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Kennedy pulled back slightly from the intoxicating lip-lock with Dante. “I don’t want to let you in.”
“Yes,” Dante said, kissing her. “You do.”
“I’m scared,” she said, pushing away.
“I know. Me, too,” Dante said. He crushed his mouth to hers.
She gently extricated herself. “You’re a big rock star,” she murmured into his soft lips.
“And you whisper to wild beasts,” he said into her mouth, his warm breath tickling her lips. “You’re a big deal in your own right.” His arms snaked around her back, and he pulled her close, falling on the bed as he held her.
“I don’t think we should do anything in Big Jim’s bed,” she whispered, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, imagining Dante to be a wild beast.
“Probably not,” Dante said into her hair.
“I really didn’t want to enjoy you as much as I did last night.”
“I’m sure you can enjoy me more if you’re not so armored.” His velvet green eyes looked earnestly into hers.
“It was that obvious, huh?”
“It was.” He let out a huge sigh, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I...after Mosi, I went through a period of armoring myself, and um...” She thought of Mosi’s brother using, abusing, exploiting her. “I made some awful choices. I let myself be used.”
A wounded expression flashed across Dante’s handsome face. “Who’s Mosi? And why would you let yourself be used?”
“He’s the guy I told you about. The guy who helped me forget about you. He was my lover in Africa. He became my everything.”
Dante’s face grew hard. “And where is he now?”
“He’s dead. Like your ex.”
“He died of an overdose?” Dante appeared stunned.
“No.” She shook her head. “Not like that. He wasn’t an addict. He wasn’t like me.” The man between her legs felt far too good. He aroused her so much, she couldn’t think straight. The tears left her feeling raw, exposed and open. Hungry and wanting. Scared as hell. Torn between letting go and walling off. Any reason she might possess, however, escaped her mental grasp. She threw her leg around Dante’s hips, delighting in the feeling of his solid heat.
Dante stiffened. “I’m...wait, baby. Talk to me.”
“You were right,” she whispered.
“About what?”
“I want you, too.” She thrust her hips into his, burrowing her fingers under his soft T-shirt to get at his skin.
Dante groaned. “Shit, woman, what are you doing to me?” He captured her face between his hands, pressing his sensual mouth against hers.
She rolled on top of him, grinding against him, consumed by his kisses.
When he began unbuttoning her uniform shirt, she seized his fingers, shaking her head wildly back and forth. He can’t see the tattoo.
He swore, frustrated. “Let me see you.”
“No. Not yet.” Wanting to please him, to not make him leave, she slid down his legs. Unzipping his jeans, she watched him intently.
A tortured appearance colored his features, both wanting and confused. His green eyes blazed with hunger, matching hers.
She unbuttoned the top button of his pants, peeled back the fabric, and his erection popped free, unrestrained by boxers or briefs. Her mouth began to water. “You’re beautiful, Dante.” She dropped her head and began ministering to his needs. Her hands stroked and fingered him, her tongue danced around him, she sucked and teased, intoxicated by his musky scent.
Dante’s hands landed on her head, massaging and caressing her hair. When his fingers dug into her scalp, she knew he was close.
She continued sucking until he moaned and let loose his release, crying out her name like a curse, or like a prayer, she couldn’t tell. She swallowed the strong, salty mouthful of his juices, wiping her face on his Levis.
Same as the night before, she wanted to hide from him. This wasn’t how she wanted to connect with him, mere bodies using one another for release. She mashed her face into his belly, reaching to stroke his chest, eyes closed tightly.
“Come up here,” he urged.
She shook her head.
“Come here. Kennedy, please come here.”
His voice beckoned to her, drawing her toward safety. Reluctantly, she crawled to face him.
Dante tucked himself and zipped his jeans, rolling to lay next to her. “When are you going to let me in?” he asked. “All the way in.”
“Not yet. I couldn’t...I can’t. Not yet. I want all of this, my past, the things that haunt me to disappear.”
“Let me help.” He gently kissed her eyelids. “I’m not as scary as you think I am.”
“No, Dante,” she breathed, savoring his kisses. “You can’t help me. Please.” When her walkie-talkie crackled, she jerked.
“Kennedy.”
“Yes? I’m here.”
“It’s Kato. He’s in trouble. Meet me at his pen. Now.”
“Oh!” she cried, fumbling to straighten her clothes. “It’s our beloved patriarch tiger. I’ve got to go.”
“But...”
“Come with me.” She grabbed his hand, tugging him toward the exit as he scrambled to aright his appearance. “You can wander around, look at the exhibits...whatever you and Gia did the other day. But you can’t go back there.” She pointed at a sturdy gate. “There’s twelve acres of sanctuary for the tigers to roam beyond public scrutiny. You of all people should appreciate that.” She instantly regretted her words, as his face hardened, but she had no time to smooth it over. “You’re not allowed. Have fun.”
“But...”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “I love this cat. He was Mosi’s and my baby.” She closed the door behind him, locking it swiftly and pocketing the key. She brushed her lips to his and raced away to her emergency. She whirled around to see him watching her, bewildered...again. Why do I always leave him this way? She brought her hand to her ear, as if phoning him, and pointed between him and her. Then, she pivoted and raced away...again.
Big Jim and the vet crouched beside Kato.
The tiger lay on his side, eyes closed, his breathing ragged and intermittent.
“What’s going on?” Kennedy said when she stood by their side.
“I’m sure it’s congestive heart failure. He’s exhibiting all the signs,” the vet said.
“What can we do?” Each ragged breath from the cat tore at her heart.
“Well, there aren’t many options. We can give the cat drugs to ease his suffering. He could live minutes, days, weeks but he’ll be struggling for breath, like this. It can ease up a bit, but that will be his focus.”
Kennedy looked at Jim through blurry eyes. “He was great last night. He played in his pond, he seemed happy.”
“I know, choty goty. Kato probably needed to say goodbye to you.”
“I can’t make the decision. It has to be yours,” the vet said.
Kennedy spun on her heel to face him. “And what decision is that?”
“I think you know.”
“Spell it out for me.” She spat the words out as a challenge.
Big Jim put his large hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “We need to give him the gift of death, girl. He’s suffering. Look at him laboring for each breath.”
Kennedy’s arms flew around her friend. She let herself cry, her mind whirling. We can save him for a few days. He could rally. The doctor might be wrong. Finally, she pushed away, wiped her face, squared her shoulders and said, “All right. We euthanize him.”
While the doctor prepared the injection, Kennedy sat, the great tiger’s head resting in her lap. He seemed to grow peaceful as he lay like this, yet his eyes never opened.
The vet crouched by her side. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m ready.”
The vet administered the shot, and a few seconds later, the tiger let out one last shuddering breath and slipped to tiger heaven. “I’ll, uh...I’ll go get the team to deal with the body,” the kind man said.
“Yes. That will be fine.” She turned to Jim. “Give me just a moment to say farewell.”
“Yes,” he said, his eyes moist with tears. “I’ll go help him get the supplies we need.” He gave her his hand, squeezed hers, and followed the vet.
As Kennedy sat with the heavy, motionless head in her lap, she stroked his fur and murmured to him. “Be at peace, Kato. You were a great being. You’ll always live in my heart.” As she said her goodbyes, she realized the cat’s passing marked the end of her and Mosi. She’d been using the cat to stay connected. “Thank you, Kato,” she whispered, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She knew what she had to do next. As terrifying as it seemed, she had to face Mosi’s family. If they were after her, she wanted to let the man, Dante Vega, into her heart, the way she’d always longed.
