Her brother Daniel’s voice cut through the silence in the Duce air skimmer.

Charleigh glanced out the wind screen of the
Duce
as it skimmed over the treetops. The sleek little red transport carried her away from the main colony city and the man who filled her thoughts. She felt a little cowardly for slinking away to get some time alone, but knew it was the only way to get the space she needed.

“He can deal with not knowing where I am for a few days. I lived with not knowing where he was for years. I need to get a little perspective and decide if I want to trust that he really wants me. Do I even know him anymore?” She grimaced. For years, every time she’d seen one of the passenger ships streaking across the sky to land in Cassid, she’d wondered if maybe he was on it.

Uncertainty washed through her. All the old feelings had been stirred up again now that he was back, plus so much anger and confusion she didn’t know what she thought. Maybe revenge was part of the reason she wanted to go away for a few days, but she needed to think about Jericho and what she wanted.

Having someone take her away from the city while she was supposed to be working was the only way to leave without Jericho following her. She was beginning to think he had a tracker on her little blue
Duce
or someone watching her. Somehow the man seemed to know everywhere she went. Her glider should have been indistinguishable among all the others in the city. The only place he hadn’t made an appearance was the office. Maybe he remembered her serious attitude about work or he was working the same hours at his office.

Jericho didn’t seem to have changed much. He still had that demanding attitude that alternately infuriated and excited her. Oh, he’d matured. His black hair still flowed almost to his shoulders in a wavy fall. His skin might be a little lighter brown, but she wanted to touch him just as much as she had the first time she’d seen him. His shoulders had widened and he’d bulked up a bit in muscle. He’d been on the lean side when he’d left. While she’d liked the way he’d looked then, now she couldn’t keep her eyes off him.

He’d pursued her relentlessly since he’d arrived back on the planet. He still seemed to be a dominant, aggressive man. She’d tried avoiding him. With him pressing for more, she felt trapped and panicked at times.

The past hurt loomed in her mind. She couldn’t stop wondering what had changed so much that he wanted her now. As far as she knew, he’d never had second thoughts about leaving. Her anger had effectively put some distance between them when he’d first returned. Now, the hot fire of that emotion had died and didn’t quite block out the desire to be with him.

She’d dated a little after he left but never was capable of getting serious about anyone again. Nothing had seemed as right as what she’d lost. It wasn’t fair to another man to get involved until she could trust and was sure that her feelings for Jericho were gone. She’d focused on business and time had gotten away from her.

She shook her head and sighed as a strand of hair fell across her eyes. Impatiently she brushed the light-blonde lock back into place. At this point, she needed some physical distance from Jericho. She didn’t know what she wanted to do about him or his demands. Her emotions were so twisted and confused that she always ended up getting angry and defensive. They’d never been able to fully discuss anything, much less solve or dispel her anger over the past.

The only credit she’d give him about the breakup was that he hadn’t left her wondering about their relationship. He’d broken it off and left that same day. No long explanations and no wavering.

He hadn’t even listened to her. It had smashed her heart. Looking back, she knew the years of wondering would have been worse than the quick, clean break. That didn’t get him much good will. She wasn’t in the mood to pick up where they’d left off even if he had done the right thing.

She tore herself out of the thoughts as the
Duce
began descending. The isolation of their cabin in the Neber Forest should give her the time she needed. Darmain might be a well-established colony planet, but it was still a colony with great expanses of the planet uninhabited or intentionally undeveloped. Such as the area where their family’s cabin was located. There were a couple of other cabins fairly close by, but none of them were occupied at the moment.

She looked over at her blond-haired brother as he guided the transport down to the empty landing pad. He looked serious, more so than she’d seen him in a long time. More so than necessary. He flew with an enviable ease and no wind or storms made conditions dangerous today.

As soon as they touched the ground, she turned to him. “Is something wrong?”

“No, just a few thoughts.” He shook his head and smiled at her.

“You don’t think that Sorensen will cause a problem with the change in representative, do you?” She tilted her head. Tobias Sorensen was relatively new to the colony and she hadn’t had any dealings with him herself. “This can wait.”

The only thing that would worry him at the moment was the Donner family business. Jericho might become a problem for him once he discovered she was gone. If Jericho was as serious about renewing their relationship as he seemed, he wouldn’t be happy with her disappearance. He’d ask where she was first and then the pressure on her family would start from him and his brothers.

“If Sorensen wants to do business with us, he’ll talk with me.” Daniel shook his head. “If he decides to go elsewhere, it’s no real loss.”

The business definitely wasn’t in trouble. It had all started with farms and orchards when their ancestors came here. The farms and orchards had grown, but now the Donner family sold their own product instead of handing it off to someone else. They had several stores as well as an office where they handled larger orders.

“All right.” She let it go because she wanted to take this time without Jericho calling or appearing from nowhere. Maybe without the pressure she’d discover what she felt for him. Most of her focus centered around the remembered love and the all too familiar anger over his presumption whenever he was near.

“You need to relax. I’m sure this time away from everything will help with that and the Jericho situation.” He turned in the seat. “I’ll help you unload and then I’ll leave you here and get back home.”

“Don’t let them bully you into telling them where I am. He and his brothers often work together when one of them is in trouble.” She climbed out onto the landing pad. Reaching into the cabin, she grabbed her shoulder bag.

Daniel strolled back and opened the back hatch to get her bags and the supplies. “I’m not telling them anything.”

“Good. Jericho can wait until I’m ready to deal with him. He certainly kept me waiting long enough.” She sniffed as she joined him and took a crate containing food.

“I still don’t know why he likes you. You have an evil streak running right through you.” Daniel shook his head.

“I’m not evil.” She shook her head and grinned. Her brother hadn’t taken sides, but she knew he thought she should give Jericho a chance.

Tall, green trees almost surrounded the square landing site. She could smell the tang of sap from the
Icura
tree. Its seed pods littered the ground and crunched beneath her feet on the walkway.
Aroco
trees outnumbered the other trees nearby though. The branches of the large trees bowed under the heavy weight of the nuts hidden among the fat, rounded clusters of leaves.

Only a cobbled path remained clear to the large house. She started up the path to the two-story log cabin their family used for recreation and retreat. Light streamed through gaps in the leafy branches onto the stone pavers. She inhaled the sweet scent of wildflowers and savored the calm peace around her.

“Of course you’re not. Pouring your drink on him isn’t evil. Walking out of a room every time he comes in isn’t evil.” Her brother’s voice carried to her as he followed her.

“No, not in the least. He shouldn’t have pushed and I could have done much worse.” Charleigh held back a laugh. She had been giving Jericho a hard time and didn’t feel much remorse about it at all.

She smiled as they emerged from the trees in front of the deep brown house. Two large windows flanked the door. The vacation house had always seemed to be a welcoming haven. Now it was even more so. It was a shelter away from Jericho’s continual demands.

“He was pushing? Provoking that bar fight he was in last week, ditching him when he managed to wrangle a date and trying to think of a way to get him off the planet again aren’t pushing?” Daniel came even with her as they reached the stone steps. “Why don’t you start putting away the food? I’ll get the last of the supplies.”

Good thing he didn’t know half of what she’d thought of doing or he really would think she was evil. Jericho hadn’t given her time to adjust to him being back. Almost from the moment he’d been back on planet, he’d been pressing for a new start. She’d just reacted and hadn’t done much else.

Stopping in front of the door, she shifted her load enough to free a hand. She input the code into the panel at the side of the door. Once the alarm was deactivated, she opened the door and led the way inside.

She took one of the crates into the kitchen and began to put things where they belonged. She loved this kitchen. The walls were a cheery light-green accented with yellow. Gorgeous dark wood cabinets had ample space for the supplies. She heard the door open once and then two knocks, but didn’t pay much attention. Daniel was probably messing with her.

Opening the pantry door to put away the cold crate, she found a large crate right in the middle of the entry to the storeroom. She frowned, but decided another family member must have accidentally left it the last time they were here. She nudged it with her shoe to get it out of her way, but it didn’t move. It was too heavy to be empty. Setting the empty crate on the kitchen counter, she opened the big crate. Meat, vegetables, fruit and beverages filled the crate.

“Daniel!” She whirled. Someone was here. No one in her family planned to use the cabin this week.

A tall, black-haired man leaned against the kitchen doorway. A smile curved his lips. Jericho Larson looked completely at ease and not at all worried that he was about to become one very dead man.

“Daniel’s already on his way home.” Jericho straightened away from the door.

Charleigh pushed past him and strode to the door. It slid open before she reached it. Once she stepped onto the porch, she stopped. She saw the
Duce
flying over the treetops. Daniel had set her up. She clenched her fists and swung around to face Jericho. He stood in the doorway, simply waiting.

“What are you doing here, Jericho?” She scowled. Daniel knew she wanted to think. How could he do this to her? There wasn’t any way she could think about their relationship when Jericho was so close. He was too demanding and arrogant to give her space.

“When I saw you earlier in the week, you had this smug little smile. I know when you’re plotting. Come back inside.” He stepped back, gesturing her back into the house.

“This is kidnapping, Jericho.” She folded her arms across her chest. He could wait as long as he liked. She wasn’t going back in there with him. “I came here to get away from you.”

Jericho wouldn’t hesitate to toss her over his shoulder. She knew once she got that close to him again, she’d want more. The attraction had always been explosive. Even now, her skin tingled and seemed hypersensitive where he’d touched her.

“You came to plot your next move. Knowing that I’d be going out of my mind wondering where you were was a bonus.” Jericho stepped out and grasped her hand, tugging her back into the house. “And you came here on your own. So not kidnapping.”

“Unlawful detaining or whatever. You know I don’t want to be with you.” She glared at him, but followed along without making a fuss.

He led her into the living room. The light-cream-colored walls normally gave the room an open, welcoming feeling. Usually she felt safe and at home here amid the large comfortable furniture. With Jericho here, that all changed. The walls seemed to be closing in on her and every piece of furniture sent her mind straight to thoughts of sex.

As the passed an overstuffed black chair, she saw herself bent over the back of it with Jericho behind her, his cock driving into her. She could almost feel the pop of his hand as it landed on her hip. The muscles in her pussy clenched as a wave of need washed through her.

Her eyes skittered away from the innocent piece of furniture and landed on the coffee table. An image of her on her back on top of it immediately slammed into her. Jericho knelt at the end of it between her thighs. He kissed his way up her thigh and swept his tongue over the lips of her pussy. His tongue dipped between even as his fingers joined in teasing her. She shivered at the thought. She’d always loved the way he used his lips and tongue.