“Are you okay?” Andy was concerned, that was the second time she’d heard him make the noise.
“It’s nothing major, just over did it with the kids the other day. I took a few days off to recoup. Pulled some muscles.”
“Oh, okay. Too much rough housing, huh?” Andy smiled while pictures of him with the kids traveled through her mind.
“Something like that. So what was it you do?”
“I’m a legal assistant. I pull case files for the lawyers I work for and do leg work on cases for them.” Andy tugged at the hem of her dress.
“Really? That sounds like an interesting job.”
“It is. Sometimes. Sometimes it’s just boring, but all work is at one time or another, I guess.” Andy didn’t want to talk about her work. She wanted to know more about Ian.
“What did you wear to work today?” Ian’s voice dropped an octave all husky and the sound played over her skin like fingers caressing her body.
“A knee length short sleeved black dress and a pair of heels.” Andy smiled at the question. He must be trying to picture what she looked like today and that brought nice warmth to her belly.
“What did you wear under the dress?”
Andy hesitated. Ian sure did move fast. She wasn’t sure she was ready to tease like this with him, but she had already flirted with him at the club. Hell she’d had her tongue half way down his throat. Maybe it was okay. Andy bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth as she listened to Ian breath over the line.
“Stockings and garters with a black lace bra and matching panties.” When she finally answered, she blushed and held her hand to her burning cheek embarrassed.
“Mmm, sounds very sexy. Do you always dress like that?” Ian’s voice was low now vibrating through her body as he spoke; her nipples harden inside her bra.
“Y-Yes.” She croaked on the words.
“Am I embarrassing you, Andy?” His words whispered in her ear and an ache stared between her thighs. God, he was so sexy.
“A little.” Andy pressed the phone harder to her ear as if somehow she could get closer to him.
“I didn’t mean to, but I find you very attractive. I won’t hide that from you.” His words sent excitement through her. Her attractive?
“I think you’re attractive, too.” That sounded stupid. Andy slapped herself in her forehead. “I mean, you’re very handsome.”
Ian chuckled.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t done this in a while.” Andy shook her head and sighed.
“It’s okay you’re doing fine. I wanted to get your phone number though.” Ian shifted and groaned a little in the background.
Andy gave him her phone number and just then the doorbell rang signaling the arrival of the pizza.
“I have to go, my dinner just got here. It was good to talk to you, Ian.”
“It was good to talk to you too. I’ll catch you later, Andy. Bye.” With that he hung up.
Rosie walked out of her bedroom and answered the door, paying the pizza man and taking the pizza. She shut and locked the door behind her.
“So how was your talk?” Rosie set the pizza on the counter in the kitchen.
“Good. God his voice is so sexy.” Andy sighed as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed plates from the cabinet.
“Did he make your panties wet?” Rosie wiggled her eyebrows at her.
“God, you can be so vulgar.” Andy pushed her shoulder and set the plates on the counter, then heat infused her cheeks. “Yes, yes he did.”
“So are you going to call him again?” Rosie scooped up a slice of pizza and put it on her plate.
“Defenitely.”
Chapter Five
When Ian opened his eyes next it was morning and Warren stood in his doorway holding a tray of food.
“Edge sent me over. You hungry?” Warren walked into the bedroom and sat the tray on the dresser. His dark skin was like mahogany and his bald head shown in the dim light. Warren raised Ian and stuffed pillows behind him then retrieved the tray and placed it across his lap.
“How’s that jaw?” He crossed his arms over his chest as he eyed Ian.
“Sore. DJ’s got a nasty right hook. I didn’t know we’d keep going once we changed back into human form.” Ian surveyed his breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast. It looked good, soft food were defiantly a plus for his sore face.
“It’s the unexpected that gets you in the end. They have to know you can defend yourself. Edge says you did well.” Warren motioned to the breakfast. “Eat up, you need your strength.”
“So, how did you end up part of this pack? You’re human.” Ian scooped up a fork full of scrambled eggs and chewed.
“Edge and I met when we were young. When his guardians took him in, my brother and I came looking for him and they took us in too. He’s my brother.” Warren walked over to Ian’s dresser and picked up the picture of him and Ivy. “Ivy. She sure has made a difference in his life.”
“He’s made a difference in hers, too.” Ian ate another bite as he watched longing wash over Warren’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Warren turned as he returned the picture to its place on the dresser. Ian knew that look. Loneliness. He had worn that look himself, the night he met Andy.
“So how’s Gavin?” Ian ate slowly trying to take his time as to inflict as little pain as possible on his sore jaw.
“A mess. He’s convinced Shelley’s his mate.” Warren shook his head as he leaned against the dresser.
“He would know better than anyone else.”
“They’re sixteen. How are we supposed to keep a hormonal sixteen year old male off a female in heat in the first place? Throw the mating on top of it and, well, I cuffed him to his bed this morning.” Warren looked away.
“You what?” Ian’s jaw fell open the eggs about tumbled out. “Warren, you can’t just lock him up. He needs help.” Ian shifted in the bed and almost spilled the plate of food onto the floor. A slow burn of anger had started in his heart.
“I have a community center to help run I don’t have time to babysit a cub. If my damn brother hadn’t got himself killed I wouldn’t even have this problem.” Warren’s words snapped like a wet towel and made Ian take a quick breath to hide the anger that burned a hole inside his chest. “I’m not like you. I don’t know how to deal with a hormonal cougar.”
Those cubs were innocent in this, especially the girl. She had no control over any of this and God help them all if they ended up with a pregnant sixteen year old on their hands. Edge would roast all of them.
“I can help. Let me heal up another day and I can be there for him. Gavin’s hard headed, but he’s smart. He learns quick, I can teach him control.”
“Fine. Better you than me. Good luck with that vicious woman he calls a mother, too.” With that Warren left.
Ian was prepared to deal with anything if it meant helping the cub. The mother could be as mean as she wanted as long as Ian was able to do what needed doing.
***
Ian spent most of the day asleep, allowing his body’s natural healing abilities to work. At lunch Chad woke him. His shaggy hair and dark eyes stared at him from the doorway.
“Jesus, Chad, you could say something.” Ian sat up slowly wincing a little, but his body didn’t ache nearly as bad as it had last night. Chad just shrugged as he made his way into the room with the tray then set it down in front of Ian. It held a sandwich and chips with a can of soda.
Chad shrugged again. He was younger than the other elders. But just as big. He shoved his hand in his pockets staring at Ian.
“Don’t talk much, do you?” Ian asked as he took a bite out of the sandwich. Chad shook his head. “Well, thanks for the food.”
Chad gave him a two fingered salute then exited the room. That went well. A few minutes later the front door opened and closed. A tall man who filled the doorway entered, his black hair cropped close to his head his eyes so black the pupils were invisible.
“Ian, good to see you u
p. I stopped by last night but you were out. Chad left. Don’t know if you remember me. I’m Alex.” Alex stuck out his hand and Ian shook it. Ian did remember Alex he was the puma and he was a vicious fighter.
“Thanks for stopping by.” Ian took a drink of soda.
“Had to come check on you, little brother, we roughed you up pretty bad. You mending yet?” Alex took Ian’s empty tray from his lap.
“Yeah I feel better, not as achy. You’re a puma.” Ian eyed Alex considering him as he waited for the response.
“I am. My pride moved to Mexico long ago and I stayed behind. Edge took in my mate and myself.” Alex shifted the tray in his hands. “You need anything?”
Ian considered that for a minute.
“Yeah, can you help me to the bathroom? I’d like to soak in the tub for a while.” That sounded like just the thing to ease his sore body.
“Can do, little brother, can do. Be right back.” Alex left the room with the tray and soon heard the water turn on in the bathroom.
Ian soaked a long while in the tub and after Alex helped him back to bed he slept again. The phone woke him.
“Hello?”
“Ian?”
“Andy. Hi, how was your day?” Ian sat up slowly against the pillows as giddy warmth suffused his chest. She’d called again. That was a good thing.
“Busy. Crazy. I just need to talk to someone and you came to mind.”
His heart skipped a little in excited happiness as he grinned. She had thought of him first to call? Cool. Maybe that was progress already.
“I’m glad you called. What’s going on?” He hoped she’d trust him enough to tell him.
“Well, I didn’t tell you last night when I called, but someone broke into my house yesterday and trashed all my clothes. I spent today calling the insurance people and shopping for new clothes. It’s been exhausting.” Andy exhaled a deep breath and the sound over the phone line was of blankets rustling.
Ian immediately went on red alert. Someone had broken into his mate’s house and he wasn’t there to defend her. Damn it! Anger roiled through him making his blood boil inside him.
“Are you okay? You aren’t hurt are you?” He would tear them apart limb from limb when he caught whoever did that to her.
“I’m fine. He just trashed my bedroom and my clothes.” Andy sounded tired like she needed a long nap or a massage. Wait. Did she just say he? He would definitely ask her about that later. Right now he wanted to know if she was in bed and comfort her.
Ian softened his voice until it was a low rumble.
“But you went shopping? I thought women love to shop.” Ian imagined her stretched out on her bed in her lacey bra, panties and garters.
“Oh, I do. Rosie went with me. It’s just… I guess it would have been better if it was for fun and not out of necessity. Anyway, enough about me. How are you feeling today?”
“Me? I’m okay. Took a hot bath and slept some more. You know what you need? A massage.” Ian ran his hand over his chest as he thought about running his hands over her body.
“A massage? How are you going to give me a massage over the phone?” Andy voice was filled with disbelief.
“Easy. But you have to listen carefully. Are you ready?” Ian grinned.
“Okay.” She drawled out the O.
“Where are you?” Ian closed his eyes and listened to her soft voice allowing it to crawl over his skin.
“I’m lying on my bed.”
“Okay, lie on your stomach and stretch out.” Ian tensed waiting to see if she’d do it. When he heard the shifting over the phone he knew she’d complied.
“Done. Now what?” Andy’s voice, slightly muffled by the pillow, was soft over the line.
“Now close your eyes. I’m going to straddle your hips and lean over your back. I’m running my hand up your back. Are you wearing another dress today?” Ian imagined his hands on her body moving slowly up her sides.
“No, shorts and a t-shirt. Your thighs are pinning down my hips. It feels good.”
“I touch your shoulders, your muscles are tight. You must have had a very stressful day. I can feel your muscle bunch under my hands as I rub them. Can you feel my palms on your shoulders? My fingers kneading into the knots?” Ian imagined it now as he laid there, his hands twitching to do the work his mind created.
“Harder, Ian my shoulders are sore.” Andy sighed as if his hands were on her.
“Any way you want it, baby. Let me move down your back and your shoulder blades. Can you feel my hands pressing into your spine? Your shirt’s in the way. Take it off for me.” Ian held his breath to see what she’d do at the suggestion. Then he heard the rustle of fabric as it slipped past the phone.
“Is that better? Just my bra.” Andy’s voice was low and glided inside Ian teasing his cock brushing gently across it.
“What color is it today?” Ian rubbed his hand over himself, just a quick caress over the sheet that ran tingles through to his toes. He was excited already.
“Red with lace. Do you like red?”
“Mmm, yes. Now be still and let me feel all that creamy skin of yours. I have some lotion. It smells like you, like roses, can I use it on your back?” Ian thought of her smell the way it swirled around his head at the night at the club. His cock tugged to life.
“Yes, I love the smell of roses. It reminds me of love.”
“I put some in my hands and get it warm first then rub it into your back. Starting at the base of your spine and pushing my palms up with my fingers running up your sides. I love the way you smell and I’ll brush my nose over your neck to take in your scent before I rub your shoulders again.”
“That sounds nice.” Andy moaned low and slow as if his hands were actually on her.
“Keep rubbing your muscles until all your tension just melts away and you’re like butter in my hands.” A loud banging noise came over the phone line interrupting the conversation. “What’s that?”
“Nothing. Just ignore it and he’ll go away. What else, Ian? What else would you do to me?” Andy’s voice dropped to a low whisper and if he wasn’t a Were tiger he would have had to strain to hear her. The booming didn’t stop in the back ground if anything it increased in volume. “Talk to me, Ian. I need to hear your voice.” Andy’s whisper shook, and it seemed as though she might be trembling. Ian wasn’t sure, but he could swear there also fear in her voice. He decided to continue on the conversation.
“What else? Well, now that you’re nice and relaxed I can kiss your neck and down your back touching all the places your skin’s exposed. I find all those places that make you shiver by sucking at your skin, pulling up small marks down your spine then using my tongue to soothe them.” Ian shifted his hand under the covers to touch himself. His cock was hard and aching at all that pale skin being marked by his bite. The red blush in her skin would be so arousing. The mere brush of his fingers on his shaft and his cock jumped.
Andy’s breath was heavy in the phone. “More, Ian. Please.” She moaned very softly for him.
“I unhook your bra and pull it off your arms slowly, one side at a time then run my fingers up your sides, touching the curve of your breasts. I can just imagine how soft your skin is under my hands. Do you want that, Andy? Do you want me to touch your breasts?”
“Yes.” Andy’s words were whispered and they brushed over Ian as he stroked his cock for the first time that night. The sensation of smooth skin over hard muscle was a sharp contrast to his rough hand and his balls tingled. If only it was her hand.
“Turn over for me and take off your bra.” How far was she willing to go? Would she do everything he asked her to? Ian was about to ask her to pull on her nipples when a dog’s barking interrupted him. What was going on at her house? “Is everything okay over there?”
“Ian, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Andy hung up the phone.
Damn. Ian sat down the phone, disappointed that he had been left hard and aching. He was worried about what in the world had ha
ppened at Andy’s house and what had she meant by if she ignored it he would go away. Maybe someone had been bothering Andy and he was laid up with no way to defend her. Ian didn’t even know where she lived. Frustrated he shifted away from the phone and closed his eyes.
Ian beat his fist on the bed. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he was laid up and helpless to protect his mate. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling imagining all types of horrid things that could be happening to Andy. He shifted his legs over the bed trying to stand alone and quickly crumpled to the floor. He just didn’t have his strength back yet. He clung to the sheet and pulled himself back in the bed, landing face down in the pillows and roared.
***
Andy tossed her shirt back on, sans bra, and raced to the back door angry that she had to stop talking to Ian. The house was dark and night had fallen outside. Dallas barked at the top of his lungs, snarling and growling as he prowled from side to side at the fence. Andy didn’t dare open the back door with him like that, but she was positive that someone had tried to jump her fence. She crept slowly through the house careful not to bang her knees on the furniture, her heart beat loudly in her ears and she jumped as a car honked outside then parted the curtains slightly to peer out the living room window. Anxiety redoubled inside her tightening her stomach muscles as the light from the streetlight outside came in and she could see her front yard fully. There was no sign of whoever had been out there.
Andy dropped the curtain back into place and moved toward the kitchen. Turning on the kitchen light over the sink to get a drink of water she exhaled a sigh at the sight of her still intact window. It wasn’t too late…maybe she should call Ian back. The conversation had really been heating up before she’d hung up. What would it have led to if she hadn’t hung up the phone? Andy drank her glass of water then flipped off the light switch. Dallas had finally settled down outside. Andy made her way to the bedroom and picked up the phone, dialing Ian’s number again.
The Twin Moon (The Moon Series) Page 7