Page 40 of The Silent Mate

What?I demanded to Roman through our mind-link.

Roman’s smile grew, and he sat up a bit taller on the rug. Red marks lined his chest and neck, and I inhaled to find the scents of several females covering his body. Callie wasn’t his first of the night, nor would she be his last.

“No need to be rude,” he chided, though his words lacked their usual malice. “I only wanted to ask where Aria is this evening. I was surprised to see you alone.”

Youwere the one to assign me to patrol this evening,I reminded him. Callie began whimpering, her rocking becoming fervent and over exaggerated.I was about to head home.

“Oh, yes.” Roman frowned, as if he’d forgotten his own orders. “I suppose I cannot temp you to bring beautiful Aria out to join us?”

I rubbed at the back of my neck, heat rising to my cheeks as Callie rode out her orgasm.Aria is working at the clinic tonight.

Roman hummed, pushing Callie off of him. She fell into a lump of sensual curves and glowing skin on the rug, sated.

“That’s too bad...” Roman drawled, then his eyes flickered to my groin and a devious grin pulled on his lips. He nodded toward my erection, which had shamefully grown to its full length in the span of a few minutes. “It looks like you’d prefer it if she was here.”

Is that all you wanted to discuss?I demanded, the words clipped.

“Of course, I’d offer you Callie,” Roman waved a dismissive hand at the female behind him. “But I’ve heard that once you’ve fucked your fated mate, no other cunt can compare.”

I stiffened. Aria and I hadn’t consummated our bond, but the thought of mounting another female still caused nausea to roil through me. I didn’t want another, even though my damned erection pulsed in response.

Roman caught the movement, and that wicked grin grew. “Or, perhaps I’m wrong… Is it true that you’vestillyet to claim your mate, brother? I always figured you’d remained celibate as a matter of principle.” He chuckled, as if genuinely amused by the situation. “Now that you’ve found your mate and failed to fuck her, I’m beginning to think that you don’t know how!”

Flames licked up my neck, clouding my cheeks in red humiliation. His words, however cruel, weren’t so far away from the truth. Hot shame poured over me like a vat of oil, and I prepared to turn on my heel to stalk away, finished with the conversation.

But Callie, who’d seemingly recovered from her climax, swatted at Roman’s shoulder and sent him a pointed glare.

“Don’t laugh,” she hissed, then turned her attention back toward me.

She pushed to her feet and brushed a braid over her shoulder. Her smooth, long legs unfolded beneath her as she stepped over Roman’s horizontal form and closed the distance between us.

“Maybe he just wants a bit of practice,” she purred, lust pooling in her dark brown eyes. The scent of her arousal consumed me, leaking from her glistening sex, and my heart began to thunder in my chest.

I shook my head.No.

Callie only smiled, slowing her approach but not ending it.Are you sure?Her voice, low and husky, echoed in my ear.I could help you… No one would have to know.

Shifting a step backward, dread curled low in my gut. Because, no matter how much my heart and mind screamedno,my traitorous body was at the mercy of the full moon, and the self-control that I prided myself on felt dangerously close to snapping.

Roman laughed, though I barely heard it over the pounding between my ears. “Oh, come on, brother. I’m sure Aria will appreciate it if you have a bit of experience.” He winked. “You wouldn’t want to fumble around like a damned fool and risk disappointing her, would you?”

No, I certainly didn’t want to disappoint Aria…

To be honest, I’ve always had a bit of a crush on you, Malik,Callie cooed in my mind, coming to a stop directly in front of me. Her breasts almost brushed against my chest.I think a lot of females do…

Alarm bells blared in my head. My breath came in ragged pants.

I have a mate,I countered, shaking my head to clear away the fog. I took another step back, but Callie followed me. I wasn’tsure if my words even reached her, or if she’d heard me and chose to ignore my refusal.

Her hand bridged the space between us, and my stomach clenched when her fingers hovered centimeters from my erection. I prepared to swat her away, the only warning she would receive before I made a dangerous show of my refusal.

Then I heard it. That soft, beautiful voice that had quickly become my favorite sound in the world. Thick with heartache and betrayal.

“M-Malik?”

18

ARIA

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