Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(15)

“In that case, let me get some plates and silverware.” Cadence hurried out of the room.

Valac found himself nodding absently as he continued to study the man standing across from him. He knew he was being rude with his staring, but the man didn’t seem to be offended and was doing his own fair bit of staring as well.

“Why don’t we sit down?” Barbara asked with a slight chuckle as she glanced between the two men.

“Yes, I’m sorry where are my manners. Do sit.” Cadence called as she came back in the room carrying the necessary items. “Valac, dear?”

He reluctantly pulled his gaze from the mesmerizing eyes and turned to Cadence with a raised eyebrow, silently asking what she needed. Words were quickly failing him.

“The cake? Pull it out of the box so we can cut it.” She instructed as she tried not to laugh.

He looked down at the box in his hands, he hadn’t even realized he was still holding. He moved to sit in one of the armchairs across from the couch the man and Barbara were sitting on. He placed the box down and carefully pried open the sealed box.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. It looks like they gave me the wrong cake.” Barbara exclaimed.





Chapter Twelve


Rogue glared at Barbara as he read the words on the cake. ‘Congratulations on finding your mate!’ and not only that there was a wolf made of frosting under the words.

He felt like an idiot, as he saw knowing glances come his way from Barbara and Cadence. He could feel his face heat up in embarrassment. Say what she wanted, but he knew this hadn’t been a mistake. She was an evil woman, that lived to torture him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! You didn't really do this. It's just a bad dream, I'll wake up from soon, right?”

“He hasn't stopped eye-fucking you since he walked in. You really want to wake up if it is a dream?” Barbara retorted.

“It looks like Rogue,” Valac whispered before he blushed and glanced around the room sheepishly.

“It does doesn’t it,” Barbara said with a wink at Rogue. “That’s quite a coincidence.”

Rogue snorted at her words. Coincidence his ass, the woman was a matchmaker of the worst sort. So far, he was just lucky this was all she’d done. Valac was even luckier since he didn’t know of their connection yet. In so many ways he was innocent of the human world, Barbara could scar the poor man.

“Didn’t you bring something for him too?” Barbara asked Rogue, which of course caught everyone's attention. If he survived this without his face being permanently red it’d be a miracle. With little choice, he pulled the list out of his pocket and handed it to Valac. As their fingers brushed an electric snapshot through his body making him gasp in surprise at the same time Valac did. Rogue watched as Valac opened the folded paper with shaking hands. Damn the woman for putting him on the spot like that.

“I really don’t like you right now, in case you were wondering.”

“Stop fussing. If left to your own devices you’d hem and haw for days before getting up the courage to give him the damn list.”

Rogue ignored her as he watched Valac for his reaction.

“Val’s bucket list.” He read aloud before gasping and jerking back in surprise. “How...What… I don’t understand…” He trailed off as he took a step closer. “Rogue?”

By the gods, this was harder than he expected it to be. He opened his mouth to respond, but couldn’t make the words come out. Instead, he nodded. “Read your bucket list, babe.”

Valac nodded slowly and returned his attention to the paper in his hand.

“Read it aloud.” Cadence called out “I’m curious to know how many I’ve accomplished myself.”

Valac nodded and began to read.

-Eat ice cream and get brain freeze.

-Ice Skate.

-Dance in the rain with someone you love.

-Go to an all you can eat buffet.

-Watch a sunrise and a sunset.

-Walk barefoot in the grass.

-Build a snowman.

-Have a snowball fight.

-Go to an amusement park.

-Build a blanket fort.

-Get puppy kisses.

-Swim in the ocean.

-Get lost in a corn maze.

-Eat cotton candy.

-Go skinny dipping.

-Make s’mores.

-Go sledding.

-Fall asleep in the arms of the one you love.

-Kiss…

Rogue gasped and snatched the paper from his hands. He quickly read the last line, ‘Kiss Rogue’, it said. That bitch! He glared at Barbara, “You added that.”

She laughed out loud, “I might have stolen your list when you weren’t looking.”

Valac took another step closer and slowly extended his hand, “You’re really here in human form.”

Rogue sighed sadly, “I wanted to, no that’s not right I had to”

“Rogue, hun. Stop hiding. He’s already in love with you, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Talk to him.” Barbara chided.

Rogue jumped at the sudden intrusion of her voice in his head. For a minute, he’d forgotten they weren’t alone.

“Hi, Val,” Rogue said tentatively before laughing. The first words he says aloud to his mate and it’s hi? He was an idiot of the highest magnitude. Valac laughed too, which made him feel a bit better.