Jericho chuckled. “Gorgeous? That’s an interesting way to describe it.” His gaze turned serious. “But hey, I should have lasted longer.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She replied with a smile, and then turned her head so she could nip at his earlobe, before running her lips along his neck, breathing in his masculine scent. “It just means that’s how hot you are for me. I took it as a compliment… and from the look of things, you’ll be ready for round two soon enough.” She slid her fingers up the underside of his growing length and was rewarded with a full-body shudder from him.
“You’re incorrigible,” he growled playfully, a sparkle in his eye as he lifted his head to gaze down at her. He’d fully expected her to ridicule him, as any she-bear would, for his apparent lack of stamina, but instead she’d turned it into a positive thing, which made his heart soften even more toward her.
Sitting back, he undressed her with care, baring every delicious inch of that beautiful naked, curvy body, then scooped her up in his arms. “You’re a little tense,” he murmured, dropping a kiss at her temple. “Let’s see what we can do to help you relax.”
Becca curled into his chest, warmth spreading through her as he stepped into a huge bathroom of glass and marble and crystal. Setting her atop the toilet seat, he bent down next to the whirlpool tub and cranked the jets, then grabbed a bottle of bubble bath from the counter and squirted it into the tub.
She giggled when he reached into a cabinet hanging from above and pulled out two flutes and a bottle. “You sure are pulling out all the stops tonight.”
Grinning, he handed her a glass and poured a stream of pale, yellow liquid for her. She took a sip – champagne. “I thought it would help set the mood.”
“You planned this?” She arched a brow, wondering if she should be outraged. But she’d known all along that he’d set out to seduce her today, and the truth was the amount of effort he’d put into it was incredibly flattering.
“I did.” A shadow of doubt flickered in his eyes. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yes…yes, it is.” Rising, she set her glass on the edge of the tub and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply. He moaned into her mouth, pressing his hard length into her belly, and then lifted her up and carried her into the tub with him.
“You knew where this night was headed, didn’t you? You had to know how much I’ve wanted you, how I couldn’t wait to be inside of you. Don’t pretend you didn’t know.”
Setting her on the small step that hovered just below the water, he scooped up suds and lathered them over her breasts, squeezing them, covering the peaks of her nipples even as he massaged them. She let out a sigh of pleasure as she rested her upper back against the lip of the tub, letting his big hands roam over her curvy body, massaging, squeezing and rubbing every inch of her. Heat lanced through her when he possessively squeezed her thighs and then cupped her pussy in his hand, and her head fell back as a groan escaped her lips.
“You’re so incredibly beautiful,” he rasped, moving in to cover her mouth with his. He kissed her deeply as he massaged her clit, sliding his fingers up and down, up and down over the hard little nub, and then rolling it between his fingers. When he pinched it firmly she cried out, her body stiffening as her first climax rolled through her.
“That’s my girl,” he said, her cries egging him on. “So tight…and so wet.”
He kept massaging her, pushing her to the edge again, then once more, until she was loose and pliant and ready for him, and only then did he finally slide his cock inside her.
“Oh God,” Becca cried as he filled her. He was so hot, thick and hard inside her, and she thanked the Heaven’s she was on birth control because it would have been a shame to not be able to feel him directly against her. She hooked her legs around his hips, drawing him even deeper as she pulled him in for another kiss.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted against his mouth as he moved rhythmically inside her, the musical sound of her voice egging him on. He loved the feel of her nails scoring his back as he drove into her, of her breasts slapping wetly against his chest, of her pussy pulsing around his cock. Wanting to feel her come around him, he reached down and stroked her clit between them, locking eyes with her so he could watch them go blind again.
“Look at me,” he said roughly when they started to close. “I want you to look at me when I make you come.”
The fiery knot of tension tightened, tightened, tightened in Becca’s lower belly until it exploded in a breath-stealing climax that was better than anything she’d ever experienced in her life. Clinging to him tightly, she cried out his name as he fucked her harder, faster, driving her even higher until he finally shouted her own name as he came inside her with a white hot rush.
And when she finally came back to herself, he pulled her out of the water and headed to the bed for round two.
Chapter Ten
Becca moaned as Jericho pressed her back against the wet tile of the shower wall. Tilting her neck to the side, he suckled on the sensitive spot near the hollow of her throat that always made her go wild, teasing one nipple gently with his hand while moisture that had nothing to do with the hot spray jetting above them pooled between her thighs.
“You’re the one who’s incorrigible,” she moaned as he lifted her leg and slid inside her with one smooth motion. They must have made love at least five, no, six times last night before she’d finally dropped off from sheer exhaustion, only to be woken up at eight in the morning with his cock sliding into her again from behind.
She was sore all over and in places she didn’t even know existed. By all rights her body should be crying out for a break. But every time he touched her, kissed her, spoke her name in that deep, seductive way of his, her body went soft and her thighs popped open, ready to receive him.
She was wrong when she’d said to herself earlier that giving into him would lead to addiction. It was more like enslavement – she was bound to the will of her own desire as much as his. And she loved every minute of it.
After he’d made love to her in the shower, she sat on the bed with a towel wrapped around her and watched him dress. “I’m going to have to go home and get a change of clothes,” she said.
He shook his head, then went to the closet and pulled out a box. “No need. I bought you something to wear for today.”
Butterflies fluttered in Becca’s chest as she took the box from him gingerly. “This had better not be some kind of slutty get-up,” she warned. “I’d be fired on the spot if anyone from my job caught me doing a tour in anything like that.”
Jericho scoffed. “Give me a little credit. Open the box already.”
She did as he asked, and her eyes widened as she pulled out an A-line dress with scooped neckline made with a flowing, amber-colored fabric. Beneath it was a set of gold-drop earrings and a matching necklace. “This is beautiful.”
“I thought the color matched your eyes,” he murmured, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. The towel slipped off her body to pool around her ankles, and hunger flared in his eyes again, but he refrained from indulging, instead taking the dress from her hands. “Let’s try this on you.”
She stood in front of the mirror a few moments later, adjusting her earrings, and then stepped back to admire herself. The dress was a perfect fit, and flattering on her curvy frame, and the gold pendant resting at her décolletage was a perfect accent. He’d even bought her matching gold flats with insoles that were comfortable and made for walking.
“Look at yourself.” Jericho wrapped his arms around from behind her and rested his chin on the top of her head so he could look at her reflection with her. “You look absolutely stunning.” And so, so perfect for me, he thought ruefully, staring at the picture the two of them made in the mirror. She fit so perfectly in his arms in a way that he knew no one else ever would… and yet he was going to have to let her go very, very soon.
“You really didn’t have to do this, Jericho.” She turned to him, and wove he
r arms around his neck, pulling him in for a soft kiss. “I would have been happy to wear my clothes from yesterday if you didn’t want me to go home.”
He chucked her under the chin, resisting the urge to deepen the kiss lest they never leave the hotel room for the rest of the day. “Don’t be silly,” he chided. “I would never make you do that.” He stepped back, then took her hand and drew her downstairs. “Now let’s go make the most of our last day together.”
* * *
They spent the day on a history tour of Paris, visiting various sites important to the 18th century of France such as the Panthéon, Palais du Luxembourg and the Place de la Concorde. The expedition took them most of the day, and afterwards they rested their sore feet for a few moments while enjoying a nice dinner at an outdoor bistro.
Later, when the sun was beginning to sink toward the horizon, they made their way to the Eiffel Tower so they could catch the sunset from the top of the tower. Jericho took one look at the long lines for the elevator and made an immediate dash for the stairs. “We are not missing that sunset!” he called, his voice echoing in the stairwell as she chased him up to the second floor.
They made it to the top in relatively good time, helped by the fact that she used her tour guide pass to bypass the long line of people waiting for their chance to get a view from the top. “This view never gets old,” she remarked as she stared out at the sparkling city, her trained eyes easily picking out all the landmarks. “No matter how many times I come up here.”
“I bet it doesn’t.” Jericho smiled and pulled her against him, content to allow her to point out the landmarks from their vantage point and chatter on about them while he stared at the sun dipping below the horizon. When the fiery orange ball had almost completely disappeared, he took her gently by the shoulders and turned her to face him.
“Come with me to Chicago.”
“What?” Becca’s brain froze, backtracked, fast-forwarded again. She’d been prattling on about historic monuments in order to distract herself from the fact that he was leaving, and here he was, slapping her in the face with it. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Just for a few days,” Jericho begged, his cobalt eyes pleading. “You can spend a few days back in America, just like you always wanted, and you can also learn more about your were-bear heritage too.”
Becca recoiled. “You mean spend time with your clan?” Fear pulsed through her at the very thought. “No, no way am I doing that. One of them might decide I’d looked at them the wrong way and try to rip me apart.”
Jericho’s eyes flashed orange, his lips peeling back to expose fangs. “They wouldn’t dare,” he growled, and Becca shrank back further until the metal rails were digging into her back. He seemed to realize he was freaking her out then, and took a moment to shake off the change. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I guess I’ve gotten a little territorial.”
“That’s okay,” she said, a little shakily, but she stepped forward nonetheless and placed a comforting hand on his forearm. This was Jericho, she reminded herself. He would never hurt her. “But I don’t know that you’ll be able to guarantee my safety amongst your clan.”
“I can,” he said confidently, lifting his chin.
Becca cocked her head. “And how is that, exactly?”
“You could say I’m high up in the pecking order.”
“Oh really? Just how high?”
Jericho shot her a charming, slightly cocky grin that told her he knew she would eventually give in. “You’ll find out… if you come with me.”
When Becca only looked away, he let out a gusty sigh. “Look, you don’t have to meet my clan at all if you don’t want to. We can just spend a few more days together, you and me, seeing the sights in Chicago. Please. You’ve spent so much time showing me your home, and I want the chance to show you mine.”
Becca turned back to face him, sadness and longing in her dark-eyed gaze. “And how long until the few days turns into a week, and then two weeks, or maybe even longer?” she shook her head. “I’m not ready to make that kind of commitment, and frankly, neither are you.” She laughed harshly. “The last thing I need is to be stuck in a foreign country on my own with no way to get back.”
“Is that what happened to your mother?” Jericho took her hand, guessing at the source of the bitter pain in her voice. When she nodded, he pressed her fingers to his mouth and kissed them gently. “You know I would never do that to you, right?” he said. “If you ever wanted to leave, all you’d need to do is say the word and I’d have you on a plane just like that. I would never force you to stay against your will.”
Becca only shook her head again, then tugged her hand from his and turned toward the sunset. But that’s just the thing, she wanted to say aloud, but didn’t dare. I’m afraid that if I go home with you I’ll never want to come back, and I can’t handle that right now.
Chapter Eleven
“Where are we going now?” Jericho asked as Becca pulled out of the parking lot near the Eiffel tower and merged with traffic.
“Back to your hotel room.” Becca glanced sideways at him. “Unless you need to make a pit stop somewhere along the way?”
Jericho hesitated, wondering if he was pushing too hard. To hell with it, he thought, deciding to take the plunge. This was their last night together, so he may as well go as far with this as he could. “Can we go to your place?”
Shock flashed through Becca’s dark eyes. “Why?”
“Because.” He placed a hand on her thigh and gently squeezed. “I want to experience a little more of you before I go home.”
Becca turned away from the path she’d been taking toward the Seine and instead lead them into the heart of the city. Her flat was located on the 6th floor of a complex just off Rue Francaise in a bustling area where she could always feel the hum and vibrant energy of the city.
“Wow,” Jericho said when she let him into her flat. It was a very open, airy space with wooden beams hanging from the rafters and birch flooring that gleamed softly in the evening light. The furniture was all done in pale colors – cotton candy blue, lilac, smoke grey – and though simple, was in good taste. Through an open doorway he spotted a kitchen done in red tile, oak and granite, and on the other side of the living room was a pair of glass doors that led out to a back patio.
He stiffened suddenly as the breeze wafting in from a cracked window suddenly shifted, bringing him the unfamiliar scent of a human male. “Who the hell is that?”
Becca caught the scent at the same time and dropped her purse on a wooden table near the entrance with a curse. “Ethan,” she muttered. “My ex-boyfriend.”
The sound of a toilet flushing caught their ears, and a few seconds later a tall, muscular blonde dressed in jeans and a black metal band t-shirt sauntered into the living area, a lazy grin on his face. “Hey,” he greeted Becca, his words flowing smoothly with his French accent, and then his blue eyes narrowed on Jericho. “Who is this?”
“Your invitation to leave.” Jericho stepped in front of Becca, invading the intruder’s personal space. “Now.”
Ethan snorted. “I don’t take orders from you, monsieur,” he sneered.
“Jericho, wait.” Becca pushed herself between the two men before Jericho ripped Ethan’s throat out. She couldn’t blame Jericho for his anger – she was pissed off as well – but she didn’t want to have to explain what her ex’s dead body was doing in her flat. “Let me handle this.”
Jericho gritted his teeth, but stepped back. “Ethan, I don’t know what the hell you’re thinking, but you need to get out. Now.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms smugly. “No, actually, I believe your friend here is the one who needs to leave. My name is the one that’s still on the lease here, so technically I’m just coming home after a long day.”
Becca hissed, wishing she could plow her fist into his face – better yet, shift so she could scare the living daylights out of him. But if she did that, he would spread the word around t
own that she was a monster, and her life would be ruined. “If you don’t remove yourself from the premises, I will call the police. I mean it.”
Ethan instantly took another tack, spreading his hands wide as if trying to beseech her. “Come on, cherie,” he pleaded. “Why must you treat me this way? I just want to start over with you. You’re the love of my life.”
“If that’s true, then why can I still smell the stench of another woman’s perfume on you?” Becca spat, completely unmoved. She couldn’t believe she’d ever given this scumbag the time of day, even if he did have a pretty face.
Ethan only shrugged. “I rub elbows with many women in Paris as a model. That doesn’t mean I was actually with one of them.” He hooked an arm around her waist and tilted her head up. “Come now, kiss me, and you’ll remember what it was like between us.”
The next thing Becca knew, she was ripped out of Ethan’s grasp and Jericho was dangling her ex-boyfriend in the air by the throat using just one hand. “Touch her like that again,” he said with a growl as his eyes glowed orange, “And I’ll rip you to pieces.”
He released Ethan, who dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes, sputtering and choking. It took a few moments before he could clamber to his feet, and when he did he grabbed a vase from a nearby table and shattered it, then took one of the sharp pieces in his hand. “I am not afraid of you,” he sneered. “Try coming at me again and see what happens.”
Jericho roared, a completely inhuman sound, and he hunched over as the change rippled over him. Fur began to sprout from his arms, face and the back of his neck, his muscles stretching until his shirt began to tear at the seams to accommodate him. Terror rippled through Becca as she watched the dark brown fur begin to solidify, and she wondered if she was about to watch a human be devoured by a were-bear for the first time.
“Oh my God!” Ethan shrieked like a frightened child, dropping the piece of pottery in his hand. He ran for the door, but Becca stepped directly into his path before he could go.
Billion Dollar Bear Page 7
