I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but it sounded serious. “Okay?”
His wolf flashed in his eyes the same way Peppa, Aero, and Bexley’s did when they were feeling a strong emotion. “You mentioned that shifters don’t feel desire for anyone other than their mate, but you’re human. The lack of passion also tends to hold true for human mates, but unless they grew up around shifters, they don’t know why they never feel chemistry for someone. Sometimes, they think it’s because there’s something wrong with them, and they attempt to fix the issue by trying to force it. Sleeping with people in the hope they’ll find the right person to unlock the desire that’s waiting for their fated mate, if only they knew they had one out there.”
Rome struck me as a man of few words, and my brows went higher and higher as he rambled through his lengthy explanation. My lips parted on a gasp when I finally realized what he was trying to ask. “Until I moved to Timber Ridge, I thought something was wrong with me, but I never did that. I was too busy focusing on my career as a chef to worry about why I hadn’t found a man who made me feel how you do. And then when I found out about shifters, I was hoping it was because I was someone’s fated mate.”
“Not someone’s,” he growled, stroking his other hand down my spine to splay his palm against my lower back. “Mine.”
“Yours,” I reassured, pressing my body closer to his. “All yours.”
“I would’ve found a way to understand if you hadn’t waited for me, pretty baby.” He dropped his forehead against mine. “But I’m so damn happy you did.”
“Is your wolf happy, too?”
“Happy doesn’t begin to describe his reaction,” Rome murmured with a shake of his head as he pressed my palm against his chest. “You’re the other half of my soul. Finding you has soothed my inner beast unlike anything else.”
That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me. Sniffling, I pressed my cheek against the other side of his chest, needing to take a moment to appreciate the precious gift that I’d been given.
3
Rome
I wrapped my arms around my mate, my inner beast growling at me because it sounded as though she was close to crying. He wanted me to fix whatever had upset her, but I had no idea what I’d said wrong.
Stroking my hands up and down her back, I pressed a kiss against the top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“Sorry about what?” she asked, tilting her head back to stare up at me with wide green eyes.
Her long blond hair brushed against the back of my hand, and I was sorely tempted to wrap it around my fist to tug her head farther back while I captured her mouth in a deep kiss. It was damn difficult to fight that urge, but I needed to make sure my pretty mate was okay before I kissed her senseless.
Dragging one of my hands up, I brushed my thumb across her cheek’s soft, pale skin. “Making you cry.”
She sniffled again, her nose wrinkling in a way that was somehow sexy and adorable at the same time. “I’m not crying.”
“Maybe not,” I conceded. “But those beautiful green eyes of yours have tears in them.”
Her expression softened as she smiled up at me. “Happy ones because you’re so sweet.”
“Nobody has ever accused me of being sweet before.”
Her eyes twinkled with joy. “I have a feeling I’m going to be saying it a lot.”
“Damn straight.” I finally gave myself permission to give in to the temptation that was her mouth. Bending my head, I pressed my lips against hers, my tongue sliding between them when she gasped. I’d only meant to get a quick taste before we returned to the party to say our goodbyes, but our kiss quickly spiraled out of control. Our tongues tangled together as I cradled her petite body against mine, her breasts pressing against my chest. Even through several layers of clothing, I felt the pebbled tips as she rubbed against me with a whimper.
We were both breathless when I lifted my head. Scanning the kitchen, I spotted a door in the back and started to tug her toward it. I only made it halfway there when she dug in her heels and protested, “We can’t just leave. It’s a surprise party for me.”
“There isn’t a single person out there who won’t understand why we snuck out the back,” I assured her, stroking my thumb against her palm. “The mated couples know what it’s like when you find each other, and anyone who hasn’t found their mate yet will be looking forward to the day when this happens to them.”
“They closed the entire restaurant for me, Rome.”