“Mmm, Andy.” He allowed his head fall back a little into her hands as she played with his hair, a gentle purr coming from his throat. Eyes drifting shut, he breathed deep to catch her scent. The musky smell of her arousal hit him and he shivered deep down in his body.
Those talented fingers caressed the skin on the back of his neck and he purred, the sound rumbling up his chest and out of his throat, he couldn’t help it. His mate was in his lap stroking him. She shuddered against him, pressing her thigh more firmly against his erection. What is she thinking?
“Mmm Andy, I love the way you feel.” His hands ran over her stomach and back to her thigh right to the edge of her skirt.
“Excuse me, Romeo? Andy has to leave now. You wanna’ put it back in your pants or what?” Rosie’s voice jarred him out of his haze of pleasure.
“Your friend?” Ian stiffened a little as he glanced around Andy at the little Latina woman.
“Best friend.” Andy smiled and dropped her head as color stained her cheeks.
“Ahh.” Ian nodded. That explained everything.
Andy smiled and slipped her shoe back on before sliding out of his lap, his erection grazing her thigh. Ian groaned low in his throat as the contact made him burn.
Rosie tugged Andy to her feet and then tossed a napkin at him.
“Don’t loss that, papa, it’s your only shot.” Rosie winked at him as she linked arms with Andy and turned away. Rosie said something and Andy threw her head back and laughed. Andy glanced over her shoulder and finger waved at Ian as they got lost in the crowd.
Ian growled as his cock throbbed against his jeans. She had been so close the sweet musk of her arousal was stuck in his nostrils, in his brain. Ian pulled the napkin across the table and opened it. Inside were little hearts and the name “Rosie” with a phone number. Ian couldn’t help but smirk.
“Best friends.” He grumbled stuffing the number in his pocket. He licked his lips and tasted her diet Pepsi and lemon still. His body ached at the loss of her. He caught the waitress and ordered another beer. He drank it slowly turning over in his head the fact that he had met his mate.
Mine his tiger roared. Mate, it said. The urge to get up and hunt her down overwhelmed him. She couldn’t have possibly known that walking away from him was as bad as running away in the state he was in. She was so right against his hands, like she belonged to just him. His beast beat at his head roaring at being denied.
Ian wasn’t used to being deprived of the woman. He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. That wonderful lady’s man reputation of his could haunt him when it came to Andy. He hadn’t told her the truth of it. It might scare her away if she found out. Ian ran a hand through his hair. Abruptly his thoughts changed as he caught a whiff of her rose scent off his shirt.
How will she feel when she comes for me? Because she would, he smiled to himself. Her arousal would taste sweet, too, like honey. Ian shook his head. He had to stop these thoughts if he was going to be able to stand up soon. A perky older blond stopped at his table.
“Hey, you want some company?” She pushed her breasts toward him as she lend against the table.
“Not tonight.” He scooted out of the booth. “Maybe not ever again.”
Chapter Three
A loud bam, bam, bam on his door brought Ian upright in bed. He tossed back the blue comforter and put his legs over the side, his bare feet hit the cool floor. Ian rubbed a hand down his stubbled jaw as he glanced at the clock. It was before six, not that he didn’t need to get up, but it was still a little early. He planned on making it to the Haven today and teaching his class of teenage cubs. The pounding sounded again and he stood up.
Ian strode across the wood floor of his apartment and glanced out the peek hole. A tall man, with military short blonde hair and vibrant green eyes stood outside. Dillon? What the hell is my brother doing here? Something wrenched down inside Ian’s gut at the sight of his older brother. A need to be the were-tiger he was supposed to be suddenly overwhelmed him. He wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, and the idea that he wouldn’t measure up Dillon’s expectations caused a panicked rhythmic breathing to build in his chest. Ian shook himself. He wasn’t a cub any more. He was a grown male were-tiger. Ian straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath settling his cat, then unlatched the door.
“Dillon. What are you doing here?” Ian stood in the door way, not sure if he should let his brother in. Dillon would never willingly leave pack territory; he was the alpha’s head tracker. What was he doing in San Francisco?
“Nice to see you, too. Are you going to invite me in?” His brother’s gaze roamed over him. Ian eyed him up too. He was still as tall as their father at six foot three, and appeared nothing like Ian’s blond surfer looks, minus the surfboard. Dillon’s hair cut was no nonsense, much like his attitude had always been. He was the oldest sibling in the family of seven and had made his place among the pack. Unlike Ian and his twin sister, Ivy.
“Sure, come in.” Ian stepped aside and allowed his brother to walk into his apartment. “So what’s going on? Why are you in San Francisco?”
“Can’t I just come visit my brother?” Dillon looked around the small apartment, before his gaze finally landed on the couch.
Ian closed the door and leaned his back on it. “You have a duffel bag in your hand. That doesn’t look like a visit. It looks like you’re moving in.” Ian crossed his arms over his chest and was sure in his plaid boxers and naked chest he wasn’t intimidating at all.
“Are you saying I can’t stay here?” Dillon puffed out his chest as if maybe he was insulted.
“Why won’t you just answer the question?” Ian planted his feet and came off the door as Dillon stepped toward it.
“It’s fine, I can leave.” Dillon’s face was red, but Ian wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed or angry.
“Bro, chill. I don’t want you to leave.” Ian touched him on the arm and the tension radiating from him raced up Ian’s hand. “You’re my brother. I’m here for you whenever you need me, but I know something’s wrong or you wouldn’t be here.”
“I just need a place to crash for now. No questions asked. Can you do that for me?” Dillon put his hand on Ian’s shoulder and met his gaze. Dillon’s green eyes were intense.
“Sure. Does anyone know you’re here?” Ian kept his voice level while all kinds of warning bells went off in his head. Dill was in trouble and it must be bad.
“No one and let’s keep it that way.” Dillon turned around and headed toward the couch. “I’ll crash here if that’s okay. I’ve been up all night.”
“That’s fine. I’ve got a class in a couple of hours. I’ll be gone most of the day, but I can leave the key on the counter if you’re asleep.” Ian walked over and patted his brother on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you by the way.”
“Thanks.” Dillon unpacked and Ian went to shower.
***
The hot water cascaded over Ian’s body and eased what was left of his tired muscles and made him almost whole again. It had been a late night. He breathed in deep, enjoying the steam and heat. Finally, he gave in and soaped up and washed his hair. He turned off the water and started to dry his body with a big fluffy green towel.
Ian dressed in jeans and a light blue polo with a Haven logo on it, then put on his sneakers, thoughts of Andy from the night before niggled in his head. Something inside his chest flip flopped when Andy came to mind, he got all giddy inside. Excited, like a little kid with a new toy. She made him forget himself and want to tell her everything about his life. A life he wasn’t sure she’d understand. How was he going to tell her he was a were-tiger? The possibility that she had even had experience with Were creatures in her lifetime was slim to none. There just weren’t enough in existence for most people to have interacted with them. Besides, that fact was most were so secretive that they would never reveal their true natures, even under penalty of death.
Ian took his house key off the key ring and scr
ibbled his cell number on a piece of paper. He left both on the counter for Dillon who snored softly from the couch. Ian opened the door locked the handle on the knob and shut it behind him.
He drove to the Haven with the window down and the Red Hot Chili Peppers booming on the radio.
The Haven parking lot had a few cars in it and Ian parked in a free space near the back. The building was cream colored and had glass windows across the front, for all intense purposes it looked like a regular community center. Nobody knew that it was home to a pack of Were cats. Ian approached the doors and swiped his keycard. He opened the door and walked inside. His petite blond sister was behind the reception desk.
“Hey, sis.” Ian walked around the desk to give her a hug. He leaned down and wrapped his arms around her, amazed he could still reach around her.
“Ian. How are you?” She squeezed him hard enough he winced.
“Fine. How are those babies?” Ian stepped back and rubbed a hand over her largely swollen belly. A little hard knot kicked his hand and he grinned.
“Good, playing soccer in there I think. How they have any room to move I will never know. Edge and I are still fighting about their names.” She scowled as she lovingly rubbed her big belly.
“You want me to beat him up?” Ian shoved his hands in his pockets.
“As if you could. No, we’ll agree eventually. Are you teaching today?” Ivy picked up the schedule and looked over the days classes.
“Yeah. I wanted to do it today before the weekend comes and the cubs get all wild.”
“We’re having the barbeque/baby shower on Sunday. You are still coming, right?”
“Of course I’m coming. Can I bring a date?” Ian curled his lips into a grin.
“A date? Is this something serious?” Ivy narrowed her eyes at him and he flashed her his lady-killer smile.
“Could be. Can I bring her?” Ian studied Ivy for her reaction. He had never brought a woman to meet his family. His heart beat faster and his palms started to sweat inside his pockets.
“What’s her name?” Ivy had a smile now too. She had that sister grin she got when she thought she knew a big secret.
“Andy. She’s a legal assistant.” Ian shifted as Ivy gazed at him.
“When did you meet her?” Ivy took a step toward him.
Batwings beat inside his stomach. He wasn’t ready to tell her everything. “You know, I’ve got this class I have to get ready for. I’ll catch you later, sis.” Ian kissed Ivy on the forehead.
“Ian Landry, you can’t run from me.” Ivy called down the hall after him as he jogged away.
“Just watch me.” He hollered over his shoulder as he headed toward his classroom.
***
The cubs shuffled into the classroom in their loose fitting clothes as a group. All five of them pushed and jabbed at each other, a few snarls sounded from their midst. The cubs were young, sixteen years at most and all male. Ian never taught the females, they were just too hard to understand and they cried. He didn’t do tears. The cubs’ bare feet slapped the mats as they crossed the floor to the center of the small gym room Ian had chosen for today’s practice. The same room that was used for elder meetings.
Ian took in a deep breath through his nose, his nostrils flared. He could still smell the scent of the pack elders lingering in the air and the coppery tickle of blood. That would do nicely to awake the aggression in the cubs. They had to learn about control and anything he could do to make them loose it would help. Somebody was shoved and a small fight broke out in the back of the group. Ian cleared his throat.
“Alright, can it. It’s time to work. Form a circle around me and breathe through your nose. Deep breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth.” The cubs fanned out, automatically spacing themselves an arm’s length apart in a loose semi circle. “Tony, what do you smell?”
Tony, a tall lanky boy with dark brown hair closed his eyes as his nostrils flared. “Something metallic.”
“Take it in through your mouth and taste it on your tongue. Try again.” Ian watched the boy closely as he obeyed.
“Tastes like a copper penny.” Tony opened his eyes and stared at Ian.
“No, dumb ass, it taste like a nose bleed. It’s blood.” Gavin pushed his shoulders back and raised his chin at Ian.
Ian didn’t need to see Gavin’s crooked nose to know why he knew it was blood. The boy had tasted it often enough in the back of his throat.
“Gavin’s right. It’s blood. Now who was here? There were six Weres. One human.”
“The one’s easy.” Gavin closed his eyes. His nostrils flared and he stiffened. “My uncle.”
“That’s right. Warren was here. Five more.” The cubs brows narrowed as they focused and names popped to lips until and five remaining elders were named.
“One left. Anyone want to try?” Ian stared directly at Gavin challenging him. He was a smart cub, but acted too big for his own good.
Finally, the cubs shoulders dropped and Gavin shook his head.
“It was me. The reason you can’t sort through it is because I’m here now, my scent is blocking my earlier scent and throwing you off. With enough practice you’ll be able to tell a current scent from a past scent.” Edge stepped from behind the lockers and moved toward the cubs. His tall muscular build and dark hair was something that intimidated most adults. He lived at the Haven and frequented the rooms often; his scent was everywhere. The cubs couldn’t scent him in the room because it had become a part of the center itself.
They all stared at their alpha with wide eyes and open mouths, even the smart mouthed Gavin. It wasn’t often they got to be in the same room with him without the elders.
“Keep working, it’ll get easier.” He waved at Ian and left the room.
“Which brings me to homework.” Groans went up around the room as the door closed. “This weekend I want you to find a room in your house that other people have used, identify the scents of the Weres or people. Then when there is someone in that room attempt to separate the past scent from the present scent.”
The door to the gym opened and a red haired teenage cub stuck her head in.
“I’m looking for Dr. Martin’s office.” She shuffled her feet back and forth and pushed her glasses back up on her freckled nose.
“You want the second floor.” Ian pointed up and she smiled then turned away. As the door shut a musky womanly scent shot through the classroom. A female in heat.
“She’s mine.” Gavin growled and lunged for the door.
Ian tackled Gavin to the floor as the other cubs twitched and shivered.
“Get off me.” Ian struggled to get a better hold on Gavin’s arms as the cub thrashed under him. Any minute the immature cub would change. A deep groan signaled exactly what Ian predicted would happen.
Ian jumped up and raced for the door, locking it. If he couldn’t control them he would have to contain them until they came to their senses. One teenage cub in heat had sent his entire class into chaos. Gavin moaned as bone popped and snapped. Tony was doubled over ripping his shirt over his head.
“Control your change. Don’t let it control you.” Ian’s voice thundered through the room as the cubs all dropped to the floor and shed clothing.
“It hurts.” Someone cried out.
“Why is this happening?” They were confused.
“She was in heat. Just breathe and roll through it. Remember what I taught you. This is how it works when it happens on its own.” Ian stood guard over the door as hands became paws, arms and legs shortened. Tendons snapped and backs lengthened. Gavin changed and panted, nearest to Ian. He was the one Ian worried about most. The one that would fight to get out. He knew too much for a cub and Ian wondered if his human uncle, Warren, knew any of this about his Were nephew.
Fur washed over Gavin’s body in a rush of caramel as he changed into his cougar form. Gavin threw his head back and screamed as his tail swished around his feet. Gavin lay still for a minute panting as the res
t of the cubs were still in the midst of their changes. Then he slowly rose on trembling legs to his feet, shook his head and screamed, the sound deafening Ian in the small echoing gym. Gavin paced back and forth in front of Ian his head between his shoulder blades, his tail swishing behind his legs, moving slowly as if sizing up his prey.
Damn it to hell. Ian did not want to fight the cub, but he would if he needed to. If he had to prove who was boss, so be it.
“Gavin calm down. She’s not yours. She’s just another cub. I know your blood is roaring in your ears, but you need to think right now. Use your brain. Don’t allow the cat to control you.” Ian kept his gaze steady on Gavin, showing no fear. “Breathe, in through your nose, out through your mouth. Allow the calm to wash over your body.”
The other cubs were on the floor panting now having completed their changes. The orange and black tigers huddled in on themselves gathering together. Slowly one by one they stood testing their limbs, some stretched their backs and legs. Others sniffed the air and shook their great heads on their necks. It wasn’t that they hadn’t been in tiger form before, but with the high hormones in the air they soared with aggression. Hair stiffened and tempers flared as the tigers eyed each other, all four of them. The tiger bodies arched into the air as their feet left the ground and they met chest to chest, snarls coming from their lips.
Shit.
Gavin turned his head as his cousins fought and the hair on Ian’s neck bristled. Ian quickly flung clothes off his body and called the change. His bones popped and snapped as his hand rounded into paws. His feet followed suit as his arms and legs shortened. He dropped to all fours. His jaw snapped open as his teeth filled his mouth sharp and pointed his fangs dipped down below his upper lip. His skull contorted as his ears moved to the top of his head and thinned out. His spine rippled and cracked as it lengthened and went flexible. Then in a prickly wash his fur shot out of his pores and covered his body in orange and black stripes. His tail grew in last as if by pure magic, swishing around his feet. Ian panted as the pain rolled over him one last time making his gut clench. The pain was the worst part. Ian never got used to it. He rose up to all fours shaking his head to resettle himself. Gavin stared, his golden eyes gone wide in his face. Ian had a good couple hundred pounds on the cub. And the sure intimidation factor of Gavin seeing him in full grown tiger form seemed to have knocked the cub down a peg or two. Still Ian eyed him carefully. The other cubs continued to wrestle behind Gavin.
The Twin Moon (The Moon Series) Page 3