Lost Mates Books 1-3

Roman woke up to the sun shining through the curtains, something had woken him from his dreams. His phone was ringing. He growled and reached for it. Five missed calls. Shit! Why was his brother trying to reach him? Once upon a time, Roman and Jude were close; but then Jude had moved away from the pack, taking over another branch of their law firm. Roman wasn't lawyer material, and had branched out on his own into security after several years in the military. Most of the pack had followed him. It made sense and they trusted their Alpha. That he had brought two extremely lethal, if somewhat exotic, other shifters with him had done nothing but cement his position as Alpha. Jude had never wanted that kind of responsibly.

"Hi Jude, what's up"

"What have you been doing, I've been trying to reach you?" As usual his brother was brisk, matter of fact. Never one for idle chit chat.

Well hell, since when did his little brother need to get hold of him. "I was asleep,"he glanced at the clock. It was only a little after nine. "Again I say, what do you want?"

"Well charming, anyone would think you got some leggy blonde in your bed." His brother chuckled.

Roman glanced down at where Rory should be, and his brow furrowed. Where was she? Had she taken herself home without even a good-bye kiss? He was pretty sure he could have convinced her to stay. The thought of how he would have done that made him smile. "What do you want Jude?" 

Jude laughed "A brunette then, you do have a type don't you. Mum said you were taking some time off, she didn't mention you were taking time off to chase tail."

"Jude either tell me what you want or get off the damn line, I have people I need to see." He couldn't scent Rory anywhere; the room was silent. Just the lingering smell of her, of the amazing sex they had spent the night having. Where was she? Why would she leave without even waking him? His heart dropped.

 "Ok well listen, mum said you were local and I need your help; one of the guys in the office is having problems with his WIFE, he knows she's fooling around with someone, and well, he wants what's owed him. She's meant to be a right firecracker, I actually wish I could meet her" he gave a chuckle.

Roman rolled his eyes "You want me to spy on someone," not just someone. "A woman, A HUMAN woman? Or a shifter?" Finding a shifter was more his thing. And it was something they were all pretty good at.

"We just need to know who she's seeing? I mean the guy is crazy about her, he made a few mistakes, you know how humans are. But if she wants to push for the divorce, well, I'm not gonna let one of my guys lose out to some small-town baker. We think she's seeing a shifter, so we need to stop any trouble from coming to our door in the future."

The rest of his brothers rambling on fell on deaf ears, Roman had never been a praying man but he prayed to whoever would listen now. Please don't say it.

"Her names Aurora Jones."

Yeah, he said it.

What the hell was he going to do?  Roman paced the length of the hotel room. And where the hell was she? He slammed his fists into the table and let out a sound that was more animal than man.

"Roman?"

He whirled and there she was, standing at the door with coffee in her hands. She was wearing one of his shirts tucked into her black jeans, which wasn't surprising seeing as he had ripped her cute t-shirt the moment she had tried putting it back on. He vaguely remembered saying how he never wanted to see her covered ever again. He hadn't really given the next day much thought in the heat of the moment. But he liked her like this, nearly as much as he liked her naked, the press of her nipples pushing against the thin material made him instantly hot. He grinned at the memory of literally ripping her bra off her body. He preferred her like this. Her breasts really were amazing without a bra. She would never wear one again if he had his way. 

"You were gone."

"To get coffee, I left a note," she pointed to the table. And there it sat. He had been blind in his panic. 

"I thought you had gone." His voice was emotionless. Panic was gripping him. This was not one but two secrets he had to keep from her, and instinct told him that she wouldn't be quick to forgive either one. How could his family's company be her ex-husband's employer? Sure he had nothing to do with that side of things, but he was head of his family. 

"Oh," Rory's voice was panicked, did he not want her here? Had she totally misread all the signals he had been sending. "Um yeah, of course, sorry I'll be right out of your hair, I'll have your shirt dry cleaned and returned back to you." she bit back the lump in her throat. She would not cry. It had been an amazing night. Why did she have to go spoil It by thinking he wanted her to hang around. She dropped the two take out coffees onto the table and grabbed her bag. She would just have to live with the memories. They were good memories, better than good.

She had never hurried from a room so fast in her life. Stumbling down the corridor towards the elevator, a hiccuping sob escaped her lips. She was a fool. What did she expect from someone as gorgeous as him? She was just another notch on his bedpost. He must be laughing at her. Just a small-town girl, most probably one of many he had charmed into his bed.

Why wouldn't the elevator doors close, she needed to get out of here before she broke down completely. She pressed the button again. Holding a shaking finger on it.

His howl startled her, it was like nothing she had heard outside a tv show before. It was haunting and painful. Rory bolted from the elevator and down the stairs. Shoes and bag clutched in one hand. It was one thing knowing about shifters, it was a different ball game when the man she had just made love to was howling like a crazed beast. And she was the prey. Every atom of her being wanted to run.

She needed to get out of here, the door above her crashed open, and he was down the stairs in an instant. She had never seen a human move so fast. She backed up until the wall was at her back. 

"Is it the shirt?" She held her hand out, "Look, here..." she hastily untucked it. His skin was stretched tight. She gulped back her fear. Was he going to shift in front of her? Her heart pounded in her throat. She had never been more aware that he was a dangerous predator than she was now. 

"Keep the shirt." His voice was a growl. "Where are you going?" His gaze was intense. His wolf howled, and it broke out of its lips. She was acting like a scared animal, her eyes darting every which way in the attempt to find some way of escape. If she ran from him, he would lose control of his wolf completely. He would chase her down, she was so full of his seed he could smell himself on her. She was his, and his wolf would chase her down and make it official. "Don't run, Ro," he growled. 

"I'm going home, Roman." What the hell was his problem? He had pretty much told her to get out of his hotel room only minutes before. Talk about running hot and cold. Why did he have to follow her out, to humiliate her further? Well, he wasn't the only one with a temper, dragging the shirt over her head she tossed it at him. "Here, your shirt." 

He caught it with one hand and the other grabbed at her. Moving faster than anything she had ever seen,he pinned her to the wall. Her bare breasts pressed against his naked chest "Where are you going?"

"For god's sake Roman, you wanted me gone, so I'm going. I am going home."s She pushed at him, but he might as well be a statue. He was unmovable. "Get off me Roman, do you not think this is humiliating enough?"

"I never told you to go, why would you think that?" he tried to capture her eyes with his. "I've told you, you're mine."

"I'm no one's Roman, I don't know you. We have known each other for less than a week. I know I'm not very worldly like you, but I know a one-night stand when I have one."

He caught her chin in his hand, "A one-night stand? I don't want a one-night stand Ro, I want you in my life, and I don't care how long we have known each other." His lips hovered over hers. If he kissed her, she wouldn't be able to think straight. "Please..." his fingers trailed up, tracing the outline of her breast. She moaned even as she beat on his chest. 

It was the pleasure that did it, she looked at him. "Please Ro, don't do this to me, come back to bed, at least come back and drink some coffee with me and if you still want to leave, I'll give you a clean shirt and drop you home, please just give me a chance. I know I don't explain myself very well."

"Roman..."

"I had just got off the phone with my brother, some family business, and it made me cranky." He kissed her, and she remained motionless. "God Ro you're killing me, I can't lose you because I'm stupid and can't control the tone of my voice."

"A shirt would be good" she whispered against his mouth, "I'm a little exposed"

He smiled. "And coffee? I'd like to chat and get to know you"

"One coffee."

"And a shirt, no one gets to see you like," he motioned her nakedness with his hand. "Only me."

"So, you're an alpha?" Rory sat at the table with her legs drawn up to her chest, which was again covered by his shirt. It smelled like him. Like cut grass and something wilder. Something dangerous. 

"Yes, I took over the Brentwood pack when my dad died three years ago." He was watching her like she was prey. Her eyes kept darting to the door. "Before that I was military, but I can't really tell you a lot about that."

"What does an Alpha mean?" She sipped her coffee; it was cold now, but the pretence of drinking it made her chaotic mind calm.

"It means I look after the pack, I am in charge of the family businesses, and keeping everyone in line." Including annoying younger brothers who employed scum bags that hurt his mate. He would remedy that situation quickly. Quickly but quietly.

She nodded as if something he had said made perfect sense to her. "You're used to getting what you want then?"

He grinned. "Oh yes, though sometimes things don't come easy. I have always had to work hard for what I want, for what my family needs."

"I doubt you have ever worked hard to get a woman in bed!" Her voice was curt. 

He shrugged, "I'm having a hard time keeping this one chick in my bed."

"Jerk."

"Can I kiss you now?"

She pouted. He drove her crazy. She shook her head. 

"So, taking you back to bed is out of the question?"

"Roman stop it."

He grinned. "Okay." He held up his hands in surrender. "Let's shower and head out."

"Are you going to take me home?"

He reached over and grabbed her hand. "If you would like me to take you home, then of course; but I'd very much like to spend the day with you before I have to go home this evening."

"You're leaving?"

"For a few days, a family issue has come up, but I'd very much like you to come back with me when I return. I'd like to show you my home."

She nodded.

His fingers curled around hers; it was such a simple gesture, but one that just made Rory even more confused. "What are you thinking about?" He asked, glancing down at her face. "Come on, something is on your mind, it's written all over your face."

They had been strolling hand in hand for over an hour, the rough trail wasn't really made for her block heels, but he had gone slow and his hand never left her. Normally she would have taken in the lush surroundings but today she was too engrossed in her own head. 

"What do you want from me, Roman?"

He stopped. "I've told you, you're mine, Ro."

She frowned, when had he started calling her that? It was a very old nickname. No one called her Ro any more.

"Your's," she said between clenched teeth. "What does that mean?"

"It means you're mine."

"Would you stop kissing me for just a minute? I understand that you live miles away, I know that this" she made a gesture between them "can't last forever."

He pushed away from her. "What are you saying? Is this just a fling for you? Just a chance to seduce the out-of-owner?"

She shook her head. "You know it's not like that."

"Then what's the problem, why can't you just enjoy being with me?"

"Roman..."

"No Rory, you need to stop doubting me, and doubting yourself as well! I know this is new territory for you. That you have been hurt, but can you please stop trying to spoil this. I'm not going anywhere. It doesn't matter how much you try and push me away." He stroked her face, but his voice was forceful. "I'm not human Rory, I'm built differently. For me, this isn't just an attraction to a beautiful woman. I know when I've found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"You believe in love at first sight?" Her voice held every ounce of her disbelief.

"I believe in finding the missing part of my very essence Rory, and that's what you are to me." He kissed her. "I want you in my life forever."

"You are one smooth talker," she paused. "I don't even know your last name, and you're here talking about forever, it's a little overwhelming."

He chuckled. If she had been a wolf, she would know exactly what he meant. The fact she was human complicated the matter. And that was without introducing her to the pack. "Roman?" He almost held his breath, stealing what could be his last kiss as he waited. "Jacob Roman, or even Jake, but everyone calls me Roman." He waited for the name to sink in, for recognition to light up her eyes.

Her eyes widened. Her pouty mouth making a perfect "O". "Jake? Jacob Roman" she tried the name as if it left a bitter after taste in her mouth. "Roman! Fucking Jacob Roman!" and there was the anger he feared. She tore her hand away. "When did you recognise me, I mean I should have known, as you knew too much about me. Christ you even called me little Ro in bed." she slapped her forehead. "How long have you known it was me?"

"I recognised you at the wedding."

"Well fuck, and you didn't think to tell me? Just thought you would mess with my head some, and have a laugh at my expense, hey?" Her anger made her voice low, she didn't need to be shouting to let him know every atom of her was seething.

"Rory let me explain," he grabbed at her hand. 

"Go screw yourself Roman!"

"You can't deny what we have, you're mine."

"No Roman, what we had was a summer that I romanticised for years and some good sex, now I'd rather forget both." She turned on her heel and walked away.

Watching her go, Roman threw his head back and howled. His wolf called to her and she didn't even pause, let alone look back. His mate was walking away from him. His wolf burst from him with a strangled scream and only then did she look back. Her eyes wide as she took in the giant dark grey wolf, not a hundred metres from where she stood. He whined again, lifting one great paw to step towards her. She held her hand up. A plain stop.

"Goodbye, Roman." This time she didn't look back.