Page 50 of Sweet Dreams

It was hard to breathe, "Good to know."

Chapter Sixteen

Lulu

I was way too young to have a baby. Which meant Zaldi better put that sweet little succubus girl down as soon as possible. Because I could literally feel my freaking ovaries perking up.

“Down girls,” I hissed at them as he paced back and forth across the room.

“What did you say?” Zaldi said, casting a worried look in my direction. When I only shrugged and shook my head, his face changed. “Rifa will be back shortly. I hope it wasn’t a hassle.”

“Her?” I shook my head again, “No, she’s perfect.”

Zaldi moved over, leaning down and brushing his mouth against mine. I let the kiss sweep pleasure down my nervous system, my skin prickling as my whole being craved more. “You, my mate, are perfect.”

I sat back, watching him curiously, “Your mate.”

Zaldi sat back, resuming his track around the room with Jamai in tow. “Yes.”

“You’re so sure.”

“I am,” Zaldi’s dark eyes found mine, “You are too, I can see it in your face.”

My throat closed, my head growing light as I tried to make a joke, pressing a laugh from my chest. Zaldi beat me to it, letting out a deep laugh, his face full of joy. “Calm down, little one. I know our ways are different from yours. All I require is knowing that you feel it too. Even if it takes you a little longer to say the words out loud. I understand that.”

I finally choked, coughing into my fist, “You–I mean–what?”

Zaldi only grinned as a swift knock sounded on the door. “I’ve got you, sweet dream, don’t worry.”

A moment later, Rija entered. If she noticed there was something making my eyes water, or my throat tight, she didn’t say anything. She simply picked up Jamai, patted Zaldi on the face and gave a little wave on her way out.

The house was eerily quiet now as we stared at each other.

Because, was it really that simple? This world, this future, this male. Could it really be that easy? Because God, I wanted it. I wanted it all so badly. But, he was right, knowing that this was the future I wanted for myself and actually voicing it out loud, it was very different. Because what if I said it, what if I claimed this future for myself, and then lost it.

What if I wasn’t enough to keep hold of it.

Zaldi was so sure. Maybe it was the demon in him, but this wasn’t how it usually worked for humans. I must’ve been staring off into the distance, because suddenly Zaldi was pressing against my back, a hand on my elbow guiding me up until he turned me into his arms.

“Shhh,” he whispered, “It’s alright.”

My arms knitted around his neck, feeling the silken brush of hair that had escaped its tie. He was so good, down deep to his very core, he had meant what he said. All of it. And, even if I couldn’t give him everything just yet, I could give him this.”

“I’m crazy about you too. About all of this. And I know that I’ve never felt anything like it,” my voice was barely audible, “I just...I’m scared.”

His clawed fingers traced the lines of my ribs, swaying slightly in the middle of his family’s kitchen. For a long time there was only quiet and his hands on me. Which was probably why I could feel my body slowly relaxing into his hold.

I pressed my face against his chest, “Why are you so calm about all of this?”

Zaldi hummed, “Tonight allow me to introduce you to Sallum.”

“What’s a Sallum?” I rubbed my nose against the skin that I’d exposed there. How was it possible for another creature to smell this divine.

Zaldi chuckled, hands sinking into my hair and forcing me to look up at him, “He is a very good male. Only a few years older than me, really, but the best kind of friend. He and his mate danced around each other for a long time, each too unsure to make the commitment to one another. Once they did, their son was born shortly after.”

“Something tells me it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine though.”

Zaldi’s face was drawn, tight. “His mate was killed, she was trapped between worlds, held by a lack of magic until her body finally gave up.”