My heart stops when he pulls back the edge of the blanket to reveal a tiny white and black fuzz ball. “Oh! So adorable!”
“He’s six weeks old so his fur is starting to come in. He can’t see or stand yet, not for another two months or so.” Tiny cries emanate from the little creature. “He’s hungry,” Larry says, producing a bottle. “Would you like to feed him?”
“Feed him? I want to take him home,” I reply as he gently rests the bundled cub in my arms. Mason leads me to a small sofa and sits beside me while I put the bottle to the cub’s mouth. After a second, he latches on, and I laugh with delight.
The click of Mason’s cell phone camera makes me look up. “You’ll want to remember this,” he says with a soft smile.
“Look at him. Isn’t he the most beautiful thing?” I run my fingers through the silky fur on the cub’s belly.
“Almost,” Mason replies with a grin, and I feel a blush climb my cheeks. I’m in so much trouble.
The little guy falls asleep by the end of the bottle, and I’m able to spend a few minutes just holding him. His fur is thin and downy soft under my fingers. This is one of those things I know I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The average person doesn’t ever see a panda outside of a T.V. screen, and I held one, fed him. It’s an amazing experience.
“I should put him back in the incubator,” Larry says. “We have to keep him warm.”
“Of course.” I reluctantly hand him over. “Thank you so much for letting me visit.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you could see him.” Larry returns the baby panda to its bed and walks us out the door.
“So,” Mason teases with a grin. “Want to go hold the snakes before we leave?”
“Sure, I had a five foot ball python when I was a kid.”
“Of course you did.” He laughs. “Is there anything you’re afraid of?”
Right now? Him, but there’s no way I’m admitting that. “Spiders.”
“Ugh. I’m in total agreement.”
Larry says goodbye to us at the gate, and Mason tucks me against his side as we walk to the car. He’s so warm, I can’t help but lean into him, and he drops a quick kiss on my temple. “Well, did I keep my part of the bargain? Did you have fun?”
We stop beside the car, and I slip my arms around his waist. “That was amazing. I’ll never forget it. Thank you for bringing me, for showing me something so rare and special.”
“Like you,” he murmurs, sliding his hand into my hair to cup my head.
“Are you comparing me to a panda?” I whisper, my breath catching as his gaze drops to my lips.
“Rare and special,” he murmurs, his mouth grazing softly across mine with the softest of kisses. “My panda.”
Who the hell could resist this man? When his soft lips press firmly against mine, every inch of my body tingles. My skin flushes with heat as he takes my mouth with his, nibbling and sucking. His hands cup my face while his tongue flicks between my lips.
A small moan escapes me when he deepens the kiss. I don’t know how long we stand there, exploring and tasting. Time seems to have no meaning when I’m in this man’s arms. “Come home with me,” he says when we break the kiss. “I promise I’ll make it good, Everly.”
God, I love how he says my name. “Are you promising I’ll have fun?” I tease.
“Time of your life, love.” My phone alarm blares and he gives me a crooked smile. “I’ll need more than two hours this time.”
* * * *
I expect an apartment or condo downtown, so I’m surprised when we head north of the city. “You live in thesuburbs?”
“Not exactly. I like my privacy. No close neighbors to hear you scream my name.” I shake my head at him, but can’t help the grin on my face.
“I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not a screamer.”
“I take that as a challenge.”
We pull into a gated community, and he stops to enter a code at the gate, waving to the security guard as we pass through. The neat streets are lined with two and three story houses, all well spaced and immaculate. I can almost smell the money. How does he afford this? I can’t imagine owning a charity brings in much.
