Rome’s Pride: Chapter Three

Not surprisingly, Josiah met him at the door. “I’ve been looking for Zuri. Should have known she’d find her way to you. What happened?”

“Let me get her to her room, and I’ll explain,” Rome said, prepared to shoulder his way past to the stairs.

“I’ll do it. I’m not sure you taking her is such a good idea.” Josiah took Zuri into his arms.

Rome bit back the insult he felt at the comment, no matter how deserved it might be. He followed Josiah up the stairs and took the hall to the right which led to his bedroom, while Josiah went to the left. Inside he showered the scent of Zuri and sex off. No sense agitating Josiah any more than he already was. His cat mourned the loss, but for Rome it was a relief. No sense tempting himself with what he wouldn’t allow himself to have.

He dressed in a clean pair of jeans and pulled on a t-shirt before heading barefoot downstairs. While waiting on Josiah, he went into the kitchen and made a sandwich.

“Make me one of those while you’re at it,” Josiah said as he entered the kitchen.

Rome immediately started another sandwich.

“I got worried when Zuri didn’t come home, and I couldn’t reach either of you on your cellphones,” Josiah said. He leaned his body against the island and crossed his arms over his chest, his manner patiently expectant. Rome knew he could wait like that all day. It was the cat in him. It knew when to lie in wait, and when to pounce.

“I was at the Cock & Bull with the guys when Sam spotted Zuri. I tried to send her home, but she snatched my phone and ran with it. Of course I gave chase.” He nailed his foster father with an angry look. “Did you know she was in heat?”

Josiah gave an abrupt nod.

“And you didn’t lock her in?”

Josiah arched a brow. “For what? Knew she’d come looking for you. One way or the other, you’d handle the issue. Was I wrong?”

Rome slapped a piece of bread on top, closing the sandwich, and slid the plate to Josiah. “I didn’t fuck her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Much obliged.” Josiah lifted the sandwich and took a bit. After he swallowed he said, “Never thought you would, though you could do worse than Zuri.”

Rome shook his head. “You know marriage is not in my future.”

“Man’s got to settle sometime. You won’t be a SEAL forever.”

“I may get killed in the line—”

Josiah snorted. “Doubtful. You’re a cat. Those shifter reflexes of yours will keep your hide in one piece.”

“Regardless,” Rome said determinedly, “I’m not leaving some woman sitting home, waiting and worrying, wondering if the next time she sees me will be the last.”

Putting the food down on the plate, Josiah laid a hand on Rome’s shoulder. “This is about your momma.”

“No, it’s about me and what I want out of life. I like the military lifestyle. It suits me, never staying too long in one place. Jaguar males aren’t meant for home and hearth. We’re good for fucking and leaving.” Rome took a savage bit of his sandwich.

“The cat might like the idea of roaming now, but eventually the man will tire of it,” Josiah predicted and returned to his food.

They ate in companionable silence. As Rome washed up the few dishes they’d used, Josiah said, “You know Zuri thinks you’re her mate.”

Rome felt his jaguar go still. He turned to look at his foster father, knowing his eyes had gone the gold of his cat. “That’s not possible. She’s lion, I’m jag.”

Josiah shook his head. “You know better. Even in nature a jaguar and lioness will mate, if the urge takes them. Are you feeling the urge?”

“Doesn’t matter what I feel. My course is set,” Rome said, ignoring the ‘knowing’ that settled in his gut. “Zuri’s too young.”

“She won’t always be young, and you won’t always roam. You willing to lose her?”

Rome stood quiet as memories flooded his mind. Countless scenes of his mother walking away with a careless wave and a cheery goodbye, until one day she hadn’t returned. He glanced at his foster father. “I could do worse than Zuri, but she can do much better than me. Somewhere out there is a man who’ll make her happy. She’ll be his priority. Unfortunately, that man isn’t me.”

“Don’t you think Zuri should have a say?” Josiah asked.

“He’s made his choice, Daddy. The almighty Rome has spoken.”

They both spun around at the sound of her voice. Zuri stood in the entryway to the kitchen, still covered in his t-shirt. Neither questioned how she’d managed to sneak up on them.

Rome saw, hell, could feel the hurt she tried to hide behind a brave front. Now that he knew who she was to him, what she was, it tore him up inside. He wanted to soothe her pain, tell her he’d be anything she needed him to be. But it would be a lie.

Josiah excused himself and left the room, leaving them staring at each other.

“I won’t be a revolving door in your life, Zuri,” he finally said.

“Like your momma was to you,” she said.

Inwardly he flinched, but continued to meet her gaze full on. “Yeah, the way my mom was to me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “And if I said I’d rather have a little of your time than not have you in my life at all?”

“I wouldn’t do that to any woman, but especially not you. Never you, Zuri.”

She sucked in a breath and her eyes grew huge. “You know.”

He nodded.

Her eyes narrowed, and he could see the fury rising. “How long have you known?”

Rome ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t look at me like that. I had no idea until just now when Josiah said what he did. I tried to dismiss it, but inside it was like something said, ‘Of course she’s my mate. What else would she be?’”

Zuri came closer, not stopping until she was in touching distance. “And still, knowing what you know, you’re going to leave?”

He closed his eyes and fought both the cat and the man’s need to touch, to taste, to claim. “Yeah, I’m gonna leave.”

She stamped her foot. He heard the smack of it on the wood floor. Rome opened his eyes to see Zuri glaring at him, but the sheen of tears sparkled in her eyes. “I won’t wait for you.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“I’ll find me a man and give him lots of babies,” she threatened.

Though the thought of it twisted him up inside, he said, “You do that. Make sure he treats you right.”

She pounded on his chest. “Oooo, I hate you, Rome Barrio. I hope you drown. I hope the Navy turns your body into a target and fills it full of bullet holes.” Then sobbing, she turned and ran out of the room. He could hear the sound of her feet running up the stairs.

“Oh, Zuri, I hate me too,” he said to the empty room.