AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, wow,” Rhomi said. “I didn’t expect this.”
“The petting zoo location is much safer than the season ticket office, as it’s deeper in the park.”
Mercer said, “It sounds amazing.”
“I want you to take the morning to think about it, go visit the petting zoo and speak with Cael and Rhapsody—they should be there by now. Then come back around lunch and let me know if you’re interested. You might be tempted to say outright that you want the jobs, but trust me that you want to talk things out as a couple first and make sure it’s the right fit for you both. It’ll be different for you, Mercer, than patrolling the park, and working with these types of animals will be different for you too, Rhomi.”
He rose to his feet and they did too, both shaking his hand.
“Thanks, Joss, we’ll see you in a few hours,” Mercer said.
“Thanks,” Rhomi said.
Joss nodded and sat, turning in the chair to his computer monitor. They walked out of the office, neither of them speaking until they were in the employee cafeteria. They stood in front of the counter where the heat lamps put off enough heat to warm her skin and make her feel a little flushed.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity. I’d love to be able to take care of animals as a full-time job. I always wished I could work for the animal shelter. This way, I don’t have to worry about an animal needing to be adopted, though, because they already have a great home here.” She paused, looking at him as he gazed adoringly down at her. “What about you?”
“I want whatever you want.”
“It’s not that simple. Will you and your lion be okay with hanging out with animals and dealing with park patrons, not to mention the cleaning and care involved?”
He tilted his head, looking like he was thinking. Then he grinned. “Hell, yes, sweetheart. I get to spend my days working by your side and keeping you safe, plus playing with little animals. It’s not a bad gig.” He pulled her against him roughly, his lion letting out a low growl laced with heat. “What do you think?”
“I love it. I love everything about it, especially working with you.”
“Good. Then let’s go see Cael and Rhapsody, tell Joss we’ll take the jobs, and then celebrate.”
“Celebrate?”
“Hell, yes. We’ve got new jobs; that’s worth celebrating in a very sexy way.”
She laughed. “You have the best ideas.”
“Because I’ve got an irresistible soulmate.”
He lowered his head to kiss her, and all thought fled, other than the feel of his lips and how much she freaking loved him.
ChapterTwenty-Two
After spending the remainder of the week taking care of animals in the not-yet-open petting zoo, Mercer was looking forward to the weekend when he’d finally get to mate his sweetheart. Saturday approached at light speed as they got ready for their mating ceremony.
He and Rhomi took care of the animals first thing, and then they got ready for the first part of the mating ceremony, which would take place after the park was closed and night had fallen.
Rhomi was in the bathroom of their master bedroom getting ready. He was already dressed in the clothing for this ritual: black leather pants and nothing else. Rhomi was going to be wearing a long, black T-shirt and nothing else.
Lions were all about simplicity when it came to ritual clothing.
“So tell me about this ritual thing tonight?” she called through the bathroom door.
“We’re meeting the pride in the paddock in about ten minutes,” he said. “There will be a bonfire and you’ll hang out there with the pride while I hunt a rabbit that will be released once we start the ritual.”
“A rabbit?”
“Yeah. This part of the ritual is me proving to you and the pride that I can provide for you.”
He would hunt the rabbit in his shift, kill it, and bring it back to the bonfire, where he’d shift back into human form, dress the rabbit, and cook it on a spit over the fire. Once it was ready, he’d feed Rhomi, proving that his lion was capable of feeding his mate and their future offspring.
