Duncan (7 page)

“Nothing.” Feeling a little foolish, Duncan shut the door glancing at the bathroom. “Is she okay?”

“Well, she was until she saw that.” Tessa nodded toward the television.

Duncan looked at the television and saw reporters still surrounding the compound. The camera was going from a reporter back to Sloan, Jared and Damon who stood guard, still as stone. At least the volume was turned down. “Damn,” he cursed, grabbing the remote and clicking it off.

“She got upset and wanted to leave so she wouldn’t cause any more trouble for us, but I talked her into getting a bath and relaxing.” Tessa walked toward the door to leave. “She doesn’t have any clothes.”

“She wants me to take her to her old apartment tomorrow,” Duncan replied taking another glance at the bathroom. “She can pick up some stuff then.”

“They aren’t going to fit. She needs maternity clothes.” Tessa gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm.

Duncan ran his hand down his face. “I should have known that,” he sighed.

“Go easy on yourself, Duncan. Finding her was mind blowing enough, but her being pregnant has thrown everyone.” Tessa leaned closer. “She needs you more than ever now, so go to her. She’s been in there for a while.”

Nodding, Duncan watched Tessa close the door softly behind her. His eyes automatically went to the door that separated him from Pam. Two steps and he was standing before it, rubbing his hands together. Raising his hand, he went to knock, but stopped. Cursing silently, he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He was a fucking Warrior, not some nervous ass kid crushing on his first girl. Rolling his eyes, he knocked quickly and waited. When Pam didn’t answer, he frowned and knocked again louder. “Pam?”

Without thought, he grabbed the knob and twisted, opening the door. Pam lay sleeping in the bathtub, her face unlined without stress, turned peacefully toward him. His eyes traveled from her face to the creamy swells of her breast which disappeared in the cooling water. A smile tipped his lips spotting her rounded stomach swelling out of the water. She was absolutely beautiful. Moving toward her, he noticed goose bumps gliding across her arms. Reaching down, he felt her cold soft skin. “Pam.” He kept his voice low so not to startle her. “Pam, honey.” He shook her arm slightly.

“No.” She shrugged him away sloshing water, one creamy breast exposed to his view.

Keeping his eyes averted as best he could, he shook her a little harder. “Pam, wake up.” His voice rose trying to get her to wake.

Pam came awake with a vengeance. Her arms slashed out striking out at anything, slapping him across the head. “No! Get away!” Her screams pierced his heart. “Not again, please! No!” She slipped while trying to sit up banging her head against the hard edge of the bathtub.

Doing his best to restrain her without hurting her was harder than he could ever imagine. She was slippery and scared to death. “Pam!” he shouted louder, trying to get her to snap out of the hysteria she was trapped in. He grabbed her face forcing her to look at him, letting her fist fly hitting him wherever they landed. Her eyes were unfocused, and at that second, he knew she wasn’t seeing him, but seeing a nightmare happening all over again. If he ever saw that son of a bitch, he would make him suffer and beg for death. “Look at me! It’s Duncan! It’s me! Stop before you hurt yourself!”

After what seemed like hours, her eyes started to focus and her fists stilled. She searched his eyes, her naked body shaking from cold and fear. Duncan only held her by the upper arms to keep her balanced, so she didn’t slip.

“It’s me,” Duncan repeated more softly. “You’re safe.”

Her stricken gaze landed on his cheek. A small cry escaped before she could stop it. With one hand covering her mouth, the other hovered over the long scratch mark oozing blood. “I’m so sorry.” She dropped her hand without touching him.

“It’s fine,” Duncan reassured her, but the look in her eyes told him that it wasn’t going to be fine. Reaching over, he grabbed a towel.

“It’s not fine.” She ignored the towel, her face twisted in anguish. “I’m not fine. This isn’t fucking fine!”

“Come on, you’re freezing.” He carefully pulled her up, keeping his eyes on her still stricken gaze. Wrapping the towel around her, he helped her step out of the bathtub.

Pam stood shivering, holding the towel like a lifeline. “I can’t do this.” Pam shook her head looking panicked. “I’m not going to be able to do this.”

“Do what, honey?” Duncan had no clue what she was talking about until her gaze and hand dropped to her stomach.

“Be a good mother.” Tears started to flow freely down her pale cheeks. “What if I see him every time I look at the baby? What if my feelings change once the baby is born and I resent…” She couldn’t finish.

“Have you ever looked at any of the children you worked with differently because they came from a drug dealing father or a deadbeat mother?” Duncan clipped her chin in his large hand, bringing her face to his. “Have you ever turned your back on a child in need?”

Swiping the tears Pam shook her head. “No.”

“You have a heart of gold, Pam. What you have done for children who are not even of your blood, is beyond what a lot of others would do.” Duncan’s lip curved in a small smile as he placed his hand on her stomach. “This little bundle
is
of your blood, Pam. You are going to love him, or her, like no other, and as for being a good mother, honey, you already are.”

“Thank you,” Pam whispered still looking down at his hand before placing hers on top.

“Just stating the truth.” His other hand touched her cheek; he was pleased she didn’t flinch from his touch. “No need to thank me for that.”

“I want
me
back.” Pam leaned into his hand. “I’m so tired of being afraid, weak and unsure.”

“Honey, you never left. You’re still here, just a little shaken. I have never met anyone braver.” Duncan’s voice was strong and true. “Give yourself a little time to work through this. I’m not going anywhere and
will
be by your side.”

“You’re a good man, Duncan Roark,” Pam sighed, feeling a little better.

“Yeah, well, let’s keep it between us because if Sid or Jared find out, I’ll never get any work out of them.” He winked, grabbing the shirt he’d gotten for her to wear. “I’ll leave you to get dressed unless you need help.”

Cheeks flushed, she shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll be right out.” She stopped him before he could leave. Grabbing the wet washcloth she was using, she gently wiped the blood from his cheek.

Duncan stood rigid while she wiped the blood away, her eyes focused on his lips. God knew he wanted to kiss her, but she was going to have to make the first move. As much as it pained him, she was in control. He stood perfectly still as she leaned closer. He watched the war rage in her beautiful mismatched eyes. She was so close, he could feel her raspy breath against his lips. With a feeling of victory, her lips touched his; he had definitely won the war that battled inside her. He was the victor and her lips his prize.

*****

Nicole fought her way through the massive crowd of reporters. If one more reporter shoved a microphone in her face, she was going to shove it up their ass. She was so not in the mood. Finally making it to the front door, she stopped at the sight of Damon leaning against a post, hidden from view of the street.

“Where have you been?” he asked without moving, his golden eyes flicking from her head down her body.

“I’m not in the mood for your protective macho crap, Damon.” Nicole cocked her hip.

“I asked you a question,” he barked.

“And I gave you an answer,” she shot back.

“That wasn’t an answer,” he snorted. “That was you being a smartass.”

“That was me being honest.” She took a step toward him tilting her head with attitude. “If you can’t take it, that’s your problem.”

“You’re
my
fucking problem,” he growled, grabbing her before she could move out of the way. He plastered her against the pole he had been leaning on. His lips mashed down on hers, his hand moving to tangle in her hair pushing her closer. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t fight. She kissed him just as fiercely. Finally, he pulled away, his eyes black with need. “Do you regret it?”

“Regret what?” Nicole’s eyes, cloudy with desire, stared up into his, her chest heaving for breath.

“Marrying me?” For a brief second, his eyes shifted away. It was so fast she wondered if it had actually happened.

“No, Damon. I don’t regret marrying you.” Her voice was strong and sure. “I do regret that you have no confidence in me. I can take care of myself. I have been, way before you came into my life. I know that’s hard for you to understand, but I feel smothered sometimes.”

“You drive me crazy.” He leaned over kissing her neck. “Absolutely, fucking crazy.”

Nicole licked his neck before giving him a sharp bite. “Let’s take this inside before we’re on the six o’clock news. I’m sure those damn reporters wouldn’t pass up a segment on the mating of vampires.”

One eyebrow cocked, making him look sexy as hell, he whispered, “Is that what we’re going to do?”

“Making up is the best part of fighting.” Nicole gave him a sexy smile. “And you have a lot to make up for.”

“Oh, really?” He cupped her intimately over her jeans. “I think you have some making up to do yourself.” He rubbed his thumb over her sweet spot, making her moan and squirm.

Swiping her tongue slowly across her lips, she gave him a saucy wink and cupped him, grinning as he swelled in her hand. “Oh, I plan to, Warrior.”

Neither one of them heard the click of a camera.

*****

Kenny Lawrence stared at the television, his shoulders heaving. The fucking bitch was pregnant. He didn’t know whether to shout in victory or smash his fist through the fucking wall. Leaning closer, he watched Pam stare shocked into the camera. Damn, she looked good, and had always been a terrific lay. Too bad the fucking cunt turned on him. He glanced over at the whore who lay across the well-used bed in the hotel room he rented weekly. It was a rundown shithole in nowhere, Kentucky, with a good supply of whores; he was sick of it. He had worked too hard to be in a place like this, and now because of that bitch, he was on the run, but not for long.

One of the half-breeds Kenny had turned and used at his beck and call, came out of the bathroom naked and ready for another go-around with the whore. Ray was dumb as a stump and would do anything he was told. The nineteen-year-old idolized Kenny and that was good, that was Kenny’s plan. He needed the dumbass to trust him because he had big plans, plans that could not fail. He stopped to stare at the television.

“Hey, that’s Pam and that Warrior. She looks fuckin’ hot.” Yeah, Ray Jones was a fry short of a happy meal.

Kenny held his hand back from smacking the little fucker. He needed to keep his cool with the guy. A sly grin tilted his lip. “You think she’s hot, huh?”

Realizing he had just called Kenny’s ex hot, Ray stepped back. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“She is hot.” Which she wouldn’t be for long, Kenny thought, but he kept that to himself. “How would you like to have a go at her?”

The kid’s eyes bugged out of his head. “What?”

“Yeah, I’m done with her and she likes them young.” Kenny smirked. “She’s a good fuck. Hell, we both might do her. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He had noticed how Ray would watch as Kenny fucked the whore getting turned on, wanting to join in.

A wicked gleam lit his eyes. “Hell yeah I would.” His excitement was showing between his legs. “When?”

Anxious little fuck. “Soon.” Kenny looked back at the television. “Go fuck the whore while I make a few phone calls.”

Kenny watched Pam and the bastard Warrior on the screen, Ray and the whores moaning in the background drowning out the volume. Grabbing a cell phone, he dialed information. After getting the number he needed, he turned to watch Ray take it to the whore. He unbuckled his pants.

Walking over with the cell phone still to his ear, he stood in front of the whore Ray was taking from behind. Whipping out his hardening cock, he stood still, waiting.

“Yeah, I need to speak with Detective Ferguson.” Kenny grabbed the whore’s head whipping it up before placing his cock to her lips. He had picked her because she had short dark hair like Pam. “I have important information on the murder of Sheriff Bowman.” Kenny’s eyes met Ray’s and he winked. Ray winked back with a wide grin. Oh, this was too easy. Kenny’s grin grew in triumph.

Chapter 8

Pam woke with a start, sitting straight up in bed confused. Her hand went to her stomach as her eyes searched for something familiar. It wasn’t until her eyes met Duncan’s that she felt at ease. He sat in a chair next to the bed, his legs stretched out with his booted feet propped up, one crossed over the other.

“You okay?” His stare was intense. Actually everything about him was intense.

She nodded then frowned. “Have you sat there all night watching me sleep?” She barely remembered making it to bed after leaving the bath. Her face heated when she remembered she had kissed him. Her eyes went to his lips which curved into a slow smile as if knowing exactly what she was remembering.

“Yes, I sat here all night.” He didn’t say whether he watched her sleep or not.

She glanced back at the pillow to see if she had drooled. Relief swept through her seeing that the pillow was dry. She knew she snored. To know that Duncan had watched her sleep was unnerving. Kenny used to say she sounded like a freight train when she snored.  “Please don’t do that anymore.” Pam couldn’t look at him, too embarrassed to even glance his way. “I mean, don’t you need your rest?”

“I don’t sleep.” Duncan pulled his feet off the bed sitting straight up. “Are you hungry?”

Deciding to drop the ‘staring while she slept thing’ for now, she nodded. “Starved.”

“Then you’re in for a treat.” Duncan grinned grabbing her clothes. “I had them washed for you. We will go get you some clothes today.”

Pam took the clothes hugging them to her chest. “Thank you.” Rushing to the bathroom, she hurried and dressed, leaving the zipper down. Just yesterday, she could zip the jeans up almost all the way. Maybe it was because they had been washed and shrunk some. Staring at her growing stomach, she knew that wasn’t the case. She was getting noticeably bigger every day, and it worried her. She looked six months pregnant instead of three.