“What are you going to do?” Gavin started openly at him the cubs eyes were wide his eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline.
“Take my time. She’s human, she doesn’t know our ways.” Ian ran a hand through his hair. His fear over the unknown that had started with Andy still rattled him.
“Hmm. At least you can see her. I can’t even see my mate. Don’t even know her name.” Gavin’s voice grumbled out of his chest. How could the cub’s voice be so deep, he didn’t even have facial hair.
“Her name’s Shelly. She’s sixteen and lives near The Haven.” Emotion swirled over Gavin’s face. Excitement chased the tail of desire as he sighed her name.
“Shelly. That’s a sweet name. When do I get to meet her?” Gavin lit up, eyes shining straightening up in his chair, obviously eager for more information.
“Whoa, slow down there lover boy. We still have to prove you’re house broken.” Ian sipped his coffee again in no hurry to rush the conversation.
“Come on man, this sucks. My insides are all torn up.” Gavin ran a hand over his face.
“And?” Ian took another slow sip of his coffee raising an eyebrow.
“Damn, don’t make me say it. I hate this girly stuff.” Gavin resumed his first position with his eyebrows scrunched and his arms hugging his chest.
“This girly stuff is going to make you a better male and a better mate, so start talking or you’re just going to sit there and stare at me while I sip my coffee today and tomorrow and the next day and the next day…”
“Okay, okay I get it. Fine. Without her, everything sucks. Nothing’s good anymore and I mean nothing, if you get me.” Gavin motioned to his crotch. “Used to be I was happy with anybody, now, I can’t even do that without seeing her face. Do you know had much that stinks?”
Ian tried really hard not to laugh. A young wild cub cut down in his prime. So that’s why he really wanted to see her. He needed sex. Ian’s protective nature of young cubs reared its head.
“Is that the only reason you want this girl? Sex? Cause I gotta’ tell you that’s not going to convince me to tell Edge to give you her email.” Little did he know Ian already had her email, phone number and address, when he gave the information to the hormonal cub was another matter. Ian tried to remember if he had been like this when he was a cub, but then again he hadn’t seen his mate. He was somewhat sympathetic; he could understand the cub’s frustration. He had his own frustration happening, having to take his time with Andy was about to kill him. Ian was aware that he couldn’t push for more than Andy was ready for before she was ready. He needed to pass this knowledge onto the cub, too.
“No, I don’t want her just for sex! She’s my mate. She’s my right.” Gavin growled low in his throat as he leaned toward Ian and stabbed a fingered into his own chest.
“No, she’s not your right. She’s a female and she has a choice. You’re not a Neanderthal, Gavin. What are you going to do if she says no? Pounce on her and drag her back to your cave with the back of her neck, clenched in your teeth?”
“No, but she won’t say no. I know it.” Gavin leaned his elbows on his knees and hung his head, his sandy colored hair falling over his eyes.
“Just keep in mind that she can say no. Doesn’t mean she’ll ever find another mate either, but she has that option.” Ian leaned back in his seat giving Gavin space. “Rejection will hurt her as much as it will hurt you. My job is to make sure you are ready for all this and to look at all possibilities.” The knowledge that this applied to him as well as Gavin killed him a little inside. If he couldn’t have Andy he didn’t know what he’d be capable of. Ian glanced down into his coffee. Time for a refill and his watch said their time was up.
***
After a staff meeting Ian headed back to his apartment. He wished he knew were Andy lived he would love to spend some time with her tonight. His ribs were sore and his head ached. It had been a hell of a day. He glanced at his phone wishing it would ring. It was after five already. Surely Andy would be home by now. Ian rumbled into the parking place and turned off his Gran Tareneo. He grabbed his cell phone and locked up his car. He made his way up the stairs and searched for a key to open the door on his key chain. Oh right, Dillon had his key. He knocked instead.
Dillon opened the door, a gun in his hand.
Ian gazed from his brother to the gun and arched an eyebrow.
Dillon stepped back and let Ian in.
“I’m going to lie down for a while. I’ve had a long day.” Ian brushed past him and headed to the bedroom where he shut the door.
As soon as the door shut he dialed Andy’s number and put the phone to his ear. As it rang he held his breath and his heart raced.
“Hello?” Her voice was sweet and musical in his ears. He wanted to bask in her rose smell and lick it from her skin.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Ian. It’s so good to hear from you.” Andy’s voice sounded like a smile, pure warmth radiate from her.
“How was your day?” Ian heard his voice drop. He couldn’t help it she brought out the beast in him.
“Busy as hell. What about you?” Andy didn’t seem one for talk tonight Ian could hear the tension in her voice.
“Same here. Would you like to go get some dinner with me?” Ian wanted to see Andy. It had been days since he’d last laid eyes on her and he needed to gaze on her beauty again, even if he couldn’t quite touch her yet. The mating moon was almost here. He hoped he could convince her to go to bed with him when it hit.
“I so would, but my best friend’s here.” Andy’s voice saddened.
“That’s okay, my brother’s here. I’ll bring him, you bring her. I know this pizza parlor over by the Haven.” Ian almost crossed his fingers, he wanted to see her so badly.
“The community center you work at? Ray’s pizza? I’ve never been there but I’ve heard of it. Hold on let me ask Rosie.” Andy muffled the phone as she spoke to Rosie.
Ian waited patiently as they whisper argued back and forth. Women were so funny. Rosie thought they were setting her up with Ian’s brother. As if Dillon would want anything to do with that little spitfire. Ian tried not to laugh. Finally there was silence.
“Sure what time?” Obviously Andy had won.
“How about half an hour?” Ian held his breath.
“That works. See you then.” Andy hung up.
Ian soared somewhere near the clouds. His Andy. He would see her in less than half an hour. Excitement pulsed through his body giving his cock sudden life. He strode to the door and threw it open.
“Dillon, get dressed. We’re going out.”
***
Andy hung up the phone and clutched it to her chest. She was about to see Ian. Her heart beat a rapid tattoo and she grinned at Rosie.
“You are one sick puppy.” Rosie put her hands on her hips.
“No, I’m not.” Andy denied it internally as well. She was so not falling for Ian. Sure he was hot and had the greatest voice, not to mention he made her panties wet in zero seconds flat, but she was so not falling for him. “I’m getting dressed.”
“Yip, yip, yip.” Rosie followed her through the living room. “That’s you, mommy. Tripped up and falling fast. You’re in luuuuv.”
“I so am not and don’t taunt me. That is so high school, Rose Elena.” Andy brushed her hair back from her forehead as she headed for her closet to grab a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
“You’re so high school, Andrea Garrett. I would tell your mom on you. Ay dios mio, you can’t wear that!” Rosie grabbed the t-shirt from Andy’s hand and threw it back in the closet. “We’re trying to lure him in not scare him off.” Rosie rummage in the closet as Andy stood back.
Andy tugged off her work clothes and put them in the hamper. Then she pulled on the jeans that fit like a glove. They were new and stretchy and Andy liked the way they molded to her curves.
“Here, wear this one.” Rosie pulled a green colored stretchy top from the closet. “It will pick up th
e flecks of green in your eyes.”
“I don’t have flecks of green in my eyes.” Andy rolled her eyes at Rosie and snatched the top away.
Rosie grabbed it back and held the top under her chin, then pointed at the mirror. “Look if you don’t believe me.”
“Fine.” Andy rolled her eyes and looked. Her eyes popped with the green top. “Well I’ll be damned. I’ve never noticed that. I thought they were mostly brown.”
“I’m your best friend. I know these things. Now put on the shirt or we’re going to be late.” Rosie winked at her and moved out of the room.
Andy put on the top and found her favorite black shoes, chunky Mary Janes with a four inch heel. She touched up her makeup.
“Ready.” Andy grabbed her purse off the dresser and she and Rosie left the house.
As they came out the door, Rich leaned against her car.
“Damn.” Andy grabbed Rosie’s arm and stopped short on the porch, panic tightened down her chest and suddenly she could barely breath. “We have to go back inside.”
“Oh, no we don’t.” Rosie unzipped her purse and pulled out a hand gun. Andy knew it was .25 caliber because it was exactly like the one the gun store owner had tried to sell her.
“Rosie, what are you doing?” Andy stared in horror as her best friend since childhood wielded the gun and headed toward Rich. She was torn between running back inside and going with Rosie. Even though she unsure, she went with Rosie. If her best friend was about to commit murder she would have to stand beside her. Andy quickly locked the front door.
“You psycho pendejo. Get off the car or I swear to God I will shot you.” Rosie aimed at him with a level and steady hand. Andy wondered if maybe there were things she didn’t know about Rosie.
“Don’t shot.” Rich jumped off the car and backed away.
“Get in the car, Andy.” Rosie stayed leveled on Rich as Andy fumbled with the keys and finally managed to open the door. Could her heart beat any faster? Holy hell.
Andy jumped in the car and shut and locked the door. She started the car and knocked on the window to get Rosie moving. Anxiety made her breath hard as she sat behind the wheel. Rosie said something to Rich, but Andy couldn’t hear what as she came around the car. Rosie opened the door and got in.
“Go. Go.” Rosie stuffed the gun back in her purse and Andy peeled out of the drive way as Rich ran toward the car. Andy looked behind her and slammed into the street tires screeching as she took off. Rich screamed all the way down the street. Rosie started to laugh and Andy glanced at her.
“You have lost your damn mind.” Andy couldn’t help the grin that split over her face at the sheer look of terror on Rich’s face when Rosie had produced the gun. Her heart raced in her chest from all the insanity.
“No I haven’t. He had it coming. Anyway, I never even took the safety off.” Rosie stared at her.
Andy glanced over and burst into laughter.
Fifteen minutes later she pulled into the pizzeria parking lot. Andy’s gut clenched in anticipation, she couldn’t wait to see Ian. She and Rosie got out of the car and made their way to the door. The parking lot looked empty, but the pizzeria was full. They moved through the people toward the front. Ian waved at her from a corner booth.
Andy and Rosie trudged through the sea of tables in the old brick building. The smell of tomatoes, garlic and melting cheese made Andy’s mouth water. This was the perfect place for dinner. Ian stood as Andy and Rosie reached the table.
Ian had a big smile on his face and Andy immediately went to hug him as if they’d know each other forever. As her arms slide around his shoulders his slid around her waist and the scent of his, fresh rain, washed over her. In her heels they were almost the same height.
“It’s so good to see you.” Andy pulled back and stared into his big brown eyes.
“I’m glad you could make it.” Ian slipped his hand into hers and turned toward the table. “This is my brother Dillon. Dillon this is Andy and this is Rosie.”
Rosie stepped forward and held her hand out to Dillon. Andy noticed her stiffen as he took her hand then leaned over it and kissed the back of her knuckles. Andy glanced at Rosie and saw her blush. That was new.
Ian caressed the back of Andy’s hand with his thumb and she didn’t want to let go of him.
“Rosie, why don’t you sit next to Dillon.” Before Rosie could protest Andy slid into the booth and Ian slid in next to her.
Rosie bit her lip, but sat down. Quiet, too, that was also new.
“I ordered some garlic knots with cheese, but wasn’t sure what you wanted to drink.” Ian motioned to the food on the table. His knee brushed hers under the table then stuck there close to hers. His hand found hers under the table again and tangled together, fingers interlocking.
Heat rose inside Andy’s body, bringing her nipples to attention. All the things he had said on the phone came back to haunt her and replayed in her head. Excitement splashed inside her like an ocean wave breaking on the shore.
“I’m so glad you asked us to dinner. I’ve been in the house all week. You know sometimes you just get cabin fever and need to get out.” Andy wasn’t sure what to say as Dillon stared at her. His face was stiff and he looked to her like Ian might in ten years. If Ian were in the military. “So Dillon, what do you do?”
Dillon glanced at Ian.
“I’m a tracker.”
“What do you track?” Andy smiled at him, trying hard to break the ice while her palms sweated.
“People.”
Okay. Andy didn’t want to know. Ian’s brother was scary.
The waitress came and Ian placed the order for pizza, while Andy and Rosie placed drink orders.
“Ian, how was your day?” That was a safe topic.
“I had some problems with some of the youn…youths at the center today. I’m trying to teach them to channel their emotions, but some days I worry that I’m not teaching them fast enough.” Ian shook his head.
“You can only do so much.” Rosie spoke from across the table. “I work with runaways at a shelter downtown. You can only teach them if they’ll allow it. If they’re not open to you…” Rosie shrugged.
“That’s true. I’ve found that the harder I try the harder it is to get through to them. I have to let them come to me. This one kid today.” Ian stopped and seemed to choose his words carefully before he continued. “He just can’t seem to help challenge my authority. He pushes me at every turn. Today was the last straw.”
“What are you going to do?” Andy gazed at Ian, mesmerized by his beautiful chocolate eyes.
“What can I do? I have to speak with his father, if Edge hasn’t spoken with him already. We can’t have him challenging authority like that inside the community center.”
“Why are you worried that he would challenge your authority? Can’t you just kick him out?” Rosie pulled off a chunk of the garlic knot and popped it into her mouth.
“No, his father’s on the board and part of the reason the community center was started was to keep the kids off the streets. What good would it do us to kick him out? It would kind of defeat the purpose.” Ian squeezed Andy’s hand as he glanced at her. Dillon snorted and Ian sent him a glare.
Andy didn’t understand the unspoken communication between the brothers. Something must be going on that she had missed. Just then the waitress showed up and they placed their orders.
“So do you think he learned his lesson today?” Andy reached for the garlic knot in the center of the table.
“I doubt it. He’s one of those kids that’s got to push his limits. He may be docile for today, but tomorrow he’ll be back in my face.” Ian pulled a piece of the bread too.
“Sounds like a tough job. All I ever deal with is my boss and I know how to do my job. That keeps him happy.” Andy reached for her drink the waitress had just dropped off.
“By the way you look beautiful tonight.” Ian leaned in and brushed Andy’s hair behind her ear before placing a kiss on her cheek.<
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“Thank you.” Heat that rose up her neck and into her cheeks. He was so sweet and he smelled so good tonight. Andy’s body heated as she sat there smelling his scent. The room seemed very crowded suddenly. She wished they were somewhere alone where she could put her nose to his neck and sniff him.
The waitress brought a large pizza with everything on it. She ate while everyone chatted. Andy laughed a lot. Ian had a great sense of humor. Even stoic Dillon seemed to relax and talk with Rosie as the evening wore on. Soon the pizza was gone and there was not a thing keeping any of them at the table.
“Thanks for dinner.” Andy was compelled to say it again after Ian had grabbed the tab. She wasn’t used to someone paying for her.
“It’s not a problem. I invited you. Both of you.” He pointed looked at Rosie who had finally put her money away. “I guess I should probably let you get home. I know you have to work tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I do.” Andy had turned sideways in the booth to better see Ian.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Ian hands ran up her thigh caressing her gently.
“Nothing. Just relaxing.” Heat tripped through Andy’s insides, making her body burn with hidden desire. She wanted Ian. He made her go molten from a simple touch.
Andy put her hands out and he slid his into hers. His hands were warm and larger than hers and something inside her flip flopped. Andy almost held her breath as her heart sped up, the world around her seemed to bleed away as she stared at Ian. It was only him and her now.
He shifted closer as his eyes lowered to her mouth.
Andy titled her head. “Ian.” Was that her voice? That breathy whisper? Ian leaned closer until his lips touched hers. Twin sparks surged through her body as their lips met. Ian pulled her into his arms until she leaned into him. His lips were gentle against hers, running back and forth. Andy moved with him answering him. Then his tongue licked her lower lip and she opened her mouth, not even hesitating. She wanted to taste him on her tongue.
Andy sighed as Ian swiped his tongue over her lips, she gripped his waist. He clutched her back as the kiss went on and on. His hand rose into her hair holding her nap, fingers tangling in her hair as he drew her closer.
The Twin Moon (The Moon Series) Page 10