Nicolas POV
Zara quickly tucked into the hotdogs I had ordered for us. She appeared comfortable and to be enjoying the simple meal. I guess Ronan made his special chili sauce and tossed it over the hotdogs.
“I know that look,” Zara said as she noticed my gaze. “Do not worry, I will not become ill while riding the rides.”
“I hope not,” I said, laughing. Zara had already had two hotdogs. “Doing so would ruin the rest of the evening.”
Zara rolled her eyes and placed the hotdog onto the plate.
“I am capable of managing myself. I am a big girl,” she said.
I burst out laughing at that. She could be so witty at times.
“So, tell me,” Zara said, her silver eyes glimmering with delight as her tone returned a bit serious. “What rides are you adding this year?”
A grin appeared in the corner of my mouth. Right now, I was not prepared to reveal all of my cards just yet. It was still early in the evening, and I wanted to spend more time with Zara before I showed her this year’s brand-new attraction.
“For me to know,” I said, staring into her eyes as I slowly lay forward. Zara closed her eyes and willingly did the same. Rather than kissing her gorgeous, full pink lips, I wiped the sauce off the corner of her mouth.
Zara’s eyes flew open and widened as she watched me lick the sauce off my index finger, proving that it was, in fact, Ronan’s famous chili sauce.
My daring move had caught Zara off guard, and she looked startled for a second, like a deer caught in headlights. After she recovered from her shock, she rolled her eyes at me in annoyance.
I sighed inwardly. I had to exert every effort to keep myself in check. If only she knew how her little act of disrespect affected me. The idea of putting her on my lap and giving her gorgeous round ass a smack made my cock twitch.
“And for me to beg in order to gain the answer?” Zara sighed, flicking her hair over her shoulder, and licked her upper lip seductively. Was she openly trying to seduce me to have the answer?
If Zara continued to tease me, I would have blue balls in no time. I could already feel the painful pressure of my hardened cock against my zipper.
“You are playing with fire, girl,” Ray warned. She had a magnetic effect on him too.
“And she is about to get burned if she keeps this flirting thing up,” I whispered in amazment.
It was hard enough just to be near her. The mate bond was already more powerful. I felt compelled to claim and mate with her.
“You will have to mark her soon,” Ray said. “If not, I only foresee problems.”
I scowled, trying to interpret what Ray had said.
“What does that mean?” I finally asked.
“The bond is a funny thing,” Ray said, his eyes serious. “You never know what it will do to make you two come together.”
I have heard tales of disastrous outcomes when mates took their sweet time to mark each other. But since we had managed to control ourselves up until this point, I was positive that we were at least somewhat unique. Maybe we were just not your average mates.
“Do you think you are truly that different?” Ray asked as he listened in on my thoughts. “An unexpected event will occur sooner rather than later.”
“Ray, do not jinx it,” I warned. “We already have enough problems to deal with. Do not burden us with any more issues.”
“I am not jinxing it,” Ray said with a frustrated sigh before leaping to his feet. “I am merely presenting the facts. I see trouble on the horizon. You ought to have claimed her the moment you found her!”
“I couldn’t, you know that!” I let out a hiss. “You are aware of how complicated things were.”
“Were they?” Ray gave an eye roll. “And now? What is preventing you from doing so right now? She wants you. You can see that!”
“I enjoy Zara’s company. I would like to get to know her before marking her,” I challenged. “I want to make the marking memorable and special for her!”
“You are so full of sh*t, boy!” he snarled. “Do you even hear what you are saying?”
Ray began to move toward the deeper parts of my mind, shaking his head hopelessly.
“Where are you off too?” I growled.
“Nowhere too important,” he replied before rushing away.
I let out a sigh and returned my attention to Zara. She was sipping on a soda that I had ordered for her.
“Perhaps!” I whispered to her. “Seeing you beg would be amazing.”
Zara looked up just enough to give me a quick glance from beneath her eyelashes. Her face turned crimson, while I found myself absorbed in her misty, gray gaze.
Goddess, help me now! I was compelled. I was drawn to Zara by everything about her, including her voice, lips, eyes, and body. I was obligated by the bond to claim her.
“Uh-um!” Unwillingly, my eyes snapped toward Ronan as he cleared his throat, ending Zara’s hypnotic spell on me.
“Yes?” I knitted my eyebrows together and asked.
“The contacts,” Ronan said as he gave them to me. “Before, we neglected to get them signed.”
“Oh, indeed,” I muttered as I accepted the yellow envelope from Ronan and set it down on the table. “I suppose we would better have them sign.”
“Business before pleasure,” Zara said with a wink.
As I reach into my top pocket to find my pen, I notice Zara sucking her lower lip. A flush had spread across her cheeks. She had such an innocent-looking appearance. So pure. So sweet…
I felt a surge of jealousy. The only person sucking on her lips should be me. The bear thought caused my cock to harden and release some of my prec*me.
Goddess, I desired another taste of her. I desired to feel her supple body against my own. I needed her lovely groans to reverberate around me while I devoured her p*ssy.
“Uh-uhm.” In an attempt to get my attention, Ronan coughed in his hand, and I looked at him.
How dare he interrupt my thoughts!
A smug smile was playing at the corner of Ronan’s lips as he held a pen out to me.
Was he aware of my dirty thoughts? Did he know? Could he see it?
Did he find it amusing?
“Thanks,” I said as I extended my hand to grab the pen. “Let us finish this signing before there are any more disruptions.”
Zara let out a little giggle, and I turned to look at her.
“Allow me to assist you,” Zara proposed.
Help me?
“I can manage to remove the contracts myself,” I replied, and I opened the envelope.
As soon as I put the contracts on the table, I felt a wave of excitement and satisfaction.
This was significant-even more significant than a business deal.
“Are you interested in reviewing the changes?” I asked, trying to concentrate.
After Zara made her edits and returned them, Ronan included them in the contracts.
“No, not really,” Zara answered. “I trust that you agree to the contract’s amendments.”
“Yes,” I said. “I will sign when you are ready.”
“Let us do this,” Zara said.
“Do you want to take the lead?” I asked, meeting her eyes.
“Would that bring you joy?” Zara chirped. “I would be happy to.”
“I think it would,” I said, winking, and passed the contracts and pen to her.
Ronan approached and pointed out the place for her to sign.
“Your turn,” she chirped as she returned them.
I immediately did the same, but I had no idea that signing the contract would significantly change our lives.
****