Page 5 of Monster Mate

The idea of having all…that…at her service made her a little light-headed. It’d been a long time since anyone had…serviced her. She swallowed hard. “What did you do to that orc?”

He huffed out an exasperated sound and shoved a taloned hand through his longish hair. “Unfortunately, I could not reap his soul as I would’ve liked. But I was able to toss him through the veil into another dimension I’m familiar with.” He chuckled. “The three-headed feral hogs will feast on his bones tonight.”

Well. There was a lot to unpack in that statement. She decided to pass on all the soul-reaping, dimension-hopping, veil-piercing, three-headed pig questions she had and stuck with, “So…he’s dead?”

“Oh, yes. Very much so. He will not trouble you—or any other woman—ever again.”

Roxie’s mouth went dry. She supposed she should feel a certain way about Riordan killing someone on her behalf. She wasn’t sure what would be a normal feeling in this instance, though. Maybe a good person would be sad at the loss of any life? But Guy was a misogynist and a rapist. Who knows how many other women he’d hurt, or even killed?

Ultimately, she decided she was glad the orc was dead. Which, if she was being 100% honest, made her a feel a little guilty that she didn’t feel at all guilty about being involved in his death. Geez, maybe she really was the shitty, cold-hearted bitch her ex assured her she was. “Um…thank you.”

He took a step forward, forcing her to take a quick step back. “I would do anything for you, Roxie Rowe.”

OK, this was getting weirder and weirder by the minute. “It’s just Roxie, and you don’t even know me.”

“I will know you in time,” he said, sounding way more reasonable than he had any right to. “You are my fated mate.”

Wow, she just really couldn’t catch a break tonight! This bastard was every bit as crazy as the last. “I’m no one’s fated anything, pal.”

He smiled at her, showing off a set of straight white teeth and really pointy canines that made her nervous. “Of course, you are. You’ll see in time.”

That’s when he made the mistake of reaching for her. As soon as his giant, warm hand touched her upper arm, Roxie did what she should’ve done the moment she laid eyes on him.

She pepper sprayed him.

CHAPTER 4

Riordan had anticipated a few possible reactions from his mate. Her using a weapon on him was…unexpected. And refreshing, frankly. Not the pepper spray. That was unpleasant. But the fight she had inside her. The fire. That was every bit as enticing as her lovely face and melodic voice.

He decided to put thoughts of her loveliness aside for the moment. Mostly because she was currently running from him in the direction of her car.

Riordan dematerialized, then re-materialized in front of her, holding his hands up in supplication when she shrieked and fell into a fighting stance. “I’m sorry. I’ve alarmed you. That was not my intent.”

Her eyes darted to the left and right. He wasn’t sure if she was looking for help, or a better weapon to hit him with. Based on what he knew of his mate so far, he’d guess the latter.

“You told me I’d see in time that I’m your mate,” she said through her clenched jaw. “That implies I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. So, yeah, that makes me feel a little alarmed.”

Her words hit him in the center of his chest like a punch. He raised his hands a little higher. “Of course you have a choice. I never meant to imply otherwise. I understand your people might not experience the same mating instinct mine do.”

A flush of color rose to her cheeks, and he wondered what that meant. Was it the thought of mating with him that heightened her color? Or was she still afraid? The thought of her fearing him was like a splash of ice-cold water to his libido. “Truly, my queen,” he said, his voice dipping even lower than usual with emotion, “I would never harm you.”

She snorted. “I’ve heard that one before.”

Riordan had to swallow the rage that bubbled up inside him at the thought of someone—anyone—hurting his Roxie. She’d only so far seen a glimpse of what he could do. He couldn’t let her see more.

Not yet, anyway.

Because if she knew what he was capable of doing, she’d never willingly come near him again. “I’d rather die than you hurt you.”

Her smooth brow furrowed as she took in his words, his sincerity. Her fighting stance relaxed a bit (but only a bit), and Riordan felt like he’d won a battle. She didn’t seem to trust easily, if at all, and she was at least starting to want to trust him. He’d take that victory.

“What makes you think I’m your mate?” she asked. “Maybe it’s actually one of the other women in there and you got…confused or something.”

That made him smile. “There’s not another soul in there—or anywhere else—that compares to you. I heard your voice and every fiber of my being said, ‘This one.’ I have no doubt.”

“But you said I have a choice. What if I don’t want to be the one for you?”

Then I’ll die miserable and alone, a broken shell of the man I once was. “Then I will leave you alone.”

---