Page 13 of Safe in His Arms

He wasn’t expecting a reply, but his mate said in that soft voice of his, “Good night, Roman, and thank you.”

Ro left his mate alone. He went to the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge. Even though he hadn’t felt like drinking before, well, he did now.

* * *

Ro roamedhis house for a good hour or so, trying to calm himself down. He didn’t even manage to finish the bottle of beer he’d gotten out of his fridge.

Now that he was calmer and his mate was out of danger, all Ro could focus on was the fact his mate was in his home. Even his scent was lingering around the house, and it had Roman very aroused, his erection throbbing and aching.

His mate’s scent was like everything good he’d ever smelt—fresh cut grass mixed with something citrusy. His perfect scent had Ro feeling like a teenager again, ready to blow from the slightest touch. It didn’t help that his mind felt the need to supply some seriously tantalizing images to help him.

Thankfully, his mate was in another room, and hopefully he couldn’t smell Ro’s arousal. Ro had tried to control it while they were in the car, but he wasn’t sure he’d been totally successful. He wasn’t stupid. Everything in his mate screamed of someone who’d been terrorized.

Even though he knew his mate was now safe, there was still this edge of anger in his blood at how close his mate had come to being violated, and he also knew from the smaller man’s reaction, that no one had been able to protect him from all the vile parts of this world, because even though his mate was out of harm’s way, that fear tinge to his scent still lingered.

A growl rumbled up his chest, and his wolf was dying to be let loose to destroy everybody it saw as a threat to their mate, both known and unknown.

The fear he still felt coming off his mate was the reason Ro and his wolf were able to control themselves, suppress his own needs and put his mate’s first. It was the reason why he hadn’t claimed their mate immediately.

It made him want to go back and tear the fucking human apart, and that reminded him that he had to give his cousin a call back. Apparently, Rex had understood what he meant. At least he figured that was the case if all the times his phone had vibrated was anything to go on.

As a man who hadn’t been even searching, not to mention thought he was even ready for a mate, his reaction should have scared him, but instead all he wanted to do was find whatever seemed to have his mate terrified, even while sleeping, and remove it from the face of the earth.

Ro took a couple of deep breaths. He had to get his emotions under control and figure out what his mate wasn’t saying, and how he could protect the man, if that was what it came to.

Devon was his, which meant he would fuckin’ protect the man as long as he lived.

Fuck, but his mate was stunning, though, with his full pouty lips, high cheekbones, dark hair, and equally dark brown eyes, that Ro felt like he could get lost in. Devon was perfect.

Roman dialed his cousin’s number and waited for him to answer. He didn’t have to wait long.

“Dude, why did I pick up a human, with his face almost unrecognizable from the parking lot of a bar, and the owner telling me you asked him to call me?”

“I found my mate,” Roman replied.

His cousin was silent for a second, “Sorry, I must have misheard, could you repeat that?”

Roman threw his head back and laughed, “I said, I found my mate, and that asshole was trying to rape him.”

Roman’s last few words came out sounding more like a growl, his wolf getting pissed again.

His cousin’s answering growl could be heard on the phone.

“Understood,” Finn said. “Do you want to press charges.”

“I would love to, but my mate, he isn’t ready. He’s terrified, and I don’t think it’s just because of what almost happened tonight.”

“I can keep him on ice for a while, but not too long. Someone is bound to realize the bastard is missing soon.”

“I know, but I just need to get my mate talking. He’s too frightened right now,” Roman rubbed his hand over his face.

“You know this goes without saying, but whatever it is you need, just let me know.”

“Thanks, cuz,” Roman sighed. He knew he would have his brothers and cousins to help if it came to that, but for now, he just had to get his tiny mate talking. He would do whatever needed doing to get rid of that haunted look in his mate’s eyes.

“I can’t wait to meet him. Have you told your parents?” Finn asked.

Ro groaned. Yup, his papa would kill him if he found out Ro was mated from someone else.