Chapter 9 Roman 8
“You look fantastic!”
Rory blushed. She hadn’t wanted to go. Especially when she had an inkling that the man in front of her thought this was a date. Yet here she was. And here he was. In her living room. And it was all kinds of uncomfortable, but Rory had asked for his protection, she had agreed to this. It wasn’t a date. If it had been a date, then he wouldn’t have invited her friends along. Byron was just being hospitable. His eyes shifted, taking in the dozens of flowers scattered in vases on every available surface. He raised an eyebrow. “Admirer?”
She shrugged.
He nodded. “Definitely an admirer, Roman I take it?”
“Rory is a beautiful woman; the flowers could have come from any number of suitors.” Andre slid his arm through hers and she was instantly grateful he was there.
“Shifters talk, that’s all, and this town is in my territory. I have a duty of care to everyone here. Especially since Rory has asked for our protection. Look I don’t know what went on between the two of you, and I honestly don’t want to, but if he’s bothering you just let me know.” He offered his arm. “Hopefully for one night I can make you forget about amorous horn dogs hey?” He laughed.
What did he mean horn dogs? Was Roman known to slut it around? She felt her stomach plummet at the thought, but she took the offered arm.
It was time to put Roman out of her head, for a few hours at least. And as she followed her escort out of the tiny apartment and down the steps, she prayed that she could just forget his smile for a few hours.
“Whoa!” She stopped dead, staring at the sleek black limo in front of her. “Is that our ride?”
Byron smiled as he opened the door. “Only the best for my special guests.”
She returned his smile. As she bent to slide in, no easy feat in a dress as tight as hers, she could almost feel his eyes as they roved over her backside, and she shivered. What was wrong with her? Byron was handsome. A gentleman. But she just didn’t fancy him. “If getting in is this hard I’m not sure how I’ll get out again,” she giggled as she slid over on the cool leather.
“It’s okay, I will help,”he laughed, and scooted away from her, making room for Andre to slip between them.
Large yellow eyes narrowed warily as Rory stepped out of the car, Byron's hand firm on her elbow, as she tottered on the black heels she had foolishly decided to wear.
“I got you, don’t worry,” he whispered as they walked straight to the front of the long line, angry mutters rising behind them. The man at the door was huge, like a giant. The man was bigger than any shifter she had ever seen. “Byron.”
The smaller man nodded. “Requiem, I didn’t think this type of thing was your scene.”
Rory took a deep breath as she stared up into the huge man’s handsome face, half of which was covered with a blonde beard that did nothing to hide the strength of his jaw.
Requiem?
As in the Dragon Shifter?
“Ben decided extra security may be needed tonight, and we decided to help.” He looked a little too long down at her. His lips are a hard line. He was angry with her even though they had never met before. Great, her first dragon shifter and he was pissed at her.
Byron laughed and patted her arm affectionately. “Well isn’t it good to know we are all safe.” His voice was condescending. “And by we, I’m guessing the fin boy is inside as well; great to know he’s there to save the day if we suddenly decide to take a swim,” he laughed.
Fin boy?
“Reaper is about somewhere.”
Rory smiled; the one time she had met Reaper he had seemed like such a gentleman. She sighed happily. At least there would be one friendly face in the crowd. Byron paled slightly, then seemed to shake himself visibly. The hard set to his jaw returning. “Well if you will excuse me, I think I’ll escort my guests to our tables” he winked after he said guests and Rory frowned. What was up with him? Blatantly antagonising someone he knew worked with Roman. Was that his deal?
Was he taking her out because he wanted to get back at Roman? She had gone to him for protection, but now had a horrible sinking feeling in her gut. What if Byron was using her in some way to get at Romans pack.
Maybe she had made a huge mistake.
Roman hated places like this, too cramped, too loud. And so far, no Rory. He sat back with his long legs stretched out in front of him, oblivious to the blonde woman who was currently chatting animatedly to him.
Why couldn’t the women in his pack understand he already had a mate, and no amount of lipstick, fake giggles and push up bras was going to change that.
That’s when he saw Andre, trying to manoeuvre through the packed dance floor with drinks in hand. He raised a hand in greeting and the smaller man froze. Like a deer in headlights.
Anywhere Andre was, Rory wouldn’t be far behind. Andre nodded but his eyes were wide as they scanned the dance floor. A dance floor where Rory was dancing, her hips swaying. And she looked delicious, all those curves in black and yellow. There was a fair bit of skin on show. And the wolf within growled at the sight of her almost bare back. A back that he had traced with his fingertips as she lay naked and sated in his bed. He loved watching her move, hell he loved feeling her move. The way her curves felt under his hands. Just the thought made him suddenly squirm in his seat.
“Roman?”
He didn’t even turn; his eyes wouldn’t leave his mate.
“I honestly don’t understand what you see in her, you could have your choice of mates.”
Reaper lent forward, hands on his knees and glared down at the woman. “He has chosen,” he sneered, “and she’s a great choice. A real lady.” His voice was old and Roman felt an odd sense of satisfaction that his friends approved of his mate.
“I still don’t get it.” She placed a well-manicured hand on his knee. “A wolf would make you happy.”
“At the moment Trina, all you're doing is pissing me off.” Roman snapped. “Move your hand.” His eyes snapped up and found Rory was staring straight at him. Her eyes were huge as she took in the scene in front of her.
Rory froze, she had prepared herself for seeing Roman again. But she wasn’t prepared for the sight of him with another woman pretty much in his lap. Her hand was ridiculously high on his thigh. Byron paused, he glanced at where she was staring, and he broke out into a sympathetic frown. “I’m sorry Rory”
She nodded, straightening her shoulders. “No worries, we aren’t together so he can be here with whoever he wants.” Even if she looked like a common streetwalker in her tiny silver dress.
“And you're allowed to be here with someone else as well, no matter how much he wants to give me the glare.” He took her hand and turned her back towards their table. “He isn’t the only shifter in these parts who could make you happy.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled up at him, letting him lead back to the group of wolves he called his pack.
Obviously Roman had moved on, maybe she should as well. “I’m having fun actually,” she said, as she slipped on a wet patch on the polished floor, her feet going from under her and sending her straight into his arms. He laughed as she turned bright red. “So am I now,” he grinned down at her.
“Don’t mind if I cut in do you?” Without waiting for an answer she felt warm hands on her arms, and a familiar scent enfolded her. Byron took a step back, but his eyes weren’t his human eyes. Wolf eyes looked down at her. “Rory?”
“It’s fine,” although it wasn’t fine; her heart was pounding in her chest. “I’ll join you back at the table soon.”
“Like hell you will.” Roman’s voice was barely a whisper, but his eyes were challenging as he stepped back with her in his arms. “Aurora” he pulled her against his chest, a large hand at the small of her back. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve been… well, I’ve been meaning to come and explain. I’ve missed you.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice. And stared straight ahead into the impressive chest that was right at her eye level.
“Rory” his fingers were gentle as he raised her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I…” but his voice tapered off, shaking his head sadly. “I can tell by your eyes that you're still angry with me.”
“No, I’m not.” She lied, she could feel his rough palm on the skin of her back as he slid it under the straps that made up the back of her dress. And the feel of him this close was doing things inside her which should not be happening in a club full of shifters that could smell so keenly. Even Byron was scowling at them from his seat. “We shouldn’t, I mean this isn’t a good idea.”
“Sssh, just dance Rory let me hold you” he smiled down at her. And she felt her heart flip flop in her chest.
“Your date? She’s scowling at us.” She said against his chest. Even though the music around them was pumping, and bodies writhing all around them, he held her close. Intimate.
“So is yours” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear and sending new shock waves through her body.
“He’s not my date.”
“I don’t think he realizes there’s only one wolf for you.”
She wanted to deny it. To say she wasn’t his, but her body and heart betrayed her. She raised her face from his chest to stare at him. His eyes were heavy. “I’ll do anything for you Rory, anything if you just give me a chance to make this right.”
“Roman I don’t … I don’t know if I can trust you.”
“Yes, you do,” his lips lowered.
And she stepped back. “No, you don’t get to kiss me… not yet, not until we can see if this is actually something” she reached up and touched his cheek. “Not yet.”
“Soon though,” he kissed her palm softly as he leaned into her hand.
“Soon.” She turned on her heel and walked away.
“Well he really does have a hold over you, don’t he?” Byron laughed as she took the seat next to him. Her eyes went wide at his tone. “We have a lot of history together,” she said as she sipped her drink. I shouldn't get too tipsy tonight.
“Yeah everyone has heard of the history of Roman’s long lost mate,” he scoffed, and she was taken aback by the anger in his voice “and how you had no idea who he was when you slept with him.” He placed a hand on her knee. Rory looked down at the hand there and felt nothing. “All I’m saying is that Roman isn’t the only wolf here who could make you scream out.” he winked, and she blushed. “I could please you just as well.” he whispered in her ear, but as her eyes swept the table, she could tell by the barely veiled smirks that most people had heard. “Byron…”
“Ssh,” his teeth grazed her ear. “I can smell how wet he made you. But I know I could make you scream as you came.” His hand was vice-like on her thigh, “You need this Rory, to get him out of your system. So, people stop looking at you like you’re the high and mighty Roman’s cast off.”
“I don’t think this is really appropriate, I’m not looking to hook up with anyone.”
“I think I could change your mind” he pulled her straight onto his lap and nuzzled into her neck. “Why not give me a chance?” His fingers were busy on her thigh making her scoot away from him. Except there was nowhere to go. Then his lips brushed her cheek, his hand bringing her mouth to his in a kiss that was nothing but a brutal assault, as his other hand crushed her to him.
Rory pulled back freeing her lips, but still uncomfortably pressed against the man she had thought was her friend. A man she had asked for protection. Andre had been right all along. She was in danger with this man.
“Get your hands off of my mate.” Roman was there, but it wasn’t him. Teeth too big for that kissable mouth made speech difficult.
Byron laughed. “She doesn’t want you, Roman, why else would she agree to tonight? Your mate agreed to a date with me.”
Roman growled once and then shifted howling his frustration to the ceiling. Humans ran for cover as the Brentwood pack launched themselves in mid-shift across the packed dance floor, fur flying. Just as Roman picked up Byron as if he weighed nothing and threw him bodily into the fleeing crowd. Byron hit the floor hard and Rory grimaced, but as he rolled back to his feet he had already shifted.
Growls erupted all around her.
Then with a final look at her, the huge grey wolf she recognised as Roman leapt into the middle of the fight that had erupted.
And all hell broke loose.
“Let’s get you out of here”
Rory had been staring, wide eyed and terrified. She blinked back her tears to see Reaper standing in front of her, his eyes were curious as he surveyed the carnage in front of them.
“Get your stuff now Rory, we are leaving,” he nodded at her friends cowering behind her. “you guys too. We need to leave now before the others start to shift…too late” A huge lion turned towards them and Reaper cracked his neck as he stepped to shield them from view. “All of this over a human.”
“Move aside friend.” Reaper's voice was low. Without feeling. He cracked his neck again. “Believe me you do NOT want to do this”
There was a moment of hesitation.
“Get her out of here!” The huge man she recognised as Requiem stepped up to them. “Now Reaper!”
“Car?” and then she was slung over a broad shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Out front… go now.”
And then he opened his mouth and roared. And the windows exploded.