Chapter Five
Lulu
“No way. That’s not what we do here.”
“Grandpa…. come on. You want to know about ETA, I know you do. I can find that out for you!” I leaned back in his office chair, grasping at my fraying temper. “You have to trust me, Grandpa. Let me show you what I can bring to the table.”
My grandfather knocked against the desk, his frustration with me clear. “I know what you bring to the table, Lu, and it is my job–not yours– to make the decisions for the Times.”
My breath shuddered out of me, my fingers wrapping tight around the arms of the chair. “You need help. Let me help you.”
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him about how I was going out with Zaldi tonight. He was Traum’s brother, the perfect source and contact within the ETA. I could’ve established a friendship there. I squirmed at that thought though. At the lie masquerading under the need to prove myself.
Because I didn’t want to use Zaldi. And all night last night I’d been trapped, sleepless, as I replayed our brief interactions over and over again.
I told myself this morning that I’d consider him a source. Nothing else. I didn’t need a relationship right now. Not as badly as I needed my family’s legacy to continue–and to prove that I was capable of making it work here in Salus Glen.
I opened my mouth. But his knuckles rapped again. I watched my grandfather’s beloved face, the way his eyes grew distant – mouth tight as he stared out of the window to the side. “Have the piece about the new school board candidates in my inbox today.”
I sucked hard on my teeth but relaxed my hands. “Sure, okay. You’ve got it boss.”
I shut the door behind me, moving with stiff steps to my desk. Bruce’s eyes were boring into mine, but I couldn’t see them. Not right now.
Instead, I sat quietly, pulling out my earbuds and finding my favorite true crime podcast. The volume drowned out both the scattered pounding of my frustrated heart as well as the voices in my mind that reminded me how bad of an idea it was to stay in Salus Glen.
You will never get out from behind his shadow, the voices sang, sweet and sticky.
I groaned, ducking my chin so I could type without accidentally meeting Bruce’s gaze.
I had an article to write and while the meeting with my grandfather hadn’t gone according to plans, there was something good I could focus on.
I could go on this date for real now. And, while my frustration still lurked, there was an even bigger thump of my heart when I thought about seeing Zaldi again.
I hadn’t dated anyone for, God, years, but this man, there was something about him.
He calmed me, simply by existing. Being around him would be no hassle whatsoever.
I smiled, remembering the way his face had contorted with horror at the first sip of the lavender latte.
Feeling lighter than before, I curled a leg under my body and doubled down on my typing.
Maybe, if I got done early, I would have time to pick up another new coffee for him to try before our movie tonight.
The thought brightened my mood even further.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of drafting and initial edits before sending off my next few assignments to my grandfather. I still needed to cover a few upcoming events around Salus, but those could wait for now.
I gnawed my lip, disappointed I’d run short on time before Zaldi would come to the Times for our date.
“I’m going to head out, okay Lu?” Bruce said, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder. “Your grandpa headed out while you were in the restroom.”
“Oh,” I said, making sure to nod quickly, “Yeah of course.” Disappointment was bitter on my tongue as I realized that I wouldn’t have any time to smooth over the earlier disagreement with my grandfather. “See you tomorrow.”
“See ya.” Bruce’s light footsteps made the way towards the door, where they stopped abruptly. “Oh hi, we’re closing up–.”
“I’m here to meet Lulu.”
My head snapped up at the deep voice, “Zaldi,” I said, my voice soft. “Hi.”
I didn’t need to look at Bruce to know that his eyebrows would probably be at his hairline. “Thanks for meeting me here.”
Zaldi stepped into the space, carefully moving around a still staring Bruce. I rose to meet him, our bodies colliding in a gentle, comfortable hug. He smelled wonderful, the soft shirt against my face felt worn to perfection and I vaguely wanted to steal it to sleep in.
Blushing at the direction of my thoughts, I stepped back. Zaldi’s arms released me, saving the hand that pressed solidly against the small of my back.
He looked between me and Bruce, his handsome face curious. I realized suddenly that he was waiting on me. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. Bruce, this is Zaldi, he’s new to Salus Glen. Zaldi, this is Bruce Miroslav, longtime family friend and fellow journalist.”
Zaldi held his free hand out, but didn’t release me.
Bruce stepped back into the Times and gripped the other man’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Zaldi.”
I could almost feel the questions Bruce was holding back and I knew it would be a short time before they all started bubbling up out of him.
“Well, we’ve got a movie to get to,” I said quickly, tugging Zaldi towards the door. “Can you close up, Bruce? I’ll owe you big time.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bruce flapped his hand, “Go for it.”
I shot Zaldi a quick grin and grabbed my coat off the hanger as we escaped out into the cool spring night. Zaldi stumbled behind me, making me stop and turn to face him.
“Are we in a hurry?” Zaldi said, a smile on his handsome face.
I flushed, taking the moment to slide my coat on. “No, nothing like that, I just get…focused.”
Zaldi’s dark eyes were soft and warm in the setting sun. To my surprise, he stepped closer, his hand moving to fix my jacket collar.
I shivered when his fingers brushed over my skin as he tugged the coat into place. “Better?” I said, trying not to notice exactly how delicious he smelled. What did this man wear on his skin? It was intoxicating–familiar. I was quickly growing addicted.
“Perfect,” he whispered. For one long, hot moment, there were tingles racing down my spine. As if his very touch was setting down sparks against my nerve endings. The feelings left me breathless, and I leaned into him again.
This put us very, very close and for just a moment, I wondered if he might kiss me. The sudden infusion of lust in my blood was leaving me rattled and I watched with utter fascination as his lips parted.
“Hades, the way you look at me.” He licked his lips, “It makes me want to forget…”
“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.”