Page 27 of August

“You come first. And last. And a few more in between.”

Testing the water with her hand, she ducked under the spray. “That’s going to take a lot of hot water.”

“Just so long as you’re having a good time, I don’t care if the water turns to ice.”

He joined her in the shower, and all the thoughts that had been running through her mind before she got out of bed left as he brought her to a quick orgasm under the hot spray of the showerhead and then took her against the wall.

It was going to be a great day.

When August offered to swing Ginny over to Atticus’s house, she decided that was just a little bit too much swinging from steel tree to steel tree, so they walked instead. She hadn’t met everyone in the band yet, so she was looking forward to the evening ahead.

Atticus called down to them. “Lori doesn’t like me swinging her around too far either.”

August chuckled as they reached the stairs up to the alpha’s house. “I guess it takes getting used to.”

“It does,” Lori said. “Although I do like it better out in the paddock. There’s something about swinging on real trees and the fresh air that’s different and not as scary.”

“I’d like to try that,” Ginny said.

“We can totally do that,” August said. “One morning before the park opens. Or maybe you could even be out in the paddock with us during the tours.”

She glanced at him as they reached the porch. “What?”

“I’ve done it,” Lori said. “We wear zookeeper uniforms and walk around to clean up the paddock and hand out treats to the guys. It’s fun and reinforces that we’re a real zoo, even though we’re not totally.”

Ginny thought that was pretty awesome.

She and Lori hugged in greeting and then followed the males into the house.

The gorilla band was one of the smaller groups in the park, with Atticus and his son, Zane, plus August, Win, Neo, Patton, and Nathan.

Patton shook her hand. “I handle electrical work for the park, so you might see me here and there and occasionally getting shocked.”

She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

August said, “Zane, Win, and Neo handle the vehicles for the park including the Jeeps used for the safari tours. Nathan works with me around the park with anything that needs to be fixed.”

“What do you do?” she asked Atticus.

“I’m a plumber and handle everything plumbing related for the park, topside and underground.”

After she got hugs from the mates, Atticus called them to the table for dinner.

“We should toast,” Atticus said, lifting his glass of punch in the air.

Everyone lifted their glasses. Lori said, “To finding our soulmates.”

“Soon,” Nathan said.

“I second that,” Patton said.

“To fate working quick for our last two males,” Atticus said, “and a hearty welcome to Ginny—congratulations on your mating, you two, and welcome to the band.”

Everyone cheered and hooted, and August gave her a quick kiss after clinking their glasses together.

“Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone,” she said. “You’re all so kind.”

“It’s what we do for our fellow band members,” Neo said.