Page 67 of Sweet Dreams

LULU: Somewhere we could be alone 😉

I put my phone face-down on the desk, forcing myself to take a deep breath before packing up my things. I only lived upstairs, but I was still trying to keep some semblance of work–life boundaries.

As it turned out, living and working in the same building made the temptation to work late hard to ignore, but Zaldi and I had promised to take time for each other—especially since it had only been a few weeks since he marked me with his bite, and he was still learning about the living world.

And I was very game to teach him. Including what I had planned for tonight.

After stuffing my things into my laptop bag, I slung it over my shoulder and waved goodnight to Bruce. My grandfather had already left for the evening. I stepped outside, then climbed the stairs to our apartment.

I dropped my things quickly, intent on changing into something that provided a little more movement. A deep voice rumbled from the shadows, making me jump.

“You think you can just tease me like that and not give me the whole story?” Zaldi asked.

He stepped out from the shadows by our bed, his brilliant red skin glowing in the dim light.

Heat flooded my body as I looked at him. We had barely managed to get out of bed the first few weeks we were together, and, even now, I never missed an opportunity to see my beautiful mate as he really was—horns and all.

“So, you like my idea?” I asked.

“The portion I’ve heard? Of course I do,” he said immediately. “And if it’s what I think it is…”

My smile felt like it might crack my cheeks. “Oh, it is.”

“Then, what are we waiting for?” Zaldi said.

He marched toward me, bending low to throw me over his shoulder like a potato sack as he headed for the door.

I shrieked, laughing and pounding on his shoulders. “Zaldi, hold on! I need a minute to get ready!”

With a grumble, he set me back on my feet, looking me over. “Five minutes,” he said. “That’s all I’m waiting.”

Shoving him aside playfully, I dashed to my dresser and yanked out lingerie I knew he’d like. I tore off my clothes, slid into the lace, then added a tank top and shorts over the top.

I’d started buying cheap lingerie at this point—the way we shredded everything made it worth it.

A second later, I strutted past my mate and through the door, turning in the entrance to flash him a bit of skin. He stared, jaw hanging.

Moments later, we were in the car, driving through Salus Glen towards the edge of the city limits where a massive city park blanketed the area. We parked in the small parking lot. Only one other vehicle sat in the lot—a small white truck with the Salus Glen logo on the side. And, leaning against it, in full uniform and hiking boots was my inside contact.

The park ranger, Hal Banner.

Reminiscent of an enormous man-shaped golden retriever, I’d met Hal a few days earlier while interviewing him for the paper. He’d told me about the temporary park closure and, after an incredibly awkward series of questions, offered to let me roam around tonight.

I could only guess what he’d assumed.

Zaldi, still in his human glamour, shook the man’s hand and introduced himself. “Zaldi. Nice to meet you, man,” he said casually, nailing the new vernacular we were working on. “Thanks for letting us borrow the space.”

I shook his hand next. “Good to see you again, Hal.”

“The same to you,” Hal said, jerking his finger toward the park. “You sure you’ll be all right in there?”

“We won’t be long,” I replied quickly, hoping Hal took the hint and headed out sooner rather than later.

Hal scratched the back of his neck. “Construction crew comes in early. If anyone finds you… maybe don’t use my name.”

“No problem,” I said with a smile.

Zaldi and I were already climbing over the narrow gate, our shoes crunching on the still-dead grass of the nearest path. Hal waved once before driving off. Brimming with carefully concealed excitement, I listened to his tires crunch back onto the highway.