Lost Mates Books 1-3

Shit, shit, shit. 

She was going to be late! Being self-employed sucked sometimes. Her whole life revolved around work; she was either in the shop or prepping for the shop. That was her life. She didn't date, she didn't have time. Not that Roman had asked her. It was more a statement than a question.

Of course, she had no idea where he was picking her up. First guess the shop, as let's be honest, he would have no way of knowing where she lived- or that her "house" was the tiny one-bed apartment above. Unless he was a stalker. Some sex-crazed stalker. Rory grinned. If only. It still hadn't sunk in that he had kissed her, and that she had let him. He was a total stranger with the most familiar eyes. She sure as hell would remember meeting him before, wouldn't she? He looked like he just stepped off the cover of a romance novel. No way she would have forgotten that face. Maybe for one night she could let her hair down and have some fun. Be young and free, and a little wild? 

So now the big question, what to wear? She had absolutely no idea where they were going. Or what people wore to dates with sexy strangers who accosted them in dark doorways. And Jo's advice had been next to useless. Anything that showed some cleavage was not helpful at all. When you had as much up top as Rory, a little cleavage could look slutty quick. Casual or sexy? Did she even have enough time to pull something sexy together, even if she owned anything remotely feminine? Rory sighed, this was why she didn't date. 

Married life had ruined her wardrobe. "Dammit!" She slammed the third pair of black jeans down on her bed. Why didn't she have anything remotely suitable in her wardrobe? "Shower!" Yep, that sounded like a good idea. Shower first, stress over what to wear second.

She had just slipped into her favourite shorts and tank top pyjamas, the ones with the famous boy wizard on the front, when the door knocked. 

No. It couldn't be. It was too soon.  

It was only a little after seven.

He was early.

She wasn't even wearing a bra! 

She stood there frozen. Maybe she should pretend she wasn't home, maybe if she was quiet, he would get the hint and leave her to her boring, mundane life. A life where the only shifters she knew were the ones that came in for sweet treats and harmless flirting. None of them made her insides quiver. None of them looked at her like she was the juiciest piece of steak they wanted to devour. The door knocked again, louder. Well, there was no point trying to be quiet; he could probably smell her through the door. Damn sexy shifters and their super senses.

Crossing her arms over her chest, and conscious of the fact that her vest showed way more than she was comfortable showing, she opened it.

Holy crap. He was even more disgustingly hot than she remembered. How was it possible to look that good? It wasn't even fair on the rest of mankind. His eyes took in every inch of her and twinkled, there was no gold today, just a dazzling blue fire. A stark contrast against his dark lashes.

 "I'm early. I hope that's not too much trouble. "

Well yeah, it was loads of trouble, especially when he looked like that and well, she looked like she had just rolled out of bed. Why did he have to keep looking at her like that? Squirming, she tightened her arms more firmly, aware of the changes his presence had on her body. He was a shifter. He could probably smell that she lusted after him so there was no point trying to deny it, but she didn't have to poke his eyes out with nipples that had gathered and hardened at the very sight of him. "I'm running a little late, but I won't be long," Rory paused. "Would you like to come in and wait?" She opened the door wider. "Please make yourself at home." She motioned to the sofa, overstuffed with mismatched cushions. "Can I get you a drink? I won't need very long, just need to throw some clothes on." she grimaced. Shut up, she told herself silently. Stop talking, but it seemed her brain was refusing to play ball. He caught her hand as she moved to make it to her bedroom. Why did he have to look so delicious sitting there on her old cream couch? He tugged on her hand "You look fine the way you are."

Her heart flip-flopped in her chest, "I can't really wear my PJs out and about, where are we going exactly?" She giggled. "Just so I know what to throw on" 

Throw on, yeah right, she was going to end up having a silent tantrum over her lack of clothes at any second. 

"What would you usually be doing on a Tuesday evening?" His voice was so soft, like velvet rubbing on her skin. Hell, it was like velvet rubbing on her most intimate parts, he raised her hand to his lips but didn't kiss her. Instead, he took a deep breath and Rory almost collapsed in a Potter coloured heap as his tongue flicked over the pulse in her wrist. His stubble tickled her arm.

Holy crap.

She needed to find words now. Find words to make yourself interesting, her brain was screaming at her. Do not tell him the truth. "Um work, I usually prep for the shop in the evening then you know maybe a pizza and watch a rubbish film" Rory groaned inwardly. Good one, that made her sound like a complete moron.

"Let's do that then "

She stopped "Don't be silly, you're all dressed and looking, well, gorgeous. You didn't plan for a night covered in flour." She motioned to his suit. His very well-tailored, obviously expensive suit. "You would ruin your suit."

His lips brushed where his tongue had recently licked. "My suit can be cleaned." his kisses kept coming. "I could always take it off, if it worries you that much."

Whoa. This guy was full-on. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and recrossed her arms. "Roman."

He grinned "Too forward?" He stalked towards her as she backed away a few steps. She needed some space between them. "Forgive me, I just feel like I've known you for a long time, I'll try and behave." His lips brushed her cheek. "I would like to stay in with you tonight. I can't say I'm going to be much help with baking, but I'm willing to give it a try." His hands ran down her arms. His hands were shaking as if he was struggling to control himself. "God I want you." he investigated her face. "Do you realise how hard you're making me, how it's taking every ounce of my control not to throw you down on that sofa and use my tongue to explore every inch of your body." He sighed and stepped back. "I'm coming on too strong again, aren't I?"

Rory giggled, no coherent words would come out.  

"I'll get pizza and a few bottles of wine and then you can put me to work, however you want to." he grinned again, winking,

Bloody git knew exactly what he was doing to her, with his sexy voice and inappropriate words.

"Plates?" He sat there looking like he had stepped out of her dirtiest fantasy and totally at home, and held the pizza box out "Or shall I just eat it off you?" He winked. She was far too aware of how sexy he was with his beautiful white shirt sleeves rolled up over his forearms. Who knew forearms could be sexy?

"I'll get plates." she hurried to the kitchen, needing a second to catch her breath.

 "Spoilsport." his throaty chuckle carried easily from the living room. She had thrown on some underwear, one of the newer nicer sets that Jo and Andre had made her buy. Just in case, well, just in case she decided to live on the wild side. Literally, it would seem in this case.

"You are taking too long." his arms wrapped around her from the back, making her jump. Caging her against the white units. "God you smell amazing." His nose was buried in her hair, the bristles on his chin tickling the sensitive skin on her throat, she squirmed. She could think of several other places she wanted to feel the brush of his stubble, and none of them were places a lady would let a guy she had just met see. Yet she didn't seem to be acting like a lady at all tonight. He was so touchy-feely it was hard not to be swept along. 

His lips brushed her jawline.

A moan escaped her lips before she could stop herself "Roman..."

His lips didn't stop. "One kiss, one kiss and we can eat pizza and drink wine and you can get to know me better. I'll even promise not to mention how much I know you want me. How much I can smell you do." His firm hands turned her around, lifting her crimson face.

"Are all shifters this full-on?"

He nodded, his lips still on her jaw, making a hot wet trail to her lips. "Uh-huh," he captured hers softly, full lips barely brushing hers "only when we have what we have wanted for half our lives in our arms. When we have found her, we don't know how to control ourselves." He mumbled against her mouth. Another brush of lips and hers parted. He groaned and grabbed her closer. His tongue touched hers as his hands pulled her to him. She felt the thickness of him against her belly and moaned into his mouth again, reaching up to tangle her fingers into his short dark hair. "God Rory. What are you doing to me?" One last kiss and he pulled away. "You make it hard for me to keep my promise of being a gentleman." He kissed her again and stepped away. Leaving Rory standing there, mouth open and legs like jelly. "Well, some things are definitely hard," she giggled. He glanced down and smiled

 "Naughty, now let's eat pizza and drink some wine before I decide to bend you over right here." He patted the cabinet she was leaning on. "Is this a good idea?" He led her by the hand, pulling her down next to him on the couch cushions. It was almost as if he couldn't bear to be separated from her, not even by an inch.

"I had a friend once who loved Tuna on pizza." Rory laughed as she reached passed where this tall dark almost-stranger was leaning against her kitchen units, quite at ease sitting on the side, taking up way too much room and not helping. She grabbed the canister next to his left hip and grinned up at him.

The last three hours had been some of the most comfortable she had ever spent with a man she didn't know. They laughed and chatted on the sofa over his strange Tuna and red onion pizza. He had poured wine into her cheap glasses and toasted that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He had kept his hands and lips to himself, and Rory didn't know whether that was a good thing or not. She had really enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms. She wanted to see what was under his clothes.

"Your friend sounds like he has impeccable taste." He sipped his wine. "Were you close?"

She shrugged "Many years ago."

"Boyfriend?" His voice had turned rough "The man at the wedding seemed to know you very well"

"Andre" she flicked him with the tea towel "Andre knows me very well indeed, we are super close."

A growl.

"Okay," another towel flip. "Don't you be going all growly on me! Andre is one of my best friends, we are extremely close." Why was it so easy being around him? There were no awkward silences. Just two people who were comfortable in each other's company. Like two friends. But then she had never wanted to lick the stomach of any of her friends before. So maybe that wasn't the best example.

"Then where is he tonight?" Roman raised his eyebrows and glass "Where was he a few hours ago when your nipples were puckering, and your lips were on mine?" He smirked, "And don't deny it, you wanted me to kiss you! Hell, you wanted more than that, if I wasn't such a gentleman..." he chuckled and shrugged in a way that was a thousand percent masculine. It wasn't really a question, more a statement of fact.

"Wasn't going to deny it, a woman would have to be blind not to find you attractive and you're well aware of that." Rory turned, hands on her hips. There was no point lying to him. He knew she wanted him. "And my date at the wedding is most probably having amazing sex with Dean, he tells us about it all the time" she winked at him.

Roman looked confused. Was she sharing her boyfriend with another guy? Rory didn't seem the type to have ménage and he sure as hell wouldn't be sharing her either. That was the kind of shit the Mermaids did. It worked for them. No way would it work for him.

 "That's his boyfriend by the way."

"You are an evil, evil woman Rory!" His wolf huffed and settled. No ménage, no boyfriend of any type let alone two that he would have to rip apart.

She giggled. 

"The man you were dancing with is your gay best friend?" He took a sip of his wine. "And this friend from many years ago, the one who likes fish on pizza, was he gay too?"

"No" she touched his leg, urging him to move it out of the way so she could open the cabinet. "Well he wasn't back then, who knows whether he has come out since it was a long time ago."

"Sounds like you liked this guy a lot?"

She shrugged. What could she say, that he had been her first kiss, her first love. The rock that got her through the summer she realised that her parent's marriage was a sham. "It was a long time ago, you remind me of him sometimes. I think it's your eyes and of course the pizza"she laughed. Crouching down to get trays from the cupboard between his legs. "I'll take that, but god woman, I like you looking up at me from down there" 

"You're being good, remember "she chuckled.

"Oh, I am good, I'm gonna show you how good I am pretty soon!"

"Roman, you made a promise." She wagged a finger at him, but her voice was playful. The thought of him naked made her voice quiver. She had no doubt at all that he would be good, hell she would bet money on it. He oozed sex and her body wanted him.

"I think we would both enjoy it if I broke this one."

"I think we would, but it doesn't mean I'm going to." She used his knees to raise herself to standing. "I don't doubt the sex would be amazing, and that it's probably just what I need right now, but... "

"Is that what you think, that's what I want? All I want? Do you think I just want to fuck you?"

"Roman I..." he stopped her with his lips. She had obviously been taken aback by the crassness of his words. And the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off.

"Aurora Jones, I worship you, I want to worship your body. I want to be so far inside you that I become a part of you. I want you." He kissed her again, a chaste soft kiss. "But if you think I just want sex then I'll wait, I've waited a long time. A little while longer won't make any difference."

 His fingers stroked her cheek. No difference, of course, he might just explode. "Now let's finish up here, I think we have a movie to watch."

Roman was at peace, totally relaxed for the first time in so long. He gazed down at a sleeping Rory, the film hadn't even ended when she had fallen asleep. Snuggled tight into his chest. Having her in his arms was all he wanted. Well, not all, but it was perfect right now and had been perfect all night. He hadn't moved though it was cool in the apartment; she had moved into his chest, wrapping her arms around him, comfortable with the heat that radiated from him. But the night was over, and dawn was fast approaching. It was time to say goodbye, even if it was for a little while.

"Rory" he brushed the hair out of the way, taking in her face. The dark lashes that curved against her white cheek. The plump lips.  "Rory my love I need to go, and you need to get ready for work." 

She snuggled in tighter, her breath hot even through his shirt. "A few minutes longer."

"I'd never leave your side, but it's morning.'

She yawned "What? Oh god, did I fall asleep?" She gawked and sat up straight. Praying that she hadn't left any drool marks on his shirt. "You slept the night away." He wanted her back in his arms; the sudden feeling of loss, as she moved away, was like a part of him was missing.

"Why didn't you wake me? You could have left, you must have been so uncomfortable all night." she jumped up. "I'll make coffee, it's the least I can do." She was rambling again. How was it possible that on one side she could be so at ease around him, and the next she was left like a tongue-tied girl.

"Not so fast" he pulled her onto his lap. "Kisses first I think "

"I need to brush my teeth, morning breath you know." 

He captured her lips "I don't care." 

His lips were the softest she had ever had. Tentative as if the man from last night had lost his nerve. As if he was doubting himself. "Rory I can see your bra" he spoke into her mouth. His fingers lightly trailing over the black lace that was visible where her tank top had fallen obscenely low in her sleep. He had been dying to touch it for hours.

She kissed him back as need exploded in her body. "I don't care."

He groaned loudly, and his fingers were replaced by his whole hand. He cupped her breast, and captured her mouth with his in a kiss that soaked her lace panties instantly. "Roman I need..." she couldn't finish, his lips were trailing kisses down her neck. He nuzzled into her breasts where they heaved out of the confines of lace and satin. "I know" his hands were under her top now, hands trailing up the bare skin of her tummy. "This needs to come off." He pulled at the lace bra with his teeth. "But not now." He tore his mouth away. "Later, later I'm going to make you mine, you're going to be screaming my name." He kissed her. "Now go and shower, and I'll help you get everything downstairs to the shop before I shoot off."

"I'll pick you up at seven?" His lips brushed her's as they stood in the dawn light outside Sweet Dreams door. "I'm going to wine and dine you out of those clothes." He tugged at the hem of her shirt. 

"These ones?" She motioned to her black jeans and t-shirt ensemble. Her usual work outfits.

"Any of your clothes," he said against her mouth.

"Where are we going tonight, if you would give me a hint, I might be able to prepare a little easier." Who was this woman, standing making out with a hot shifter in public. Rory didn't recognise herself, but she liked her.

He shrugged his hands reaching under her shirt to lay flat on her back, his fingers caressed her bare skin. "It doesn't matter what you wear beautiful, because I'm going to be taking it off," he chuckled.

"You're terrible." She playfully pushed at his chest. She wasn't sure what had gotten into her. "Until later my love."He kissed her one more time and turned on his heel. Getting into the sleek black car parked at the curb.  She watched him until he was lost into the early morning traffic. Roman was one of a kind, that was for sure. Maybe tonight she would get to see what was under the clothes. He wanted her, you didn't need to be a wolf with their otherworldly senses to see that. And the fact she wanted him wasn't debatable either.

"Who the hell was that?"

Rory whirled, her hand fluttering to her throat. Standing there, the rage coming off him in waves, was her ex- or soon-to-be ex-husband.  "Dale, what are you doing here?"

"Who was that Aurora?" His voice shook with anger. "And don't give me that look, I saw the two of you leaving your house, so he had obviously spent the night."

"We aren't together, how I spend my nights doesn't have anything to do with you!" She turned back to her work.  "And what are you doing spying on me? You need to get over it. We are over."

"Don't you dare turn your back on me, you ARE MY WIFE!" His hands gripped her arms painfully.

"Take your hands off me, Dale, Now! "

"You are my WIFE!" he forced his lips down on hers. "Mine!" His hands moved to push her top up. "You belong to me, not some jacked-up ass hole. You made vows to me." His hand moved over her body cruelly, Rory fought back but he had her face in a vice-like grip, his lips bruising hers. 

"Get your fucking hands off her Dale, now!" Neither of them had heard Andre walk in.

Scooting out from the prison of Dale's arms Rory clenched her fist, threw back her arm and punched her ex-husband straight in the nose. It exploded in a splatter of blood. She grinned at the crunching sound it made. "Don't you ever touch me again!" She hissed. 

The slap was unexpected. Dale had never been physically abusive. It made her head rock back, she tasted blood at the corner of her mouth, but she met his eyes. "You will never touch me again Dale." she touched the bead of blood, looking as her fingers came out smeared crimson. "You should leave now before I phone the police."

It was only when she had heard the car pull away, that she collapsed into her best friends' arms.