Duncan (19 page)

“But I’m not part of the Council and I’m human.” Tessa frowned. “Just give me a bill.”

Slade watched her for a few seconds, and knew by the look on her face that she wasn’t going to let this go.

“I’ll write something up and give it to you next time I see you.” Slade played along. He wasn’t going to take her money.

A sad expression colored her face. “You can’t write it out now?”

“We haven’t unpacked the paper stuff yet,” Slade answered, shooting Jill a look when she started to open her mouth.

“Oh, well okay.” Tessa frowned. “Nicole knows my address if I don’t see you, so make sure you send it.”

“Will do.” Slade walked into the other room carrying the surgical supplies he had used.

Tessa sighed then looked at Jill. “What are you doing tonight, Jill?”

“You’re looking at it.” She smiled, tossing bloody towels into a bag closing it up.

“Would you like to go to my place with me tonight?” Tessa asked, hoping she said yes; she didn’t want to go home alone.

Jill hesitated for a second, catching herself from asking why she wasn’t going with Jared. “I’d like that.” Jill smiled, figuring if Tessa wanted to talk, the least she could do was be there for her. Tessa had been so nice to her - always making her feel welcome. “Let me finish up here real quick, and we’ll go.”

Tessa nodded, trying to keep the tears from flowing. She prayed she could make it through this first night without Jared. Wiping the tear she felt slipping down her cheek, she looked up and found Slade staring at her.

“Are you in pain?” He frowned.

If he only knew, she thought. Shaking her head, she pushed her shoulders back. “Nope. Just a delayed reaction from the shot. I seriously hate shots,” she lied terribly, and then lifted her hand up. “I could cut them off and not feel a thing.”

“Let’s keep all knifes away from her,” Slade teased, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Chapter 20

They had left the baby room making their way to his bedroom, the room they would share. Pam looked around and felt a sense of belonging that she hadn’t felt for quite a while, and it warmed her. Rubbing her belly, she walked over to the bed and sat down.

“You feeling okay?” Duncan frowned.

“The baby is moving a lot tonight.” Pam grinned then grimaced. “And very strong.”

Duncan sat down on the bed, leaning against the headboard. “Come here.” When she walked up to him, he pulled her onto the bed between his legs with her back against his chest. Both of his large hands rested on her stomach and began to gently massage in soft, tender strokes.

Lying back against him, she enjoyed the gentle motions of his hands. The baby gave one solid kick, stilling his hands. “Did you feel that?” She laughed.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Duncan continued to massage.

“Yeah, sometimes.” Pam leaned deeper into him. “But it’s a good hurt.”

“Do you need to feed, babe?” Duncan rested his chin on the top of her head.

She tensed momentarily before taking a calming breath. “If you don’t mind.” Pam still had a hard time with her need for blood. “I think the baby is taking a lot out of me. I feel weak and shaky a lot.”

“Turn around.” With his help, Pam turned, sitting on her knees.

“Should I get a towel? I don’t want to get blood on your bed.”

“Our bed,” his deep voice rumbled.

“Our bed,” she repeated with a whisper, her golden eye glowing dark.

With an approving nod, he lifted his wrist to his mouth but stopped at her frown. “What?”

“I want to take it from your neck, but I can’t.” She looked away from him, swallowing a nervous lump that had filled her throat. Her first test at wanting to be close to him was a total fail, what she feared most.

Duncan growled low as he reached into his back pocket. Flipping a knife open with one hand, he raised it to his neck. “There is nothing I would love more than you taking from my neck.”

“Really?” She looked back at him, and immediately screamed, grabbing for the knife. “What are you doing?”

He caught her hand with his free one. “Be careful. This knife will cut you to the bone.”

“Don’t you dare cut yourself!” Pam looked at him in horror. “Your wrist is fine. I can take from your wrist.”

“Honey, I know knives better than I know anything else.” With no hesitation, he made two large, expert nicks in his neck. Closing the knife, he set it on the table next to the bed close enough to reach if he needed it. Grasping the back of her neck, he pulled her to him.

Pam looked at his strong-corded neck where two puncture wounds slowly leaked blood. “I can’t believe you cut yourself.”

“For you I would do anything.” He adjusted himself to make it more comfortable for her.

With a sigh, Pam placed her lips on his neck. The taste of his blood was addicting. Soon she was taking long pulls. Her body reacted with an intense need, her breasts feeling more heavy and sensitive. She became wet instantly and wanted nothing more than to feel him between her legs. The thought and feelings shocked her, but made her glow in excitement that the feelings were there.

Taking a chance and letting her rush of need lead her, her hand ran down his heavily muscled arm to grasp his hand. Slowly, she placed his hand on her leg bringing it slowly up her body, placing it on her aching breast. When she felt him hesitate, she pulled her lips from her neck.

“Please, Duncan,” she whispered. “I want you.”

Another growl rumbled in his chest as his hand cupped her soft breast on its own. He rubbed her nipples over her shirt making them pucker for more. Running his hand down her body, he slipped under her shirt pulling her bra away, giving him what he sought. He was in heaven, her soft moans of pleasure urging him on. He couldn’t wait to taste the sweet bud poking his hand, begging for more. With twists and tugs, he felt her body buzzing with want. His buzzed along with hers as his cock hardened painfully pressing against his jeans, wanting to be free.

Pulling away from his neck, she licked his wound. Her mouth found his as she kissed him frantically, straddling his body. Breaking the kiss, she looked down into his face as she lifted her shirt off tossing it to the floor. His eyes roamed her body with hot desire instead of disgust making her soar.

“Fuck,” he growled, desire thick in his voice. Placing his large hand on her back, he pulled her back down, his lips finding the sweet nipple his fingers had brought to peak. His tongue swirled as his mouth sucked, moving from one breast to the other.

Wanting to see him, she reached under her to pull his shirt up, helping him pull it over his head. Her hands slowly ran down from his shoulders to his chest, her thumbs stopping and circling his nipples. Her fingers lightly played over his hard stomach.

Duncan noticed her eyes kept flying to his face as if to assure herself who was here with her. It didn’t bother him that she did it for her own state of mind, but he wanted to kill the bastard who put that fear in her. He swore then and there that he would make her forget Kenny Lawrence ever existed.

“Make love to me, Duncan,” she whispered.

“You know we can’t until after the baby.” Duncan hated the disappointment and embarrassment that flashed across her face.

“I just know I can now and I…” He shushed her with a finger to her lips.

“You don’t have to explain anything to me, babe.” Duncan pushed her hair out of her eyes. “But I won’t put you or the baby at risk. I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Pam sighed. “It’s just I’m not afraid like I thought I would be, and I want to make sure I can be with you. I mean, I did agree to become your wife, but was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to….you know. And now that I know I can, I can’t. It’s frustrating.” She knew she was rambling, and it irritated her. She hated to ramble. With a sigh, she flopped down hard making him hiss.

“Easy.” He grabbed her hips to hold her still. “As you can obviously feel, I want you really bad and believe me…frustration is not what I’m feeling at the moment.” She looked beautiful and sexy as hell straddling him, wearing only her skirt.

A grin played across her lips. She wiggled a little, surprised by her own actions. Was this the old Pam coming out? Was Duncan bringing her back to herself again?

His eyebrow cocked at her teasing as his hand went up her leg under her skirt. His fingers worked their way to her sweet spot. “You want to tease me, do you?”

Her eyes rolled as they closed. Her moan echoed in the room. “Oh God.”

“No, Duncan.” He grinned when her eyes shot open, looking down at him. “And I’m going to make you scream.” His fingers worked magic.

Before long, Duncan made good on his promise as Pam’s screams of pleasure filled his home.

*****

Jared rushed down the hall with Adam hot on his heels. The door to Slade’s office was wide open. “Where is she?”

Slade looked up from a small desk in the corner. “Tessa? She left about fifteen minutes ago.”

“Where the hell did she go?” Jared demanded, looking pissed.

“That, I don’t know.” Slade frowned. “Is everything okay?”

Jared just growled, turned and walked out.

“Thanks.” Adam nodded to Slade before he followed Jared.

“Can you get a read on her?” Jared asked over his shoulder as he rushed back down the hall.

“No, I’ve tried. Check your room and I’ll check Gramps,” Adam said as he split down another hall. “Text me if she’s there or meet me back here.”

Jared knew she wasn’t there, but opened the door, walking into the room and checking the bathroom. Heading back, he met Adam. “She’s not with Gramps?”

“No.” Adam stood thinking. “Is her car still here?”

Jared didn’t answer, just headed toward the garage where her car was usually parked. The spot was empty. “Fuck!” Taking out his phone, he hit her number. It went straight to voice mail. “Dammit!”

“Where else would she be?” Adam looked at his phone to make sure he hadn’t missed a call from her.

“Think she would have gone back to the house?” Jared glanced at Adam.

“That’s the only place I can think she would have gone.” Adam followed, jumping in Jared’s car. “Was the picture that bad?”

“It was nothing.” Jared growled as he started the car.

“I know my sister, Jared. It must have been something for her to disappear like this. I warned you not to hurt my sister.” Adam glared over at him. “You know I’m on her side, no matter what.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else, Adam.” Jared pulled out of the garage, coming too close to a few reporters who still sat outside of the compound. “There is
nothing
, and I mean absolutely
nothing,
going on between me and Vicky.”

“You better hope not,” Adam warned. “After everything Tessa has been through, she deserves happiness, not another loser who’s going to break her heart.”

Jared didn’t answer. He just needed to find Tessa and put this whole thing behind them. He would not accept it was over between them. She was his life, and without her, he was nothing.

*****

Waking up next to Duncan had been wonderful. The way he had woken her was mind blowing. Turning the bacon that was frying and popping, Pam smiled. After last night, she knew she was going to be okay. Duncan’s touches had brought her so much pleasure, making her yearn for more, so much more. Not once was she disgusted or humiliated. Kenny had been so far from her mind that she had felt liberated, so much so that she had been brought to tears.

“Smells good,” Duncan said, warning her that it was him behind her before he wrapped his arms around her bulging stomach.

Just the little things like the warnings that he was coming up behind her showed her how lucky she was to have someone like Duncan in her life. He understood her more than she understood herself sometimes. She hated how she acted yesterday with the baby room and wanted to make it right.

“Listen, about yesterday.” Not facing him at the moment gave her more courage to speak her mind. “I’m sorry that I didn’t act like I appreciate everything everyone has done. I truly am, but I’m just not used to it.”

“I know that,” was Duncan’s only reply.

“I’m going to be okay.” Pam nodded, smiling down at the bacon.

“I know that also.” Duncan grinned.

Pam snorted, turning to look at him over her shoulder. “Is there anything you don’t know?”

His face turned serious. “Yeah, can you cook?”

“Actually, I can cook very well,” she informed him. “You hungry?”

“Starved.” He leaned down kissing her neck, his hands roaming to her breasts.

Pam smiled happily. She loved the feel of his hands on her body. She leaned back into him, savoring the feelings that rushed through her body. She felt him hardening against her lower back. Turning, she went for the waistband of his jeans. “Let me take care of you.”

“Honey, you have done more than take care of me. I’m a patient man, and you are
so
worth the wait.” He turned her back around. “
And
the bacon is burning.”

“Oh!” Pam grabbed the fork she had been using, saving the burning bacon from the skillet just as someone pounded on the door.

“Stay here.” Duncan turned Warrior in an instant, heading out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, Sid walked in behind Duncan.

“Hey Sid,” Pam smiled. “You hungry? Just don’t critique my cooking please.”

“I would never.” He smirked. “I’ll just have some coffee.”

“There’s plenty.” Pam poured him a cup, pushing the sugar and cream toward him.

“Thanks.” He added a little sugar, but no cream. “Have you guys heard from Jared or Tessa?”

“No,” Duncan replied, sitting down resting his elbows on the counter. “She saw the picture I take it?”

Sid nodded. “She left last night after Slade stitched up her fingers. Adam said they tracked her and Jill to her place. She won’t talk to anyone or answer her phone.”

“What picture?” Pam sat the plate of food in front of Duncan and picked up his coffee cup refilling it.

“You didn’t tell her?” Sid glanced at Duncan.

“No. Didn’t really have a chance to.” Duncan winked his thanks for the food and coffee.

“Well you do now, so tell me.” Pam grabbed some toast and orange juice, sitting down next to Duncan.