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"Kat, you know I hate surprises," I grumble. But the truth is, I'd walk through fire if it made her smile like that. Heck, I'd probably do a little dance in the flames too.
She rolls her eyes, a twinkle of amusement lighting them up. "Just trust me. You'll love this one."
“I don’t know…you still owe me a new jacket from when you lost mine at the beach in Cancun.” She gasps in mock-horror, slapping her hand over her heart.
“It’s not my fault you decided to chase me through the jungle like school children!”
“Uh huh. Hey, Wyatt, isn’t that the night we caught Wilder and Kat making out like school children under the bleachers?”
“Indeed,” The man huffs in the backseat as if put off, but the the twinkle in his eye gives away his amusement.
“Hey, y’all, don’t be mad I was man enough to make the first move.” Wilder drawls, finally lifting his absurd cowboy hat off his face and placing it on the seat next to him in the back of the car.
“Pretty sure that was me when we all first met Kat, isn’t that right, love?” I waggle my eyebrows at her and her cheeks tinge pink as she groans.
“Alright, boys. Save the debate for later. Let’s go!” The excitement returns as she bounces out of the car.
With a sigh that's thirty percent exasperation and seventy percent affection, I undo my seatbelt and step out to follow her. She instantly grabs my arm, tugging me enthusiastically around a bend of trees and to a…
“Where are we?” It’s a nondescript brick building with a steel door and keypad.
“Just trust me,” Kat breathes, punching in a code and pushing me through the door. I don’t even have time to take in our surroundings before we’re exiting through a larger double door into the outside once more and then my heart practically stops dead in my chest.
"Leopards," I breathe out, the word laced with reverence. I should've known–Kat understands my love for these creatures runs as deep.
"Come on," she urges, practically dragging me by the hand toward the familiar sight of the big cat habitat.
My feet crunch along the gravel path, each step taking me closer to a part of my past that still sings in my veins. The air is ripe with the scent of pine and wild earth, a reminder of the untamed spirits that reside within the fencing. And then there they are: regal, rare, absolutely breathtaking. The Amur leopards.
"Hey, babies," I call out softly, the words slipping from me like a secret hymn. I can't help the laughter that bubbles up, bright and free, as they pace closer, their spotted coats a masterpiece of nature's artistry. It's like meeting old friends, and judging by the flicker in their eyes, the feeling's mutual.
"Emrys," Kat whispers, her voice barely above the rustle of the leaves. "Look at them!"
I don’t need to look at her to know that her gaze is locked on me, not on the leopards. She's waiting to see that spark, the one she knew would ignite the moment I laid eyes on these majestic predators.
"Thank you," I say, turning to her with a softness in my eyes reserved only for moments like this, for her. "This means everything."
"Anything for you," she responds, her words wrapping around me like the warmest of embraces.
And just like that, I'm reminded why I'm willing to dive headfirst into the unknown for this woman. She gets me, truly gets me, even when it involves stirring up the dust on my carefully shelved desires. I may have wandered through life preferring fleeting connections, but with Kat, Wilder, and Wyatt, the rules of the game have changed. I'm all in, ready for whatever crazy, beautiful mess we create together.
"Ready to say hello?" I ask, my voice crackling with the same electric anticipation that's coursing through my veins.
"Absolutely," she replies, and together, we step into the embrace of the enclosure.
The air is thick with a primal energy as I step closer to the leopards, my heart thrumming in time with their soft chuffs of curiosity. "Hey there, babies," I murmur, my voice a familiar lullaby to their perked ears. "Have you missed me?"
Their response is instantaneous–a chorus of affectionate growls and purrs that fill the space between us. One by one, they saunter over, their sleek bodies brushing against my legs, eyes glinting with recognition. It's a reunion painted in strokes of wild love and mutual respect, and it stirs something deep within me.
"Emrys, they're practically smiling at you," Kat whispers, her words laced with wonder.
"Can't help being irresistible," I jest, but I'm too caught up in this moment of pure, unspoken connection to let my usual bravado steal the show.
"Speak for yourself," Wilder mutters next to her, but his usual confidence is nowhere to be seen. The big, bad Wilder, who's never met a challenge he couldn’t tackle head-on, clutches Kat's arm like it's the only lifeline in a sea of fanged uncertainty. His knuckles are white, his eyes darting from one leopard to the next.
"Come on, Wild-man, they're just oversized kitties," I tease, but I can't hide the grin spreading across my face. Seeing Mr. Fearless reduced to a jittery mess is a sight I won't forget anytime soon.
"Kitties?" His voice cracks, and I swear even the leopards snicker. "These things could eat me for breakfast."
