The Twin Moon (The Moon Series) (25 page)

“Oh, we’re going to be late to your sister’s!
Just give me a minute to get myself together.”
She rolled out from
under him and
smoothed her dress
then
patted her hair.
He followed her into the kitchen w
h
ere she retrieved her panties, then to the bedroom where she pulled a clean pair out of the dresser and tossed the old ones in a hamper.

He caught her wrist.

“Don’t.” He gently pulled them from her hand.
“I like knowing that you aren’t wearing any.”
His voice had a huskiness he almost didn’t recognize.

She blushed, but let go of them and headed to the bathroom.
Ian wa
ndered around her small bedroom, looking at the pictures of her and her mom on her dresser.
He sat on her bed and smoothed a hand over her pillow, catching her scent again and the scent of the sex they had last night.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, her makeup had been touched up and she wore red lipstick.
She still wore no fragrance.
He stood up and walked over to her he inhaled her scent.
He could still smell her arousal, he smiled at her.

“What?” Andy gazed at him and patted her face.
“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.
You just smell really good.”
Ian kissed her on the cheek.

“Come on.” Andy tugged him out of the bedroom. “This isn’t the best place for us.”

“Oh, I think it’s the perfect place.”
Then he purred against her ear as she tried to retrieve her purse from the counter in the kitchen, with Ian pushed up against her.
“But your right we need to get going.”
He escorted her out the door and to his car.

The drive was not a long one.
And it was pretty silent, with the occasional glance from Andy.

Ian and Andy
arrived at the Haven about fifteen minutes later.

Ian opened Andy’s door and escorted her in with a hand on the small of her back.

“
This is the community center
?” Andy asked as they walked up to the clean cream walls and long glass windows.

“We call it The Haven.
It’s a community center.
My sister and her husband work and live here.”
He guided her down the hall and to the right.

She paused long enough to stare out the left hand window.
Her mouth dropped at what she saw outside.
A large bangle tiger waded through the water of a shallow pool.

“Whoa, would you look at that!”
Andy exclaimed as she pressed her face to the glass.

“Oh, Andy you should…”

“Can I pet it?
It is a pet right?
I mean this isn’t a sanctioned preserve of something?”
Andy continued to stare out the window as Ian squirmed in the hall.
He wanted to get her away from the window before whoever that was changed back.

“Uh, I d
on’t think that’s a good idea. M
aybe I can arrange something later.”
He pulled her to the door across the hall.

“But, let me look for a minute.” She tugged to get away from his firm grip on her arm.

“No, we really should get to the barbeque.” He coaxed her inside the door.

A large pool area with a grassy lawn was in front of them.
There was a very pregnant Ivy setting dishes on a long picnic table.

“There’s my beautiful sister!” Ian quickly grabbed Ivy up in a hug that took her off her feet.

“Ian!
Put me down, I’m big as a house!”
Ivy smacked him on the shoulder.

Ian laughed and set her back on her feet as he kissed her cheek.
She
embraced him in an affectionate hug.

“Who’s this?”
Her eyes landed on Andy and sized her up.

“This is Andy.”
Ian reached a hand out to her.
She accepted it and moved closer to Ian.
“Andy
,
this is my twin, Ivy.”

“Nice to meet you, Ivy.”
Andy put her hand out.

Ivy hesitated, but took it.
Then her delicate nostrils flared.
Ivy’s e
yes narrowed and snapped to Ian
before
she smacked him on his arm again.
“Come on Romeo, I need help upstairs.
Andy this is my husband Edge.
Edge come meet Andy, Ian’s new girlfriend!”
She hollered across the lawn to where a large hulking figure fiddled with the grill as smoke bellowed up. “Can’t!
Cooking!”
He jumped back as flames leapt of
f
the grill.

“Can I help with something?” Andy looked around and twisted her hands together in front of her.

“Oh no. We’ve got it. Just stay here. I
t’s a big place,
we
wouldn’t want you to get lost.”
Ivy had a polite smile and dragged her brother out the door.

***

Andy looked around the expanse.
It was hard to imagine that this building held such a beautiful area.
It was very park like with it
s trees, picnic tables and the crystal blue pool.
Andy looked to the table and moved closer to see if there was something she could help with.
There was a cake in the middle of the table.
It was a large sheet cake with baby booties in the corners in pink and blue.
“Congratulations Ivy and Edge,” it said in bright pink and blue letters.
Shit, Andy thought.
This wasn’t a barbeque;
it was a baby shower for Ian’s sister.
Feeling very uncomfortable Andy eyed the rest of the decorations, pink and blue plates, cups and a bowl of what looked to be punch.
Shit, shit, shit.
Just as Andy turned there was a commotion at the door to the picnic area and three children burst into the grass running full out for the play structure on the far side of the pool.

“Hi, Edge.” The trio screamed and jostled each other as they ran
.

People began pouring through the door all laughing and joking. Some carried presents, some carried children.
Panic boiled up loud and hard in Andy’s chest.
The people didn’t stop coming.

***

“How could you?
”
Ivy scolded as they rode the elevator up to her apartment.

“What?
What did I do?”
Ian fiddled with his shirt buttons, ignoring his sister’s steady gaze.

“You brought a human to our baby shower!
Really, Ian.”
As the doors opened she waddled out.

“What?
I can’t bring a friend over?”
He walked slowly behind her a
s his anger burned inside him.
She was unreasonable this pregnant.

She stopped in her tracks and turned on him with a growl.

“A friend?
Ian you smell like sex!
Don’t think Mom and Dad aren’t going to notice!
Or anyone else with an olfactory sense!”
She
waddle
d
to the kitchen with Ian hot on her heels.

“Ivy, calm down.
I didn’t mean to upset you.
I kinda
’
wanted you to meet her.
You know, see what you think of her.”
Ian glanced away.

“Ian.
Why would you care what I thought of her?
It’s never made a difference in who you slept with before.”
She pulled dishes from the refrigerator and sat them on the counter.

“Well, it matters now
,
Iv.”
Ian ran a hand through his hair.

Ivy turned wide eyes on him.
“You can’t mean…
”

“
She’s my mate.
I really needed to see what the family thinks of her, especially you.”
A blush
heated
up his cheeks.
It was like he was a little kid
,
because he wanted her approval.
Them accepting Andy
was important to him, Ivy was his best friend, besides the fact that she was his twin.

“Ian, I… Oh my gosh, I never thought, this is so unexpected.
She’s human.”
Ivy seemed flabbergasted.

“I know, but when
I saw her Ivy…
something just clicked.
It’s like I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful in all my life.
I know she’s human, but it’s been done before right.
Aunt Alice’s husband was human and look at the kids they had.”

“Aunt Alice was crazy!
But you’re right, she was very happy with Donald.
Ian, we left her downstairs alone!
Every bodies going to show up and she’s all alone.
Here takes these.”
Ivy shoved the cellophaned bowls into his hands.
She picked up the other two and went to the elevator frantically pushing t
he
button with her elbow.

Ian and Ivy
rode the elevator than rushed to the picnic area, the door was wide and the
re was a huge commotion
.
Cubs were everywhere some in cat form some in human form.
The adults were circled around near the picnic table as they entered.
Ian
put the bowls down then headed for the group.

“What’s going on?” Ivy shoulder her way through the group.

“I dunno’.
She just fainted.”
One of the teenagers had spoken up.

Ian pushed his way through the group of his brothers and sisters to find Andy lying askew on the ground.

“What happened?”
He bundled her into his arms and straightened her dress.

“She gasped really loud, then fainted.”
That was Cathy
,
the oldest.

“What’s a human doing here anyway?” grumbled her husband
,
Jason.

“She’s here with Ian.”
Ivy announced and the family gasped in unison.

“Ian
,
do you care to explain this?”
Dad stepped forward.
His mother stood next to him with her hands on her hips.

“Ian thinks that…” Ivy was cut off by her mother.

“Ian can speak for himself, Ivy.” Their mom glared at Ian.
Anxiety took root in his chest and squeezed something painful.
“I… uh, I wanted you all to meet her.”
He crouched there still staring at her passive face.
He brushed her hair back with his fingers as he continued. “I haven’t known her very long, but I know she’s the one.
I wanted to see what you all thought of her.
It’s important to me that you accept her.”

His eyes never left Andy.

“
How long have you known her?
”
His mother stepped closer and dropped her arms.

“
A week.
And trust me that was as long as it took to know
.”
Ian looked up to meet
his mom’s gaze
. “I know she’s the one.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!
You can’t just know that!”
His mom looked like she was about to pass out.

His dad, Harold, came to his rescue.

“Yes, you can, Millie.”
He put his hand on her shoulder.

“What?” She turned to stare at her husband.

“You know, Millie.
If Ian says she’s the one then she is.” Murmurs of agreement went up from the males around the crowd.

“How?”
Millie stammered.

“Just trust me, darling, we males, we know.”
He kissed her fast on the lips.

“She’s coming around.”
Someone pointed out as Andy moaned.

“Andy, baby?
Are you okay?” Ian hovered over her his throat clogged, because he wasn’t sure what she had seen.

“Oh.” Andy groaned a hand coming to her head.
“Ian?”
Her eyes fluttered open.

“I’m right here
,
baby.
Are you okay?
You passed out.”
Ian gently brushed a hand over her cheek.

“I saw, I saw.”
Ian could see the cogs in her brain turning, trying to make sense of what she’d seen.
He knew what she’d seen.
She saw one of the cubs change.
Damn.
Fear shook his insides and tumbled his resolve over itself.
He prayed everything would
be okay.