The Lion’s Cross Species Baby

Chapter 6

“Wake up, gorgeous.”

Annie stretched her arms above her head and lolled her head to the right, her eyes still closed. When she finally opened them, Cooper was standing over her, smiling down at her with the sun behind his head. Positively angelic, she mused, giggling.

“What’s so funny, giggly girl?” Cooper asked, running a finger down the side of her face.

“Good morning, Cooper,” she murmured, sleep in her voice. “Maybe I was having a dirty dream and you ruined it.”

“Oh really? I like that.” He handed her a bottle of water, a devilish grin on his face. “Drink up, get up, and wash up. We’re going for an excursion today.”

Annie lifted an eyebrow, a question in her eyes. “An excursion? Don’t we have work to do? We just found several new drawings.”

“We do and we did, but we are stalled at the moment. The fellas have to stabilize the cave to prevent cave-ins. Safety first. We’ve seen everything we’re going to see until tomorrow morning. So, we get two days off,” Cooper said with a smile. He flopped down on the bed she’d vacated, watching her perfect body move gracefully as she dressed and washed her face.

“So what’s the excursion?”

“I’m going to show you a place that looks as much like Heaven as we can find here on Earth,” Cooper bragged dramatically. “I’ll wager a year’s earnings you’ve never seen anything so beautiful in your life.”

“Oh really?”

“Oh yes,” he said.

“A year’s salary?”

“Ok, I’ll bet you twenty bucks.”

Annie put her hand out and he looked at it. “Shake on it.”

Cooper laughed. “All right then.” He gestured to a basket near the door. “I’ve made us a picnic. We’ll pack a blanket and have a fantastic time. Do you have a swimsuit here?”

“Um, yes, but I’m not sure where it is,” Annie mumbled around her toothbrush. “Let me finish this and I’ll dig for it.”

“No rush, baby. We’ve got plenty of time,” Cooper assured her. “Find your swimsuit and a towel, stuff them in a bag, and meet me at the jeep.”

“I don’t need anything else?”

“Nope. Just that, unless you’d like to swim nude. That would be ok with me,” he told her. He winked, leaned in for a quick kiss, and walked out the door.

Annie frowned after him. They’d spent the entire day together yesterday, eating lunch and exploring Rio. He’d shown her some of the more lovely sections of Rio, as well as some of the not so beautiful. Annie admitted she was falling in love with Brazil and wished she didn’t have to leave.

After grabbing a quick bite for dinner, they made it back to the camp just after dark. So many times she’d had the opportunity to tell Cooper that she was pregnant, but she’d excused herself from actually saying anything each time. They had made love in the camper, and she’d lain awake after, going over in her mind how she would tell him the next day.

And now he’d presented her with a fantastic opportunity. Again, they’d be alone the entire day. She vowed that he would know about the pregnancy before they returned to the camp. She grabbed her bikini, which she’d found rolled up and stuffed in a pocket in her bag. She tossed it and a towel in the bag he’d left for her and scurried out the door to meet Cooper by the jeep.

“How’s the nausea today?” Cooper asked.

Annie realized she hadn’t felt the least bit sick this morning. “The medicine must be working. I feel great!”

“Want to try and eat something?”

She debated long enough to hear her stomach growl. “Um, yeah, I better eat something.” She grabbed some fruit from the kitchen area and joined him at the jeep once more. “Ok, I’m ready for an adventure, sir.”

“You’re going to get one, I assure you,” Cooper said with a grin. “Climb in, hot stuff. You’re going to love this.”

“Where are we going?” Annie asked, her smile growing with his excitement.

“It’s a surprise, silly woman. Now sit back and relax. This time tomorrow we’ll be knee deep in work, so just enjoy.”

Annie offered him a mock salute. “Yes, sir!”

“Always the smart ass. Why do I even try?”

“Because boredom isn’t your thing,” Annie reminded him.

Cooper nodded sagely. “Ah, yes. You know me well.”

Annie smiled. She did know him well, and they’d only known each other a week. Odd, she thought. She felt as if she’d known him for years, not days. What did that mean? Nothing, she told herself. It just means he and I have a lot in common, that’s all. She changed her line of thinking. Now was not the time to be contemplating what this meant or that meant.

“So give me a hint,” Annie said as they bounced along a trail that might have once been a road but was now nothing more than two ruts leading in the same direction through the jungle. She kept her eyes peeled for any signs of wild life; she was really hoping to see more monkeys.

“Well, you remember the little creek?” When she nodded assent, he continued. “If you follow that creek about five miles in one direction, you’ll find something beautiful. I followed it one afternoon in my lion form and ended up spending the night in the jungle because I’d gone so far and was exhausted. When I woke up, there it was.” He lifted his hand in an arch as if showing her something grand.

“How dramatic you are,” Annie laughed. “You better deliver. You’ve got twenty bucks riding on it.”

“Oh, I’ll deliver. You just better not lie.”

“I won’t lie. How dare you?” she screeched. “It better be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Cooper took her hand and kissed her palm. “I have never seen anything more beautiful.” He shrugged and added, “Well, until I saw you the first time.”

Annie laughed. “Oh my God, you’re such a charmer!”

Cooper tilted his head to look at her as if confused by her reaction. He returned his eyes to the road in front of them. “I’m not being charming, Annie. I really do think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”

Annie stared at him, shocked. She had no words. But he didn’t seem to need any from her. He kissed her hand again and winked at her, a knowing smile on his face.