Page 34 of Tiger Queen

“The zoo is going good so far!” Anthony said with false enthusiasm. “It seems like we’re all falling into a groove. Right?”

Jake threw back his whiskey. “If you say so.”

I was having fun with them. It was nice to sit around the table and get to know the three brothers I would be working with for the duration of my contract. I didn’t want it to end just because I had asked a personal question, so I quickly tried to think of something more funny.

“Well, this talk about Lara just begs the question. “Which of you did she think was the best kisser?”

The three of them laughed in similar, but different, ways. “I think we all know the answer to that,” Jake said smugly.

David scoffed. “We all know it’s not you. Lara always complained that you kissed with too much tongue.”

“I wasn’t talking about a kiss on the lips,” Jake said, giving me a mischievous smile. I felt my cheeks grow warm as I imagined exactly what he meant.

Levity returned to the table as the three brothers joked and teased each other about who was the best kisser. By the time my bowl was empty there was no clear answer.

The whiskey was sitting warm in my belly and everyone was smiling again. Even Jake. Maybe the argument I had overheard earlier was an isolated event, and everyone would get along after spending some more time together. Like a transition period.

David rose from the table and stretched his muscular arms over his head. “It’s past my bedtime. I’m turning in.”

“Me too.” I got up and lingered next to him. He moved in to give me a hug. Arms outstretched, making it clear what he intended.

But I was feeling frisky. And the impulse to do more than just hug was too strong to overcome.

I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him.

He reacted stiffly, surprised by the sudden pressing of my lips against his. His body was hard and warm and I leaned into it, putting my hand on his chest and wishing he wasn’t wearing his t-shirt.

When I pulled away, he stared down at me with blue eyes full of surprise. “I…”

I turned and found Anthony on the other side of me. I approached slowly, slid my hands around his waist, and kissed him tenderly. Maybe it was because he had more warning than David, but he was a much better kisser. He wrapped his arms around me and leaned into my lips, mouth moving against mine in perfect synchronicity. His fingers laced into my hair and held my head in place, demanding that I not stop. Although he wasn’t totally jacked like his brothers, he still felt warm and lean underneath his shirt.

Both of us were panting when the kiss ended.

“I don’t know what Lara thought,” I said, “but so far Anthony is the leader.”

A huge grin spread across his face.

I turned to Jake and raised an eyebrow. There was hunger in his dark eyes. Then he snatched the bottle of whiskey off the table and shook his head.

“Sorry, honey. I don’t play games.”

He carried the whiskey to the front door.

“Where are you going?” David asked.

The only answer was the front door slamming shut.

I suppressed the sting of rejection and shrugged. “His loss. Goodnight, boys.”

I felt their eyes on my back as I left the dining room and went upstairs.

I couldn’t help giggling as I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and prepare for bed. Had I really just done that? Kissed two of the men I worked with—worked for? I had never been that forward with anyone. And in front of each other, no less.

Their story about Lara, and how they shared her among the three of them, had given me more courage than normal. It reminded me of the secret I had told Ashley the other night, how I regretted not having that threesome with my ex and his friend.

I went to my bedroom and closed the door. When I turned off the light, something outside the window caught my eye. I had a view of the zoo from here, looking out over the treetops. It should have been dark, but there was a faint glow somewhere on the back side of the zoo. A light flickered and reflected off the trees. It must have been very bright for me to see it from here. It wasn’t a flashlight. Some sort of electrical problem?

David needed to know. I went to the door and threw it open.

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