Page 20 of Sweet Dreams

“Forget what?”

“Forget to take it slow.” Zaldi’s hands were at my waist, his fingers tight. I could feel their pleasant warmth through the material of my blouse. It was soothing, and at the time made my pulse jump just a bit.

I blinked up at him. “Did I ask you to go slow?”

Zaldi groaned, his body curling around mine as a sharp gust of wind set my open coat whipping around us. “You need to know things about me, things that would affect you.”

I nodded, still feeling drunk on the lust that tugged between us. It made me reach for him, my arms brushing his as I tucked myself around his middle. “I want to know, but right now, Z, I swear, you make me feel like my entire body is on fire.” Truth slipped from my mouth too easily and I briefly wondered what had come over me. I was never this bold, certainly never this open with my feelings.

But, this man. He was…so deeply necessary. Telling him was just as needed.

“Lullaby, you are going to be the end of me,” Zaldi growled, his face pressing into my hair. We were pressed together now, the rapid rise and fall of my chest cushioned against the lean, hard lines of him.

“Lullaby?” I whispered, my nose rubbing back and forth against his collarbone. “Is that what you called me?”

His groan was so soft I barely heard it. Then he was stepping back, his hands smoothing down my coat again, as we were suddenly facing back down the street. “We need to go.”

“I feel like someone called me that before,” I said to him as we walked, the cool air a refreshing breeze against my hot cheeks. “It’s weird though, I can’t remember who.”

I shrugged, “I like it though.”

Zaldi was silent at my side, one hand low on my back, the other fisted and tense at his side. “I’m sorry, did I make that weird? Wait, I know I did, I’m just not sure what happened to me.”

Zaldi kept walking and, feeling a flutter of panic in my chest, I reached for his hand. Our fingers met and caught.

“Zaldi, I didn’t mean to ruin–” My words were cut off as he suddenly turned, his hand freed from mine as he cupped my face and turned it up to his. The kiss was devouring, Zaldi’s lips against mine were hot and hard.

I sighed into the power of the kiss. The way my body instinctively arched into his larger form was beyond my control. And I was viscerally aware of how big he was right now. And not just in size, there was a subtle power that left its imprint on my heart as I opened my mouth to him, letting his tongue sweep into my mouth.

“Fuck,” he cursed, yanking away from me, “You did not ruin anything. I just – Gods, I want to do this correctly, Lulu. Which is killing me, because every time we are close, I’m dying to taste that pretty mouth.”

I panted, resisting the urge to raise a hand to my mouth and chase that burning sensation of his mouth against mine. “Correctly?”

“My family, where I come from, we have a way that we like to do things. I want to do those with you–for you. Does that make more sense?”

My body was begging me to kiss him again, but my heart was twisting at the sweetness of his words.

“I,” I swallowed hard, “I haven’t done this in a long time. And I know you don’t love to be touched. But, that sounds good, Z.”

His eyes were dark and wild as I spoke. And now, the smallest smile curled the lips I was still wishing I could taste. “Good. Let’s walk then. I would hate for you to miss your movie.”

“My movie?”

His brows rose and Zaldi slid his hand into mine. “Yes, yours…I’m just here for you, Lulu.”

I flushed, realizing that I’d picked a historical romance film. “Ah, well, I hope you like this too.”

“I’m sure I will.”

And with weak knees and a thumping heart, I let him lead me down the street towards the theater.

***

Zaldi

Fuck me.

I kissed her. And not just a little peck, I’d actually let myself taste her. And, while I couldn't find it in my dark, confused soul to feel bad about it, I did feel a little bit of shame. Because now, in the darkness of the theater, my date was squirming in her seat hard.