“Who the fuck are you? This your new fuck buddy, Andy? What? You’re a whore now?” Rich bowed out his shoulders. Andy guessed it was in an attempt to make himself look bigger.
“I’m calling the police, Rich. You are violating your restraining order.” Andy punched 911 into the phone and listened to it ring, breathing through her nose and out through her mouth trying to calm her raging heart. Ian was bigger than Rich by a few inches, but what Rich lacked in muscles he made up for in insanity.
“911. What is your emergency?”
“Watch your mouth around, Andy. Now get out of here before I have to hit you in front of her.” Ian stood like a sentinel in front of the door, shoulders tight and solid feet braced apart, hands balled into fists.
“Fuck you.” Rich spit at Ian’s face then tried to punch him in the jaw.
Ian moved so fast the spit sailed past and his hand launched at the same time hitting Rich in the stomach. Rich grunted and doubled over.
“911. Hello?” The voice snapped in Andy’s ear.
“Yes, my ex is breaking his restraining order. I need a police officer at my residence.” Andy recited her information to the dispatcher.
Rich moved as if he would hit Ian, then lurched backward and fell on his ass.
“The police are on their way. Are you safe ma’am?” The dispatcher’s voice was full of concern.
“Yes, my boyfriend is here with me.” Andy waited on the line with the dispatcher for the officers to arrive.
Rich struggled to get up and finally rose to his feet.
“Stay away from Andy and her house. This is the only warning I’m going to give you.” Ian’s voice was so deep it sounded like a growl in his throat.
Rich stared at Ian then his eyes widened and he took off down the road like a blot of lightening.
Ian stepped back in the house and shook his head, shutting the security gate behind him as siren’s pierced the morning’s quiet outside. A cop car pulled up on the curb and Ian pulled Andy into his arms.
“Are you okay? You’re shaking like a leaf.” He hugged her close for a minute and Andy sighed against him relief flooding through her body a wave of sudden calm at the fact that Ian had really put Rich in his place. Maybe he had scared him off and the harassment would stop.
A sharp rap drew her attention to the door.
Andy spoke with the officers while Ian retreated to the kitchen.
When Andy was finished she found Ian at the kitchen table, the kitchen spotlessly cleaned up and a mug of coffee in his hand.
“You okay?” He sat his cup down and reached out. He pulled her hand until she sat down in his lap. It was so easy to be with him, to just fall into his arms and allow him to wrap his around her. Her heart went tight at the realization that she could get used to being treated like he treasured her.
“Yeah, I was so worried about you. I hate to put you in that situation.” Andy stared at her hands instead of gazing at Ian.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind protecting you. That’s what any male should do for you. That man has no right to treat you like that and as long as I’m around I’ll make sure you’re safe.” Ian grasped her hand tangling his fingers with hers and kissing her on the cheek.
Andy closed her eyes and leaned her head into the kiss, allowing the warmth of Ian’s lips to send little shock waves of pleasure through her body. Andy turned her head and kissed his lips, a gentle slide of hers as she rubbed them back and forth over his. They opened their mouths at the same time tongues meeting in a sensual duel of need, seeking inside first her mouth then his and back again. As his hands came up to cup her breast Andy moaned against Ian. Then Ian broke the kiss, leaving Andy panting for air.
“Tonight’s the full moon.” Ian whispered as he kissed her jaw and up to her ear. “I want to make love to you tonight.”
Andy’s heart skipped a beat at the proposition. More than anything she wanted Ian. They had been days of teasing since they had met their whirl wind romance nothing but one tense sexual encounter after another.
“Yes.” Andy didn’t need to think about it. Didn’t even hesitate. There was just something about him that called to her. Last night at the club when other women had looked at him something inside her had growled “MINE!” Andy had never been possessive, but with Ian she found she couldn’t get enough.
“Where would you like to go today?” Ian’s lips brushed over the shell of her ears sending shivers down her spine.
“How about we go to the Natural History Museum? I haven’t been there in a while.” Andy tried to concentrate, but Ian continued to brush her neck with his lips.
“That sounds good. I’ve always wanted to go there.” Ian arms had snaked around her waist and were holding her tight.
“Ian, if you don’t stop we aren’t going anywhere.” Andy sighed as she shifted in his lap and the evidence of his own excitement pressed into her leg. My, he was a big boy. Andy’s mouth watered at the thought of him. She could just imagine what he’d taste like on her lips. Andy jumped out of his lap. “I’m going to go take a shower.”
“I need to run home and change. How about I meet you back here at noon?” Ian stood up and walked to the sink to rinse his mug.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Andy walked Ian to the door. He kissed her on the forehead on the way out the door. Andy smiled filled with sense of happiness at the new relationship with Ian. It was incredibly tempting to just let go and fall face first in love with him. She could love him so easily. He was all she had ever dreamed of in a man. Honest, sexy, sincere, strong, protective. She admired all those qualities in him. Andy sighed as she reached for the dog food bag and hauled it to the back door. The way he had stood up to Rich had made him a hero in her book. He wasn’t a bit afraid and Andy was glad. She opened the back door expecting to see Dallas, instead there was no sign of him. The back yard was quiet. Too quiet. She poked her head outside. Andy dropped the dog food bag and stepped outside.
“Dallas, here boy.” Andy whistled and walked out into the back yard she heard a whimper from her right. Dallas lay on his side not moving, in a pool of vomit. “Oh my god, Dallas. What’s wrong baby?” Andy approached cautiously but Dallas just whined again. It was obvious he couldn’t move. Her heart raced with panic as she tried to decide what to do, she couldn’t leave him like that, the poor thing. Andy got the hose and washed the vomit away from his face and body. She touched him and he howled just a little as if he was in pain. Blood seeped from his nose. “I’ll be right back. It’s okay boy.”
Andy ran into the house her heart constricting in pain. The poor dog she couldn’t imagine what was wrong with him. Andy dialed Rosie’s number on the cordless then went back outside to kneel next to Dallas and stroke his fur. “Rosie, it’s Andy. Something’s wrong with Dallas. I think we need to take him to the vet.” Andy quickly explained the way she had found him and Rosie said she was on her way. Andy sat next to Dallas the whole time, petting his face and head. He would whimper and try to lick her hand occasionally, otherwise he didn’t move. Andy eyes burned with tears as she watched him. The knock on the door was the only thing that made her leave his side. Andy rushed to the door and opened it for Rosie. Manuel was with her.
“Oh, my poor baby.” Rosie was on her knees in the wet mud next to Dallas the second she saw him. Manuel picked him up and he yipped.
“Let me pull on some jeans and I’ll go with you.” Andy walked behind them as they went to Manuel’s truck.
“Hurry, Andy.” Manuel laid Dallas down on the bench seat and Rosie slid in next to him.
Andy grabbed her cell phone and pulled on a pair of jeans. She grabbed her purse and slid her feet into a pair of sandals on the way out the door. She had to call Ian and cancel their date.
Andy followed Manuel to the vet and once they had Dallas settled in the vet’s care she called Ian.
“Ian, it’s Andy. I’m at the vet with Rosie. Something happened to Dallas.” Andy ran a hand through her messy hair. She hadn’t even had time
to brush it.
“What happened?” Ian’s voice was the usual smooth caress over her stiff nerves and Andy sighed a little as she relaxed into the sound.
“I don’t know. I went out to feed him and he was in a pool of vomit. The vet says he might have been poisoned. The poor pup. Who would do such a thing?” Rosie paced inside the veterinary clinic. Then she went to her brother leaning against Manuel’s shoulder and crying. Dallas was her baby. Rosie loved that dog, like a kid. Andy’s heart clenched for her best friend.
“Andy, I think you know who might have done this.” Ian’s voice was cool, as if all the warmth had gone out of it. He sounded angry.
“You mean Rich? Do you really think so? I mean he’s a lot of things, but why would he poison a dog. It doesn’t make sense.” Andy shook her head in disbelief.
“To hurt you. To get rid of your protection. Any number of reasons. This guy is bad news. I hate that he knows where you live.”
“What am I supposed to do? I call the police every time something happens, but they never catch him. I’m scared, Ian.” Fear rose up inside Andy stabbing at her gut with sharp claws that made her wrap her arm around her stomach.
“I don’t know, baby. I’ll think of something. You just stay safe until I can see you again okay?” Ian’s voice was calm, soothing and soft. “Call me when you’re done at the vet and I’ll come over. Maybe we can cook dinner and watch a movie instead of going out tonight.”
“That sounds nice. I’ll pick up some stuff on my way home. Do you like Italian? I could make lasagna.” Thinking of something else made Andy’s nerves quiet a little.
“Sure, that sounds great. I’ll see you later.” Ian hung up.
Andy made her way back inside and Rosie came to embrace her. “Is he going to be okay?”
“The vet says he’s bleeding internally. He’s been poisoned. It was rat poison. The vet says it’s common, but deadly. How did this happen?” Rosie wiped tears from her eyes with a Kleenex.
“I talked to Ian. He said he thinks it was Rich. I’m so sorry. I never thought he’d do something like this.” Andy shook her head as she fished inside her purse for another tissue for her best friend.
“He broke your arm, amiga, of course he’s capable of this. I just feel bad for Dallas. He’s just a dog and it’s not his fault. Oh, my poor baby.” Rosie burst into fresh tears.
“It’s all right, the vet will fix him.” If he can. What if he couldn’t? Guilt burned inside Andy’s chest and made a hole in her. She would never forgive herself if that dog died. Andy handed Rosie the new tissue. “Here, honey, let’s sit back down.”
Andy spent the rest of the day with Rosie at the vet until finally he came out. He was tall and had silver hair.
“Well, he’s stable so far. I’ve given him Vitamin K but he’s going to have to stay here until we see if he’s going to make it. Unfortunately, we aren’t out of the woods yet.” The doctor ran a hand through his thinning hair. “He had blood in his lungs and we have him on oxygen. We will be giving him regular doses of the antidote and monitoring him closely.”
“Can I see him?” Rosie stared up at the man as she twisted her tissue into pieces.
“Not yet, he needs rest and to be kept calm. Go home and get some sleep. If he makes it through the night we’ll let you see him tomorrow.” With that the vet left the waiting room and Rosie just stared after him.
“He’ll be okay, Rosie.” Andy wrapped her arm around her shoulder and walked her through the front door. The whole day was just sad.
Chapter Ten
When Ian arrived later that evening Andy was still beating herself up about the dog.
“How could I have not noticed? I feel like such a fool.” Andy shook her head as she took the lasagna out of the oven. The whole house smelled of tomatoes and roasted garlic.
“Andy, it was easy to miss. It’s not like the whole yard was covered in green poop. It was a few pieces at the far end of the yard.” Ian sat at the table his arms propped on the edge a glass of Coke between them.
“But I should have known. What if he dies, Ian? What am I going to tell Rosie then? This is all my fault. If Rich would just leave me alone she wouldn’t have brought Dallas over to protect me.” Andy visibly ground her teeth. She turned away from setting the lasagna on the counter to put the bread in the oven. “She’s my best friend and that dog is like her child.”
“It’ll be okay. I know you feel bad about it, but you can’t control what Rich does. He’s obviously getting more violent. That’s why I wanted to talk to you about something.” Ian ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t sure if this was the best move to make, but he was ready to lay it on the line with Andy. After all the sessions with Gavin Ian needed to suck it up and deal with the fact that his mate was a human. There was nothing wrong with that and he could take care of her no matter what. He would take a step he was ready to make even if she wasn’t. “I know this is fast, but I don’t think you should stay here by yourself.”
“You think I don’t know that? I sleep with one eye open always waiting to see what’s going to happen next.” Andy flung her arms wide, the spatula she held went sailing across the room. “Damn it. I’m not safe in my own house.” She stomped over to where the spatula had landed to retrieve it as a tear rolled down her cheek. She breathed, she hiccupped and the tears rolled from her eyes. Andy swiped at them. “I just want to be safe again. Is that too much to ask?”
Ian stood and came over to her wrapping her in his arms. “No, baby, it’s not and you are safe. You have me now. I can stay with you. I can be here when he shows up. You don’t need to be alone.” Ian kissed her hair as she held onto him. His heart broke at her tears. He hated to see her like this vulnerable and fearful. She was stronger than this.
Andy pushed back and stared up at him. “I can’t ask you to do that, Ian. I can’t. You’ve barely known me a week and already I’ve dragged you into my problems. I’m so sorry.” She pushed away from him and returned to the stove, dropping the spatula in the sink. “I’ll understand if this is the last time we see each other.” Andy bent to take the bread out of the oven. She kept her back to him as if blocking him out. Andy set the bread down on the stove and closed the oven door. Then she wiped her eyes with her hands. Andy turned to face him and he made sure he was right behind her. He wouldn’t allow her to push him away even if she thought that was what would be best. It wasn’t what was best for either of them.
“I’m not going anywhere.” His voice was a low rumble as he grabbed her by the shoulders. A menace he didn’t mean to have rolled through his body making his body hair stand on end. She was his mate and he’d be damned if he’d lose her so easily. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you Andy. I want to be here. Right here… with you. I’m not afraid of Rich.” Why couldn’t she understand that? He wanted to crush her to him and take her lips. Claim her as his and prove to her he was exactly where he needed to be.
“But Ian.” Andy didn’t look at him. She dropped her gaze and looked at his chest, which was moving fast in and out.
“No, buts. You and me, Andy. I… I wanted to tell you that first night on the phone, but I knew you wouldn’t believe me if I did. Look at me. Please. I need you to look in my eyes.” Anticipation swirled around in his head making him dizzy as he zeroed in on her face, willing her gaze to his. He wanted to see her brown eyes as he spoke the words that echoed through his head as deep as his heart beat and just as demanding.
Andy raised her gaze to his and her breath caught as if she saw what he was about to say.
“I love you. I knew it the moment I saw you. There will never be anyone else for me.” Ian was dead serious. He held onto Andy’s arms as he said the words and her mouth opened. His heart thundered in his chest anxiously awaiting her reaction.
Andy’s mouth gaped like a fish out of water a few times. “What?”
“You heard me.” Ian held the gaze of those beautiful brown eyes flecked with green. She moved all at once.<
br />
Her hands found his hair and on tip toe Andy smashed her mouth to Ian’s. Her lips were warm as they moved over his and seemed to convey things that her tongue obviously would not. Ian groaned as he was swallowed up by her kiss and seeking hands falling fast into the desire that burned through his blood. Ian picked Andy up in his arms and strode to her bedroom.
It was night now the sun had finally set and the moon had risen. Andy’s room was pitch black, but with his Were vision he was able to see every inch of her as he laid her on the queen size bed. Ian went to the curtain and pulled back the heavy drapes so the soft light shone through the sheers bathing the room in the full blue glow. Never before had he wanted a female like he did Andy and tonight, on the mating moon, he would claim his mate. Hunger burned through his chest hot and heavy. His cock throbbed behind his zipper.
“You look amazing in the moonlight.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor as he knelt on the bed beside her. She wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Nothing special, but on her it looked gorgeous. Her full breasts pulled the t-shirt tight across her chest and the shorts bared her long tanned legs. “I want to make love to you.” Ian kissed her lips a gentle kiss that conveyed his love. Slowly he slid his tongue over her mouth and she opened for him. Her arms went around his neck as he settled down next to her, his hand finding her waist and then the hem of her shirt. He explored her mouth with a unhurried easy glide of his tongue. Andy pushed back with hers tasting him in return. He cupped her breast through her bra and her nipple pebbled underneath. Ian pushed the bra aside to explore her with his fingers as he kissed her. He teased her pink tips first pinching it easily between his fingers then twisting gently. Andy gasped and broke the kiss.
“I want to taste you. Take your shirt off for me.” Ian kept his hand in place as she struggled with the shirt tossing it behind her on the bed. Ian bent his head and licked her nipple in a long slow stroke.
The Twin Moon (The Moon Series) Page 13