Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,32
way,” Riley said, “but I’m going to shower and crawl in bed with my mate. Ya’ll lock up,” Riley said.
Roman looked at Lucas after Riley had left them. “You good?” he asked.
“Me? I should be asking you that. Are you good?” Lucas asked.
“I have to be. Darcie is depending on me, and I’m not going to let her down,” Roman said.
“Good. Heard you a married man,” Lucas said, grinning at Roman.
Roman smiled, the first real smile he’d given in hours. “I am. And she said she loves me,” he added.
Lucas chuckled. “That’s fucking awesome, man. I’m happy for you. Now we just gotta get her here.”
“Lazarus is working on it,” Roman answered.
“Then it’ll get done,” Lucas said. Lucas’s attention was drawn to the front window and he glanced in that direction. “Think I’m gonna head out, Roman. Been here for a couple of days and feel the need to run a bit now that you and Riley are home.”
“You ever find out what it was that was watching you?” Roman asked, picking up on Lucas’s change of focus right away.
“No, man. But, I don’t think it means me harm, whatever it is.”
“Whatever it is… it’s still around? Were you right? It’s followed you home?” Roman asked.
“Either that, or I have a really active imagination,” Lucas answered.
“You tell Riley?” Roman asked.
Lucas shook his head, still looking out the window. “Nothing to tell yet.”
“You should still tell him,” Roman said.
“Once I have something to tell I will,” Lucas said. Then he looked away from the window and at Roman again. “Glad you back, man. I’m gonna get my stuff and head home,” he said, patting Roman on the shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Alright. Be careful,” Roman said.
“Oh, yeah. Always, always careful,” Lucas answered.
Roman went upstairs to check on Darcie and smiled when he stood over her while she slept. He’d bought her a teddy bear sized gorilla with black leather for skin and velvety soft black and silver fur on its back and head. She loved that gorilla and slept with it every night, just like tonight. She had no idea he was a shifter, or that shifters even existed. Neither did Talie for that matter, and he had no idea how he’d break it to them. All he knew was he loved them and he’d do whatever it took for them to adjust to his dual nature. He kissed Darcie then went back downstairs to take a shower and go to bed. She’d likely be up early since she was such a morning person, and he wanted to be ready to get up with her.
Roman heard the front door close, letting him know that Lucas had left. When he went downstairs he noticed that Lucas had locked the doorknob and pulled the door closed, but the deadbolt was still unlocked, he locked the deadbolt then made the rounds checking the other doors and windows as was his way, then got in the shower. When he got out, and walked into the downstairs bedroom, he realized Riley had come down after his own shower, went outside and brought their luggage in from the truck. Roman’s was in the bedroom waiting on him. He slipped on a pair of sleep shorts and got in bed. In his mind, he held Talie in his arms, and he replayed her face and her lips as she said, ‘love you’ in his mind, and before he knew it, he was asleep. The last few days of stress finally causing the exhaustion that sucked him into sleep.
Chapter 8
Roman heard the bedroom door squeak as it opened, but he pretended he was still sleeping. He felt the mattress shift and tried to hide his smile when Darcie climbed up on his chest.
“Daddy,” she whispered.
He didn’t reply.
“Daddy, are you awake?” she asked quietly.
Still he pretended to sleep.
“Daddy!” she said louder.
All in one motion Roman grabbed her and rolled her off him while he tickled her so much she shrieked and fought to make him stop.
She was winded and they were both laughing when he finally stopped. “You almost made me pee my pants!” she said, still laughing.
“Well, if you did, you were going to have to tell Aunt Maia why you peed in her bed,” Roman said.
Darcie giggled. “Are you hungry? Me and Cristie helped Aunt Maia make a lot of breakfast because ya’ll got back late and she thought ya’ll might be hungry,” Darcie said.