Then he’d look weak
and
stupid.
Helena drove the short distance to the animal hospital. “I’ll grab some bandages.”
“Why bother? They’ll just get wet when I wash up.”
She ignored him and hopped out, returning a minute later with a box of first-aid supplies. He really needed a shower now. The mixture of blood, dirt and rabid-badger dander made his skin itch. But he didn’t argue as she wrapped his arms in gauze. He endured the contact, hoping she wouldn’t notice how shaken up he was. When she cut the strip of gauze and tied it to his wrist, he saw that her hands weren’t steady, either.
Maybe not so indifferent, after all.
“I’ll put on a permanent bandage later,” she said.
He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter. Tough guys shrugged off flesh wounds. They spat out loose teeth and dragged broken legs behind them. Hoo-yah.
Taking a deep breath, he channeled his navy training. SWCC didn’t show fear or weakness. They had nerves of steel and muscles to match. Just as he was regaining his composure, an angry roar echoed through the park. The sound sent a fresh chill down his spine. No rest for the wicked.
“That’s Tau,” Helena said, listening.
“He sounds mad.”
“It could be the cage he’s upset about, but he usually doesn’t roar like that unless he’s protecting food.”
“Do you think Zuma took the bait?”
“Maybe.”
“We should check it out while there’s still enough light.”
She glanced at his mummy arms. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“Of course I’m up to it,” he said, feigning surprise. “What more do I have to do to prove to you that I’m a badass? I’ve taken nonstop abuse from wild females over the past few days. I’m still standing.”
“You’re sitting.”
“Yeah, but I do my best work lying down.”
Her lips twitched with reluctant humor. He was growing on her. He’d like to grow on her some more. “I guess we could ride the Skylift.”
“
You
want to ride the Skylift?”
“It’s quicker and safer, especially at dusk.”
He couldn’t argue that.
She drove to the loading dock, checking for Bambang before they exited the vehicle. They brought the guns, just in case. He felt bruised and bitten, but no longer in danger of keeling over. He should probably eat a snack, however. There were two broken vending machines by the entrance to the Skylift.
“You want something?” he asked her.
“Whatever you’re having.”
He grabbed two Snickers bars and soda. That should tide them over until dinner. Shoving the snacks in his shirt pocket, he hit the go button and helped her climb into one of the tram cars. Then he joined her, and they were off.
The aerial tram was relaxing for him. It was slow. It didn’t climb to dizzying heights or sail through the air at top speeds. He popped open the soda and settled into his seat, watching Helena for signs of anxiety. Her mouth looked tense. Her dirty hands gripped the safety railing too tight. He couldn’t blame her for being scared, after this morning.
He passed the soda to her. “Here. It can help with nausea.”
“Caffeine?”
“Sodium bicarbonate.”
She accepted the offering and took a sip. “Thanks, Dr. Josh.”
Several inappropriate ideas about playing doctor sprang to mind, so he considered himself fully recovered. He unwrapped one of the candy bars and bit into it with relish. She watched him, moistening her lips.
“I brought you one,” he said.
“I’ll eat it after the ride.”
He offered her his chocolate bar. She surprised him by leaning forward to take a bite. Of course, it looked sexual. But he also enjoyed the sharing aspect, and the fact that she felt comfortable enough to let him feed her. They finished the candy bar and the soda before they arrived at Heart of Africa.
She had a better view of the ground from her side. He didn’t want to scare her by tipping the tram car, so he stayed still while she examined the area.
“The meat’s gone,” she said, excited. “She took it!”
He was able to get a glimpse of the area as they passed by. There was a drag mark near Tau’s cage, and the bait itself was gone. Instead of celebrating, he kept his eyes peeled for Zuma. Unfortunately, he didn’t catch sight of the lioness, and it was getting dark. “Will the drugs wear off by morning?”
“No. They’re the long-acting kind. She’ll be drowsy, if not completely out, for at least twenty-four hours.”
He held up his palm, impressed by her foresight. She slapped him a high-five. This was damned good news. Tau was caged. Zuma was drugged, presumably. They’d fixed the fence and freed a badger. Wild hyenas might be terrorizing the city streets, but that was beyond their scope. For now, the zoo seemed calm.
It was the best they could hope for.
Josh was looking forward to rinsing off the blood and sweat. He could let Helena nurse his wounds. Then he’d cook her dinner. Maybe if he played his cards right, she’d reconsider hooking up with him. He’d promised not to touch her—unless she wanted him to. So the option was still on the table, as far as he was concerned.
He studied her as they rode back to the dock, contemplating what she’d said about men trying to make her feel small. He couldn’t blame her for suspecting him of doing that. He’d ignored her discomfort and continued ribbing her over the years. Now that he knew about her father’s death, and the kids who’d teased her for being somber, and the asshole who’d tried to put his hands on her, he regretted his actions.
The story about the old creeper at the stables infuriated him. Josh was aware that women were the victim of harassment and attacks too often. But Helena was so tough that he couldn’t imagine anyone messing with her. She looked like she chewed nails for breakfast. It had never occurred to him that her size and strength might make her a
more
likely target. There were men who couldn’t stand being on a level playing field with women.
Weak men, in his opinion.
Josh hadn’t meant to belittle Helena with his jokes. He wasn’t trying to take her down a peg. He wanted her underneath him, yeah, but not in a passive-aggressive, grudge-fuck way. His caveman instincts weren’t about putting her in her place.
Were they?
He didn’t think so. Some guys had pent-up anger or trust issues. Josh wasn’t one of them. He loved his mother and sister. He hadn’t been betrayed by any ex-girlfriends. He’d never slept around out of spite.
On the other hand, if sleeping around was so great, why had he stopped? He hadn’t been waiting for Helena to drop her boyfriend. Even if his desire for her had been a factor, on a subconscious level, he had other reasons. He wasn’t just bored; he’d changed. Chloe’s situation with Lyle was part of it. Josh hated Lyle for hurting Chloe, and her experience had caused him to reevaluate his own actions toward women.
Josh had avoided commitment for a reason. He’d made the choice to have one-night stands and short flings; they hadn’t just fallen into his lap. After fulfilling his navy service, he’d wanted to have fun and live it up. He’d relished the freedom of doing his own thing, surfing when the mood struck, chilling out when it didn’t. Working hard but not breaking his back. Low stress and low stakes. No serious relationships, no dependents. No one expecting him to be a military hero.
He wasn’t sure he liked what he saw when he looked at himself from this perspective. Maybe Helena was right, and he was just a goofball jackass who got lucky by making women laugh.
Well, fine. If that’s what he was, he’d embrace it. He hadn’t heard any complaints when she’d put her hand on his dick. Her sharp intake of breath was pure compliment. He’d enjoyed it. So why was he scowling?
As soon as they reached the loading dock, he jumped out and hit the switch. It was all clear, so they headed to the truck. She gave a concerned glance as she climbed behind the wheel. “I didn’t think to bring any pain pills.”
“I’m okay.”
“It’s no trouble to go back.”
“You can dart me after the shower.”
She smiled at this, no longer so guarded with her expressions. “I should give you an antibiotic injection, actually.”
“Will I turn into a flying monkey?”
“Only if we do it after midnight.”
He couldn’t resist smiling back at her. Helena’s dry, quirky sense of humor was like a cherry on top of her other good qualities. He enjoyed bantering with her almost as much as he enjoyed kissing her.
The greenhouse was on the other side of the loading dock, past the butterfly exhibit and garden trail, at the edge of the Lost Jungle. It was the area of the park where they did educational activities and hosted the bird show. There were a number of displays about recycling and alternative energy sources. The state-of-the-art greenhouse wasn’t open to the public, and it wasn’t just a showcase. A lot of the zoo’s produce was grown right here. As an environmental science major, Josh was proud of that.
It was dark, so he brought a flashlight from the truck, along with the rifle. There was a rain cache system and a storage tank outside the greenhouse. Inside, there were drip lines hanging from the ceiling and an industrial-sized sink in the corner.
He did a quick inspection of the interior. The roof and side panels were made of polycarbonate, not glass. Although the building had sustained damage, it didn’t appear unsafe. There were no doped-up wildcats or feral honey badgers lurking in the shadows.
“Okay,” he said, waving her in.
Helena came inside and glanced around. She was carrying the extra clothes in a tote bag with a gorilla decal. She went to the sink and turned on the water, testing its temperature.
“Warm?” he asked.
“Lukewarm.”
He’d take it.
The sink wasn’t large enough to bathe in, so she grabbed an empty plastic washbasin, placing it on the floor by the sink. Then she attached a garden hose to the faucet. “There,” she said, seeming pleased with her invention. “It’s like a standing bath, and we can just lean over the sink to wash our hair.”
Those words triggered a very explicit fantasy of her, wet and naked, bent at the waist. Water streamed down her pale back, glistening over her sleek curves.
Great. Now he was rock-hard.
“You might need help,” she said.
He needed help, all right. Her helping hand, soapy and slick.
“Do you want me to hold it for you?”
“Yes.” God, yes.
She gave him an expectant look, and he realized she was waiting for him to strip down. She’d offered to hold the
hose
for him. She’d wash him like a car or…an elephant. He pictured Obi’s gargantuan member, rearing up and spraying wild.
“No,” he said, choking out a laugh. He could manage the hose on his own. “Sorry, I meant to say no.”
“No?”
“You go ahead. I’ll stand outside.”
She frowned as he limped toward the exit. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He left the flashlight in a flat of geraniums by the door. Then he guarded the front of the greenhouse like a sentry.
If he wanted to look, he only had to glance over his shoulder. The transparent panels wouldn’t hide her body from his view.
He clenched his teeth at the sound of running water, plagued by visions of her slippery skin and sudsy breasts.
Get a grip, Josh.
He’d love to get a grip. On her hips as she rode him.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to focus on something else. He thought of elephant cocks again, but that wasn’t gross enough to turn him off. Then he imagined getting attacked by a honey badger while naked.
There. That did the trick.
He stretched his neck and scanned the area. It was dangerous, being out here after dark. Visibility was limited, and they weren’t far from the ruins of the reptile house. He hoped Bambang wasn’t prowling around. Komodo dragons were like Godzilla, scary as shit. The bandage tugged at Josh’s wrist, reminding him of his nightmare. An uneasy feeling niggled at him. He hadn’t checked every nook and cranny of the greenhouse.
What had Helena said about snakes? They were attracted to heat sources.
He was about to call out a warning when she screamed like a banshee. The sound sent chills down his spine.
Abandoning his post, he rushed inside the greenhouse to help her. She had shampoo dripping into her eyes, and there was something on her shoulders that resembled a black whip. She grabbed the offending creature and flung it, still shrieking.
Josh couldn’t light up the thing with his rifle and risk a ricochet on the concrete floor. He was about to stomp it to bits when he recognized the material as hosing from the rainwater collection system. It must have fallen from the damaged roof.
She wiped her eyes, shivering. “What is that?”
“Soaker hose.”
“What?”
“It’s a type of hose with a porous surface. Feels kind of like snakeskin. I’d have freaked, too.”
She edged away from him, one hand between her legs. The other covered her left breast, leaving the right bare. She only had two hands, and he seemed to have about a dozen eyes. They were all over her.
She had a beautiful body, smooth and pale and well-proportioned, like a goddess sculpted from marble. But he’d known she had gorgeous skin and luscious curves already. What really amazed him was her level of fitness. There were sleek muscles in her stomach and arms. Not deeply carved abs or bulging biceps, but clear definition. It was sexy as hell. This was a woman who could run a marathon. A woman who did hard physical labor, and could carry her own weight on her shoulders.
He was enamored with her softer parts, too. The plumpness of her breasts, her trembling mouth. Strands of wet hair clung to her face, dripping on her shoulders and chest. She looked like a hot girl from a horror movie, naked and terrified. And he was the horny audience member, getting off on it.
Fresh arousal thrummed in his veins, making it difficult to look away. He wanted her taut belly against his, her strong legs locked around his waist. Her tight body clenching around his as she cried out in pleasure.
She retreated a few steps, still trembling. There was no invitation in her expression, just wariness and residual fear. She was shaken up, speechless. That was the only reason she hadn’t protested to his rude staring.