Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(13)

Rogue’s mouth went dry at the images that raced through his mind. He’d give his left testicle to sleep with this man every night and day and anytime in between.

“Too much?” Valac asked with a wince. “I know it sounded weird, just blame it on lack of sleep.”

“No,” Rogue shouted quickly. He didn’t want Valac to take it back because he’d been too surprised to answer quickly enough. “I’d be honored to sleep beside you for as long as you wanted me too.”

Valac bit his lip and grinned in happiness. “There’s just something about you, Rogue. You make me feel things for the first time in more years than I can remember.”

Before Rogue could respond and question him farther he could hear Cadence calling to them from the cabin. “Coming, don’t worry he’s fine. He fell asleep under the stars.”

“What’s wrong?” Valac asked with concern. “What’s happened?”

Rogue cocked his head in confusion. How could he know that something had changed? It’s not like his wolf had facial expressions to give themselves away. “It’s nothing. Just Cadence got worried. How did you know?”

Valac frowned for a minute before replying, “I don’t know. I just had this feeling that something had changed. That you weren’t as happy as you were a couple of minutes ago.”

He didn’t have an answer to explain that, it was the first time he’d ever heard of something like that happening between two mates that hadn’t actually mated yet. He climbed to his feet and headed out of the small clearing, checking every few feet to make sure Valac was following.

***

This was this stupidest idea he’d ever had or to be exact he’d been roped into having. How this woman had been able to convince him to accompany her in his human form to Cadence’s cabin was beyond him. Barbara Wolfe was one cunningly scary woman when she had her mind set on something. The only good thing that had come of it was he now had a list of things for Valac to add to his bucket list.

When he’d left Valac that morning on Cadence’s porch he’d had one thought in his head. Ask Barbara for help, what he hadn’t counted on was her stubborn ass deciding it was time to pay his mate a visit.

But first, they had to go visit Keaton. For some reason, Barbara insisted that it couldn’t wait. Rogue knew when to give in and let the woman have her way, but it was killing him to be so far away from Valac knowing what he was going through. At least he could still talk to him through their mental link, that helped.

“Are you listening to a thing I’ve said?” Barbara scolded Rogue. “I swear you men are all alike.”

“Sorry, I was thinking. What were you saying?”

“Just talk to him, you’re driving me crazy with your constant worrying. Checkin, find out he’s fine and then let’s go. The sooner we get to the Bakery the sooner we can get out there.”

Rogue rolled his eyes but did as she said. He was only following her orders, even if it was what he’d wanted to do all along.

“Hey, babe. You okay?”

“Rogue. Where have you been? It’s been hours. You coming back soon?”

“I have to stop in town on an errand with my Alpha’s mate and then I’ll be out there. And don’t avoid my question. How are you holding up and don’t lie to me I can hear the strain in your voice.”

“Truth be told I’m cracking at the seams. Cadence is trying to help, I’ve never been formally trained with my magic. She’s helping me hone some of my skills. It’s helping keep me focused on something so that I can block the sounds out for a couple of minutes at a time. West and Rook are here, it’s great to meet them in person, finally. Rook asked Cadence about the potion she gave him that kept Jericho here, but she said the main ingredient has gone missing. She’s been searching for it for months. No one has any at all.”

“You’re rambling. Are you sure you’re holding up okay? I can come straight there if it will help like it did last night.”

“I’m sorry. No, finish what you have to do. I’ll be okay. I’m just strung a little tight today. Aeron’s upping the ante a bit, that’s all. I’ll be fine for a couple more hours.”

“You done now? Can we go in?” Barbara asked a few minutes later startling Rogue out of his thoughts.

He glanced around in surprise to see they were standing in front of Honey Bear Bakery. He really had been out of it to get all the way to Keaton’s bakery and not notice one thing of his surroundings. He opened the door and gestured for Barbara to go in first. The smells wafting through the open door made his stomach growl and his mouth water. Freshly baked breads, cakes, rolls, honey buns and muffins filled the shelves.

“Mrs. Wolfe, it’s a pleasure to see you again so soon. Rogue, how’s your mate doing?” Keaton called as soon as he saw them standing inside the door.

It never ceases to amaze him how such a big, mountain of a man could make such beautiful delicate designs on the cakes, muffins, and pastries.

“Call me Barbara, don’t make me keep telling you that.” Barbara scolded with a wink.

“Yes, ma’am. I won’t forget again. Now, what can I get the two of you today?”

“I need something special made up real quick. Any chance you’ve got any cakes ready to be decorated you could do a custom job on?”