Starr, Ellen - Wolf's Passion [The Joined] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

The Joined

ELLEN STARR

Copyright © 2011

Chapter One:

Separation

“Oh, Jean-Paul,” Cora moaned. Jean-Paul bucked his hips, pushing his rock-hard cock deeper into her. She gasped, her orgasm crashing through her. He hissed, swearing softly in French, throbbing inside her as he came. She rode out the last aftershocks, her hands pressed against his belly. Sweat trickled down her spine. Jean-Paul’s body relaxed. He sighed.

Breathless in the aftermath of her orgasm, Cora leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. She shivered as he ran his hands over her sides. Sex was good with Jean-Paul from the first time he fucked her on the desk in his office. She submitted herself to him from the start without question or reservation. It seemed some strange New Orleans magic wrapped itself around them, binding them together the moment they met. Cora sighed. These days, though, something seemed lacking. It frustrated her that she could not name the missing element.

Cora Fuller’s life had changed so much since she made the decision to go to New Orleans. Going to work for Jean-Paul Le Templier saved her from a life of poverty and abuse. Loving him had been the best thing to happen to her. Tonight he looked like a beautiful, debauched god, the black silk sheets making his fair skin glow. She smiled at him, wondering for a brief moment how she managed to find this little bit of paradise. Fortune led her to the perfect master. He returned her smile, brushing his fingertips over her cheek, pulling her down for a kiss.

“I wish I did not need to send you on this trip. Damn Remy. He has never had good timing.” He nuzzled her neck.

She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring his touch. She knew how much he hated to be parted from her. “But we need this new place. We’ve been here too long. It is best that I go. It is my fault we are still here.”

“I know it is necessary. That doesn’t mean I like it,” he said, his lips moving against her throat. He thrust, lifting them both off the bed in a sensual show of strength. “And it is not your fault. I, too, love this house and the memories we’ve made here.” She groaned at the intensity of having him so deep inside her. The scent of him, spicy, exotic, rich, filled her with a need that went past desire, making her belly clench hard.

She tightened around him with a low moan. Jean-Paul chuckled softly. He gave a little bounce of his hips. Cora gasped. She moaned louder as another orgasm washed through her.

“If I don’t go, you will lose either this opportunity or the ranch. I like doing these things for you,” she whispered when she caught her breath once more. “Besides, how dangerous can a small town like Dead Man, Texas be?” She loved surveying a new property for him. Jean-Paul trained her well. He knew Cora was competent. She could follow his instructions, or he would not be sending her. Still, she knew letting her go upset him. He could be positively medieval at times. Cora suspected it had to do with him being French and older than she.

He sighed. “I know. Still, I shall worry every second you are away from me,
mon amour
. It is not safe out there. Even so far out in the desert.”

“For me or for the people along the way?” she asked.

Jean-Paul tightened his hold on her with a breathless laugh. “Only for you. You will be careful, won’t you?” He rolled them over, letting his full weight rest against her, pinning her arms above her head as he placed soft kisses on her temple. She sighed. She loved him lying on her like this.

Cora slid her hands from his grasp. She pushed his thick, chocolate-brown hair back from his beautiful face. It had not been difficult to talk him into wearing it long for her. Convincing him to stop dyeing the few strands of silver at the temples had been harder. She smiled at him. “I’ll take all the proper precautions. Do
not
worry about me. That is an order.”

Jean-Paul chuckled softly. “So, I let you top and this is what happens? You are ordering me around now?”

“You did say you wanted to be dominated tonight. Have I gone too far, Master?”

“No,
mon amour
, no farther than I meant for you to go.”

Their lips met in a slow, deep kiss. He lifted his head. “I still wish I did not have to send you on this trip alone. You are mine.”

“You could still come along if you like. Tell these friends of Remy’s to go elsewhere.” Cora managed to keep the wheedling note out of her voice. Jean-Paul believed in praise and reward. He did not like to punish her, but he would do it if he thought it necessary. Begging would earn his displeasure coupled with an unpleasant punishment.

He placed a kiss on her shoulder. “You know I cannot.” He sounded sad, a note of despair in his rich, deep voice.

“It’s only for a few days, Jean-Paul,” Cora said with a gentle sigh. “You can manage that long without me, can’t you?” His dark eyes looked into hers.

“I don’t want to, but I guess I will have to
manage
, as you put it.”

“So tell me, what shall
I
do without
you
?” Cora wanted to hear his exasperation with those who pulled him from her side with boring responsibilities.

“You shall explore all the possibilities. I have heard that Dead Man, Texas is a very free, understanding community. As soon as Remy’s friends, Marie and Andre, finalize the deal on the townhouse, I will join you,” Jean-Paul murmured as he pressed his lips against her skin once more.

“Mmm. It won’t be the same without you to ogle cowboys with me.” She gasped as he began to move again, slowly sliding into her then pulling out fast.

“Yippee ki-yay.” He picked up the pace, driving all thought of anything but what he was doing to her out of her head.

* * * *

Jean-Paul resisted the urge to grab Cora, carry her into their bedroom, throw her onto the bed, and fuck her until she could not walk. Instead, he pasted a smile on his face, watching in silence while she put her bags in the trunk of her car. She is a woman, he chided himself, not the innocent girl any longer.
This must be done
.
It is for the best. I do not want her anywhere near these friends of Remy’s. They bother me. Their timing bothers me. I hope I have not waited too long for this move.

The sun shining on her pale blond hair brought back the past in full force. She wore her hair much the same as when fate brought them together. He sighed, his smile growing softer, more genuine as he remembered the day she first walked into his office.

She captured him from the moment she met his gaze with her hazel green eyes. Her scent, sweet in the stuffy closeness of the office, went straight from his head to his dick. Lost to her as he had not been in many years, he found himself thinking only of taking her. Instead, Jean-Paul simply held his arms out to her. She stepped into his embrace and never left. In less than five minutes, her innocence, her acceptance of him as he was, smashed through all his carefully tended defenses. His heart laid bare, Jean-Paul gave himself over to Cora. He vowed then she would never be alone in the world as long as he lived.

Neither of them spoke that first meeting. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She melted into him, pliant, willing, trusting. He could still taste that first kiss.

Jean-Paul marveled for a moment over the way she opened herself to him, trusted him with her heart and body. A slip of a girl walked into his life that day and made it new again. Now a beautiful woman stood before him, confident and strong. He could not shake the feeling of dread her leaving for Dead Man caused.

Cora turned and looked at him, tilting her head to one side. “You’re thinking about the past again, aren’t you?”

He gave her a sheepish nod, not trusting himself to speak. She always knew. Cora shut the car door then walked toward him, reaching out for him. He let her fold him into her arms. Sometimes he wondered if he truly was the Master in their relationship or if she just let him think that he was. The heat of her body against his stirred the fire inside him. She rubbed his back, smiling when his cock twitched against her stomach.

“You are insatiable.” She gave his ass a swat.

“For you,
mon amour
, always,” he whispered, his lips against her ear. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Cora leaned her head back, gazing up at him, concern in her eyes. “There will be other properties.”

He shook his head. “There will, but no, it is time. I know how you have looked forward to this little adventure. I am just feeling my age today.”

“You are ageless.” Cora laid her head against his chest. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling her wonderful female scent.

Jean-Paul tilted her face up to look into her eyes. “Alas, I am not. But you know something?”

“What?” She smiled up at him.

“My hand is going to get very old,
petite ami
.”

She tightened her embrace. “I love you. I made sure they gave me a double room at the hotel. All you have to do when you arrive is pick up your key.”

He couldn’t help rolling his eyes at her. “I will be there as soon as I am able.”

They both laughed. Jean-Paul’s dread lightened a little at her impudence. He kissed her again, savoring the taste of her lips before turning her toward her car. He gave her a gentle nudge. “Go with my heart,
mon amour
.” He mouthed the words. He watched as she got in and backed out of the driveway. He leaned in the doorway until she disappeared from view. With a heavy sigh, he shut the door.