Rory pulled her fifth cocktail towards her, oblivious to the looks her best friends were exchanging above her head. "Don't you have a date tonight?" Jo asked. They had both rallied round their best friend after her early morning altercation. Andre had called in reinforcements to deal with the shop, and taken Rory home. She had cried a lot,the shock of her attack not hitting her fully until she was back in her familiar surroundings. Jo had made an appearance just after 2pm. The wine she bought had a snowball effect. By 5pm, Rory had wanted out; and she had been drinking cocktails and downing tequila at the bar across the road ever since. She was going to have trouble walking pretty soon.

Rory shrugged. "Cancelled, can't exactly go looking like this can I?" She motioned to the bruise at the corner of her mouth "Plus, he's going to run a mile. Who wants to date anyone with a crazy ex in tow?" she shrugged. "Should have gotten laid whilst I had the chance." she made it a sing-song.

"Should have been like you Jo

"Have you rung him? Rearranged? You could tell the guy was crazy about you even from those few minutes."

"Don't have his number." Another shrug and another slurp. "He can't have been that interested, he didn't even leave a number or ask for mine." Alcohol really helped. She squinted at her watch "It's 8pm, he's long gone now anyway...adios, Mr. growly pants." She giggled. "Now let's do some more shots!"

Andre rolled his eyes as his friend motioned for the bartender to pour another round of tequila. "Girl, do you think more shots is the way to go?" The girl was buzzed. Jo motioned with her head and he nodded. She slipped out of the booth and headed towards the door.

"You know what?"

"What's that Rory?" Andre lent forward on his elbows. He really needed to get something non-alcoholic into her before she passed out. Girl couldn't handle her drink at all. "I should have just let the sexy shifter do me last night, you should see him. All muscles, tattoos and sex appeal." She sighed, and reached for another shot. "You would have let him do you! But I'm such a bloody old fuddy duddy, I didn't even get past a bit of boob action!" She huffed.

The door to the bar opened, bounced off the wall with enough force to make every person there turn around.  Everyone except Rory, who had another shot to her lips. She was too wrapped up in her own self wallowing to take much notice of the babble of excited whispers that had erupted.

"Rory." the growly voice made her look up.

Jo brought up the rear, looking sheepish and drenched, but still looking like a god was Roman. Outside it was already dark and rain had started to fall. So much for their Indian summer.

"I waited... " his eyes widened, and then narrowed into slits. His anger was a palpable thing. "Your mouth." he slipped into the booth next to her, moving the glass away from her lips, "Jo said you had a run-in with your ex-husband after I left you this morning?" His fingers touched the cut on the corner of her mouth with gentle fingers. "Did he do this?" His voice was a low growl.

"What are you doing here?" She pulled her face away from him, tears prickling behind her eyes. "You shouldn't be here."

"Jo came and found me, it's just lucky that you drink close to home." He pulled her into the warmth of his arms. "It might have been hard to sniff you out with all this rain." But he would have found her, even if he had to full shift and sniff her out like a dog. Something he was more than prepared to do.

"But what are you still doing here?" she moved towards her glass again and this time he didn't stop her. "Where else would I be Rory, I said I'd pick you up." He was rubbing her other hand against his cheek.

"You should be gone, that's where you should be!" She took another sip. Why was this sexy stranger acting like she was his whole world? "And you two can stop looking at me like that as well!" She turned to her two friends fiercely, "No one asked you to interfere, I was doing just fine." Not caring how ridiculous she was being, Rory reached for another shot.

"Where would I go exactly, Rory? If Jo," he motioned with his hand, "hadn't come to find me, I would have stayed outside until you had come home."

"It's raining."

"Well yeah but it's just water; a bit of rain doesn't scare me and neither does this." Hs fingers touched her face again. "Though I'm going to rip your husband apart"

"Ex." Jo and Andre chimed up in unison. They were both watching the exchange with wide eyes. Rory's earlier outburst wasn't surprising. They both knew she hated to lose control of any situation. If Rory was anything, it was in control. She had spent so long being under her husband's thumb, it wasn't at all surprising.

"Your ex-husband." He growled. "He won't touch you again, no one will ever hurt you again."

"I can't do this right now." She pushed past him. She wasn't angry at him, she wasn't even angry at her friends. It was inwards that her anger flowed. She needed to think. And she couldn't do that when he was touching her like she was some delicate flower he needed to protect.

God damn it she could protect herself!

"You are too much Roman, I can't think when you're rubbing yourself on me like an overgrown puppy." She pushed her way into the ladies' room but he was close on her heels. He stalked towards her.

"Roman stop I can't handle... " She stopped at the look on his face. His eyes shone with tears "I'm sorry." He whispered as he gathered her into his arms, kisses rained down on her face. "I'm so sorry, I should have been there to protect you."

"Roman, you barely know me."

"Is that how it feels to you? That we are strangers?" More kisses.

Honestly no, it didn't feel like he was a stranger. It felt like he was the missing part of her soul, but she would be crazy to say that out loud. "Roman, you can't always protect me, you don't even know me."

He growled, and it was pure animal. She had never seen a shifter this close to shifting before. His blue eyes had changed to a deep gold. "I can, and I will. You're mine." He kissed her once more. "Now I'm taking you home with me."

"I don't want to go home Roman, I want to get drunk "

"I didn't say anything about your home, Rory; we are going back to my hotel, and you can get as drunk as you want to as long as I can keep my eyes on you!"

"I don't want to go to any home yet, I want to stay here and maybe go dancing!"

He laughed at her pouty lips. "Dancing huh?" He wanted to force her to go with him, he ran his hand through his hair. He also knows forcing the subject would only push her further away. He wanted to make her happy, to put the smile back on her lips. "Okay, your wish is my command. Let's take you dancing."

"I'm not leaving my friends."

"Of course, not."

"It's nice to see her enjoying herself."

Roman turned to Andre, and took in the man at his side for the first time. "You love her very much don't you?" Roman asked.

The other man nodded. "She's been through a lot, I would hate to see her get hurt again." His meaning was clear. And Roman had to smile. Hurt my friend and I will hurt you. Cliched but true. He could easily break the other man. It would be as easy as snapping a twig,but he respected loyalty. And Andre was as loyal as they came. Rory had a good friend there.

"You don't have to have any fear there, I've waited a long time to meet the grown Aurora Jones."

Andre placed his drink carefully on the table, considering the bigger man "Your name isn't really Roman, is it?" He said matter of factly.

"Roman is my family name."

"Roman, as in let me guess, Jacob Roman? Why didn't she introduce you..." Rory had always been upfront about her summer romance, the year she had found out both her parents were seeing other people. It wasn't a situation any fifteen-year-old would be able to understand. She had painted a pretty clear picture of a tall, gangling kid, with bright blue eyes and too much dark hair, and their whirlwind summer romance. Well, it seemed that the kid grew up mighty fine! Andre grinned as he appraised the bigger man. Then he stopped.

"She doesn't know."

"And you haven't told her? Why? That girl has been crazy about you since she was fifteen years old!"

Roman shrugged. "I hoped she would know me, I think deep down some part of her knows." His beast leapt. She had been in love with him. "But I don't want old feelings to get in the way now, I need her to want me as the man I am now, and not the boy I was." His smile was sheepish. Nervous. It looked so out of place on such a confident man.

"Well... I don't like keeping any kind of secrets from her but, just don't break her heart, she's an amazing person." He laughed as they turned their eyes back to the dance floor. "An amazingly drunk woman," he laughed. "But you need to tell her, and soon Roman."

"My amazingly drunk woman. I know it's probably odd to you, how I'm..."

"So intense? So crazy about her? I know shifters Roman, I know how it is with you guys. When you find the one, that's it! You don't mess about."

Roman raised his eyebrows.

"My cousin married a bear," Andre shrugged. "It was like love at first sight. And you have felt like that for all these years?"

Roman nodded. It all made sense now, how he would find her again at a shifter wedding, even after years of searching. Crazy to think it was less than a week ago. "The wedding."

Andre nodded "You can thank me later for that," he winked. "Now go make that woman fall in love with you!" Andre laughed. "Again."

Roman watched the love of his life throw her hands up and wiggle her hips in time with the music. Now all he had to do was get her to fall in love with him. The wolf inside him was immediately conscious of the looks other men gave her, and he didn't like it one bit. No more of that! He slid out of his seat, his long legs taking him across the dance floor to her. It was a Wednesday night, so luckily it wasn't that busy.

He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her back to him. "Hello beautiful."

"Mmm." she pressed back against him "Hello Roman."

"Are you having fun?" He turned her in his arms. "It's good to see you smiling again."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "I could be smiling more," he grabbed his neck, pulling his head down to whisper huskily in his ear. He searched her face, his breath quickening. "Want to get out of here?"

She nodded "I'm pretty sure you said something about clothes," her lips grazed his ear. "And I'm almost certain I want to get you out of yours." She giggled.

"Let's go." He pulled her by the hand, giving Jo and Andre a cursory wave goodbye, they were both laughing!

The door slammed behind her, and she was pressed up against the wood before she could even blink. Roman captured her arms, raising them above her head, and capturing her lips in one swift passionate movement. The hardness of his body pushed her backwards. There was no escape.

His lips crushed hers; his breath was hot, laboured. "You don't understand how much I want you." His tongue darted into her mouth. Seeking hers, finding it and owning it.

She groaned into his mouth. "I need to feel your hands on me, Roman."

"Oh god," his hands were under her t-shirt, trailing up until they came to her bra. He groaned as his hand cupped the fleshy globe in his palm. Her breath caught in her throat, as he dropped his hands away "Please..." her voice was begging.

"Too many clothes my love." He growled, pulling the black t-shirt above her head, trapping her hands above her head with it. The bra was next; he literally tore it down the middle, it fell useless on either side of her body.

Reality hit Rory like a brick, and she brought her hands down. She was far too exposed, gulping in air like she was drowning. Years of not feeling beautiful, of being ashamed of her body; years of turning her face away, so she couldn't see the total lack of appreciation in a man's eyes. It was just as much panic as it was lust that made her gulp in breaths.

"No, you are beautiful," he kissed her face. "Open your eyes, look at me." His mouth was leaving a hot trail of fire across her skin.

She opened her eyes wide, just as his lips found her left nipple. He planted one soft kiss, and then sucked the hardpoint into his mouth. Her eyes widened, and her body turned to jelly. She needed to hold on to something before she fell.

"My god you are beautiful," he growled against her flesh. "Don't ever cover yourself in front of me again." He dropped to his knees. "I need to taste you Rory." His hands were at her button. Pushing the jeans down her hips, his lips trailing behind. He reached up and squeezed her hardened nipple between his fingers. His eyes never leaving her face. Was it possible to make love to someone with just your eyes?

Rory forgot how to breathe; how was this happening? She needed to think, it was all happening too quickly. Her logical brain fought for control of the situation, but her body had other ideas. Her breath caught in her throat as his face pressed against the satin on her panties. He inhaled, his arms wrapping around her legs, so she couldn't escape. What was he doing? His hands kneaded her butt as he pressed his face between her legs. Panic and lust flooded her body. "Roman," she pushed at his shoulders "Roman what are you doing?"

He smiled against her mound, his breath laboured. "I'm going to taste you."

"Roman, no." she pushed him away, every part of her body screamed for him to come back. She wanted his lips there. In a place, no man before had been. "You don't need to do that."

He growled low and quiet, "I need to taste how much you want me Rory," he pushed his face between her legs again. His tongue flat against her knickers.

Rory moaned, and her legs buckled. One second, she was sliding down the dark wood of the door, the next she was in his arms.

He all but threw her down on the bed, she couldn't move, her arms were tangled in her t-shirt, her jeans trapped her ankles together. He yanked the jeans off her ankle and lowered himself between her legs,pulling the shirt off as he caught her lips with his. He moved and she could feel every inch of him pressing against the slip of material that parted them. His hands gripped her hips. "Roman please..." She was almost crying, the pressure in her body unbearable, she tugged on his clothes. "I want you inside me." She was breathless.

"Not yet" he was pulling her knickers down her legs. Then his hot breath was against her sex and she forgot how to breathe. "Roman, you don't have to do that."

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he looked at her from between her legs. "Don't have to do what? This my love?" His tongue was cool against her skin as he licked between her lips. "Do you want me to stop?"

"I..." She couldn't think of anything but the feel of his tongue, as he lapped at her most intimate parts like a cat lapping cream. She moaned. "No one has... "

"Has no one ever tasted you before, beautiful Aurora?" His lips found that hard little bundle of nerves and he sucked it into his mouth. The cry that escaped her lips was more animalistic than human. She wrapped her hands into his hair, pushing his mouth onto her. Her legs shook. His laugh was just a low sound in his throat. "You taste better than I ever imagined, I could die here, and I would die happy!" His tongue curled around that bundle of nerves, as his fingers found her entrance. He slid his finger into her, and growled against her clit. The vibrations sending new shock waves through her body. "I've waited a lifetime to see your juices run down my fingers little Ro." He lapped at her again. His tongue flat. Licking from ass to clit before he sucked her into his mouth hard; his fingers sliding into her wetness and curled, rubbing against the spot that no man had found before. He fucked her hard with his fingers as he sucked her, his teeth grazing the bud hidden between her folds.

Rory bucked, her breath coming in laboured pants. "Stop...  Roman please I don't know how much... oh my...  fucking Jesus!" Her hips bucked again. Her legs shaking uncontrollably, she moved to push his head away. "Just let go." His hands moved faster. "Come for me, I need to see you come."

The pressure inside her body was unbearable; she felt like an electric band that was way too tight and was about to snap. But when it happened, she still didn't expect it. One minute she was there, and then the next she was flying. Stars burst behind her eyes. Her body arched, as she grabbed at his hair, riding his face through her orgasm. "Shit baby," he didn't let up, his fingers forced themselves in and out of her. His tongue circling her pleasure button. "Come for me."

Her body turned liquid and ran, she screamed his name to the ceiling. And then he was there, his lips wet from her, and she could feel the head of him pressing against her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, his first thrust was slow. Stretching her until she thought she couldn't fit him all inside.

He was so large, so thick, that the feeling of fullness bordered on painful, her muscles clenched around him. Her nails raked into the muscles of his shoulders as she cried out his name again. He withdrew, his eyes searching her face. "I'm going to fuck you now Ro," and slammed himself into her. There was nothing slow or sensual about it. He owned her body. The border between pain and pleasure blurred and disappeared. Rory Jones, still reeling from the orgasm that left her spent, met him thrust for thrust, hips moving to meet his.

"You're mine now." He growled into her shoulder.

Rory could do nothing but hold on, and let the second wave of pleasure flow through her.

Rory couldn't move, not just yet. She lay there on that big hotel bed, in a halo of tangled sheets, and her eyes fluttered. She could feel the heat from Roman's body as he gazed at her, his head propped up on his hands. "What?"

"Don't you 'what' me woman, I'm just looking at you" he trailed his fingertips down her naked hip and then stopped.  "Did I do this?" His lips kissed the bruise on her hip, "and your arms" His fingers were like feathers against her skin.

She shook her head.

"Christ Rory, how much of you did he lay his hands on?" He pushed himself away from her and ran his hands over his face. "This looks painful". The man he was, was livid; the wolf was murderous. Someone had left these marks on his mates' smooth skin.

"I'm ok, Andre came in before things got too out of hand." She reached for him and he pulled away.

"What the hell was he planning on doing that left bruises here?" The pain in his eyes was palpable. "And then... well, I wasn't exactly gentle. Why didn't you stop me? Did I hurt you?"

She sat up, gathering the white sheet to her chest and reached to lay her hand on his cheek. "You didn't hurt me Roman," she ran her fingers over his lips. "No one has ever done what you just did, no one has ever made my body react like that." Her voice was a whisper, the truth was scary. Here she was almost 30 years old bearing her soul.

"No one has ever kissed you down there?" His fingers darted, and her legs opened as if they had a mind of their own; she threw her head back and moaned. "Or no one has ever made you come that hard?"

"No one. Not even close."

"No one has made you come before?" He was looking at her like she had grown another head. Blood rushed into Rory's cheeks. "I've had an orgasm before, just not. Well, not with anyone." she clutched the sheet tighter.

He chuckled. "Has my baby been in charge of her own orgasms?" He tugged the blanket so hard she fell into his lap. "Well that ends now." His fingers were busy, his eyes strained on her face.

"Again?" She gulped.

"Again, and then again some more. I told you, Rory, now I've got you in my bed, I don't plan on letting you out of it."

."

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.

You look tired."

Rory glanced over the coffee table at her two best friends, stifling a yawn. Tired? That's because she was. But it wouldn't do anyone any good to worry them more than they were already. What could she say? That the three in the morning phone calls had been going on for weeks now. Three am every single night without fail. Her phone would just ring and ring. 

She had tried turning it off, and the pounding at the door had started. That was worse, knowing someone was outside her home,with only a shoddy wooden door between them.

"Have you heard from Roman?" Andre leaned back; his long legs crossed at the ankle as he perused her face. Rory shook her head. No, she hadn't. Not since the frantic voicemail he had left her begging her to ring him back that first day. She had it saved to her phone. It had crossed her mind, when the night calls had first started that it might be him, but she knew it wasn't. That wasn't Roman's style; it was, however, her ex-husband's. The thought made her sick.

"He sent flowers last week." She motioned to a huge bouquet of yellow roses on the sideboard. Yellow roses her favourite flower; the realization that he had remembered that after all these years made her heart hurt. The card read simply "YOURS," in a beautiful bold cursive script that just screamed Roman. "But I haven't spoken to him." She gathered her hair into a high ponytail, a nervous habit, it just accentuated how drawn she was. There were dark circles under her eyes. "Have you?"

He shrugged. "I spoke to him this morning."

Rory let out a puff of air. "Andre, how am I meant to get on with my life if my best friend is still taking his calls? "

"That's easy- you don't, you give the guy a chance to explain."

She opened her mouth, but Andre stopped her with his hand outstretched. "Listen to me Rory, the guy is crazy over you, not stalker Dale crazy" He added with a dark look. "Shifters are different, they know when they have found their Mate, and Roman found his when he walked into your life all those years ago. He's waited for you forever, can't you even give him the chance to talk to you?"

Rory blinked back tears. Roman had said as much that day when she had left him. The sight of his wolf crying for her still haunted her dreams. It hurt more than she was willing to admit that she had left it like that, but she couldn't bring herself to pick up her phone and call him back. As if reading her mind Jo was there, her tan arm bringing her in close. "You could phone him, Rory, it isn't too late to do that."

"How can I phone him with all this craziness going on, and even if I could, what could I say when I'm not sure I can forgive him. It's just better for both of us this way."

Andre groaned. "You don't get it, Rory, he will never want anyone but you, not really." His words were hard, he was angry with her. "And he would want to know what's going on with these calls."

Rory shook her head hard. No, that could never happen.

"His official mate or not, he would protect you, Rory."

"No Andre, that's the end of that. I can't expect him to protect me from life, when I don't want him in mine. Change the subject."  There was no need, the atmosphere in the flat turned icy as Rory's phone began to vibrate. She glanced at her friends and then at the clock. It wasn't even midnight. She fumbled with trembling fingers to bring the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Slut!" The voice on the other end of the line was her husband. It was the first time she had heard her night time caller's voice, but she had always known it was him. Deep down. The phone had already clicked off as Andre grabbed the phone from her shaking hand. "Son of a bitch!" He tossed her phone onto the couch cushions, and Jo brought her in for a hug. Rory collapsed against her friend's shoulder as the sobbing overtook her.

She didn't notice that Andre had reached for his own phone until she heard him speak. "Roman." She threw herself at him. He couldn't do this to her, humiliate her further. "Andre, please!"

He turned to her, she had expected anger, but he had tears in his eyes as he held the phone out of her reach. "No Rory, I love you, but no. Let the people who love you help you." He turned his back on her and lowered his voice. She couldn't keep track of their conversation, as Andre paced between the tiny living room and the even smaller kitchen. When he turned back to her his voice was softer. "He wants to talk to you Rory."

"I don't want to speak to him, Andre. I can't." She stared at the outstretched phone as it would bite her.

"Take the goddamn phone, Rory!" Jo bit out.

"She won't speak to you, Roman." Andre cocked his head thoughtfully as he listened. "Do what you have to do." He clicked the phone off, setting it down on the table carefully. "He's on his way over."

The floor fell from beneath Rory's feet. How could he be on his way over? How could she face him in person, if she couldn't even bear to hear his voice over the telephone without her heart breaking?

"Why Andre, and how? How can he be coming here NOW?"

"He's in town, he has been since yesterday"

He had been in town and he hadn't tried to contact her. Rory wasn't sure how she felt about that at all.

Why hadn't he even tried? But she knew the answer, he hadn't tried because she had told him not to. Roman wasn't Dale.

The door knocked sooner than she had anticipated, and she panicked, locking herself behind the closed door of her bedroom as Andre went down to let him in. She could hear their hushed voices even through the door.

"Rory?" Romans voice was soft as he opened the door, fumbling for the light switch. The look on his face as he took her in, sat with her arms wrapped around her legs made her hide her tear-stained face. He looked disgusted. She hiccupped into her drawn-up knees, turning her face away from him.

"What's going on Rory?"

He was too close, even standing as far away as the room allowed. She could feel him in every pore of her skin. "Nothing."

He gave her a look before closing the door behind him. Then he was there, on his knees in front of her, reaching for her arms. "No lies remember Rory, isn't that your rule?"

"I don't want you here Roman." She lied, her chin lifting defiantly even as her face was soaked with tears that wouldn't stop. And what was worse, she wasn't even sure what she was crying over now.

That she had a stalker, who had once been her husband? The lack of sleep, or the fact that Roman was here? His fresh masculine scent filled her nostrils. That he was so close he could reach out and touch her, yet remained sat back on his knees, looking at her like she was some overreacting child. Or the fact that she wanted to throw herself into his arms and let him break her heart over and over again?

"Are these tears because you can't stand the sight of me, or are you lying to me again?" He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. She lent into his hand with her eyes clenched closed. He was too close. "I didn't think so" His voice was husky. "I've missed you."

She scooted away from him at that. "I've missed you as well, but it doesn't change anything."

He nodded, releasing her face and sitting back on her threadbare carpet. "You are right, this isn't the time, now tell me what's been going on."

And she told him. Told him everything. He didn't say anything, barely made a sound though she became aware of a low rumbling noise as she spoke. He was growling low and long as he listened. "And I don't know what to do anymore, and Andre shouldn't have told you, this isn't your problem." She finished with a hiccupping sob.

"It is my problem Rory." He gathered her into his arms then, piling her into his lap as he sat on the floor. He whispered into her dishevelled hair as he rocked her. "Anything that hurts you will always be my problem."

"But... "

"But nothing, maybe you still don't understand. Even if you reject me forever, I will always protect you. I will always strive to make sure you are happy." Was it her imagination or was his voice catching in his throat. "Even if it kills me."

"Roman..." She scooted back, just enough so she could see his face. "I don't want you to put your life on hold waiting for me, I can't ask you to do that."

"Too late." His voice was sad. "I don't get a choice; I never really did, but if you don't think I can make you happy then you won't ..."

She kissed him then. She hadn't planned on it. In fact, she had told herself that she wouldn't. "Aurora." He pulled away first, capturing her face between his hands as she fought to bring her lips back to him.  She needed his closeness if she was to forget even for a little while the total shit storm her life had become. "Aurora, no."

"You don't want me?"

He held her head against his chest then, so she could feel the pounding of his heart. "I will never stop wanting you, but this isn't right. You don't want me."

"I want you."

"No, you don't. Not like this, this will just be something else you hate me for. I won't take advantage of you."

"I want... hell Roman I need..." He silenced her with his lips.

"You need me to be a gentleman and be here for you, to not push my agenda on you right now. Don't think I don't want to,Rory" He groaned as her lips made a trail of kisses just below his left ear. "Rory stop, if you carry on, I won't be able to stop myself" He captured both her hands in one of his.

Rory made a sound very similar to a growl of her own. What the hell was his problem? Why couldn't he just take what she was offering? Take her and for a few moments make her forget everything but the feel of his body on hers. Why wouldn't he give her that?

"Sleep Rory, just sleep. Tomorrow I will make this problem go away for you. Once it has, if you want me in your life," he settled her next to him on the bed. His arms slung over her waist as he drew her close against his front. "Then I will be here, but right now just sleep."

"I don't sleep anymore Roman" but she was already drifting off.

"I'm right here Rory, you can sleep."