Page 84 of Savage Queen (Blood Empire 3)

Chapter 22

Harlow

Do you know how hardit is to keep Neo from breaking into every exhibit there is? Next to fucking impossible. His ADHD is really acting up today, and I think it has a lot to do with everything being over stimulating.

We’ve been here all day, and only have a few more enclosures to see before heading back home.

“How are you doing, Sam?” I ask, looking over at him as we make our way to the elephants.

“I’m okay, Harlow.” He smiles softly at me, a twitch of amusement on his lips. He’s holding mine and Axel’s hands and he brings mine up to kiss the back of it, setting off butterflies in my belly. I love how he can make me feel like a teenage girl who's crushing hard. His sandy blond hair covers one of his bright blue eyes. I reach up and brush it away. His eyes flutter closed at the touch.

“Are you sure?” Axel asks from his other side. “Because we can leave now if you want.”

“Guys,” Sam laughs. “Enough. I know you care, and I love you both for that. But I really amfine. What you did...” he says, looking at me. “Booking this place for just us, you're amazing for doing that. It’s helped a lot. At first, I was a little nervous, but all of the workers were nice. Having this place be open and not having to worry about being boxed in with a bunch of strangers, it helped me relax and enjoy the day.”

I believe him. He’s been all smiles, all day. He and Rosie did a lot of firsts together, holding as many animals that they were allowed to. My phone is full of videos and photos. I know this is a day he won't ever forget.

“Alright,” I laugh. “There's only a few more things to see anyways before we can head home.”

“I’m gonna sleep good tonight,” Sam says. “And I think all this walking is my workout for the year.” He winks, making me smile.

We stop outside the Elephant Odyssey, about to go into the elephant care center when I hear chirping. But not like a bird, more like the sounds the Capuchin Monkeys made back at the Monkey Trail.

Looking around to see if maybe a worker is walking by with one, my gaze stops on Neo. He’s looking up at the sky, and I immediately know he’s up to something.

“Neo,” I say his name in warning.

“Do you hear that?” he asks, looking around. “Wonder where it’s coming from.” He searches around, deliberately avoiding eye contact with me.

“Neo,” I say again.

“What?” he asks, finally looking at me.

“What did you do?” I ask, cocking a brow.

“Me? Nothing,” he says, then his shirt starts to move. My eyes flick down to the bulge in his black tee. “This? I just ate too much. Got a bit of a food baby in here.” He lets out a forced laugh.

“Oh really? Don’t full bellies normally make a rumbling sound, not a chirping noise?” I ask, trying to hold back my smile at how he looks like a guilty child trying to lie his way out.

“The body is a wonderland,” he shrugs. Then the bulge in his shirt starts to wiggle its way up until a little monkey head pops out of the top of his shirt, chittering away. “Well, would you look at that!” Neo fakes shock. “I wonder how this little guy got in there.”

“Really?” I ask, crossing my arms while Axel walks away muttering that he just can’t with Neo right now.

“Fine,” Neo sighs. “He was just so cute, and he liked me!” he insists. “When Rosie was holding one, everyone was distracted, so I snuck out with this little guy.”

“You can’t keep him, Neo. For fuck’s sake, we have enough animals.”

“But look at him. He’s so damn cute! And I named him already, so I gotta keep him.”

“What? No you don’t.”

“Marcel, meet your new mommy. She’s drop dead gorgeous, and she knows how to ride cock like a champ,” Neo says, looking at me with a naughty grin.

“Marcel?”

“From the show ‘Friends’, after his monkey cousin that Ross owned.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I groan. “Give me the monkey, Neo. I need to give him back before they start getting worried.”

---