Page 41 of Sweet Dreams

“And your boss, he knew I was here?”

I shook my head, “No. I wasn’t even aware, not until I opened my eyes at the edge of town and felt you. I hadn’t felt called like that in years. I knew you were close and this time I couldn’t stay away.”

I recognized my mistake then. But, it was too late. My whip smart little mate was onto me. “There were other times that you did stay away?”

I swallowed, “Not like you think. I just…I checked on you a few times after school. I wanted to be sure you were safe.”

Panic tightened my chest as I waited for her to understand, if she was going to understand. Lulu’s chest rose and fell quickly as I stared at her eyes. I wished so badly that I knew what was going on in that brilliant mind of hers, but we weren’t connected like that. Not yet. And Hades, after this, we may never be.

“Lulu?” Gigi’s soft voice broke into my anxious stream of thoughts. “Why don’t we give you a few minutes. Today has been quite a shock I’m sure.”

Lulu’s eyes never moved from where she stared down into her lap. While that wasn’t the best sign, she still hadn’t forced my hand off my thigh or even pushed me away. I sat, patiently waiting. “Do you want some time alone? To think things over.”

Her sigh raised the hair on my arms, made my heart skip a beat. I desperately wanted to move closer.

“Lulu?”

“In a minute,” she finally said. Her grandparents must’ve slipped out as I stared at her, because suddenly we were alone. “Tell me, Z, about what it means to be a mate. Because there’s part of me, a big part of me, that you just spoke to, saying that the moment you get a mate, you become more powerful, and doubts it all. But the other part, probably my stupid heart, loves that you watched over me all these years, never pressuring me, never pushing me. And now, well shit, I’m just so confused.”

I nodded, then held my arms out. “Can I hold you while I talk?” She hesitated and I quickly added, “No incubus tricks, I’m just dying to feel you against me.”

Lulu folded herself up, letting me tug her across my lap so that her face could press into the side of my neck. My entire body relaxed as I tucked my arms around her slender form. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, this mate thing,” I said against her hair. “I mean, you’ll have to feel my most significant emotions. You’ll have to share my pain. You’d have to share my entire life, since we would not be able to be apart for long.”

I took a long breath in, the sweet scent of her tickling my every sense. “But, I will cherish you, above all else. I will always try to give you the best life that I can. And I will crave you, the sight of you, the feel of you, the taste of you, until my last breath. Which honestly, would be a very, very long time for now. And, if you choose to share this bond with me, know that it isn’t something that can be undone.”

“Wow,” Lulu said finally, her hands curling against my chest, “That’s…a lot of commitment.”

I chuckled, “We are all in types. But, it’s easier for me. My blood demands your satisfaction, even if it is in keeping myself from you under your request.”

“You would do that? Stay away?”

“I would do anything for you.”

“Even if it would be painful, like you said?”

“We aren’t fully mated yet, the bond isn’t set. But, yes, I would feel the loss of you until the very end.”

“And, I need to decide now?”

“Oh God, no. There is no timeline, not really.” I trailed off, unable to tell her much more. Because while she didn’t need to commit to me today, there was no way that I could convince Arafel to open up the Underworld to us without a mate bond in place.

“My head feels like a tornado has ripped through it.”

“I’m sure,” I pressed a kiss against the top of her hair. “Why don’t you sleep a little? I’ll make sure you are awake for dinner.”

“I can’t just use you as a body pillow,” Lulu insisted, but instead of pushing away, she merely shifted in my arms. I could see the dark lashes over her eyes already getting low.

“You can use me for anything, sweet dream, and I will gladly bear it. Especially, if it allows me to hold you longer.”

Her sigh warmed my throat, and a second later, I could feel the way her muscles gave way into the sleep so clearly needed. My arms tightened. Everything was on the table.

The choice was now hers.

Chapter Thirteen

Lulu

I didn’t remember dinner last night. Or much of breakfast this morning. I sat at my little desk at the newspaper, my nails drumming an unequal rhythm as I stared at the small window over the door. After I’d woken up last night, my head had been pounding again. Gigi had made me one of her teas and, while I hadn’t known what to say to Zaldi, I hadn’t exactly begged him to stay with Grandpa glaring daggers at him across the kitchen.