Chapter Four
Rylee
“You protect them.” I wish I had had a man like him when I was young. My life would have been different if he had killed Bobbie before he reeled me in.
“Most of the time, it’s too late to protect them, but I take out the threat. They won’t hurt anyone else.” He brushes my hair behind my ear.
“That’s noble,” I whisper, and his eyes crinkle.
“It’s badass,” Sally says.
“Bash does similar work,” Marie mentions.
“Many of us here do,” Heath says quietly. He looks at Ezra, and some of the hostility he showed openly is gone.
The room erupts with conversation and questions.
I stare at my mate as he answers them, his demeanor relaxed.
I realize that nothing that happened tonight has fazed him.
The family can be overwhelming for newcomers, but he’s handled it well.
He smiles easily, and his body is at ease.
His other arm is on the armrest, his fingers drumming every few seconds.
His legs are stretched out, his ankles crossed.
I don’t know what an assassin is supposed to look like, but I wouldn’t think they would look like him.
He seems to have Bash's approval. Allie trusts him, or else she wouldn’t bring him here.
Ryker doesn’t fuck around with any bad people in his club, and he is lounging with his mate close.
Atlas and Luca know him and allow him near Sally.
If he were a threat, he wouldn’t be here.
Trusting a man is not easy for me to do, even if that man is my mate.
I’ve seen others in the family meet their mate, and although we all have our issues, mine are more extreme.
The men I have been with since my teenage years are carefully chosen.
Most of them were human and non-threatening.
I have a list of qualifications. It may sound cold, yet I stick by them for the sake of my mental health.
Six years after Bobbie violated me, I decided to have sex, and it didn’t go well.
I cried, and the human was sweet, but didn’t know how to handle the situation.
I’ve come a long way since then. Most of the time, I enjoy it.
I prefer to take care of myself alone in my bedroom, behind the safety of locked doors.
Emotionally, I haven’t connected with a man.
My relationships are short, and I’ve never called anyone my boyfriend.
Shifters are too strong, so avoiding any sexual interactions with them is a rule.
Will it be different with Ezra?
Logically, I know mates would never intentionally hurt the one meant for them. They don’t cheat and are devoted to one another. My brain is saying that, yet my heart is bruised and bloody. This man could wreck me. Once I give my trust, it is forever.
I feel the air move across my legs, and I look down. While I’ve been staring at the side of Ezra’s head, lost in my thoughts, the slit of my dress slid off my thigh. My mate pinches the fabric's edge, lifts it slightly, then drops it to cover me. He did it smoothly, never touching my skin.
“Your leg band was showing,” he whispers, his breath caressing my ear.
“Oh…” I turn my head, and he is focused on Sally as she talks. I blink.
I’m in trouble. He knows something. I wonder if he can sense my hesitation.
He’s confusing me because he’s not acting as all the other men in the family did when they met their mate.
It’s as if he can read my mind and know how much physical touch would be welcome.
In the line of work he chose, I’m sure he’s met many abused women and watched how they move. He seems too good to be true.
“Did you eat?” Haven whispers. I forgot she was sitting beside me, so consumed with Ezra.
“Today?” I frown, remembering the taco. Since then, I don’t think I did.
“Rylee,” she says.
“I know.” I focus on her, even though I feel my mate move away. I want to look. His presence is powerful, and I feel a void when he's not next to me. Haven glances over my shoulder briefly.
“How are you? Really?”
“It’s hard to put into words,” I mutter.
“He’s very…” She looks toward her mates before leaning closer. “Pleasant looking.”
“Yes, he’s very, very, pleasant looking.” I bite my lip.
“You could look at him forever,” she blurts, and Bane growls. “I mean, you could. I wouldn’t want to. I have four sexy as hell mates.” She smiles sweetly at them.
“Good save,” I laugh.
“I thought so,” she says, winking at Bane.
“He’s different,” I state, and she tilts her head. “I don’t know how to deal with him. He’s not acting how they did.” I tip my chin toward the others in the room.
“I think it’s a good thing. You need different,” she says softly.
“Yeah,” I sigh, fiddling with my sleeves. “I don’t know how to proceed.”
“Follow your gut. Everyone here has a different story. This is yours, so write it how you want.” She smiles.
“You’re right.” I sense my mate coming back.
“Damn,” Haven whispers, her eyes wide.
I follow her gaze as Ezra sits. He places a plate on my lap, and I stare at it. A huge burger is in the center, along with everything you could possibly want to put on it next to it. A pile of steak fries surrounds it. He replaces the water I had with a fresh one.
“I didn’t know what you liked on it,” he says, draping a napkin on my knee. I meet his eyes, and he smiles crookedly. “This is the best bar food I’ve ever seen. Ryker and Bash don’t fuck around.” My mouth goes dry. It could be because my stomach is empty or the thoughtfulness of my mate.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, just eat,” he says.
“Okay.” I look down and add the things I like to the burger.
“You don’t like tomatoes?” he asks.
“No,” I say, wrinkling my nose.
“We have that in common,” he says. “My mom tried for years to convince me how good they were. She gave up when she caught me throwing them in the backyard.”
“How old were you?” I ask, and take a bite.
“Twenty-five,” he says dryly. I choke and hold my hand in front of my mouth. “She was stubborn and couldn’t understand my distaste.” He lifts the napkin and presses it against my hand. “Careful.” He drops his hand when I grasp it, and I swallow. “She made me search the yard and throw them away.”
“At least she didn’t make you eat them,” I laugh.
“It wouldn’t have surprised me,” he says dryly. “She had a wicked temper.”
“Was she mean to you?” I ask, my humor disappearing.
He frowns and studies my face.
“No, not at all. She would curse and call me ungrateful, but with a smile. She forgave quickly. I love her, and she would do anything for me.” He returns the napkin to my knee after I wipe my mouth.
“That’s good. So, she was good to you,” I say, eating more.
“The best. My sister tested her patience more than I did. Issy is stubborn and a little wild.”
“You have a sister.”
“I do. She is just as protective as Mom.”
“I’m glad you have that,” I say softly. “Will they be happy you have a mate?”
“Thrilled.” I freeze as he lifts his hand and drags his thumb across the corner of my mouth. “I’ll wait to tell them.” He sucks the ketchup from his finger. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up here as soon as they could get a flight.”
I lick where his finger was, and something warm expands in my chest.
“I don’t have family,” I whisper.
“They are,” he responds, glancing around the room. “Is this all of them?”
“No. Everyone didn’t come,” I say, and his attention returns to me. “They aren’t blood.”
“Blood family doesn’t matter. I’ve met many people who are abused by the ones who should protect them.”
“I understand that,” I mumble, and eat a fry.
“I bet you do,” he says softly, and I avoid his stare.
“Did you eat?” I ask.
“I did before I came.”
“I’m sure you weren’t expecting to meet me.” I concentrate on my food.
“No, but it’s a welcome surprise,” he says, stealing a fry from my plate.
“The way you speak…” I look at him. “I didn’t expect it. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“Good.” He grins, and I shove more food in my mouth, ignoring how he makes me feel.
“Ezra,” Sally calls, and he looks at her. “Where do you live?”
“Everywhere.” He leans back. “I travel. I don’t have a permanent home.”
“So, you don’t have anything tying you to any particular place,” she says, and I stare at her, my eyes wide. She just smiles sweetly.
“I do not. My mom lives down south, but she loves to travel. My sister is in a band. She moves around frequently.” He smirks. “She’s a free spirit.”
“No way,” Daisy says. “What does she sing?”
“Country,” he replies.
“Would we recognize the band?” Sally asks.
“Feral Fusion.”
“Are you kidding?” Serenity asks, leaning forward.
“No.”
“I’ve seen her videos online. She’s amazing,” she says.
Who knew the vampire was a country music fan?
“I’ll pass along the compliment,” he says.
I finish eating, and Ezra takes the plate. How can he concentrate on my family and know my every move?
“Pull up her video,” Sally demands. “I need to see.” She jumps up, moving closer to Serenity, and squeezes next to her.
“Me too,” Daisy says.
The women all move to where Serenity is sitting.
“Dance with me,” Ezra says, standing up. He holds his hand out, and I look at it. His fingers are long, and he wears several rings. Without thinking, I place my hand in his, and he pulls me up. Before we can take a step, Heath is blocking the way.
“Where are you going?” he demands.
“Heath, it’s just a dance,” I assure him, and nod.
“I appreciate your concern,” Ezra says, tilting his head. “But the only permission I need to dance with my mate is hers.” I bite my lip. Not many people have the guts to speak to Heath that way.
“Mmm…” Heath studies him, and I think he liked his response.