The Twin Moon (The Moon Series)

by Christopher, Buffy

  “Hello?” His masculine voice was as sexy as she remembered caressing over her senses.

  “Hi, Ian. It’s Andy. Sorry someone was trying to get into my back yard.” Andy sat down on her bed, her room dark.

  “That’s okay. I was worried about you. Is this something that happens often?” There was worry in his voice.

  “No, I’ve been having some problems with my ex and I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t him.” Andy didn’t want to admit her issues with Rich, but she wouldn’t lie to Ian either. He had to know the truth up front. She had baggage. “I don’t mean to sound like a drag, but I’d rather tell you up front he’s been causing a lot of problems in my life.”

  “Well, it’s not your fault he’s bothering you. Do you need me to beat him up?” The tone of his voice said he had a smile on his face.

  “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me, but no. Then I wouldn’t be any better than he is. I’m sure he’ll go away… eventually.” Andy shook her head even as she grinned wishing she could have met Ian before she had met Rich. “Let’s not talk about him. Where were we before I had to hang up?” Andy couldn’t help it Ian’s voice was sexy as hell and she had wanted to touch herself as she listened to him earlier.

  “Where were we? I believe I had taken off your bra and I was about to kiss you all over. Where are you?” Ian’s voice dropped to that husky rumble that tugged at her womb.

  “I’m taking off my shirt and lying back on my bed. Will you kiss me first, Ian?” Andy allowed her brain to wonder pulling her shirt over her head she laid back on her pillows. The cotton was cool against her bare skin. Were Ian’s sheets were warm or cold?

  “Your lips are perfect and full, kissable. I’d love to kiss you first like we did that night in the club. Put my knee between your legs and lean over you, tipping your chin up to look at me so I could stare deep into those beautiful brown eyes of yours as I lower my head to touch your lips with mine.” Ian’s words were like magic as they skated across her skin and created goose bumps. Something inside her went tight at the image of him lowering his head to hers, his lips brushing across hers, so soft and gentle at first then harder, more demanding.

  “I’d lick your lower lip slowly with my tongue so you’d open your mouth for me. Would you invite me in, Andy?” Ian’s voice was a rough whisper.

  “Oh yes, so that your tongue could dance with mine in my mouth.” Heat suffused her chest and neck, climbing slowly up her face as she blushed. It seemed so naughty to be doing this with him, but so right. She just couldn’t seem to help herself when she was with him, he turned her on. “God, I love your voice Ian. It’s so sexy.”

  “Yeah? Tell me what it does to you.” It sounded like a challenge to Andy.

  “Your voice makes my nipples hard and there’s this tingling heat in my belly.” Andy was embarrassed talking dirty to him. She had never done this with anyone else. “Umm, my body’s hot, everywhere and the more you talk the worse it gets. It makes me ache inside, like I need to be f-filled.” A tingle of excitement shimmied through her body at her own words. Andy rubbed a hand over her right breast and her nipple immediately pebbled against her fingers.

  “See that wasn’t so hard.”

  “This is crazy.” Andy rubbed her hand over her face as she lay there in bed. She was actually thinking about getting off with him.

  “What’s so crazy about it? I’m a male, you’re a female. We’re enjoying each other. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “But we just met. The other night we were all over each other and look at us, tonight we can’t even have a normal conversation without it turning sexual. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?” Andy really was into this phone call and that was the problem. Warning bells were screaming sirens in her ears, calling for her to put on the breaks.

  “Do you want to stop?”

  The question sounded so innocent, the way he said it, it made a flushing heat rise up inside of her and suddenly it was if she was two foot tall. “Yes… and no.” Andy was torn between wanting to orgasm and doing what was right or at least what she thought was right.

  “It’s up to you, baby. We stop whenever you say so.”

  Why did he have to be so damn nice? Andy’s head was a turbulent storm, tossing her this way and that in uncertainty. What if he thought she was easy? But he was so sexy.

  “Andy, are you still there?” Ian’s voice was calm and low, almost patient as he waited for her.

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I better go. Good night, Ian.” He asked her to wait, but she hung up. Andy wasn’t sure what had come over her, but she was glad she had stopped when she did. She pulled on her shirt and cuddle up in bed. She wanted to talk more with Ian, but not if she kept throwing herself at him. She shook her head. She needed to get some sleep, she glanced at the clock. It was late and work would come early tomorrow.

  Chapter Six

  Ian rolled out of bed slow and easy. His body still ached, but he would go see Gavin today if it killed him. He wasn’t leaving the boy chained to the bed.

  The shower was good, hot water made his sore muscles ache a little less. As he got dressed he remembered his phone conversation with Andy. He hoped he could get her back on the phone tonight. They had been so close to some real hands on stuff when she’d freaked out and hung up. What could have scared her? Maybe things had moved to fast. All of it just seemed so natural for Ian with her considering she was his mate. It didn’t occur to him not to talk to her like that.

  “Hey.” Ian paused in the living room to find Dillon on the couch cleaning his gun. When he did stuff like that it just made Ian nervous. “Been shooting?”

  “No questions, remember.” Dillon continued with wiping the inside of his barrel.

  “Right, sorry. I’m headed out for a little while.” Ian motioned to the door.

  “See you later.” Dillon held the barrel up to stare inside.

  “Yeah, later.” Ian turned away. His brother was just strange. Ian was aware that his status as a tracker for the Silver Creek Pack up north, his parents pack, was important, and the position was for loners like Dillon, but the guy was just weird since he’d came to Ian’s. Ian wasn’t sure what he thought about that either. He shook his head as he locked his apartment door and made his way down the hall. Dillon must be in some big shit if he was here. Hiding. Because he was. Ian was sure of it.

  He drove over to Warren’s house, from the directions Warren had left at his apartment. The house was nice, normal for the Craftsman style neighborhood. Big. He parked on the street out front and slid out. Ian knocked. The door opened.

  “Ian. Hi. What are you doing here?” A cougar from the pack stood in the door way. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and she was in pink stretch shorts, a white sports bra and sneakers.

  “I’m not sure I have the right address. I thought this was Warren’s place.” Ian looked back up at the number then at the note in his hand.

  “You’re in the right place. This is Warren’s place. Darn and I thought you were here to see me.” The woman had a pout on her face when Ian glanced back up at her.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t…” Ian had forgotten her name.

  Fire flashed in the black of her eyes as she stared at him. Then she smiled brightly and put her hand out. “I’m Kaylen.”

  “Nice to meet you, again. Warren said he was having problems with Gavin. I thought maybe I could help. I’ve worked with Gavin a lot at The Haven.”

  “Oh, yeah, come in. He’s been wild since he discovered,” she marked the word with air quotes,” his mate. He’s upstairs in his bedroom. You just caught me in the middle of my workout so if you’ll excuse me I need to get back to that.” She turned and heading into the house. Ian followed and closed the door behind him as she walked away.

  Okay, so Ian figured it was up to him to find Gavin. He headed up the stairs and found a door partially open. Ian sniffed, Gavin’s scent was strongest here. He knocked.

  “
I told you to go away.” The cub roared.

  Ian cracked the door open and poked his head inside. Gavin’s right arm was raised above his head and cuffed to the bed. He was in a t-shirt and boxers lying on top of his covers.

  “Hey.” Ian opened the door and came into the room.

  Gavin looked up then hurried into a sitting position. “What do you want?” he snarled.

  “I thought maybe we could talk.” Ian grabbed the chair at Gavin’s desk and pulled it closer to the bed then sat down. “Warren said you’ve been having some problems.”

  “He’s the one with the problem. I hate him. He’s not my father.” Gavin clenched his jaw and looked out the window to the right of his head board.

  “I don’t think he wants to be, Gavin, but he is your uncle and if you have a problem, he has a problem. That’s how family works and he’s still pack.” Ian brushed his hands down his thighs trying to make sure he didn’t say things that would overly upset the cub.

  “He’s human. He’s not even like us.” Gavin sneered at Ian.

  “Neither was your father, but you still accepted him.”

  “My dad was a god among men.” Gavin growled low in his throat. “His strength could match any Were, and you know it. My stupid uncle is just human, Edge’s fuckin’ bookkeeper.”

  “First, do not cuss at me. Second, your uncle is CPA who went to school for a long time to earn his degree.” Ian ticked off the sentences on his fingers. “Third, my mate’s human. Does that make her any less important?” Ian waited for Gavin’s answer, hoping the boy hadn’t become prejudice against what essential boiled down to his own kind, he was part human because of his father and lucky that he could shift into cougar form at all.

  “No, I guess, not.” Gavin’s shoulder slumped a little.

  “When our ancestors decided to merge with the cats in the jungle to protect themselves from the great hunters we made a promise to our people, to never forget that there were two sides to ourselves.” Ian held both of his hands out in front of him to illustrate. “The human and the cat. We respect both. We are not just one or the other and we cannot be one without the other. Even though it was a long time ago and our people have changed over time it is still who we are.”

  “I know, I remember the stories.” Gavin nodded his head his eyes locked on a hole in the blanket near his thigh as he picked at the threads.

  “Then you also remember the stories about mating.” Gavin’s head immediately shot up and his gaze locked on Ian’s.

  “I remember that a male finds his mate. That he knows her by her scent and her voice. That no one can take her from him once he finds her.” Gavin’s words were sudden and quick. Still he stared at Ian, unmoving, his fingers no longer fiddling with the hole in the blanket.

  “That’s true. A male does find the female, but the female decides if she wants the male. The decision is hers. And as males we have to allow the female to make that choice. We cannot force her. Do you understand?” Ian folded his hands as he waited for Gavin’s response. The cub stared at him for a long minute then looked down at the blanket and started messing with the hole again. Please, let him understand. Ian didn’t want to wring this cub’s neck.

  “But she’s mine.” Gavin’s spoke quietly and when he looked up there were tears in his eyes. “I don’t even know her name. They won’t tell me and I can’t see her.” The cub dashed the tears away and shook his head. “No, she’s mine. I have to have her.”

  “You can Gavin, but not now. It’s too soon. You’re still cubs. That’s not fair to her.” Ian ran a hand through his hair. What would he do if someone told him he couldn’t pursue Andy? That would kill him. His heart hurt for the cub. “What do you think her parents would do if Edge allowed you to take her?”

  Gavin looked out the window. The silence stretched so long that Ian was sure he would have to leave. “What about email?”

  “Email?” Ian was lost. What the hell was he talking about?

  “Yeah, email. Can I talk to her through email? Introduce myself, get to know her, you know. Can you ask Edge?” Gavin stared at him again with big blue eyes so much like his mothers, but at odds with his dark skin, just like his father, Jax.

  “I can ask Edge. That’s all I can promise, but you have to do something for me. You have to stay in this house until Warren says you can leave and you have to work with me so I can teach you control. We’ve got to get you out of these cuffs.” Ian stood up and pushed the chair back into the desk.

  Gavin looked down at the cuff and his shoulders slumped, his voice going low. “My mom has the key.”

  “I’ll be back.” Ian headed out of the room and walked down the hall intent on finding Kaylen to get the key. She bumped into him in the hall. In a towel.

  “Oh, Ian. I didn’t hear you. Are you done with Gavin?” She pushed the white fluffy towel down into itself next to her breast, her hair wrapped up in another towel. Didn’t hear him his ass, she was a cougar.

  “Yeah, I’d like the key for the cuffs.” Ian put his hand out.

  “There just in my room.” She wondered down the hall, Ian followed. When he entered the room she was bent over at the waist digging in the pocket of a pair of jeans the back of the towel was hiked up so high it showed all her secrets. Ian quickly turned his back.

  “Here it is.” She exclaimed from behind him.

  She pushed her body up against him as she handed the key to him over his shoulder. Ian took it from her hand. “Thanks.” Ian turned and she stepped into him.

  “Any time, Ian.” She stepped into his space and kept stepping until Ian was pressed up against the door.

  “Kaylen.” Ian put his hands on her shoulders to push her away.

  “Yes?” She rubbed her body against him and nuzzled his neck with her nose.

  “I’m seeing someone.” He pushed her away gently. Ian didn’t want to hurt her.

  “You what? That’s not possible. You’re the wildest male I know.” Fire lit her eyes as she stared up at him and red burned across her face. “Don’t tell me you forgot about three months ago?”

  Shit, he hadn’t even remembered her name.

  “That was a different time, before I found her.”

  “No wonder you didn’t even look at me at the club the other night.” The silly pout returned to her face. “Well, no matter. You’re here and I’m here… and she isn’t.” She purred and licked a line across his jaw.

  “It may not make a difference to you, but she matters to me.” Ian set Kaylen aside and strode from the room. The woman was more aggressive than she should be. That worried him. That must have been where Gavin got his aggressive tendencies from.

  Back in the bedroom Ian released Gavin. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I want you to start a journal. Write your letters to her in there until I can talk to Edge.”

  “Alright.” Gavin nodded his head and rubbed his wrist.

  “And stay put. No leaving the house or the back yard. That’s as far as you go. Promise?” Ian stared the boy deep in the eyes as if pulling the promise from deep within him.

  “Yeah, promise.” Gavin dropped his gaze and sank down on the bed, shoulders turning into himself. Ian clapped him on the back and left the room. What would he do if he couldn’t have Andy? She was human after all. What would happen if she didn’t want him? A new fear took shape in Ian’s gut and started at a slow simmer.

  ***

  Andy pulled into her driveway to a glaring red “W-H-O-R-E” painted on her garage door about three and a half foot high, six foot wide.

  Andy stopped the car in the driveway and just stared at it. “Seriously? Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it.” She hit the stirring wheel wishing it was Rich’s head. Anger flushed her cheeks with heat. “I hate you, Rich,” she screamed at the top of her lungs. This has to stop. She turned the car off and jumped out, tugging her bag out of the seat beside her and hiking it up on her shoulder. “Did no one really see this?” She asked as she moved toward the crimson letters. Jesus, give her a
scarlet “A” on her chest and march her through town. Andy dug her cell phone out of her pocket and took a picture. Then she called the police department. The non-emergency number… again.

  Andy unlocked the door while she called the police, late afternoon had passed into early evening and the whole neighborhood would be arriving soon to see the word spray painted across her garage door. Parents would be explaining to their children what the word meant or covering their eyes so they couldn’t read it. Tears welled up in Andy’s eyes as pain sliced through her. She was defenseless against this kind of violence. What could she do if she wasn’t home? She was so sick of his little surprises every time she turned around.

  Wiping a hand across her eyes she answered the knock at the door that was the police officer. As it turned out it was Officer Ochoa and his partner again.

  “Afternoon. That’s some sign you’ve got.” The Officer motioned to the garage as he pulled his notepad out of his pocket.

  “I know. What a pleasant surprise to find when you come home, huh?” Andy unlocked the door and opened it.

  The Officer asked her some questions and jotted down what she said. Then they left her, alone with the sign. Andy texted the picture of the sign to Rosie who immediately called.

  “What the hell is that?” Rosie did not sound happy.

  “That is on my garage. Would you like to come over and help me paint?” Andy locked up the house and went to change into her only pair of grubby shorts and one of the left over shirts from the burglary. Then headed out to the garage to find the primer and paint. Luckily, Rosie’s brothers had painted the house last year and she had stuff left over. Andy sorted through the cans and found what she needed. She closed up the garage and checked the painted letters. They were dry all right. Lovely, lovely spray paint.

  Andy had just poured the paint into the pans when Rosie arrived.

  “Hola, amiga. That is the biggest eyesore I have ever seen. The disrespectful pendejo.” Rosie stood with hands on her hips staring at the word.