Lover's Return Read online

  Lover’s Return

  Rebecca Airies

  After her lover left the colony, Charleigh lost herself in work. Now Jericho’s back and intent on renewing their relationship. Desire burns between them as fiercely as ever, but Charleigh wants more than hot sex. She needs to know that this time she’s important enough for him to stay.

  Jericho left his home to ensure a future with Charleigh. Now that he’s returned, nothing will stand in the way of getting her back into his arms and bed. Not her stubborn resistance or another man determined to claim her for his own. Getting close to Charleigh again is easy; convincing her to believe in his love is more difficult. But Jericho isn’t willing to accept anything less than everything. Her love, her trust and her delectable body.

  A Romantica® futuristic erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

  Lover’s Return

  Rebecca Airies

  Chapter One

  Jericho watched Charleigh Donner step out onto the dance floor with yet another man. He clenched his jaw and remained in the straight-backed, wood chair with effort. If he got up, he’d do more than talk with that man. He’d been waiting to hold his woman again almost since the moment he’d left the planet years ago. He wasn’t losing her again to anyone.

  That was no local swinging her around the polished wood floor. A local might try that to prod them into resolving their problems. Jericho wouldn’t worry about them, but this was a damn space pilot. Those roaming jockeys didn’t care if the woman was single, engaged or even married, because they seldom stuck around to face the consequences.

  The bar recalled a time soon after colonization, when people had to combine natural resources with the technology they’d brought with them. Even the lighting had been designed to be dimmer than normal to simulate a lower power level. The wooden bar and tables belied the modern era. The only modern amenities were hidden behind the bar and in the bathrooms. It was all very much at odds with the air skimmers on the landing lot at the back.

  This wasn’t how he’d envisioned his return to the colony planet while he’d been off planet establishing his trade business. The first day he returned, he realized that Charleigh wasn’t going to forgive him easily. She’d curtly rebuffed him and walked away before he could begin to tell her anything.

  After a couple weeks, he now understood that his woman could hold a grudge. She hadn’t said more than a couple of sentences to him since his arrival. Trying to explain why he’d left was impossible when she wouldn’t listen to him.

  A local man tapped the pilot on the shoulder and cut in on the dancers. The pilot reluctantly returned to the bar. Jericho sighed and relaxed a little. He caught her eye and she scowled at him. From that look, she thought he’d sent the man to stop her from dancing with the pilot. Not a bad idea and he wished he’d thought of it.

  Once she heard his reasons, she’d understand. He hoped. Was it so bad that he’d wanted to make a future for them? To find a way that they could be where she’d be happiest? Regardless of her reaction, he wasn’t backing away from her.

  She still loved him. It was there in her eyes. His feelings for her had never changed. He’d loved the stubborn woman even then, but had to leave the colony to make contacts and establish his business.

  The colony of Darmain wasn’t young and isolated any longer, as it had been even in their grandparents’ time. Darmain was growing and his home city Cassid with it. Although in ways, Cassid and a few other places on the planet still had the frontier-town values. Locals looked out for each other. The man who’d cut in on the pilot was an example of that.

  With more people arriving and even the exploratory ships that merely laid over for replenishment of supplies before returning to search for more planets to colonize, there were opportunities. It was what brought the new colonists and what drove Jericho. The main space port Urion now boasted a good-sized city around it, and smaller cities dotted the coasts of two of the continents, but it was a slow growth.

  Darmain would never become like the overcrowded, dead planets their ancestors had fled. Laws concerning that had been put into place by the first generation of settlers. When the population hit a specific number, based on available resources and land mass, colonists would leave to establish a home on another world.

  Jericho needed to be able to provide for Charleigh. Her brother had focused his attention on that fact one night years ago. For the first time, he’d thought about more than the immediate future and how much he enjoyed being with Charleigh. He’d thought about what he wanted for the future and how to get it. Being from one of the families who’d helped found Darmain had advantages, but he couldn’t see many opportunities for himself here.

  He liked helping with the family ranch at times, but had always known that it wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. As for the other family business, law enforcement, it didn’t hold his interest. But business and trading did. His family had helped him get started by allowing him to trade some livestock and tech that his brother Jonah had designed.

  Leaving Charleigh had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Breaking off their relationship to do that also ranked up there among the things he never wanted to do again. The thought of her with any other man gave him nightmares as he’d slept in utilitarian bunks in various space stations. It had been necessary though. He had to leave her where he knew she was safe.

  He hadn’t wanted her to feel tied down when his return to the planet was uncertain. Building a trading company took time. It wasn’t simple pride as his mother believed. Not all of it. He’d known it could be years before he succeeded. She’d needed the freedom to grow and experience life.

  Family was a key part of life here. He’d missed that and it was also part of the reasoning behind his departure. Her family and their business had always been important to her. He had wanted her to have that unless there was no other way. He’d never given up on his goal of being with her. Not even when he’d thought that it might not be possible on Darmain.

  He stood. Sitting here and brooding wasn’t accomplishing anything. Charleigh’s attitude hadn’t improved by giving her space. He’d break through her defenses and get her to focus on him. That goal had only become more important as the days passed. Especially since he learned he might not be the only one watching Charleigh.

  He stalked through the bar, making his way through the locals and visitors to the planet. The music thrummed a low steady beat mixed with a lilting melody. His eyes were locked on her. He saw her head turn and knew the moment she realized that he wasn’t sitting passively any longer.

  She tensed and took a step back, but her feet locked after that. As if she refused to let him see her run away. He loved that brazen attitude and was relieved that it was finally making an appearance. He wanted her angry. That at least would be a change from being ignored.

  He wanted to get past this incomprehensible resistance of hers and into the forgiveness that would eventually come. The only problem was his patience was running extremely low. He hoped that she forgave him soon.

  She held her ground and lifted her chin as he approached. Good, he hoped she was in the mood to work through some of this. He’d be really happy if they could settle this tonight, but he didn’t think he was that lucky. A few words wouldn’t break her resistance. Considering the people all around them, the most he could do was kiss and hold her a little, so he couldn’t fully remind her of how good they were together. That was, if he managed to get that close to her.

  He thought about how best to get a reaction from her as he covered the remaining distance between them. She hadn’t responded to any of his direct questions the few times he’d gotten close to her. So maybe he should try something a little different.

  “Well, hello, Charl
eigh, nice of you to come find me.” He smiled widely.

  “I didn’t come here to meet you and you know it. You followed me.” She glowered at him.

  “I don’t know when you got here, but I came shortly after I stopped work this evening.” He waved his hand. He’d known she’d be here tonight, but he definitely wasn’t going to reveal his inside information. “You can ask the bartender if you want.”

  She took a deep breath. “I don’t care.”

  He might have believed that if the words hadn’t come out from between clenched teeth. “Are you ready to talk or are you going to continue with the wronged-woman drama?”

  “Drama!” Her hands slammed onto her hips and her eyes blazed with anger.

  If she’d been one of their ancestors, she might have taken a shot at him with one of those old sonic Disturbers worn by almost everyone at that time. They’d put a man or animal down with violent stomach cramps and nausea long enough for the user to get to safety. Now only the Planetary Defense and police forces carried weapons and owning even something as benign as a modern Disturber required undergoing evaluations and enough bureaucracy to deter most people.

  “Yes, you’re acting as if I’ve done something to you.” Jericho deliberately kept his voice questioning and frowned as if he couldn’t understand why she would be angry. He understood, though, up to a point. He’d done everything he could to spare her pain while he was building a life for them.

  “You have a lot of nerve.” She took a step forward. “You break up with me, leave and come back years later expecting to slip back into my life and bed? Before this, I never thought you were stupid.”

  “But we both know it’s not simply nerve. It’s reality. I will be back in your bed, soon.” He took a slow step closer to her, not wanting to spook her into running.

  “No, you won’t.” Her finger poked against his chest. “You didn’t want me enough then. I don’t want you now.”

  There was the fire. “You don’t? The way you look at me says that you do. You’re angry, but it’s not going to make any difference.”

  He circled behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. Her muscles tensed beneath his palms. At least she wasn’t screaming at him or stomping away from him yet. It would happen, but he hoped to learn a little more about why she was so angry. Well, other than the fact that he’d broken up with her, left and now wanted to get back with her.

  She looked over her shoulder and raised a brow. “What look would that be? The scowl when you irritate me or the frown of confusion because you won’t give up.”

  “Well, those are always interesting, but no, not those. It’s that little hooded stare when you think I’m not watching.” Jericho let one of his hands slide down her back to her waist.

  “That’s me contemplating what I want to do to you. Believe me. None of it is sexual.” Her voice was even and firm.

  She wanted him to believe that look spoke of anger and her plotting. He wasn’t falling for the lie. In spite of the years that had passed, he knew her. He knew that particular expression and the rush of heat up her cheeks.

  “Oh, so you’re not thinking about the way our bodies fit together?” He eased in closer until he was pressed from chest to thigh against her back. He kept the contact light, but he wanted to pull her back against him and feel his cock pressed between the rounded cheeks of her buttocks.

  “Why should I? One man is the same as any other.” She didn’t turn her head, but he heard a quaver in her voice. Her voice always wavered when she lied. Not that he’d clue her in to it.

  “I can tell when you’re lying. One man isn’t the same as another for you. You think about kissing me and the nights we spent together.” His hand slipped around her waist and over her stomach. He didn’t sweep it up to cup those full breasts, although his palms burned to feel their weight again.

  “I think about a lot of things, but our past encounters are the farthest thing from my mind.” She pulled his hand away from her stomach. “When are you going to understand that one chance is all you get? You walked away from it.”

  “Never, because once you get over being mad at me, we’ll pick up where we left off,” Jericho said cheerfully.

  Her elbow connected with his stomach as she slipped free of his hold. His breath whooshed from him. He clutched at his stomach a moment before shaking his head and looking up at her. Well, that had drawn a reaction.

  “Where we left off is nowhere, broken up with you walking away without a word. You may have been good in bed, but you’re definitely not worth it.” She faced him, just barely out of reach, but the glare on her face almost seared with laser-hot heat.

  “I’ll definitely look forward to hearing you repent those words when I’m back between those luscious thighs of yours.” He smiled and hooked his thumb into his belt. He waited for the explosion.

  “Argh!” Her scream rang in the now silent bar, even as her hand whipped out and grabbed a mug from a table. She flung the nearly full glass of liquor into his face.

  His hair hung in wet tendrils in his eyes and his shirt clung to his chest. He smiled as he watched her walk away. He heard her muttering to herself as she left and thought he made out something that sounded similar to “kill him.”

  As a first foray into getting her to talk, it wasn’t bad. Jericho had to consider it a success, since before she’d simply walked around him or turned and walked away as if he hadn’t said anything to her. She might not have been able to keep her eyes off him, but she certainly did ignore him when he tried to close the distance between them.

  Even though he walked away damp and smelling of beer, he grinned as he left the bar. He savored the chill of the night wind and the smell of the storm on the air. Walking to his silver Duce air glider, he thought about what had happened tonight. As the personal aircraft rose to entry height, he focused on flying, but felt a flare of certainty. He knew it wouldn’t be long until he managed to get her back in his arms. She’s mine. All I have to do is make sure I get her attention.

  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 fol
lowing 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.