Previously on Wolves of Roma:

So Max, what do you do?"

Stunned silence followed that question.

Maxwell looked at Evelyn, who was looking at Jeff, who in turn was looking anywhere but the dining table.

The night just got interesting.

Chapter 12

---------------

One look at Evelyn Maxwell knew that she did not want it to be revealed this way, not on the dining table.

"I help my mother in our business" Maxwell said, which was technically correct. Roma family did have one of the biggest business empires in Europe.

Jeff scoffed and Evelyn gave him a warning look.

"Oh! That's nice! What business do you run? Is it a family business? We run a diner you know, me and Jeff, built it from scratch" Cathy said beaming with pride.

Max raised an eyebrow "A diner?" He asked looking at Evelyn "Is it Joe's?"

"No. Joe's is competition" Cathy said grumpily, a stiff competition but her business did not do badly either. They made a decent profit every month or had made until the rogues attacked and they had to almost abandon it.

"But don't you and Alex go to Joe's every day?" Maxwell innocently asked Evelyn.

She hissed at him at his betrayal. While her mom said sadly "I know, my own daughter is a traitor. But, Joe does make a mean burger" She confessed.

"And our diner is currently closed undergoing renovation and I am sure once it's up my daughter will support her family business" Cathy looked at her traitorous daughter pointedly who shrunk back in to her chair.

"Our Chef sucks mom! We need to change him" Evelyn meekly came back.

"He is our pack member Evy, there is something called pack loyalty!" Her mother admonished. While Evelyn looked down at her plate guiltily.

"We don't need to run a diner, Cathy. We have enough money, I don't know why you insisted on opening the damn place in the first place." He had loved Joe's now he could not step in to that place because of her business. Joe's had been the packs place to hang out until Cathy opened her joint.

Cathy simply gave a nasty look to Jeff who instead realized he had shot himself in his foot. He moved in his chair uncomfortably finding the salad bowl extremely interesting.

Someone was sleeping on the couch tonight. Maxwell gleefully thought as an involuntary smile crept on to his face, which instantly dropped when he saw the scowling face of him mate who was still upset at his betrayal. He gave her an innocent look and mouthed a sorry at her as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Well, I would love to check out your diner ma'am, whenever you reopen it" Maxwell offered to Cathy.

She gave him a sweet smile "Sure Max and call me Cathy, ma'am makes me sound old."

"Sure Cathy" he smiled back.

"How long will you be here?" Cathy asked.

"That depends on Evy" Maxwell said looking at his mate and Jeff narrowed his eyes at Maxwell, was he pressurizing her to move with him? To half way across the world?

"I know she has her exams and after that whenever she feels she is ready to move, It is up to her" He said, he knew it was not the complete truth. It would not be safe for them to stay in Colorado indefinitely. They would have to move back to Roma, but that was a discussion for him and Evy.

"That's good. Very good" Cathy nodded satisfied, she was liking this boy even better every minute and he was polite, well-mannered and was not a sour sight for the eyes too. Her daughter had snagged a good one. But would he be able to support her daughter? She remembered her earlier question.

"By the way, what business did you say you family ran?" Cathy asked innocently.

Evelyn knew what her mom was doing "Mom!" she hissed.

"What dear? Just getting to know your mate better." She defended innocently.

"We run a private equity fund Cathy. We invest in companies which show promise, like a startup and then as they grow we sell our stake or keep invested." Maxwell offered in explanation.

"Oh! That's nice" Cathy offered, she did not have an idea what it was, but for the first time realized may be their family business was not a mom & pop store after all.

"I am really bad at all these business things. So when you say invest, how much do you invest generally?" Cathy asked.

Evelyn groaned in embarrassment.

"Depends Cathy" Maxwell stated looking at her in the eye "Usually a few million to hundred million, depending on what kinds of returns we expect" The message was clear, her daughter will never be in need for money.

Color drained from Cathy's face hundred million! How many zeros were in a hundred million? For the first time uneasiness stirred in her she realized that her daughter and her mate were worlds apart. Would they accept her?

"How did your mom react to the news of your mate?" the real question was Will your family accept my daughter?

"She is elated, can't wait to meet her, if she had her way she would have flown down now and met her" with open arms was the answer to her unasked question.

"What about your father?" Cathy asked.

"He died a few years ago, in an accident" Maxwell responded tightly.

"I am so sorry to hear that." Cathy offered a genuine apology, with sadness in her eyes.

"They were mates, my father and mother. The only reason I believe my mother did not fall in to depression is because of me, her son. Even then, she misses him, every single day. We all do. She knows the importance of mates Cathy. I am lucky enough to find mine, me and my family will do everything to make her welcome in to my family." He sincerely stated. He wanted to wipe out any inhibitions they had about Evy being accepted.

Evelyn was clearly touched, she unconsciously reached out to her mates hands and put her hand on top of his and when he looked at her, she smiled reassuringly and in her eyes he saw warmth, affection and even...love maybe? He could only hope because he realized right then and there, he had fallen in love with his mate.

"Welcome to the family Max" Cathy whispered with a smile, clearly touched with his declaration, he had won her over.

He smiled back, still holding his mates hand "Thank you Cathy."

The rest of the dinner went smoothly, the new family getting to know one another.

***

"It was great meeting you Cathy" Maxwell said, he was leaving after dinner.

"You too. Max and don't be a stranger, you can drop in anytime, I have a feeling you will" she smiled looking at Evelyn, knowing why he would be dropping in.

"With food like that, you will find me on your dinner table more than you like" Maxwell said, he did love the dinner.

"There is always a place for you at the table Max" Cathy assured.

Jeff just grunted. With so much sweetness going around he would get a cavity.

Max just nodded in acknowledgement.

"I will walk him out" Evelyn told her parents.

"Good night!" Max said and turned around to walk out trailed by Evelyn. They stepped out of the house in to the porch.

"So" Max said.

"So" she echoed back, leaning in.

"I had a good time" He said smiling.

"Me too. You were perfect. A perfect gentleman" She gave him a full-fledged smile. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he had won her mom over.

"That's me. Perfect gentleman" but then his eyes darkened and he stared at her with intensity that made him unconscious "You look beautiful" he whispered.

"I do?" she whispered back, she had never focused on beauty before. But the look Max was giving her made her feel beautiful. He made her feel beautiful.

"You have no idea how tempting you look, especially in this dress" He whispered.

"Why don't you show me?" She boldly suggested, desire flaring in her. When did she become such a hussy?

Even he was taken aback surpassed at her boldness but then desire flashed in his eyes. He leaned in and took her lips in to his and she melted against him instantly. He cupped her face with his hands and slowly his hand moved down to her bare throat and she bent it exposing it further to her touch. But he pulled back abruptly.

Confused, her heart hammering in her chest she looked at him.

"Which side is your room?" he asked, his face hovering above hers, in husky voice laced with intense desire.

"Top, right" she whispered back.

"Ok" he nodded and added "Wait for me in your room, keep your window open" He said as her eyes widened as realization swept in at what he was asking her to do as

Looking at her face he cupped her cheek as she leaned in to his warm palm. "You ok with this right?" he whispered asking confirmation.

She nodded her head "Give me an hour" she sighed in to his hand.

"Ok then" He said moving back and paused and added "Don't change"

"What?" she asked confused.

"Your dress. Don't change. I want to see you in it when I come back" He admitted.

"Ok" she nodded.

"I need to leave" He said rooted to the spot.

"Ok" She nodded, not moving as well. Not wanting to leave her mate.

He leaned in, unable to resist gave a peck on her lips and turned back and walked away in to the night.

***

Evy hung out with her parents in the living room for about half an hour after which she made an excuse of going to bed early and headed to her room. She bolded her bedroom door and leaned back on it. Her heart beating at the anticipation of what was to come. She desired her mate, but how far did she want to go? Was she ready? No answer came in to her mind. She decided she would go with the flow and trusted him to stop if she was not comfortable. She walked to the window and threw it open. She turned back in to her room to wait for her mate.

She didn't have to wait long. She heard a noise outside her room and she hurried to lean out of her window and met the site of Maxwell climbing the wall expertly. He moved back giving him to hunch himself over the window and jump in.

"Looks like you have lot of experience on this" She deadpanned. Looking at how effortless he scared the brick wall of her house.

"Yep. Scaled the palace walls as a child, this is piece of cake." He explained. Palace! He lived in a freaking palace. She just nodded her head

"So" He said taking a step in to her room.

"So" She parroted taking a step back.

"Your bedroom. Huh?" He said taking in the surroundings.

"Yep! My room. Not much but..."

He interrupted her "I like it"

"You do?" She wondered.

"Yes. It's yours. What's not to like?" He smiled.

She couldn't help but smile in return.

"I like it" he said looking around and his eyes landed on her and darkened "and I like you" he moved closer and whispered in her ear "and I like this dress" hear heartbeat skyrocketed and her breath hitched.

"You do?" she whispered back.

"Let me show you. As you asked" He whispered back and planted his lips on hers as she melted in to him.

Still in lip lock he walked them back to the bed and he sat down and planted her on his lap, facing him. He cupped her face with his hands, feeling the softness of her skin while he deepened the kiss. Her hands wrapped around his neck, locking him in place.

His hands slowly travelled down from her face to the sides of her shoulders and trailed down slowly to her hips and travelled down to meet the bare skin of her legs.

She took a sharp intake of breath feeling his bare hands on her legs. Her dress had hitched up as she sat splayed on his legs. His hands were massaging the bare skin of her legs where the hem of her dress ended.

Gently his palms travelled upwards as they entered under her dress and she moaned in to their kiss, greedily devouring him.

As his palms travelled up her thighs the dress rode up with his hands but was stuck after a point as she was sitting on it. He applied pressure on her thighs indicating her to get up. As she rose up his hands quickly traveled to her hips and in one moment lifted the dress up and made her sit back on him.

They broke the kiss and both of them were heaving as they stared at each other, trying to gather a semi balance of thought over their lust.

His hands moved upwards from her hips and the dress rose further. He looked at her asking for permission which she gave with a slight nod and his hands trailed up taking her dress with it, she unwrapped her hands around his neck as he removed her dress and let it fall to the floor. She was sitting on him with nothing but her underwear and he was devouring her with his eyes. The intensity of his gaze made her feel wanted...wanton.

"You are breathtakingly beautiful" he whispered in reverence.

"Kiss me Max" she responded huskily, he didn't have to be told twice. He put his hands on her ass pulled her close to him and began to kiss her senselessly.

She attacked his shirt and unbuttoned it in a frenzy her palms greedily roaming oh his exposed skin.

She was busily trying to get rid of his shirt when they both froze. Did they hear it or imagine it?

The knock came again accompanied by a voice. Jeff's voice "Evy?" his voice floated in to the room.

For a moment they just sat staring at each other. Evy's eyes widened looking at their state.

Panic flared in her as she hurried to get up and lost balance and fell on her ass with a thud.

The knocking came louder "Evy? Are you ok? What was that noise?" Jeff demanded.

"Jeff? You want something?" she asked through the door, running to grab a pair of pajamas as Max sat stoic on the bed.

"Can you open the door Evy?" Jeff demanded more than a request.

She hopped around trying to franticly put her leg through the pajama, she paused her ministrations and looked at Max who was still sitting on the bed immobile.

"What?" she hissed at him "Get out!"

"Evy! Open the door!" Jeff knocked louder impatiently.

"I am coming, give me a minute!" She yelled back.

"Go!" she hissed at Max who had got up and dragged him to the window. "I will see you tomorrow." She whispered at him. Pushing him out of the window. He straightened his shirt and climbed over the window. And paused and looked at her.

"Red!" he demanded "I like red. Wear red tomorrow"

"What?" she asked confused.

"Blue is fine, but I am partial to red" he repeated and she realized what he was talking about. She was wearing blue underwear.

"Get out!" she barked. He gave her a devilish grin and dropped out of sight.

She sighed in relief as he dropped out of sight. Trying to straighten her hair she walked to the door and on the way kicked her dress which was lying on the floor under the bed and yanked the door open.

"What?!" she demanded, slightly miffed with his interruption.

Jeff barged in unperturbed and started looking around.

"What was that noise?" he asked her as he opened the closet door.

"Nothing!" she said.

"Nothing? It was loud!" he responded, opening the bathroom door and peering in.

"I fell from the bed all right!" she said expatriated.

"Bed?" he questioned pausing and then walked to the bed and looked under it.

Evy folded her hands across her chest and looked at Jeff with narrowed eyes.

"What are you looking for Jeff?" she demanded.

"Nothing" he said "I was looking for nothing"

"Good night Jeff!" She hissed, wanting him out of her room.

He went to the windows which was still open, he shut it close and bolted it frimly.

"Good night Evy!" he responded "Wanted to close the window, to keep pesky pests out"

"The only one being a pest right now is you" she retorted.

He walked over to her. Kissed her cheek and took a deep whiff. She was reeking of him.

Shit! He knew. She knew that he knew. He knew that she knew.

He smiled at her "good night!" and with that he walked out, closing the door behind him. She collapsed on the bed in relief.

***

Cathy was comfortably tucked in bed when Jeff grumpily walked in.

"Well?" She asked turning to the side as he go in.

"What?" he barked irritated.

"Did you find him?" She asked.

"No" He grunted in defeat. "Made his escape through the window"

"He is fast. That much I can give him credit for" she said.

"You are ok with this?" he asked in disbelief.

"She is his mate Jeff! What's the worst that can happen?" she said

As he grumbled something incoherently.

"Evy can take care of herself" she said with confidence "why don't you come here and let me take care of you" she coyly whispered at him.

***

Charles opened the pictures on the phone and smiled.

"Interesting" he muttered to himself "Very interesting" he threw the cigarette he was smoking and pressed his foot on it to extinguish it and went back in to the house they commandeered as their headquarters.

"Look at this" he told his second in command.

His second in command looked at the picture, it was a good shot take from a distance.

"She looks pretty" He said after studying the picture for a minute.

"But the question is what is she doing with him?" Charles pondered still studying the picture.

"You think she is someone close to him?" His right hand asked.

"Looks like it" Charles said, they certainly looked cozy in the picture.

"Want to do something about it?" His second in command asked.

Charles thought for a moment "Call Crawford, see if he can smuggle his guys in to Colorado and then look at operational feasibility of taking these two out. It would make a good gift for our visiting prince, don't you think?"

His second in command nodded and walked away. Those private investigators they hired were paying off, Charles thought. Internet was a beautiful invention, he could hire all sorts of people and get all sorts of work done without even stepping out. He had hire a couple of PI on a whim in the town bordering Nick's pack, he knew that pack would have to keep coming in to the town. The instructions to the PI were simple, take pictures of anyone new or anything unusual happening in town. Most of the PI's were locals so they could quickly identify new faces and looks like one of the PI did.

He looked back at the picture. Pity! He thought, she was pretty, such a waste!