“Fuck,” I hissed.
The treat came out with an audible pop.
“We should start walking. He’ll want to see what’s over there.” Her words were a touch breathless.
We rose, but the game wasn’t over. As we walked, Poppy changed her tactic, sinking her pretty little teeth into the treat and consuming it with gusto.
The exotic animals lost my interest. I became the beast, stalking after the dainty prey that walked slightly in front of me.
“Don’t get too far, Brady,” Poppy warned as he darted ahead, eager to see the wolves farther down the trail.
She paused by a trash bin, leaning over to toss the empty stick away. Her tee rose along her belly, exposing an inch of sun-kissed skin. Suddenly, I lost all taste for my cone. I popped the last piece of flavorless, soggy waffle in my mouth, obsessed with the idea of touching something else.
But it had to wait a few more minutes as we trekked along the zoo’s path. What she might not know yet was that I had her in my sights. Poppy was already mine, and I would have her.
The enclosure that held the bears had a man-made rocky viewing area that visitors could duck into to see the cave where the great beasts slept. While my son raced up the faux rock steps to sit high and watch, Poppy paused to read. I was done trying to make sense of the letters, but I came up behind her.
Leaning down, I whispered, “Studying your kinfolk?”
Poppy’s breath caught. She tried to move, but I was blocking her on every side.
“What do you mean?” she stammered, voice equally low.
My lips grazed the shell of her ear. “The way you watch over him. You’re exactly like a sow with a cub.”
“Oh, thank you.” She swallowed hard.
I brushed the back of my hand down her arm. “Did you know that sows keep their young away from the fathers?”
Poppy nodded. “The males have been known to eat their young if they’re hungry enough.”
“Well, I’ll tell you a secret, little flower,” I breathed, stepping right behind her and making our bodies touch. “I’m starving after such a long winter. But I hunger for you.”
Reaching around her as I spoke, I let my index finger graze along the strip of skin that kept teasing me. The touch was feather-light as I ran my finger along her belly from one hip bone to the other.
“Ivan,” Poppy warned, shooting a look to the rocks where Brady had his face smooshed against the thick glass, then to the half dozen people around us.
“Hmm?” I murmured, running my nose against her ear. I couldn’t get enough, couldn’t stop touching her. My other hand reached under her shirt, fingers splaying over the hot skin of her belly, while I continued to trace a line back and forth with the other.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.” She caught her lip between her teeth, not fighting, not pulling away. No, my little flower leaned back into me, her body betraying what her cautious mind wasn’t ready to admit.
“Probably not here, in such a public place,” I agreed. “But it’s only fair you should know, I am hunting you, Poppy. And I’m getting close, ready to pounce. When I finally catch you, I’m going to sink my teeth into your flesh and mark it as mine. This is the only warning you’re getting.”
Her hands dropped to catch my wrists. Gripping me tight, she tried to push away. I didn’t budge.
“You have no idea what you’re doing to me.” I nipped her skin, letting my teeth score the flesh. “But you feel the same, don’t you? That pull between us.”
Poppy shook her head vehemently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let’s make an agreement right now not to lie to each other,” I growled, a dark warning lacing my words.
“I’m not—”
“Poppy,” I warned. “If I slid my hands lower, what would I find?”
She swallowed hard. “A grey pair of cotton panties. Sensible and moisture-wicking.”
Shock stilled me. But only for a moment. Then a laugh snorted out. “Damn, woman, you know exactly how to give a guy a fantasy.”
