Damaged Billionaire Daddy Bear - Leela Ash Page 0,38

intensity and mindlessness that he had never felt with any other woman. She was so flexible and tight and delicious. Even now, already dressed, he wanted her again; he was insatiable. Never before had he been so caught up in the throes that he couldn’t control his powers. His entire body had been shaking, as though it weren’t his own, as he pounded into her. He had felt everything to the very core of his soul.

Jessica Harris was trouble, and he wasn’t looking for any trouble. His ex had given birth to Carla, thrust the squalling infant at him, and strode off into the sunset, leaving him holding the baby. More than twenty years ago, he had watched the massacre of his parents and siblings because the rumors had started that they were shifters and not humans. It hadn’t been long before some crazy group had started to murder them in droves in the name of ‘cleansing the world of the abomination’, which was how their leader, Atlas Corning had referred to it. He had only escaped because, at the time, he had still been human; his shifter abilities hadn’t started to manifest.

Even now, he could almost see the horror of that endless day as they burned shifters to death or tortured them through other means. He could still hear the desperate cries of his parents as they were killed. A memory intruded, something he had buried for so many years. The bad guy had actually caught him for a bit there, and with a growl, he sank his teeth into that big fat hand until it let him go and he scampered for safety.

His hands tightened into fists and his vision blurred a little with the force of his anger. Jessica stared at him, concern appearing on her features. “Are you all right?”

He started to answer but he couldn’t get a word past the sudden constriction in his throat as he slumped to the floor in a dead faint.

Jessica’s scream was the last thing he heard as the blackness swamped him.

Chapter 16

A sob tore from Jessica’s throat as Theodore crumpled to the floor. She stared at him in disbelief and shock. Had she done this to him, she wondered worriedly as she cupped both hands to her mouth in dismay. She knelt beside him and gingerly cupped his head in her hand, “Theodore! Theodore!”

He didn’t respond.

“Oh please, please, please, let this be a joke,” she pleaded of no one in particular.

His large body was frighteningly still and motionless on the ground. Her hands shook as she began to compress his chest. “Please wake up. Wake up,” she pleaded.

His chest was rising and falling, she noted belatedly, so obviously, he was alive but he had passed out. With shaky hands, she called 911.

The moment she was put through to the dispatcher who wanted to know what had happened, she blurted, “I’m Jessica Harris. I had sex with Theodore Cooper, and I think he has fainted.”

Stunned silence fell over the line, and she thought she heard a choked chuckle, “What?”

“Theodore Cooper. He’s fainted in his mansion. Get over here quickly,” she called urgently. She sprang to her feet and dashed toward the door, her body shaking as she rushed outside to see if she could spot any of his friends.

Glory of glories, she spotted Connor with his usual brooding expression and unwelcoming scowl.

She ran up to him, so frantic she couldn’t even walk steadily. She had never thought she would be so glad to see the man until now.

“Connor. Come quickly,” she cried, grabbing his arm and pulling at him.

He glared at her, “Why? Where’s Theodore?”

“That’s the thing. He’s fainted,” she said.

He stared at her in surprise. Then anger tightened his face and he put his very angry face close to hers as he enunciated, “You crazy woman. What have you gone and done to Theodore?”

A few party guests were turning around in interest, and Jessica got enough presence of mind to grab his hand and drag him forward. “Let’s go. Hurry, please.”

He followed her, striding so fast that he overtook her shorter strides and burst into the library. A torrent of curses burst from his lips as he knelt beside Theodore and lifted one eyelid. He swore rapidly.

He grabbed his phone and made a call, “Get over here fast.”

He listened briefly then spat, “Library.”

Jessica was staring at him, pleased to see, at least, that she wasn’t the only person he ever spoke to in that horrible manner of his.

The doors