Chapter 4 Roman 3

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."

."