Page 6 of Stalked By the Zookeeper

"Your turn," she says after a while, sipping her soda. "What was little Bradley like?"

"Mostly mud-covered and chasing after animals," I admit, and her giggle hits me straight in the chest.

Dinner wraps up too soon, and I'm not ready to let her go. Not yet. The night is balmy, stars beginning to peek out, and an idea sparks.

"Hey, want to see something cool? The zoo's closed, but I can show you around," I suggest, trying to sound casual.

"Really?" Her eyes light up. "I'd love that!"

We walk to the zoo, side by side, close enough that our hands brush occasionally. My heart's working overtime, and I'm cursing every inch of space between us.

Once inside, I grab a flashlight and lead her through the nocturnal sounds of the animals settling down. "Come on," I say, "there's someone special I want you to meet."

We stop in front of the white tiger's enclosure, and her breath catches. "She's beautiful," Sabrina whispers.

"Her name's Sita," I tell her, pride swelling in me. "Want to get closer?"

"Can we?" There's a hopeful lilt in her voice, a childlike wonder that grabs me by the gut.

"Sure." I unlock the safety gate, always aware of the powerful creature pacing gracefully inside. "Just let her come to you."

Sabrina nods, her movements slow and respectful. Sita approaches, curious, and Sabrina reaches out, stroking the tiger's thick fur under my watchful eye. A smile breaks across her face, pure joy radiating from her, and right then, I'd do anything to keep that smile in place.

"Bradley, this is...incredible," she says, turning to me, her eyes shining.

"Seeing you happy makes it worth it," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. And it's true.

With every fiber of my being, it's true.

I let Sabrina visit with the tigress for a while before we finally take our leave.

I lock the gate behind us, my pulse racing. Sabrina's hand lingers on Sita's fur for a moment longer before she turns to face me, her eyes wide with exhilaration. The dim light of the flashlight casts shadows across her features, but it's like every line and curve of her face is etched into my memory.

"Thank you, Bradley," she breathes out, and I can hear the smile in her voice.

"Anytime," I reply, the words rough in my throat. I step closer, driven by an invisible force that pulls me to her like gravity.

Our eyes lock, and there's a silent conversation between them. All the questions from dinner, all the laughter—it's all there, but what burns brighter is this raw, unspoken need. My gaze drops to her lips, full and promising, and then I'm leaning in, no more questions, only this fierce longing that demands to be quenched.

The kiss ignites instantaneously, a flame to dry tinder. She tastes like the cherry pie we shared, sweet and tart, and it's a flavor I want to drown in.

Our bodies press together instinctively, the heat between us undeniable. I'm all rough edges and pent-up desire, and Sabrina meets me with a passion that tells me she feels the same.

"Office," I manage to grunt between kisses, because if we don't move now, we'll end up tangled right here on the zoo's cold floor.

She nods, breathless, as I grab her hand and lead her through the maze of enclosures. My office is a small, cluttered space filled with animal care books, schedules, and a desk that's seen better days.

But none of that matters when I close the door behind us and we're alone, away from prying eyes and the rest of the world.

"Bradley," she whispers, pulling at my shirt, her fingers fumbling with the buttons.

"God, Sabrina." My voice is a growl, low and desperate. Clothes are shed in a hurry, each piece discarded carelessly. There's an urgency in the way we touch, explore, as if we're trying to memorize every detail of each other's skin.

“I want you to be my first,” Sabrina says in a breathy whimper.

I go completley still.

“Your first?” I echo, hardly able to believe my ears.

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