By the moon, I swear

CHAPTER 4

‘What do you mean they are going to stay here?’ William asked puzzled. When it came to Tristan he was ready for anything but this he had surpassed his statue of craziness.

‘I mean they are going to stay here for the next two weeks until I figure out a way,’ Tristan responded curtly. He didn’t like being interrogated and that’s what if felt like with William at that moment. An interrogation. That was partly his house and he could do whatever he wanted. He was a full grown man.

‘But why…. How… I mean,’ William responded confused with his own words. Tristan had never liked kids before. As a matter of fact he loathed them. He loves his space and gets angry when people cross his boundaries without his permission. And that’s what children always do. They push ones limits and patience not to forget how annoying they can be when they want something. In short kids were anti – Tristan so how exactly was he planning to survive with them around? To throw more acid into the fire there was the issue of his bizarre illness. The moment he goes into trans he is never himself and he can harm the kids without intending to. And that Amber will never forgive. His desire to please her is exactly what would bring him down.

‘Shh could you be any louder?’

‘But Tristan the kids,’

‘I know what you are going to say,’ Tristan responded putting his hand up to command attention, ‘but I will love the kids as much as I love Linda. She has been through enough. The least I can do is take a little burden off her shoulders.’

‘Fine,’ William sighed with defeat. Tristan’s mind was already made up and there was nothing he could do at that point to change his mind. All he had to do was prepare himself for the sleepless nights ahead. Someone will have to protect the kids from Tristan. Who better than he.

‘Penny for your thoughts,’ Tristan patted his brother bringing him back to reality. ‘Don’t worry so much Will, Nana is taking care of them. You however have to help me find an indefinite solution to keep them from harm’s way. Let’s go.’ Without a word more they both left and went to the study to try and find a solution. A way to put that woman out of their lives for good.

Tristan was in the study trying to wrack his brain to no avail. He had tried all possible solutions but still ended in the same spot each and every time. With nothing. He was even beginning to doubt his ability to protect the woman he loved. It was late and his eye were heavy tempting him to take a nap just for a few minutes then maybe his brain would jolt awake and bring forth the result he desired. But he knew better. Even in sleep the fear haunted him. The fear of failing her once again. His Linda. No way had she shed enough tears. What come may but he was going to make sure that he puts her mind at ease. That her sisters and she were united forever.

Rubbing a hand in his forehead, he reached for the bottle on his desk and poured himself some scotch. Lord knows he needed something burning to sooth him. Ever since the girls moved in he and Linda had sleep in separate rooms. He now knew what haunted her and made a decision to give her time to heal while by her side always. He was going to push her no more. He resigned to be what hurt him the most - a friend. His mind wavered to the little girls. Tristan hated kids. They angered him to his core. He wasn’t always like that though. As a matter of fact while growing up he loved kids and even looked forward to being a family man. A huge family of about seven kids but his dream shattered before his eyes the day Linda miscarried. Thinking about it that was one more thing that might have driven her to block all her memories. The pain. Lucky her. Damn. To him it was like relieving that moment each and every day.

It was on a Tuesday morning when Tristan woke to find Linda not on his bed. His frown though was quickly swallowed by her painful heaves and groans in the toilet. He cringed when he heard her cry and he quickly stormed into the bathroom, flinging the door open and found her collapsed on the floor curled in a fatal position, sobs wrenching from her throat. There was blood everywhere on the floor. He quickly took off his shirt and wrapped it around her, picked her up and headed for the door. He drove like a mad man ignoring the traffic signs. He didn’t care that he might be arrested for his wreck less actions. All he wanted was to take the pain from her. For her to be okay, the doctors of course would know what to do. And if it came to a choice between them he wouldn’t even think twice. He would choose her and forego the child. He might have wanted to be a father but he loved her more. As fate would have it, she lost the baby and in the process went into a comma. He almost lost her too. Almost and that scared the s**t out of him. After that terrible ordeal she was never the same again and neither was he. He was broken. His child’s room was still the same up to now, nothing was moved. He just locked it up but never got enough strength to wipe away that part of him. So no he doesn’t like kids. Maybe because each of them reminded him of the son or daughter he could have had. They also reminded him of the immense pain that Linda was in. He caused her to suffer and that guilt tore him to shreds.

‘Hey,’ Linda’s sweet voice called out bring his attention to the present. He sighed and cursed under his breath knowing he had wasted precious time reminiscing about the past. A past that would do well being tucked in a blanket and tossed in the deepest part of the sea of his mind. Tristan turned to face Linda and any words that he might have had scattered. His breath caught in his throat, and his body paid no attention to the resolve he was fighting so hard to hold on to. The nightdress she wore was too thin and the moonlight easily silhouetted every contour of her body. His erection throbbed hard underneath his pants begging to be set free. God did the woman know how much of a temptation she was to him? He was at the verge of snapping and bend her to his will. His lips tightened into a thin line as he walked to the other side of the desk increasing the distance between them.

‘Linda… sorry Amber, what are you doing up so late?’ he asked his voice horse, his breath out of control. Not even the cool night air seemed to cool down the fiery flares that burnt him on the inside. Damn he wanted nothing more than to crush her to him and kiss her possessively till she moaned and lost control of herself. To caress her hot flesh as he took her breast into his mouth, sucking until his mouth pained. To feel the honey slick wetness of her mound on his mouth and drink from it. To feel her explode with pleasure under the licking of his tongue. To thrust his shaft into her deeper and deeper until he touched her womb. His eyes just incinerated at the thought.

‘I just wanted to talk to you for a minute upstairs if you don’t mind,’ Amber responded trying to hide the hurt in her voice. He thought of another. Dreamt of another. Anyway it was good that happened at least her thoughts would be washed by that clarity each time she thought of something improper with him. Hugging her arms across her chest she led the way while fighting to dissolve the pain that she felt. She reminded herself that she was paying him back a favor for all he had been doing for her. She had watched William fail miserably at getting him to sleep for the past one week. The guy’s bed rarely felt him recently. His scent was even completely washed out from the sheets. At most he slept for an hour on his desk and she was worried that he could break at any moment. Her mind was already in turmoil because of her siblings and she didn’t want to stress even more.

When they got to her room, she politely asked him to sit down which he complied. Then she walked over to her table and poured him a cup of coffee. Then she sat across from him and immediately began talking. Drawing him into the conversation.

Tristan wasn’t quite sure what it was exactly that she wanted from him. With fellow men he could always tell what they were thinking but women were always a mystery to him especially Linda. When she walked into his office the smile that played on her lips was unmistakable almost flirty but on their way to her room she was tense and angry. He couldn’t tell what had set her off but was happy when she immediately sat on the bed and got back into her normal self, chatting nonstop. He found himself actively participating in the conversation. He missed that. Them talking about everything and nothing. The two of them laughing. He always thought they were meant to be by the heavens and he had never once doubted it. She was his soul mate. And no matter how long it took, he was going to get her back and nothing was going to stand on his way. Not even her.

Tristan felt light headed in a matter of minutes and before he knew it he blacked out. Amber took his shoes off and stretched him across the bed and pulled the covers, tucking him in. ‘I’m sorry Tristan but you need to rest. This is my fight and I can’t lose you in the process.’ She then placed a kiss on his forehead and quietly slipped in the covers next to him. She always felt safe by his side and safe was what she needed right now.

William was going to check on his brother to try and convince him to rest one more time when he saw them. The door was wide open and the two looked quite peaceful sleeping in each other’s arms. He had to admit Amber had been good to him. She made Tristan be himself and that he was grateful for. When he hired her he was doubtful and he mistreated her. Thinking back he regretted his actions now. He made a note in his mind to always treat her better. She was no gold digger but a woman who saw his brother for who he was. She saw the man behind the facade and could get through to him in ways not even him could. He just prayed deep down that when the truth came out all will be well. Closing the door behind them he went into his own room.