“It went well,” she says. My heart falls to my stomach. “I’ll see what comes of it soon enough. How’s your schoolwork?”
“Coming along,” I reply, my voice faintly strained. “Let’s wrap up here. I have a surprise for you.”
Several surprises, and not all of them will be nearly as fun for you as the first one.
Chapter Eighteen
Dorian
Our local county zoo is about a thirty-minute drive from campus, at the base of one of the largest canyons in the area. This time of year, as staff prepare for the upcoming winter, it’s closed on weekdays. Fortunately, the hefty donation I wired earlier makes the staff and owners reconsider my request for a private tour and private showing.
“I’ve never actually been here,” Mira says. “God, the leaves are so pretty. Do you have any Halloween plans?”
My lips tilt up at the corners as I regard her. She’s at least partially returned to what seems to be her usual self; switching tracks of conversation at nearly the speed of light.
“We usually host a party,” I say. “A costume party, obviously. Things can get pretty rowdy, though, and we have a lot going on this year, so I’m not sure if we will. Doyouhave any plans?”
She shrugs. “Last year, I went to a party with Cara—mainly to chaperone her and make sure whichever flavor of the night she picked was safe and sane. Valerie and I ended up in the corner of the room, talking about climate change.”
“So you didn’t go anywhere with a flavor of the night?” I query.
She shakes her head. “I’m not into one-night stands. I’m not really into sex; you already know this.”
Masculine pride warms my chest. “But you do like it with me.”
Her breath audibly hitches. She casts me a sidelong glance as I park the car. “I wouldn’t know. We haven’t had sex, and we’re not going to.”
How wrong she is.I smile faintly but don’t push. This little fieldtrip is for her enjoyment—no point in diluting it. I’ll get my enjoyment when she’s sobbing, begging me for mercy later tonight.
She doesn’t wait for me to open her car door, which makes me frown. We’ll have to work on that.
“Hold on, the sign says the zoo is only open Saturday and Sunday for the fall and winter season,” Mira says, frowning as we approach the entrance.
I curl an arm around her waist, enjoying the little shiver that courses through her. “I got us a special tour. Don’t worry, we won’t get in trouble.”
As expected, we’re greeted at the entrance by one of the staff members, an attentive young man who ushers us through the wrought-iron gates of the zoo. The intricate designs catch the glint of late fall sunlight.
We follow him into a labyrinth of stone paths, edged with frost-dusted bushes and carpeted with golden leaves that crunch underfoot. We pass vacant animal enclosures where skeletal branches of barren trees rise like sculptures against the sky. The air is crisp and chill, so most of the animals are probably sheltered indoors, though the distant call of a bird echoes faintly from somewhere in the grounds.
“I like how spacious everything is,” Mira says approvingly. “I’ve heard good things about this zoo. They only take in rescues, animals that would struggle to survive out in the wild. If they’re successfulin their rehabilitation, they return their charges back to their natural habitats.”
“That’s right,” the staff member says, grinning at Mira. His eyes linger on her a beat too long, and I draw her closer, giving him a warning glare that makes the man clear his throat and look away. “We, uh, pride ourselves on both the living conditions we create for all of our rescues, and our dedication to rehabilitating them.”
“That’s wonderful,” Mira says, smiling happily. “What percentage of animals are rehabilitated and then released?”
“About fifteen percent,” the man—boy—responds. “It’s a better turnaround rate than we expect; the ones we take in are usually in pretty rough shape. We have an excellent veterinary department, with three vets and nearly a dozen assistants that work miracles. You’ll actually get to meet Dr. Woods later today—”
“Careful not to ruin the surprise,” I warn him.
“Of course. We’re almost there, anyways.” The boy smiles at Mira again. “I’m Richard, by the way. I graduated Greywood last year. I’m interning here now, gaining some experience before applying to vet schools. I think I saw you around the animal sciences department a few times.”
Mira blinks. “Oh. Honestly, I don’t remember, but that’s really cool. I’m Mira, junior at Greywood. So you’re one of the assistants?”
The warmth in her tone and sparkle in her eyes as she watches Richard bothers me. She should only look atmewith those glittering eyes that shine with approval and interest. She should only talk to me in that smoky, beautiful voice that feels like a fist wrapped around my cock. I can see the effect she’s having on this manchild—he keeps glancing at her like he can’t help himself. I don’t blame him, but if he does anything beyond looking, he and I will have a not-so-pleasant conversation.
“Part-time assistant to the vets,” Richard says. “Full time staff member.” He leads us up to a large stone building attached to the back of an outdoor enclosure that mimics dry, open-plane terrain. “Here we are,” he says, opening a glass door for us—forMira, really. I release her so she can go in, then step into Richard's personal space, fixing him with a glare.
“She’s mine,” I say lowly, staring him right in the eye, letting himfeelthe warning as well as see it.
