Page 80 of The Cursed Fae

“Two vampires got through them recently,” I reminded him.

He reached over and took my hand, pulling his gaze from the road just long enough to meet my eyes. “You’ll always be safe when you’re with me.”

Laz took the next left and drove toward the water in the distance. A wooden dock jutted out about ten yards from the shore, with a small shack at the end. The asphalt turned to loose gravel, and he slowed before pulling to a stop.

“I can’t decide if this is romantic or creepy,” I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.

He laughed softly. “My goal was romantic.”

The wind stung my cheeks when I got out of the car. Laz offered me his hand as we started down the slippery wooden steps to the dock.

“If I’d known you were into extreme dating, I would’ve worn different shoes.” I clung to his arm with a death grip.

“Keep an open mind. I think you’ll like it.”

From the outside, it looked like the sort of structure that would blow away in a strong wind. Inside, someone had taken great care to make it cute and cozy. A low, square table stood in the center of the room, surrounded by large cushions. Two covered dishes were already on it, along with a vase of red roses. Candles burned in all four corners, emitting a faint floral scent. And despite the lack of a fire and electricity, the air temperature was warm enough to shed my coat.

“So, what do you think?” he asked, sounding uncharacteristically nervous.

“It’s beautiful,” I admitted.

It was true. I’d never given much thought to my idea of a perfect date, but Laz had clearly put a lot of effort into this.

His arms encircled my waist from behind. “So are you,” he whispered.

Laz swept my hair aside and trailed kisses down my neck. All my unease vanished. I loved the way he felt pressed against me, his hands skimming down my stomach.

I let my head fall to one side and peered up into his swirling irises. His fingers teased toward my breasts but didn’t linger. Heat pooled inside of me. I wanted him, wanted his bare skin against mine. Then he stepped back, leaving me cold without the warmth of his body. I turned to face him, heart racing too fast.

“Was that supposed to be a preview?” I asked.

One side of his mouth curved upward. “Yes, and no. Not for tonight.” He took my hands, threading our fingers together. “You need all your strength. So do I. This spell requires a lot of energy.”

I sighed. “The downside of magic.”

He laughed and stole a kiss. “Come on. Let’s eat. I planned this meal specifically to boost your power using only natural ingredients.”

Suddenly, the whole thing seemed way less romantic.

Chapter twenty-eight

Who's Afraid of Some Ghost?

Laz had one more surprise for me. There was a panel beneath the table that he slid open to reveal a glowing underwater garden. He dimmed the candle flames with a wave of his hand, and neon shadows filled the cabin.

“Okay, this,” I gestured around the room, “is pretty awesome.”

Really leaning into the gentleman's role, Laz pulled out my chair.

“Thank you.” I grinned up at him.

He stole a quick kiss before sliding into his seat opposite me. “I hope you like salmon.”

I nodded. “Did you make all this?”

Pink tinged his cheeks. “Not exactly. But,” he flashed a sheepish smile, “I picked the menu. A chef named Geoff Rowers did the cooking.”

I frowned, unfamiliar with the name.

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