Lover's Return by Rebecca Airies

concerning their relationship.
    Jericho paused aftee he carried her inside and secured the door. “You think so. I’m fairly sure that we both know what announcement will be made.”
    “I think you’re trying to skip steps again. That’s one of the reasons that we had a problem after you came back to the planet.” She rolled her eyes. He might plan, but one of the joys of her life was disrupting those. She wasn’t agreeing to any announcement until he said the words she needed.
    He carried her through the house and straight to the bedroom. She steeled herself, not entirely sure what he was going to do right now. Sex wasn’t going to get him what he wanted this time. He didn’t take her to the bed as she expected.
    He carried her over to a large dark-brown dresser and settled her on the solid wooden surface. She clutched at the edge, prepared to hop down. He moved close, widening her thighs to step in between them. She looked at him and down to where his hips pressed against hers, pinning her in place. With both of them fully dressed, they’d probably talk a little at least.
    “Now, we’re going to talk, my Leigh. We’re done with the anger, the apparently required escape attempt and the man stalking you. Now it’s time for things between us to be as they were meant to be from the first.” He unbuttoned her shirt with quick fingers, baring her skin to be touched.
    She gasped, more from the words than him baring her breasts. Before he’d left, she’d always thought they’d marry. When he’d walked away, that dream had died.
    She grabbed his shoulders and pulled his head down to meet hers in a hungry kiss. Her heart slammed inside her chest, joy and anxiety forming a potent mix. If he meant something else other than marriage, she didn’t want to hear it now. She wanted to hold on to the dream. They still had a few issues to handle, but she knew this was right. Jericho’s tongue drove into her mouth in response to her aggression. Her hand cupped the back of his neck. Her teeth scraped across his lips, nipping at the lower one.
    “Charleigh, we need to talk.” Jericho pulled away from her questing lips.
    “Talk later.” She slipped her hand down and cupped his cock through his pants.
    His eyes widened and he stilled. She took advantage of his moment of surprise. Her hand flattened on his shoulder and pushed. He stumbled back a step. She jumped down in the space between them before he could move back into place. Unbuttoning her pants, she pushed them over her hips. As they hit the floor, she glanced up at him. She was probably running out of time. She half expected Jericho to grab her any moment. Tossing her already unbuttoned shirt away as quickly as possible, she caught his eyes. He watched her with a wide smile curving his lips. He hadn’t moved. His eyes ran over her body with obvious hunger.
    Her arms slipped around him. She pulled him tight against her in a quick hug. “Later you can tell me about what you plan and I’ll tell you if I want to go along with it.”
    “Now. What are you afraid of?” Jericho gripped her hips and lifted her back onto the dresser. “Nothing is going to change between now and later.”
    “I don’t know if we’ll agree about what we want to happen or if what you plan is different than what I’m thinking.” She shrugged. She didn’t want to start arguing with him.
    “What were you thinking?” He raised an eyebrow.
    “I thought maybe we could move in together and see how things work. You’ve been away a long time and we’ve both changed. Please, Jericho.” She focused her gaze on his chest. Her teeth worried her lower lip. It wasn’t that she’d stopped wanting him or loving him. She thought they could use the time relearning each other’s habits and needs.
    “No moving in together. We’re past playing games.” Jericho’s voice hardened. He reached between them and freed his cock. He tugged her to the edge of the dresser and then guided his cock to her