Jericho Read online

  He didn’t want or need to wade through a bevy of emotions – he had known for a long time what he wanted – Abe. Mating him afforded her the protection she needed and he’d have the female of his dreams. A male couldn’t ask for more.

  His cock pulsed as pleasure shot down his lower body – unfulfilled, his orgasm sat right at the tip. Jericho didn’t let it show, but his impatience was growing by the second. Instinct kicked in then – this was important to his female – that she speak her mind, share what was happening for her. He winced, his instinct also roaring that Abe was gonna demand a lot more of him then he ever guessed.

  If ever he had learned anything about his female, it was one thing – His happiness was all about Abe – what she wanted, how she wanted it and fuck the why. Jericho considered it the First Rule of Mating.

  On the edge of what felt like an epic life change, Abe burbled on. “I’ve always wished for happiness and my mate has to fulfill… all my needs, not just one part of my life. Gah! What I mean is, I know I’m going to need more between us. Stuff like us sharing emotions and feelings, not just us having sex or making love as you say. Really good sex though.”

  “We haven’t had sex yet nor did I make love to you. We are simply touching and kissing as we agreed. There’s a lot more to making love.”

  “Okay, good to know. But, like you said we can’t do that until we’re mated and I don’t think I want to mate you, Jericho. As King of the Jinn that makes me a Queen. I never wanted that even though most females dream about being a Queen, it isn’t for me. I hate formality and all its trappings. Jericho, I want a loving life, a family and children. Many of them.”

  “So you said. A slew I believe it was. I had Caleb look it up. It’s Irish and means a large quantity.” He’d babble on forever to avoid talking about those feelings and emotions Abe mentioned. Males weren’t good at that. Besides, he wanted to get back to what they’d been doing before mommy dearest interrupted them. “Abe, you worry too much. Why don’t we take this one step at a time? It’ll be easier that way.”

  “So you agree? You want a mate for convenience?”

  Kissing the top of her head, his hands roving over her back and cupping her beautiful ass, he decided the time for words was gone – now was the time for action. Most certainly, Abe didn’t have a chance, but it seemed to him that was the only way their mating was gonna happen. Give his female enough time to think and she might not mate him. There was no fucking way he was letting that happen. Not now or ever. Abe was his. That was the long and the short of it.

  One fat breast cupped in his hand, he rubbed her hardened nipple between thumb and forefinger watching her eyes turn dreamy, lids drooping. It was so fucking sexy he leaned down and took her mouth.

  Abe moaned when he broke the kiss. Her jeans riding up around her knees, he pushed them lower until they balled around her ankles and slipped over her feet. Her thighs, now spread wide for him, were an invitation as he moved lower to suck the hard peak of her clit into his mouth, feeling it swell as he lapped up her spicy scent.

  Sizzling wet again, he licked up her body, hips, stomach, the valley between her breasts and along her exquisite neck as soft moans escaped her. Lips locked, he kissed her hard, stroking her sweet hard nub, taking her higher and higher to yet another orgasm. The broad sides of two fingers stroked her wet sheath, slipping both inside, stretching her as he pushed in further. When her muscles tightly fisted his fingers, he hissed – his cock pulsing as a low growl tore out of him – no way in hell was it getting away from him. This one was for Abe.

  A moan of pure pleasure escaped as she writhed on the bed. He broke their kiss to take her breast in his mouth, swirling tongue teasing her pink nipple, his teeth nipping the hard nub as she moaned loudly. His two fingers slid further in, stretching her, his knuckles kneading, thumb caressing her clit in swirls. Rhythmic stroking made her come. He felt a jolt of pleasure as her muscles clenched his fingers, her body taunt and breasts swaying as she mewled.

  The sight of her took his breath away. So beautiful, so giving, so wanting and all fucking his. He moved quickly then. It only took a second to kick off his low riders before Jericho crawled up her trembling body. Elbows braced on either side of her, he gently spread her legs with his knees. “It’ll hurt a little at first, myn lykyng, but it’ll be gone right away. We’ll go slow.”

  Abe’s lips opened as if she were about to say something when Jericho entered her, spreading her wet heat to accommodate his hard cock. Almost rocking, he moved gently with just the tip inside her. Slowly, he worked his swollen cock in another inch or two, gently moving in and out.

  Emerald green eyes glazed as she bit her bottom lip. This was no time for her to start thinking so he drove in to the hilt and went still.

  Abe’s eyes squinted closed, her lips a thin pinched line.

  “It’s okay, piccola, it’s over now. There’ll be no more pain.”

  “Promise?”

  “Indeed.” Her hot sheath clamped around him as he ever so slightly shifted a minute amount – back and forth – getting her used to his size. “Okay now?”

  Big emerald eyes twinkling, Abe nodded as she moved with his gentle rhythm. It was incredible to see how eagerly she wanted to make love with him. For that’s what they were doing right now. Going slow and enjoying it. It was a first for him. He’d never been interested in slow or missionary style for that matter. Now he loved the way her body fit his, her creamy soft skin sliding against his drove him wild.

  He thrust harder, driving into her as Abe mewled and moaned. Her hot sheath fisted his engorged cock as his balls pulled up tight to his body. Fuck, he wasn’t gonna last long this round. It was hard to believe – after all he was the master of control.

  Muscles clamping like a hot velvet glove around his cock, he locked his jaw, holding back as he thrust rapidly. When she came the first time he almost lost it. Only experience told how good it would be when she came again, taking him along with her.

  Abe screamed as her orgasm spread wave upon wave of pleasure, her body dancing on the bed, rising to meet Jericho’s thrusts. She spread kisses over his jaw, neck, shoulders, sated to her core.

  Jericho reached in between them as he thrust deep and hard, pleasure driving him beyond reason. When he stroked her clit the first time, Abe slammed up to meet his thrusts and wetness engulfed his cock, bathing it in hot heat. He grunted once, massaging her clit in tiny swirls, one way then another.

  Abe exploded around his cock, muscles gripping him in a vise. He arced his back to brush the tip of his cock against her sweet spot, thrusting hard, touching her core as she came again – one orgasm leading into another. She screamed only this time it was his name.

  Hot jets shot into Abe’s sweet heat and Jericho spoke the vows. “You are my mate. My soul. With these words I do mate thee. You are mine to protect and tend to forever more.”

  Abe blinked up at him drowsily when he told her to repeat the same words.

  Voice shaking, Abe repeated her vows. “You are my mate. My soul. With these words I do mate thee. You are mine to protect and tend to forever more.”

  Jericho leaned in and kissed her, body trembling from the hottest orgasm of his life as Abe mated with him.

  Abe shifted away, breaking the kiss. “What have we done?”

  “Mated.”

  “Does it only happen once like this? I mean is the mating making love different than other making love? Make sense?”

  “Oddly enough it does. And, yes, it’s like this all the time. Mates pleasure one another.”

  “Mmhmm. I think I shall like that part of our mating very much.” A wide yawn and eyes droopy, Abe was ready to crash.

  Jericho didn’t argue although he wanted to, but Abe was already half asleep. It was her first time and she was likely going to be sore. Yeah, he’d back off for now, but not for long. He rolled to the side as he slid out of her.

  Abe gasped, eyes popping open, then shutting almost instantly as Jericho pulled her a
gainst his chest, one arm under her head. He ran his hand down her hair, touched the tip of her pert nose and trailed his index finger along the crease of her swollen lips.

  Annabelle Evergreen Sullivan.

  His mate.

  His mate with a mother-in-law from hell. Yeah, he’d work that one out sometime, but likely not soon. First order of business was gonna be Abe realizing what she’d done in the heat of the moment. A moment of passion and pure fucking pleasure. Oh, yeah. She’d go ballistic and then settle down – he hoped.

  A whispery snore and Abe was asleep. Jericho closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her in his arms.

  CHAPTER 18

  A loud knock on the door brought them both awake. Abruptly, Jericho jerked upright, swishing hair off his face, stunned it was morning. The knocking was followed by a short sharp whistle, which he returned as he scrubbed one hand over his face. Honey, lemons and rain spilled over him as he turned to his new mate.

  Nuh, uh, he wasn’t going anywhere no matter what. Let his team deal with whatever crisis was brewing. He wanted to stay right here with Abe, in bed and naked, for the next thousand years.

  Abe snuggled closer and he groaned loudly when two short, sharp whistles came. A frustrated sigh erupted before he answered the code red signal with one long low whistle.

  It had to be important.

  Fuck! Nothing was as important as being in bed with Abe right now – his cock hard as stone.

  No matter what he desired, Jericho accepted his team wouldn’t interrupt him unless it was paramount.

  “Piccola?” He brushed a hand over her back, staying away from the areas he wanted to touch.

  “Mmhmm.” She snuggled deeper under the blankets and rolled to the side, burying her face in the pillow.

  Leaned against the headboard, he took a few moments to glory in the moment – reassure himself that Abe had truly mated him. She was his for eternity and more if he had his way. He felt deep love when he never expected to ever have it in his life. His parents had loved and cherished each other passionately and he meant to do exactly the same with Abe.

  Huh, not to Abe, but with Abe.

  Oddly, he relished the idea of her being his constant equal with strong opinions and ideas of her own. Yeah, he was up to the challenge – the challenge of Abe.

  Grateful her breasts weren’t showboating around – he’d never be able to leave her right now if that were the case – Jericho patted her ass and went to shower. His cock hard as a hammer – the last thing he wanted to do was leave her alone in bed.

  By the time he dried off, his cock was a steel spear jutting in front. It was gonna be hard to hide as there was no tucking the fucker away.

  Yet, he tried, shoving it sideways into his low riders while attempting to flatten it across his left hip when a wide grin split his face – it was more than evident he had a pocket rocket.

  Still grinning, he pulled on a black t-shirt and slid his feet into his shit-kickers.

  In a blink, he was on her side of the bed, leaning over Abe. Soft snoring told she was deeply asleep. Jericho knew if he touched her creamy soft skin even once – no light brushing of his fingers either – he wouldn’t be leaving any time soon.

  Morning sex was a true rarity for him – as in never fuckin' happened. He had fantasized about it with Abe and he wanted that experience more than anything else right now. He’d have to talk to his team, lay out strict ground rules when he was with Abe.

  Pissed, Jericho damn near tore the bedroom door off the hinges as he glared at Reno patiently waiting on the other side. “What the fuck now? Can’t any of you deal with shit on your own without me?"

  Only Reno would have the temerity to smirk and add a wink when Jericho was smokin’ pissed. He drawled, “Mornin’, boss. Lon’s still here – he never left yesterday. But, it’s cool. We kept him busy last night, wined and dined him. Even took him into town at his request so he could bust his moves on the dance floor.”

  Jericho grinned, he couldn't help it. “You serious?” An image of Marklon, big as a lumberjack and with as much finesse, throwing his shit around a dance floor was not something he wanted any part of. “Guess I owe you for keeping him busy.”

  “Nah, Lon already has first dibs on any owing. Last night, he snuck his bit of fluff here. I hauled his ass about breaking security protocol before I came to get you. He’s repentant, but she’s…well, you’ll see.”

  They found Lon in the kitchen, propped against the counter horrified by the blousy unnatural red head nattering on in a whiny voice about what a great place it was and how it suited her as she gushed over how much she’d like to live here. “Marky? Is it yours, baby?”

  Vigorously for a man hung over like hell and looking the same, Lon shook his head, mumbling, “Don’t live here.”

  Handsome face devoid of all expression, Jericho strode into the kitchen. Reno pushed past him, rushing for the coffee machine. “Coffee, boss?”

  “Please.” Smoothly Jericho turned to the female, her make-up applied with a trowel and spikes of red hair sticking out all over her head – she was ready to roll with the day. “Good morning. I’ve arranged a lift to town for you.” He turned to Lon. “I assume you’re ready for our early meeting.” He prayed Abe slept on unaware.

  Lon nodded slowly, watery brown eyes filled with gratitude.

  Jericho kept his face placid, but he was laughing inside. It wasn’t often that Marklon got caught with his pants down, but this morning after was obviously too much for him to deal with – including the fact he wasn't introducing his bad choice from last night because he didn't remember her name.

  As if reading Jericho’s thoughts, Reno let rip a snicker or two as he lined up mugs for coffee.

  A whiny, nasal voice cut in. “That’s okay, I don’t have to leave right away. I can wait until the meeting is over, maybe explore around a bit. I love the decorator guy who did this place.”

  “Afraid not.” Reno moved in her direction as Zulu sauntered in twirling a set of keys around his index finger. “Your ride is here. Ready to go?”

  “Sure. I always keep my bag packed. A girl never knows where she’ll land.” She cooed at Reno with her lips pouted in invitation. Seconds later, her attention was back on Marklon. “Marky? Baby? Marky, you want me to go? I can stay, baby.”

  Without waiting for Lon to answer, Reno took her elbow, steering her to the back door Zulu swung open. A nondescript black sedan with slightly tinted windows waited outside. They had her out and in the vehicle in a few seconds. Zu was gonna take care of the mind wipe.

  Conn came up the back stairs, spied the open kitchen door and closed it after Reno slipped back inside, the locks auto engaging.

  Turning his back to Conn, a wide grin spreading – Reno caught Jericho’s eye while noticing his lips were clamped tight with cheeks puffed as he stuffed sniggering laughter down his throat. Yeah, Jericho was onto it.

  Slowly, Reno just had to run his index finger around the collar of his t-shirt.

  Jericho rolled his eyes. Another of Abe’s infamous t-shirts had surfaced. Again, high up around the neck of Conn's black t-shirt in fat bold white letters – Blow me, I’m Scottish – with a plump set of bagpipes next to it.

  Reno spun away from Conn to head for Jericho, his shoulders hustling up and down as he bit back laughter.

  When Reno got close enough, Jericho leaned in, talking low, “Fuck man, this has gotta play out. I mean it, Reno, you blow this…”

  Reno snorted and lost it for half a second before regaining control.

  “Sorry,” Jericho wiped his grin off. “Conn’s got no idea.”

  Reno grunted, another shit eating smile threatening, but he cut it off quickly as a snigger slipped out. “Neither did you.”

  Jericho snorted. It’d be Reno’s turn all too soon – no way in hell was he immune from Abe’s high jinks – nobody was.

  “Thanks for the rescue.” Lon let out a long whoosh of alcohol laced air and scrubbed a hand over his face as he glan
ced at Conn, lifted one shaggy brow, shook his head – obviously lost for words.

  A big smile lit up Conn’s face. “Good mornin’ to ye, Marky.”

  Marklon cringed and then shivered, last night’s events looping through his alcohol fogged mind a stark reminder he was a complete asshole when he drank too much.

  Conn belted out gusts of hearty laughter.

  A wide smile in place, yet Jericho refused to be drawn in. His sole mission in life at this exact moment was to get back to Abe. “We gonna meet or do you need some time to get your shit on right?” He waited; it was up to Lon, a name Marklon preferred. As Lead to the Council of Nine, he was a wizard at snap decisions on the fly.

  Lon groaned and rubbed his temples. “Now. In private.”

  Jericho led the way to his office.

  Once inside with the door closed, Marklon didn't hesitate. “Jericho, I’m not here with good news and that’s why I waited to speak with you. Giaa has brought a claim for Annabelle Evergreen to the Council of Nine. As it’s a family claim, we have to investigate.”

  Black brows drawn together, Jericho glared at Lon. “Abe is a grown female.”

  “Indeed, except her mother’s claim includes you kidnapping her.”

  Succinctly, Jericho replied, “Not true. Abe was hurt and needed medical attention. On my word, if we had left Abe where we found her, she could've died.” His heart pinched painfully at those words. "It certainly wasn't kidnapping, but extending aid. We were unaware of who she was until her memory recently returned."

  “Excellent. Then there’s no need for your further protection and Annabelle Evergreen can return to her family.”

  Jericho smiled cynically, blue eyes deepening to purple. A true tell that his rage roared to life. “Cause the Abe you’re referring to is now my Queen.”

  Lon’s bloodshot eyes grew really big and his shaggy brows brushed upwards as he blinked rapidly, his bottom lip sagging.