Dueling Moons: A Pat Wyatt Novel (The Pat Wyatt Series Book 2) (8 page)

I bit my lip, trying to keep the laughter in as he continued. “I need you to persuade her not to do it. I could not stand an eternity with a woman who thinks the Louvre is something you scrub your back with.”

That was when I lost it. I doubled over with laughter, and I even snorted a couple of times.

“It is not funny, Patricia.”

“First of all,” I managed to say through giggles, “that’s Ms. Wyatt to you. And second,” I started to sober up, “why in the world would I help you?”

“I am your husband,” he said, indignantly.

“
Ex
-
husband
,” I corrected him. “And if you don’t remember, you tried to kill me and succeeded in raping me. So I don’t see why I should even give you the time of day. Hell, I don’t see why I shouldn’t just stake you for being here in the first place.” I had a flashback of him placing me on that dungeon bed and hitting me over and over again. He had destroyed me outside, and I was still not fully intact inside. Even after two months of being away from him, I still had days where I would be sitting down doing my work, and that dungeon would creep back into my mind.

I blinked back to the present, seeing that his lips had curled back over his teeth and his fangs where out. “Put those things away,” I said, waving off his anger.

His fangs retracted and he just stared at me. “I should not have come.” Then he did something I didn’t expect: he bowed his head, and began to cry. No tears came out, but the sobs were unmistakable.

I don’t know what made me do it, but I placed my hand tentatively on his shoulder. Then his knees buckled and he knelt in front of me.

This was not to be believed. A creature like Samuel crying over something that he could have easily fixed himself struck me as odd. I mean, all he had to do was snap her neck or control her mind, and that would be that.

I knelt with him, placing my hand back on his shoulder. At that moment, he grabbed hold of my waist, placing his head on my chest. “I am so sorry,” he said, glancing up at me. His eyes were full of sorrow. “I just love you so much it hurts not to be around you.”

He held me tighter, squeezing me to him. That’s when the warning bell went off in my head. “And if I cannot have you,” he said with not a hint of sadness left in his voice, “no one will.”

I pushed on his arms, but his grasp tightened. He had pulled on my heartstrings and had gotten me to feel sorry for him. God, I could have kicked myself for falling for his act.

His hold on me grew tighter, almost to the point where I couldn’t breathe, and I began to panic. He was going to crush me before I could even manage to scream for help. So I did the only thing I could do: I tried to get him off me.

I struggled, pushing on his massive arms until my breath caught in my throat and I saw spots in front of my eyes.

Suddenly, I heard a growl and his arms were ripped away from me. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with cool, crisp air. When my vision cleared, I saw Stag pinning Samuel to the ground.

“You leave her alone,” he said, teeth pointed and eyes almost orange in the dim light. I watched as he dug his nails into Samuel’s back, and then Samuel hissed at him. “Now, when I let you up,” Stag continued, “you’re gonna get the fuck outta my town. Do you understand me, vampire?”

“Yes,” Samuel said, his voice muffled by the gravel he was eating.

“Good,” Stag growled, standing him up. He shoved Samuel toward the woods, sneering at him. “And don’t even think about fighting me right now, vamp, ’cause you will lose.” Stag gave him a cocky smile, and Samuel straightened himself out.

“This is not over, Patricia,” Samuel hissed, glaring at me over his shoulder. And in a matter of seconds, he disappeared into the trees.

Stag helped me to stand, and I swayed. The world went
topsy
-
turvy
for a second. “Easy now, girly,” he told me, placing his arm around my waist. “You don’t wanna hurt yourself.”

“How did you know I was in trouble?” I asked, looking up into his warm, brown eyes.

“I was eavesdropping,” he admitted without shame. “And when you went quiet, I knew somethin’ was up.”

I smiled. “I’m both happy and angry that you did that. The happiness is outweighing the anger, though.”

He laughed and we walked back to the party, his arm still holding me up.

In that moment, I had a newfound respect for Elliot “the Stag” Sagmore.

chapter

EIGHT

Having almost died before returning to a party really puts a damper on your spirits.

After Stag had saved me from being crushed to death by Samuel, he told Mike that he would take me home. Mike hemmed and hawed at first, but agreed when I told him that I would be all right. Besides, I didn’t have the heart to take him away from all of his wolf buddies now that they seemed to be having a great time together. I made sure Angel was looking out for him and I left so Mike could rekindle his friendships.

Stag gave him the keys to his Escalade and told Mike that he would stand guard over me until he came home. Mike nodded in agreement, and at a quarter past one, we left.

The car ride home was as silent as a dead man at his own funeral. Stag drove (after major protest from me), and I realized that this was the last time that I would be in my new ‘Stang. It would have to go back later today. There was no keeping it now. God, I hated that Samuel did this to me. It was always the “if I can’t have you, nobody can” speech and I would wind up almost dead. It was so…cliché.

I glanced out the window at the dark trees, and before I knew it, we were outside of my building. When I got out of the car, I fought with my clutch to get my keys
out
—
it
would be the last time I would wear that
purse
—
and
then we finally made our way inside.

As soon as I opened the door to the apartment, Stag walked in, plopping himself down on the couch with a sigh.

I shook my head, closed the door behind me, and threw my purse and coat on my computer desk. “Thanks,” I finally said, looking down at my shoes. I could feel my face grow hot as I turned on the overhead light. I was embarrassed.

“For what?” Stag asked confused.

I looked at him. “You know, for taking me home and for saving my life.”

He smiled at me, but it wasn’t his cocky one. This smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure you would’ve done the same thing.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t have.”

He laughed a little. “Yeah, you would’ve. Motherly instinct and all that.” There was the cocky chauvinist I knew.

I rolled my eyes, smiling as I walked over to the couch. Then I sat down next to him, placing my head on his shoulder. “I guess you’re right.”

We sat there for a minute in silence until I said, “Thank you,” again. He had put his life on the line for me, and I had nothing but endless gratitude.

However, instead of saying “you’re welcome,” he leaned over, giving me a gentle kiss on the lips.

I didn’t move as he took my head in his hands, kissing me again. This time it was a little harder. My breath quickened, and my whole body tingled right down to my toes. Stag pushed my cardigan off my shoulders, and began to kiss me down the line of my neck. Then he grabbed hold of my waist, pulling me onto his lap.

At that point, the only thing that was going through my mind was Mike. How he would feel if he came into the apartment and saw me straddling Stag. After that, I came back to reality, feeling Stag’s hands move under my skirt. And just as he was about to touch a very sensitive area, I bolted off him.

“No,” I almost yelled, shaking my head. “We can’t do this.”

He looked down at his lap. “You didn’t do anythin’. I did. So don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“I am just a guilty as you are. After all, I didn’t stop you from making a move.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “True. But you didn’t kiss me back either.”

“
Elliot
—”

He raised his hand, interrupting me. Then he looked up, his face very serious. “I know, Patricia. You have feelings for Mike. I get that. But here’s the thing, I really like you. You’re smart and surprisingly sexy. You don’t care about what other people think, and you’re an
all
-
around
nice person.” I didn’t know about that last part, but I let him continue.

“You see,” he breathed, “I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. And I don’t see what’s so wrong with me showin’ you how much I like ya. I just don’t.”

“Of course you wouldn’t,” I said softly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, standing.

“You
’re Elliot ‘the Stag’ Sagmore,” I explained. “You have one night stands. I’m sure you don’t have a girlfriend for more than two days at a time, and you don’t mind cheating on women or with other women, for that matter!” The elevator ride came back to me, and I shook my head. “The point is, you don’t understand what it’s like to be with anyone but yourself. So of course you wouldn’t recognize how wrong it is to feel something for someone other than the person you’re with, because you have never been in a real relationship.”

“You feel somethin’ for me?” he asked with a slight smile. Of course, that would be the only thing he got out of my speech.

“That’s beside the point,” I yelled. “God, you are so frustrating.” I sat on the chair by the coffee table with a huff.

Stag knelt in front of me, putting his hands on my knees. “Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad, Pat. It’s just that I want you so bad. I want you to be with me, not with Mike.” I opened my mouth to say something, but he placed his finger over my lips. “But I can see that you’re feelings for him are stronger than you let on. So I’ll back off a bit. I’m not promisin’ that I’ll back off entirely, but for right now, I’ll give you some space.”

“I guess that’s all I can ask for,” I said when he took his finger away.

He smiled, getting up off his knees and walking over to the couch to sit again. That was my cue to go take a shower and get ready for bed. I let the hot water run down my back, breathing in the steam. There were bruises forming on my rib cage, and I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. When was this
Samuel
-
trying
-
to
-
kill
-
me
stuff going to end? I started to hope that it would be sooner rather than later.

I was under the hot water for at least ten minutes when I decided that I was good and clean. So I stepped out of the heat and into the cool bathroom. Suddenly, I felt dizzy and nauseous. I grabbed a towel off the rack by the shower, wrapped it around me, and sat on the toilet, putting my head down between my legs.

Taking some deep breaths, I started to feel better. But when I tried to stand, I fell to the floor with a thud.

There was a panicked knock on the door, and Stag’s voice came from the other side. “Are you okay in there, Pat?” he asked, and I shook my head. I knew he couldn’t see it, but I didn’t want to talk, I was so queasy.

“Pat,” he said my name almost frantically. “Pat, unlock the door.” I reached up and unlocked it without thinking.

He slammed his way into the bathroom, and when I looked up at him the world started to swim around me. “Jesus, Pat. You don’t look too good.”

I took a deep breath, trying not to throw up. “I don’t feel too good.”

“Come on,” he said, leaning down and picking me up off the floor. “Let’s get you into bed.” I didn’t protest as he took me into the bedroom, placing me down in the mattress in a wet towel. Normally, I would have been furious, but now, I was just grateful that he was in the apartment with me. If he hadn’t been there, I don’t know what I would have done.

Stag placed the back of his hand on my forehead. “You’re warmer than normal. Let’s get you outta that wet towel and into some warm clothes.”

“I can do it,” I slurred. The nausea washed over me for a second, and then subsided.

He shook his head. “I don’t think so, girly. You’re lookin’ paler than usual, and that’s sayin’ something. I don’t want you to faint on me. So you just tell me where you keep your pajamas and I’ll get them for you.”

I pointed to the small dresser by the closet, and he rummaged through the drawers, finding me a pair of flannels and a
long
-
sleeved
nightshirt. “Is your underwear in here, too?” he asked, and I nodded. “Which drawer?”

“Bottom,” I said, closing my eyes as the room started to go wonky again.

He pulled out a pair of fleece socks and a pair of panties, and handed it all over. “Do you need help?”

I glared up at him. “No. Turn around so I can get dressed.”

He did, and I put everything on as quickly as I possibly could without vomiting.

“Okay,” I said when I was dressed. “You can turn around now.”

He smiled down at me. “Do you feel any better?”

I shrugged. “A little.”

“You look a little better, too. You got some color back in your cheeks. What happened?”

“I have no idea.” I told him, my voice sounding almost normal. “All of a sudden, I felt really dizzy and nauseous.”

He sat down on the bed next to me, rubbing my back. “You think that it had something to do with Samuel?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“I knew I should’ve killed that asshole when I had the chance.”

I laughed, the nausea gone. There wasn’t even a trace of it left. “You’re not the only one who wishes that.”

He placed his hand on the back of my neck. “Well, you look better, but you’re still a little warmer than normal. Why don’t you go to sleep for a bit? I’ll wake you when Mike comes home.”

“I’m not really a nap person. If I fall asleep and then wake up, I’m up for good after that.”

“Hmm,” he said, looking as though he was thinking. “That is a problem. Maybe you could just lie down for a while. Do you want a snack or somethin’?”

I sat there for a moment, thinking. “Now that you mention it, I’m starving.”

He smiled at me. “Well, what do you want, girly?”

“I want a steak,” I said without thinking, and wondered why I wanted that. After all, I wasn’t really a big red meat eater, but I had a craving for it. I shrugged it off, looking at Stag’s face. It was a very nice face.

“I don’t think anyone’s open to order a steak.”

I thought about that for a second. “You’re probably right. But I do have some chip steak in the freezer, and there are rolls in the fridge…”

“Say no more,” he said, getting up off the bed. “I’ll make you a cheese steak. I’m good at that.”

“Thanks, Stag,” I yawned. “You’re the best.” I put my feet up, placed the covers over me, and put my head down. I must have closed my eyes because the next thing I knew, someone was shaking me.

“Here’s your food, girly,” Stag said, and I sat up as he handed me the plate.

“What time is it?” I asked groggily. Thankfully, I was still tired, so I must not have been out that long.

“Almost two in the morning,” he answered with a smile. “I thought you said you couldn’t take naps.”

I shrugged. “I closed my eyes for five minutes. That’s not a nap.”

“True,” he said with a laugh. “Now eat up. Mike will be home any minute now.”

“Roger that, Alpha.” I was getting goofy, which meant that it was time for me to go to bed. So I ate half of the cheese steak, and Stag put the rest in the fridge for later.

As soon as he walked back into the bedroom, I heard the door to the apartment open. Stag walked back into the living room, and I heard more than saw Mike give Stag his keys, and then Stag told Mike what had happened.

“Is she okay?” he asked, and Stag assured him that I was better.

“I think it was just shock,” Stag said. “Well, see ya later. Bye, girly,” he yelled from the other room.

“Bye, Stag,” I yelled back, and then I heard him leave.

Mike walked into the bedroom, sitting on the bed next to me. He placed one hand to my forehead, and another to the back of my neck. “Stag’s right. You do have a fever. Are you feelin’ okay?”

I shrugged. “Half and half. I’m not nauseous or dizzy anymore, so that’s good.”

He nodded, leaning in to kiss me on the forehead. “That’s very good. Do you know what made ya feel that way?”

I shook my head, as he stood up to get changed. “No. I got out of the shower, and all of a sudden, I felt like I was going to pass out.”

“That’s strange,” he said as he took of his clothes.

I watched him carefully, and when he was completely naked, I got up off the bed, turned him around, pulled on his neck, and kissed him as fiercely as I could.

He pulled away from me, breathless. “Are you well enough to do this?” I nodded, pulling him to the bed.

Once we were lying down, I flipped him over, so I was on top. I pinned his arms above his head, and stared directly into his eyes. “Who are you?” I asked, locking my legs on either side of him so he couldn’t escape.

“Michael Wolf,” he said confused.

“Are you the same Michael Wolf who walked in here a few minutes ago?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How can I be sure?”

He looked at me like I was crazy for a minute, then I saw something click in his head and he sneered, “I
hate
—
with
a
passion
—
Samuel
Satané.”

“That’s my wolf,” I said, leaning forward to kiss him lightly on the lips.

I got up off the bed for a minute, taking my warm pants and boy shorts off. Then I hopped back on top of him after he fixed himself, and we were good to go. That was the one good thing about having sex with supernatural creatures: they were always ready when you wanted them to be.

Placing his hands on my hips, I rocked back and forth. It certainly didn’t take long for us to get that perfect rhythm, and it wasn’t long after that until we were both crying out in ecstasy.

When I finally put my head to the pillow, I floated into a dream. And guess who showed up?

No, not Samuel. Elliot. Sweet, endearing,
pig
-
headed
Elliot.

We were just standing in the woods talking to one another when something peculiar happened. The scenery changed. Suddenly, I was in the middle of a small graveyard, and this eerie fog came up from the ground. This place was all too familiar to me. It was Samuel’s graveyard. The one in the Hamptons behind his mansion. However, it wasn’t him that came out of the fog like a ghost, it was Kathryn.