Duncan (The Protectors #3)(13)

“It’s no big deal.” Nicole shook her head. “Well, at least to me it wasn’t any big deal because I knew you gave me permission, but hubby got a little upset because I had been talking to you without telling anyone.”

“But that was my fault. I made you promise.” Pam glared at Duncan. “He shouldn’t be mad at her.”

Sid stepped up before Duncan could reply. After placing a large rare steak in front of Pam, he stepped back, watching her closely. “Rare enough?”

Looking at the blood streaming from the huge hunk of meat had the saliva in Pam’s mouth thick. “Perfect,” she replied, her voice hoarse with thirst and her one golden eye black with hunger. Not able to control herself, she picked up the steak with her hands, pushing it into her mouth, sucking the much-needed blood down her throat. A lone blood tear escaped one eye, as a clear tear escaped the other, both shimmering down her cheeks in embarrassment. She was starving and not for food.

“Whoa, slow down, honey.” Duncan reached for her hand, but stopped when she growled. He looked at her in surprise. “Pam, slow down. You’re going to choke.”

“Pretty hard to get the blood you need without fangs.” Sid eyed her. “What happened to your fangs, Pam?”

“What the f*ck?” Duncan cursed, forcing her hands and steak away from her mouth.  Blood colored her full lips. Slowly, he ran his thumb over her upper lip, lifting it slightly. Shocked, he looked into her eyes. “This is the only blood you’ve had? What happened? Did your fangs not grow out when you changed?”

Staring into his eyes, she wanted to lie. How could she tell him the truth? Would they look at her different? Would they see her as weak? Pulling her face away, she wiped her mouth.

“Yeah, they grew in.” She scooted her chair away from him and stood. “But Kenny didn’t want anyone to know I had been turned, so he had me wear contacts, and he had my fangs filed down.” She didn’t mention he’d had it done without any numbing; she kept that to herself.

“That son of a bitch!” Duncan slammed his hand down on the table in anger so quickly Pam jumped, covering her face.

Realizing what she had done, and the look on everyone’s face, she knew she couldn’t do this. She needed to be alone, away from people until she could get this fear under control.

“I can’t do this.” Pam walked backward towards the door. “I really can’t do this.” She turned, running out of the room.

Duncan chased her down, catching her easily. “You are not running from me again.” He picked her up carefully, carrying her away from the kitchen up a set of steps.

“I’m too messed up, Duncan.” Pam pushed lightly on his chest. “Just let me go.”

Looking down at her, he stopped in front of a door. “I will never let you go.” Holding her with one hand, he opened the door with the other, kicking it the rest of the way open. “You are not alone in this anymore. You are mine, and I will always be yours.”

Chapter 6

Duncan sat her on the bed he had never laid in. This was just a place he stored clean clothes and showered. His home was a few miles away, which he would take her to soon. Leaving her, he went to the bathroom to grab a towel. Laying it over her legs, he knelt down in front of her. Raising his wrist to his mouth, his fangs gleamed in the light as he bit down on his own wrist. He watched the raging war in her eyes. His blood ran down his arm, dripping onto the towel, but he didn’t force her to take his blood. He waited patiently for her to make the decision.

Slowly, she reached, her fingertips touching his, her eyes leaving his wrist to meet his. “Thank you.”

His other hand palmed her cheek, his thumb brushing back and forth against her softness; still he waited. Finally, her hands gripped his, bringing his bloodied wrist to her mouth. He held back a moan as her tongue snaked out, taking a taste. Her lips latched on his wrist; he felt the pull of her mouth taking his blood and damn, didn’t that make him feel more like a man than he ever had. His protectiveness tripled at that moment. No one would ever harm this woman again.

Duncan lost track of time as he watched her take his blood, binding her to him more closely than anyone had ever been. Feeling her pull away, he stopped her. “Take as much as you need.”

Grabbing the towel, she wiped her mouth, and then cleaned his wrist, which was already healing. “I’m fine. I don’t want to take too much.”

“You can have it all.” Duncan smiled at her.

“Then you’d be a shriveled-up Warrior.” Pam grinned, feeling better than she had in a long time.

Seeing the ragged edges of her fangs where they’d been filed down, made Duncan frown. Pam closed her lips, covering her mouth with her hand. “Don’t.” He pulled her hand away. “Don’t hide anything from me.”

“It’s ugly.” Pam grimaced. “As soon as I get a job and some insurance, I’ll get them fixed.”

“If you want them fixed, then we will get them fixed.” Duncan grabbed the bloodied towel, throwing it toward the bathroom.

Pam shook her head. “I don’t expect you to do everything for me, Duncan.” She rubbed her full belly. “I am going to get back on my feet.”

“I know that, but not alone.” Duncan watched her hand run small circles over her belly.