Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,93

found out. I'm no different than any other man, Talie. I just have extra abilities,” he said, the plea clear in his voice for her to understand and accept him.

“This is insane,” she muttered under her breath, raising both her hands and shoving her fingers into her hair.

“I’m the same male I was the day I first saw you in the truck stop. I’m the same male I was when we spoke on the phone, the same male that you trusted to become guardian of your daughter — our daughter now. The same male who’s stood by you and waited for you, loving you since I first laid eyes on you.”

Talie looked down at Roman while he spoke to her. She knew he was the same male, and had no intentions of walking away from him. She just had so many questions. “Maia said I was your mate when you Face Timed her. She said mate, not wife. I thought it unusual, but not anything more. It means more doesn’t it?” she asked.

“When a shifter finds the one meant for him, all the pieces of him fall into place and he’s whole for the first time in his or her life. Some shifters search all their lives and never find their mate. I found mine in a truck stop diner in Ohio. Only you wouldn’t come away with me because being human, you didn’t feel the same instant connection I did.”

“But you knew the moment you looked at me,” Talie said.

“I did. I still do. You are my world now. You and Darcie. She’s mine because you are. I’ll give anything and do anything to make you both happy and make sure you know you're loved always. But by the same token, I’ll kill anybody and anything that threatens either of you. No one will ever hurt either of you in any way,” Roman said.

Talie sat on his lap, feeling him still inside her. She shifted backward, raising herself up off him so she could sit in front of him rather than on him. As she settled herself just a foot away from him, still looking at him as he sat up and faced her, she finally asked one of her last questions. “Will you still know me when you’re shifted into your animal?” she asked.

“Absolutely. I’m still me, only the outside changes. I am always your mate, and I am always yours, no matter what the outside looks like.”

Talie nodded, then sat quietly for a few moments staring at the sheets on the bed. Finally she lifted her head and looked at Roman. “What’s your animal?”

Roman swallowed nervously. It wasn’t like he was some furry kitty, albeit big kitties, like the rest of his Pride. Women always liked cats. He looked her in the eye and silently begged her to accept him. “I’m a Silverback Gorilla.”

Talie’s eyebrows rose and her mouth fell open in surprise.

Then she surprised him. “Show me.”

Slowly Roman’s lips curved into a shy, nervous smile. “Are you going to be afraid?” he asked.

“No. I know you won’t hurt me,” she answered.

“Please don’t freak out,” he said.

“I won’t. I promise,” she said, then waved her hands in the air in his direction to indicate he should get on with it.

Roman took a deep breath, then as she watched, his body began to shimmer and contort, until finally, before her sat a huge, fully mature, Silverback Gorilla. Slowly the Gorilla raised his eyes to hers. He almost looked afraid.

Talie canted her head to the side just slightly and smiled at him. “Hi,” she said.

Roman’s Gorilla huffed at her softly. Then he reached his hand out toward her, leaving it extended, lying between them on the bed palm up.

Talie smiled at him and stared into blue eyes that she’d grown to love so very quickly as she crawled forward on the bed and placed her hand in his. Roman’s Gorilla lifted her hand to his mouth and very gently pressed his lips to it. Talie’s heart melted as she realized just how afraid he was that she was going to reject him. She pulled her hand from his and continued crawling toward him until she was in his lap, then she wrapped one arm around his neck as she snuggled into his chest.

Roman’s Gorilla held her very carefully, very gently in his arms, nuzzling her.

“You were wrong,” she said, raising her face to look at him. “You are so different than any other man. And I’m so thankful you