Jericho watched as Teyacapan instructed him as to how to make the dark drink then stood and waited for the machine to stop. When it was done, he picked up the cup and took a drink, wincing because he had forgotten how hot the liquid was. He took his cup into the room where the women sat talking while he sucked air through his teeth to try to cool the burning of his tongue. After glancing back and forth between them as they spoke, he settled in and listened to Teyacapan as she talked with her friend.

He had spent so long trapped between realms that the world now held almost no resemblance to the last time he had been on Earth. Now, as much as there was for him to learn about modern life, he was content to be here and watch Teyacapan.

No, she wanted to be called Teya, he reminded himself. He had listened to enough of their conversation to understand they were discussing the man Rachel had gone out with the evening before. From Teya’s expression and the way she held her body, he could tell she didn’t care much for the man in question. As he watched her move and talk with Rachel, he couldn’t help but remember the way she’d looked the night before, staring up at him with her hair spread out around her face.

“Jericho?” Teya’s voice called him back to the present. He blinked.

“What?” A quick glance told him both women were watching him, waiting.

“I asked if you’re hungry,” Teya said. “We’re just trying to decide if we want to order something or go upstairs to one of the restaurants.”

“Yes, I could eat. I will be fine with whatever you decide.” He watched Teya to see what they would decide. She stared at him a moment before something in her face changed, but he could not be sure what it meant.

“Let’s go upstairs,” she said after several long seconds. “I’m going to need to get dressed first, though.”

Rachel glanced down at her own over-sized T-shirt and loose flannel pants then laughed.

“I guess I should, too.” She tipped her mug way back then stood. “Meet you in, what? Thirty minutes?” Rachel took her cup into the kitchen then left.

Jericho watched Teya uncurl herself from her chair then set her cup aside. She caught his gaze as she slinked across the gap between their seats until she stood right in front of him. With a knowing smile, she sat sideways on his lap and leaned close to place a slow, lingering kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, she smiled once more.

“Come on, we need to get ready.” Without another word, she walked over to the bags left in the room from their shopping trip the day before then glanced at him over her shoulder before bending at the waist to pick up several bags. The movement made her robe ride up, revealing that she wore nothing beneath it.

Knowing they had little time, he got up and followed. In the bedroom, he came up behind Teya, settled his hands on her hips, and dropped a light kiss on her collarbone before gently biting her there. She tilted her head to the side to give him better access.

“We really don’t have time for this,” she said, but she didn’t stop him or move away, so he continued working his way along her shoulder, sliding her robe out of the way as he went. A shiver passed through her body and Jericho couldn’t help but be pleased. The robe loosened as she turned in his arms and lifted her mouth to meet his. Her hands slid under his shirt and along his skin at his waist.

Teya was by far the most confident woman Jericho had ever been with. She was also the most aggressive in bed, and he had to admit, he liked both. She tugged and shoved at his shirt while her tongue tangled with his until he pulled away long enough to pull the shirt over his head.

“We’ve got to be fast.” Teya gasped for breath even as she reached for him. Jericho smoothed his hands over her torso, cupping her breasts before moving on. Her hands went to his waist and fumbled for a moment. He would have helped but he still fumbled with the buttons without the added stress of being in a hurry and desperate to touch her. Before long, she released the fastening and his slacks fell in a pool at his feet as her hand wrapped around his stiff cock. Jericho groaned and pulled her closer.

“Fast I said.” Teya backed up until she hit the edge of the bed then she fell backward, pulling him down on top of her.

With his hands, Jericho caught himself before his full weight fell on her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him closer.

“I’m ready, and we’re already going to be late. Don’t be afraid of hurting me. We established last night that I’m not fragile.”

Lining up his cock with her opening, he found that she was slick and ready. With only a little pressure, he slid easily inside her. Teya’s fingers curled into the muscles of his back as she tried to pull him even closer. The next stroke had her head falling back as she cried out his name. She was close, and he knew just how to push her over the edge. Shifting the angle of his hips, Jericho ran one hand down her body. He made sure to hit every sensitive spot on the way until he reached where their bodies joined. Slipping his thumb between them, he pressed hard on her clit.

Her reaction was almost instant. She shuddered and cried out. Her body tensed and seized as her channel clamped down around him. He didn’t slow. Jericho pushed through her tightening, seizing body, making her toes curl and her fingers dig into him. Claws slid from under her fingernails and into his skin. His back arched as fire raced up his spine and pleasure exploded through his body.

Breathing hard, he collapsed over her, still careful to keep from crushing her with his weight. Teya stretched up and captured his mouth in a quick, deep kiss.

“Mmm, yummy. But I need to get up now.” She pushed at his chest while still breathing hard. Jericho rolled away and lay staring at the ceiling for a moment while Teya got up and disappeared into the attached bathroom. A few minutes later, she emerged, her skin glowing and her hair freshly brushed. He took her place, carrying clean clothes into the bathroom with him. It only took him a few minutes to clean up and get dressed, but he was still fumbling with the buttons on his shirt when he opened the door.

“Can you help me with these?” Jericho gave Teyacapan a frustrated look. “I know we are late and rushing is only making this more difficult.”

She gave him an indulgent smile and came to help. While she buttoned his shirt, he took in what she was wearing: a long, straight cut dress with short sleeves that barely covered her shoulders. The whole thing was a geometric print that reminded him of where she had come from so long ago. Looking farther, he found sandals with many tiny leather straps crisscrossing each other on her feet.

“There—” Teya smoothed her hands down his chest “—all done.”

“Thank you. I just have to put my shoes on and I will be ready.” He picked up the cleans socks from where he’d laid them out on the bed while Teya had been in the bathroom then went into the living room. “How late are we?” he asked as he pulled on one shoe.

“Only about five minutes.”

“I wish I could say I was sorry, but I’m not.” He looked up and grinned at her.

“I really can’t, either, but I’m not telling Rachel what kept us.” She gave him a coy smile.

“You probably won’t have to. From what I’ve seen, Rachel is fairly astute. I have little doubt she will know exactly what delayed us.” He finished tying his shoe and stood. “Are you ready?”