Chapter 2 Roman 1

It was hot as hell.

Aurora Jones pushed a wandering tendril of dark hair out of her eyes where it had escaped her messy bun, and plastered itself to her sweaty skin for what seemed the millionth time that day already. For September it was unusually hot. The British summer dragged on a lot longer than anyone had anticipated. Not that she was complaining about the weather. It was such a nice change to wear something that didn't add ten pounds to her already curvy figure. But it sure was gruelling when you had ovens and heat sources going at the same time. She may not even complain when the weather broke and the rain started. Anything for a little relief.

"Morning Rory."

Of course, no one actually called her Aurora, honestly what were her parents thinking? Anyone would think they hated her. Not that was far off the truth. She hadn't spoken to her mother since filing for the divorce eighteen months ago.

"Morning Mrs. Ames, what can I help you with today?" Rory knew most of her regular customers by name, she knew their birthdays and what their preferences were when they walked through the door of her little bakery.

Mrs. Ames was no different. She was a regular customer, but as the menu at Sweet Dreams changed daily, Rory always asked. Even when she already knew what the older woman was going to say. "What's good today dear?"

Rory laughed, "There's a chocolate eclair with your name on it" she busied herself with a plate. It was always something chocolate for Mrs. Ames, she was a predictable soul.

Sweet Dreams had been her baby, her love of baking had gotten her through the separation with her husband. It quickly went from a hobby to her first little shop just over six months ago. Since then Sweet Dreams had exploded, and she would need to think about bigger premises soon- although she hated to leave her gorgeous little shop.

Rory smiled and laughed her way through their busiest times, just as she always did. Her personal life was in shambles, but at least at work she had some semblance of control. And even in her permanently exhausted state, each day seemed to be over in a flash. Leaving her to fall into bed each night.

"Rory, are you joining me?"

Rory glanced up from where she was busy wiping down the counter, to spot one of her best friends sitting at her usual round table. "Oh hey Jo, let me get some coffee and cake and I'll be right over, carrot cake ok with you?" Jo was the polar opposite of her. Blonde and professional. Their friendship shouldn't work but yet somehow it did.

"No chocolate?"

Rory laughed "You know there's never any chocolate left, it's carrot or nothing."

"Carrot is fine." Jo's blonde hair was twisted at the nape of her neck. Sweat had stuck the striped blouse to her back,but she looked perfectly put together as if the heat didn't bother her at all; in stark contrast to Rory, whose face was shiny with sweat. "So come on and spill, how did the wedding go? Dance with any fitties?"

"I was there to work Jo." It was a stroke of luck that she had even landed a job so big, and was all thanks to her other best friend Andre, who's cousin had been the bride.

Her laughter tinkled through the almost empty shop. No one looked up, Jo was a common site near closing. She always popped in on her way home from work. Monday to Friday, it was a ritual they would sit and chat over coffee and cake. Saturdays, on the other hand, were reserved for wine and man-bashing. Though it usually turned into wine and sordid stories of their sex lives. Not that Rory had any of those, but a girl could live through her friends right? That's what friends were for.

"Work, yeah right, okay, so you didn't bonk any hot groomsmen?"

Rory snorted. "Bonk, what are we sixteen?"

"Well you might as well be with all the action you're getting, let me guess the dick has been back in touch?"

Rory shrugged, "He won't take the hint, says he's changed, she was nothing blah blah." The dick, otherwise known as her ex, or soon-to-be ex-husband, who had problems keeping things in his pants. Her parents thought she should just suck it up, but Rory had too much self-dignity for that. If he wanted some twenty-year-old blonde, then let him have her. She knew she was worth more. She didn't even miss the sex, she had more fun in bed on her own anyway.

"He's a dick, don't you even think about going there" Jo waved her fork threateningly.

"No worries there, though..."

Jo leveled her fork "Don't even think about it, you're going through a dry spell that's all."

They were interrupted by the bell over the door tinkling. Rory frowned at her watch. It was a little late in the day for last-minute customers. There wasn't exactly a lot left. Most of the shelves had been emptied and wiped down, ready to close.

"I got this Rory." Sarah chirped from behind the counter, her voice unusually high and breathy. Sarah was only fifteen, but helped most days after school; learning to bake was Sarah's dream and Rory needed some help with the constant influx of customers. It suited them both perfectly. And Rory generally liked the younger girl, she had a drive that Rory wished she had had at that age.

"A dry spell, pfft, is that what you call it?"

Rory settled herself back into her chair and pouted at her friend. Jo always had a new beau. Men loved her, and no one could blame them. She looked like a centrefold model in a power suit.

"Maybe you would get laid if you went out more, or you know, ever." Jo scratched her nose absently "You're a beautiful woman. When was the last time you went out dancing and went home with some hot piece of ass whose name you forgot the next morning?"

"I don't do that."

"Exactly, maybe you should."

Rory laughed, "Maybe I should." she admitted with a sigh. Yeah, maybe she should. But it wasn't that easy for her. Years of being hurt had taken a huge chunk of her confidence. If she was going to put herself back in the dating game, she needed to be one hundred percent sure the person was worth it. And that didn't mean they had to be cracking in bed, no matter what her friends said.

Although it wouldn't hurt.

Rory wanted more, and maybe that was why she wasn't getting any. Maybe she needed to stop being so uptight and start living life on the wild side.

She felt the person standing behind her before he said anything. The warmth that radiated over her skin made every hair on her body stand to attention. It was like standing outside in a thunderstorm.

"Excuse me, can I squeeze past ladies?" The voice was low, husky. It was the kind of voice you imagined when you were alone in your bedroom, with the door closed.

Jo's eyes had gone like saucers, her lips parted. Rory sighed and stood, moving her chair out the way; it was only then she looked up.

And then up.

And up some more.

Her breath caught in her throat. Holy fucking shit. She didn't know where to settle her eyes. Especially when her eyes were at the level of a superbly formed chest that the black cotton that was covering it did little to hide.

"Hello." Roman's voice was breathy.

Roman looked down at her, a smile lighting up his face. She looked flustered, he liked that he made her uncomfortable. The way her eyes widened. He liked even better the fact that her heart had sped up as she raked her eyes over him.

"Oh yum, I mean... yeah sorry let me get out of your way" she scraped the chair further out of his way, her movements jerky as she tried to control her reaction. Conscious of his size, his bulk. He seemed to fill her small shop with muscles that no black t-shirt could hide. Tattoos ran down both arms and disappeared under the black material. How much of his body was covered in tattoos? She had the overwhelming urge to yank his shirt up and find out. Her eyes met his, and took in the chiselled jaw and the shadow of dark stubble. She wanted to bite his abs so badly it instantly made her blush.

Heat crept up her cheeks. She had been staring at his body with her tongue poking out between her lips. God, why couldn't she have made more of an effort today? Why couldn't she be normal and say something witty and charming? "I mean hello." Oh way to go, Rory, that was perfect. She mentally slapped her own forehead. Why was she such an imbecile? She threw a pleading look over the table at Jo, who was smirking knowingly.

His smile turned lazy, she had been checking him out. His eyes searched her face. Searching, looking for any sign that she knew who he was. But all he saw was a beautiful woman who was sexually attracted to him, that much he could tell even without the scent of her arousal.

She had no idea who he was.

"Hi, I'm Jo." Jo put out a very well-manicured hand, finally coming to Rory's rescue. He glanced at it, gave it a light shake and then dropped it. It wasn't her hand he wanted to hold.

"Hi Jo, I'm Roman." he didn't turn away from Rory though. Her eyes were darting across his face, a small line deepening between two arched brows and he smiled. "And you?"

"I'm Rory." it was a mumble of words, her eyes never leaving his face. The line between her eyes deepened.

Was she remembering him? He gave her a quizzical look, his smile lopsided. She shook herself and chuckled "Sorry I thought for a second I had met you before."

His smile lit up his face. "I would hope you would remember me. I sure as hell would remember you." he said softly.

God, he wanted to touch her. He wanted that more than anything. Was it too late to offer his hand? Did he care?

Jo's cough interrupted the moment. Too late, but then it might be best if he didn't touch her yet. He was likely to throw her over his shoulder, and take her home Neanderthal style, he sighed. "Well it was lovely to meet you ladies" he moved around Rory, his body brushing hers as he slid past. It wasn't enough. He needed to touch her skin, his beast needed him to touch her, to smell her all over. A growl escaped his lips. He pushed the animal back down. No way could he have another repeat of Saturday night. How close he had come to losing control of his animal had frightened him. It couldn't happen again.

He was Roman, Alpha to the Brentwood pack, ex-special forces. He didn't lose control of ANYTHING. He was in control.

"Wedding..."

He turned back to her, a smile playing over his face. It wasn't the memory he wanted her to remember but it was a start. They hadn't even spoken at the wedding, but she had obviously noticed him. Of course, a six-foot-three shifter almost losing control and having to be escorted out by some equally ferocious beasts was memorable. Especially if you hadn't much experience of the shifter community.

"You were at the wedding weren't you, I remember thinking you had the most beautiful eyes." Rory blushed, as the words left her lips.

He looked down at his arm, where her hand had stopped him. And his animal howled in triumph. "I was."

"Well, it's good to see you again. Please let me know if you would like anything else." she smiled, motioning to the counter, and turned back to her friend.

Roman took the seat by the window, which had been unexpected. She was just as he remembered from all those years ago, and even more stunning than he had ever hoped to dream. Those curves. She hadn't had those curves when they were teenagers. It made him curious as to what else had changed.

He had been beyond himself Saturday, no way would he lose her again. Samuel had taken one look at him and made several calls whilst Roman had let his wolf free and run. The woods around the hotel were not home but it felt good to let his animal-free. To Push himself until his lungs burned. He had returned to his hotel room calmer. He vowed that he wouldn't lose her again. He would make her his.

Sam hadn't said a word, just handed him a piece of paper as he stalked into the lavish hotel room, barefoot in nothing but an old pair of grey sweatpants.

Sweet Dreams. That's what the scrap of paper had said.

Roman had raised his eyebrow, but the younger man had questions of his own. Roman's search for his mate was common knowledge in the pack. That romantic tragic story of young love lost. "Was that really her?"

Roman nodded. She had changed, changed A LOT, but he would know her anywhere. She had grown from a geeky, if somewhat troubled girl, to a woman who was everything he wanted in a woman. Those curves would be in his dreams tonight, she was so much better than he had ever hoped to imagine. He had always known she would be beautiful, but not that beautiful.

"Geez man," Sam pushed his hand through his blonde curls "What are you going to do?"

Roman's wolf growled, was the boy stupid? Or just pretending to be. "Find her, make her my mate." Wasn't that obvious?

"Roman, wait, what if she doesn't remember you? What if she's married, or has a family?"

"Married?" Roman's voice broke. Nope, that wasn't an option. The fact that the girl

he had fallen in love with fifteen years ago could have moved on and forgotten him, had married? Could be at this very moment being embraced by another man. Images of her in the arms of the blonde stranger she had been dancing with at the wedding flashed behind his eyes. Was that her husband? Were they together right now, secure behind closed doors? Was some other man touching what was his?

He howled to the ceiling.

"You need to calm down Roman." he turned, he hadn't even heard his mother come in. "Aurora Jones, I knew as soon as I saw her that you would be beside yourself. Now take the piece of paper Sam is trying to give you and start acting like the man you are, and not a love-struck teenage boy"

"What is it?"

"Aurora's bakery, she was catering the wedding."

Roman looked down at the scrawl of writing. "What if she's married?"

"She is," his mum patted his arm, soothingly. "but there is no need to get yourself worked up, she's also going through a tricky divorce, now go get your woman. Take as long as you need."

So here he was. Seated as far away from them as the small seating area would allow, he stared out the window- not because of the view outside but because he could see her mirrored in its reflection. He could study her, without reproach. A smile curved his lips, he was the hot topic of conversation at her table.

"Ok Miss prim and proper now spill, why wasn't Mr. Tall dark and growly mentioned?"

Rory blushed and leaned forward over the table towards her friend "Lower your voice, shifters have great hearing."

Jo glanced at the window, not even attempting to be subtle about it. "How do you know he's a shifter? Lots of men growl" Jo winked. "It's sexy as hell coming from lips like those though."

Rory shrugged, though she had to agree "I can just tell, look at him. Know any human men that look like that?" Rory shrugged, "Plus the energy coming off him was almost unbearable."

Jo giggled "Only in my wettest dream, and what you call energy I call panty-dripping wet-dream-inducing good old lust!"

"Jo!"

"Oh, hush I saw the way you looked at him, don't deny it, he got your panties wet!"

Colour flushed her cheeks

"I knew it, you got laid at this wedding, didn't you? Work my ass." Jo's nails clicked on the cup impatiently. "I need details, lots of details."

Laid? "No, I didn't, I was there working, I already told you that." but she wished she had. Even across that packed dance floor, the weight of his gaze had floored her. She had never wanted anyone as much as she did him at that moment. And seeing him again, the way he smiled at her, the feel of his arm under her hand. Hell. Maybe she needed to have a cold shower.

Rory giggled.

Jo squeaked "I knew it, you want to get Mr. Shifter naked."

Rory glanced up in a panic. "God Jo, lower your voice!" Had he heard? He didn't seem to be paying them attention at all, so maybe she had been lucky.

"Miss Jones? "

Rory stopped the keys clutched tightly in her hand, she whirled from the darkened doorway and would have fallen, but big hands caught her around the waist. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to startle you"

"Oh," She squeaked. "Roman?" What was the delicious man from the shop doing here? Loitering around in the dark?

His arms about her felt like they belonged there. "Hello again."

A nervous giggle escaped her lips.

He was still holding her, his hands firm on her hips. She didn't want to move away. The feel of his hands on her body made her throb in ways she never even realised existed, and definitely in ways she shouldn't be feeling with a complete stranger. "Hello beautiful."

Oh, his voice. She squirmed.

"Hello." She squealed, her face inches from his chest. It would be easy enough to lean forward and bring her lips to his chest. His calloused fingers brought her head up instead.

"Hello," He echoed. "You are even more beautiful than I ever imagined." His fingers ran down the length of her jaw, and a shiver ran through her, a low moan escaping her half-parted lips. What the hell was wrong with her?

"I'm going to kiss you soon." it wasn't a question, Roman's large thumb brushed over her lips. "Yes, soon my love." She watched his eyes spark as she licked her lips. "Can I call you tomorrow evening Rory?"

She couldn't even make a coherent word, mute she nodded. Her pink tongue slid again against her plump lips.

Roman, his face so far above her own, was suddenly so much closer. He groaned. "Aurora, I need to kiss you." his lips were inches from hers, his true-blue eyes staring at her intently. A golden fire was starting in their depths. His voice was hungry, that of a starved man.

And by god she wanted his lips on hers, she wanted it more than she wanted the air in her lungs. Feelings she hadn't thought possible swept her body like a tidal wave.

Damn. What the hell was happening to her. Was this instant lust?

She squeezed her legs together. No way did she want this gorgeous brooding stranger to know how he affected her, how being this close was making her wet.

Roman grinned at her, blue eyes sparkling, the golden fire growing stronger threatening to take over. His hands slid around her waist until she was held in the circle of his arms, and his arms tightened around her. He sniffed deeply and grinned at her beetroot face. His lips just inches from hers.

Was she about to be kissed by a handsome stranger? Yes, yes she was.

And then he was gone. "Tomorrow at seven-thirty Miss Jones." he winked.