“Other than making me come on your cock several times.”
“Not to live in the city. I miss the air.”
I knew what he meant.
“But the zoo?”
“Isn’t everything.” His eyes softened. “What about you?”
“I don’t know. I have no home at the moment. I have no long-term contract. I have the freedom to do what I want, as long as my mother is okay.”
“So why aren’t you happier about that?”
Because I wanted that freedom to be shared with him. I’d known it, kind of. He’d creeped up on me, slowly, reminding me of what it was like when we were at college and something between us had clicked. His baggage had scared me because I hadn’t been strong enough to carry it, but I didn’t need to. He could.
“Because.” I looked at him and the smile that came was different this time. Sweeter. Safer. “I should be.”
“What’s your dream?”
I sipped my wine. I had no idea what my dream was beyond qualifying as a vet. I finished my degree, achieved what I needed and didn’t know what next. I’d been waiting for what next since then.
“I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I’ve never really settled.”
“When you were training it was horses. They were your speciality. Why not pursue that? Do a masters as well as practise?”
“Money. I can’t afford it.”
He nodded. “I’ll pay for it.”
I choked slightly on my wine.
“Wren, your Masters’ fees are loose change. Let me sponsor you or something, no obligation.”
“Why?”
“Because I can.” He folded his arms.
“Let me think about it. I don’t even know if I’ll be in this country.”
Callum’s expression became unreadable. He didn’t want me to go anywhere.
“What are your dreams?”
He picked up his beer. “Bitter ones. To not be what my father wanted.”
“What are they now? Travel more?”
His hair fell forward as he shook his head. “No. I want to be near my family. I want to take regular trips to Africa, which I can do. I want to stay working with big cats if I can, but I don’t think I can stay in the city.”
“So you need to freelance?”
“Possibly. My own practice. Maybe Oxfordshire, somewhere rural. More animals.”
“Wouldn’t you miss the lifestyle you have here?” Being a playboy, on the arm of models and the odd actress.
“I don’t think so. I’ve done it enough and it doesn’t have the appeal anymore.”
“Why not?”
