Under the Panther's Protection [Black Panthers 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Leah Brooke

  Standing over her, he bent to run a fingertip over her nipple, his cock twitching at her moan. “I thought you said you’d meet me in the shower.”

  One brilliant turquoise eye opened. “I’m pacing myself. You go ahead.”

  “No.” Sliding his hands under her, he scooped her into his arms, his chest swelling when she giggled. “Something funny?”

  “Have you noticed how often you pick me up?”

  “It’s a faster way of getting you where you need to be.”

  “Where you want me to be.”

  “Same thing.” Setting her on her feet, he held on to her until she got her balance.

  She stepped under the spray to wet her hair, changing places with him and reaching for the shampoo. “After we eat, I want to go see Glenna.”

  Wetting his own hair, he watched her lather her hair, mesmerized by the sight “By the time we finish eating and run some errands, they’ll be home.”

  “What errands?”

  Stepping out from under the spray, he watched the stream of bubbles run down her body as she rinsed her hair. “For starters, we’re getting you a cell phone.”

  Wringing her hair out, she reached for his body wash. “I don’t need a cell phone. When I use this, I smell like you.”

  Joshua couldn’t hold back a smile. It didn’t matter which soap she used, his scent would be on her.

  He smelled Joe and Leland on Glenna, as well, and it pleased him to know that the others would smell him on her.

  His possessiveness toward her seemed to know no bounds.

  “We’ll get you something different while we’re out, and you sure as hell do need a cell phone. While you’re gone, I want to be able to get in touch with you and know that you can contact me when you need me—or when you find out if you’re carrying my child.”

  Nodding, she started to wash herself, eyeing him cautiously. “You have a right to know, but I don’t expect—”

  “Don’t go there.” He squirted body wash into his palm and turned her away from him to wash her back. “I know you have to go to Florida, but I want to talk to you every day.” Sliding his hands around her, he slid his slick hands over her breasts. “Whether you’re pregnant or not, I’ll be waiting for you to come back. If not, I’ll come find you and bring you back myself.”

  Chapter Eight

  As soon as they started down the path, the smell of meat grilling hit Fiona, making her stomach rumble again. “Isn’t it a little early to be grilling?”

  She hadn’t seen a clock but figured it to be somewhere between eight and nine in the morning.

  Keeping her hand in his, Joshua guided her over rough patches in the dirt path with a frown, his gaze sliding to the rough brush in the distance. “The others ate hours ago, but they knew not to expect us until you woke up. Graham must have thrown the steaks on.”

  “How did he know we were up?”

  Still frowning, Joshua looked behind them at the path they’d just navigated. “Someone must have heard us.”

  “Heard us? How the hell could they have heard us?” She tugged his hand to get his attention. “Joshua, are you listening to me?”

  “Always, my mate.” Wrapping an arm around her, he kissed the top of her head. “Just realized I’ve got to do something about the path. It’s too dangerous and will be slippery as hell when it rains. With winter coming, the snow will make it treacherous.”

  As they approached the deck, Fiona looked up to see Graham grilling and speaking to another dark-haired, dark-eyed man. “That’s Brock Hale, isn’t it?”

  Joshua raised a brow. “Very good.” His eye narrowed. “Are you good at remembering names, or did you remember him for some other reason?”

  Stopping on the second step, she turned, on eye level with him. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

  Joshua’s cold smile sent a chill through her. “I’d gladly kill any man who tried to touch you. Clear enough?”

  Cupping his jaw, Fiona touched her lips to his. “I don’t want any other man, but if my being here is going to cause trouble between you and your friends, I’ll leave. Clear enough?”

  His eyes narrowed even more. “You threatening me, my mate?”

  Aware that the both Graham and Brock shamelessly eavesdropped, she lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Not at all. I’m telling you that trust is important to me. If I can’t trust you, or you can’t trust me, there’s no point in any of this.”

  Running her thumb over his bottom lip, she attempted to smile. “Trust is everything. I need it. Nothing else works if there’s no trust.”

  Joshua nodded, closing his hands on her waist, a flicker in his eyes disappearing almost as quickly as it appeared. “Right. Let’s go inside.”

  Brock gestured toward the door. “There’s coffee inside.”

  “Thank God. Joshua doesn’t have any over there.” Fiona opened the back door and went inside, accepting the cup from Joshua.

  “Joshua, there’s a phone call for you in the office. With Joe and Leland at the hospital…”

  “Got it.” Joshua’s demeanor changed abruptly. “Make sure she eats.”

  He disappeared into another room, and she clearly heard the door closed behind him.

  Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she eyed Brock. “Is something wrong?”

  Brock smiled. “Not at all. How do you like your eggs?”

  “I’d rather wait for Joshua.” Remembering the amount of coffee Joshua drank when they stopped to eat, she reached up for another cup. “Do you think it would be okay if I took Joshua some coffee?”

  Brock took the cup from her and filled it. “I’ll take it to him. Your steak should be done soon.”

  He disappeared just as quickly and soundlessly as Joshua, leaving her staring after him.

  Sipping her coffee, she went back out to the deck and sat in one of the heavy wooden chairs.

  Graham spoke without turning. “Your steak’s almost ready.”

  “How did you know it as me?”

  Turning, he smiled. “Lucky guess. I’ll start your eggs.”

  “I can cook my own eggs. I’m waiting for Joshua.”

  “He could be awhile. He wants you to go ahead and eat. Come inside and I’ll cook your eggs.”

  “I told you that I can cook my own eggs.” Using her hand to shade her eyes, she looked up at him. “Do you always cook steaks for breakfast?”

  “No. Sometimes I cook sausage.”

  “I’m not much of a meat eater, but it smells good.”

  A faint smile tugged his lips. “I’m glad.”

  She took another sip of coffee, sighing in pleasure as the caffeine hit her system. “Do all of you always eat together?”

  “Yes. The Tremaines insisted on it. It’s a habit we continued after they passed away. It’s important to stay connected.”

  “That’s nice. You waited for us because of me, didn’t you?”

  Graham smiled. “You looked pretty beat last night. You fell asleep in the middle of your sandwich.”

  “Joshua told me. I thought I’d dreamed it.” She looked up when Brock came out the back door. “Is Joshua finished with his call?”

  “No. Ready for some eggs?”

  “I’ll wait for Joshua.”

  “He wants you to go ahead and eat. I’ll take his breakfast in to him.”

  Fiona got to her feet, her heart in her throat. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Glenna, does it? Is something wrong?”

  Brock’s eyes went wide. “No. Jesus, honey. Is that what you’ve been thinking?”

  “Not until just now. What’s the mystery? Something’s wrong, and you’re not telling me.”

  Graham slapped a steak on a plate. “Joshua takes his rare. How do you take yours?”

  Fiona eyed the steak on the plate and winced. “Well, please. Does Joshua’s phone call have anything to do with the work you do?”

  Brock took the plate from Graham and started inside. “Yes, and don’t ask any more questions about our
work. The less you know, the better.”

  Fiona followed Brock inside and watched him crack eggs into a pan. “Is it illegal?”

  Brock grinned. “I’m afraid it’s not as glamorous or exciting as you may think. Most of the time we just sit and wait. We help people, people who either can’t get help from the authorities or don’t want to contact them.”

  “So, they’re criminals themselves.”

  “You ask too many questions.” Brock slid Joshua’s eggs onto the plate and opened the drawer to retrieve a knife and fork. “I’ll be right back to fix yours. Your steak should be ready by then.”

  Fiona finished her coffee and poured herself another cup before going back out to the deck, fear for Joshua making her hands shake. “You deal with criminals? Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?”

  Graham turned from the grill again with a smile. “We’re safe. Don’t worry.”

  “Don’t worry?” She set her cup down on the railing with such force that coffee sloshed over the sides, burning her hand. “Oh. Damn it.”

  Graham cursed and rushed to her, taking her arm and hurrying her inside. “Shit.”

  A deep, threatening noise came from the other room, the sound sending chills up and down her spine.

  Graham turned on the cold water and shoved her hand under it. “Keep your hand under the faucet.” He stiffened suddenly, the sound of a deep, menacing growl coming from the other room filling the air.

  Seconds later, Joshua appeared at the doorway, his features tightened into a mask of pure rage. “What?”

  Terrified, she backed against Graham, hardly recognizing the man rushing toward her as her lover.

  Graham held out his hands as if in surrender. “She spilled coffee on her hand and burned it.”

  Shoving Graham aside, Joshua closed his arms around her from behind, gently closing his hand around her forearm and holding her hand under the stream of cold water. “Christ. You scared the hell out of me.”

  Fiona glanced at both Graham and Brock, who both seemed shocked by Joshua’s overreaction. Unnerved, she frowned up at Joshua. “What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t scream or call for you or anything.”

  Brock reached for her arm with a smile. “It’s my fault. I heard Graham curse and must have said something that alerted Joshua. Josh, why don’t you go finish your call. Graham and I will take care of her.”

  By the time Joshua finished his call, he’d calmed down somewhat, but the strength of his connection to Fiona shook him to his core.

  He felt her pleasure, so it shouldn’t have surprised him that he could feel her pain.

  It hadn’t been specific—just a brief shock and flash of pain—but he’d felt it.

  Making his way toward the kitchen, he listened to her soft laughter, wondering how he would get through the next several weeks without her.

  The job he’d just taken would help keep him busy, as well as working on the changes he wanted to make before she returned, but she’d already become so important to him that he hated the idea of being away from her.

  Fiona looked up at him as soon as he went through the kitchen doorway, her warm smile edged with unease.

  He could only imagine the unease strengthening to fear if she knew the real truth about him.

  Both Graham and Brock looked up at him with smiles that he suspected would appear innocent to Fiona, but the gleam in their eyes spelled mischief.

  Sitting on either side of her, both men made it clear that they had no intention of giving up their seats.

  Although confident in his ability to knock his packmates from their chairs, Joshua didn’t want to upset Fiona any further, something Graham and Brock understood very well.

  After setting his dishes in the sink, he closed the distance toward Graham with purposeful strides, going around him at the last second to Fiona, his lips twitching when Graham stiffened and whipped his head around to watch his progress.

  Satisfied that he’d unnerved his packmate, Joshua picked Fiona up and lowered himself into her chair, settling her on his lap.

  Graham shot him a dirty look and rose to refill his cup. “Not funny.”

  Picking up Fiona’s fork and stabbing one of the remaining bites of steak, Joshua allowed a small smile. “I thought it was funny.”

  Looking from Joshua to Graham and back again, Fiona frowned. “Did I miss something?”

  Pleased to see that she’d almost finished everything from her plate, he held the bite of steak to her lips. “Graham thinks it’s funny to try to make us jealous. He does it with Leland and Joe, and now it appears he’s trying to do it to me.”

  Fiona took the fork from him and set it back on her plate. “They’re both just being nice. Stop playing around.”

  Graham’s eyes narrowed. “Playing around?”

  Fiona shrugged and took another sip of coffee. “He’s always playing.” The realization of just how much better she felt with him hit her all at once, bringing a lump to her throat. Turning to smile up at him, she lifted a hand to his cheek. “I’ve laughed more since I met him than I have in years.”

  Brock exchanged looks with Graham. “Joshua? Playful?”

  “Of course.”

  Joshua picked up the fork again. “Eat.”

  Pushing it away, Fiona shook her head. “I’m full. Besides, I have a lot to do. I really appreciate that you’re getting me a cell phone. When I get to Florida, I’ll find a job and I’ll pay you back. As soon as I get the phone, I need to call my mother and let her know that I’m coming. Glenna can call her to tell her about the baby. She’ll know that I’m going to be there to take care of our parents, so she doesn’t have any reason to worry.”

  Frustrated that his mate wanted no help from him, Joshua sighed. “I don’t want to be paid back for the phone or for anything else.”

  Fiona jumped up. “Joshua, I’m not taking from you. I already—”

  “Enough!” Joshua slapped his hand on the table and rose to his feet. “I don’t want to be repaid for anything, damn it. You do a hell of a lot to take care of everyone around you, but you’re not good at letting anyone help you.”

  “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

  “Of course, you don’t.” Joshua blew out another breath, both admiring and frustrated by his mate’s independence. “When do you plan to leave for Florida?”

  “I’d like to go tonight. I need to go to the bus depot and find out how much—”

  Gritting his teeth, Joshua struggled for patience. “You’re not taking a fucking bus to Florida.”

  Brock jumped up, laying a hand on Joshua’s arm. “I’ll take care of everything. Go run your errands. Leland and Joe will be home soon with Glenna and the baby, and I’m sure Fiona will want to be back by then.”

  Chapter Nine

  Fiona grinned up at Joshua, barely able to see him in the darkness. “Isn’t Jonas perfect?”

  Joshua tightened his arm around her as he led her up the path toward his house. “He certainly is.”

  “How the hell can you see where we’re going?”

  “I know this path by heart. Don’t worry, my mate. I won’t let you fall.”

  “Please stop calling me that.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s weird. We’ve only known each other a few days, and it’s just disconcerting to have a man call me his soulmate. To be honest, it’s one of those red flags that women are warned to look out for.”

  “Is it? I just see no point in wasting time. The…chemistry between us is unusual, don’t you think?”

  “Well, yeah, but—”

  “I’m not the kind of man who takes things lightly, nor do I make decisions without understanding the consequences of those decisions. I’ve learned to weigh my options quickly and move forward.”

  When the path ended and they came to the front yard of his house, he paused, turning to her and bending to kiss her, sliding his hands over her jaw and into her hair. “Hooking myself to a stubborn, frustrating woman isn’t a
decision I took lightly. You’re going to be a pain in the ass, but I know that losing you isn’t an option.”

  “I can’t believe you arranged a flight for me. I was going to just borrow what I need for the bus. I swear I’ll pay you—”

  “It gives me all night with you, and if you mention paying me back again, I’ll pay you back with a hand to your fine ass.”

  “But the phone, those clothes…”

  “You need more. We’ll buy them when you come home.”

  Touched, she cupped his face, wishing she could see him better. “You’re an unusual man, Joshua.”

  “You have no idea. Come on.” Lifting her with an ease that thrilled her, he held her high against his chest and continued to his house. “We have tonight, and I plan to take full advantage of every minute of it.”

  Her body already hummed with anticipation, her arousal growing with each hungry look he’d given her the entire time they’d been at the farmhouse. “Promise? With all those looks you’ve been giving me, you’d better deliver.”

  “Oh, I’ll deliver, my mate.”

  “I can’t believe you looked at me like that in front of the others.” Sitting on his lap, she’d felt his cock pressing against her for the last few hours.

  His hunger for her, a hunger he didn’t try to hide, humbled her.

  “I’m not used to having someone want me so much or being so open with it.”

  “I don’t play games, Fiona, and I especially won’t play them with you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another woman. I don’t see any reason to hide it or pretend that my hunger for you isn’t there. It shakes me at times, but it’s there.”

  Fiona touched her forehead to his jaw. “One of the things that I admire most about you is your honesty. I don’t think I could bear it if you lied to me.”

  Joshua lowered her to his bed without turning on a light, the complete darkness in the room freeing her inhibitions even more. Running his hands over her, he quickly rid her of her clothes.

  “Christ, I want you.”

  “I want you, too, but you’re wearing too many clothes.” Scrambling to her knees, Fiona reached for the hem of his T-shirt. “I want you naked.”