The Petting Zoo by Giselle

Chris unfolded his tall frame from the uncomfortable bench-style seat and stepped off the bus. He laced his fingers together and stretched, arms straight over his head, then side-to-side.

Glancing at Josiah, Chris was tempted to ask him just what the hell he was so cheerful about. He had to have been as uncomfortable as Chris riding in the yellow school bus. You'd never know it to look at him, though. He was smiling broadly, surrounded by the fifteen kids from the Youth Center who'd signed on for this day trip to the Denver Zoo.

Vin came over and nudged him. "'Preciate you coming along today, Chris," he said.

"Not a problem," Chris said. "But why'd we have to take that God-awful bus?"

"Because we agreed to chaperone. And chaperoning works better if you're actually with the people you're supposed to be chaperoning," Vin explained.

"What could happen on a bus?" Chris wanted to know.

Vin chuckled. "Didn't ya ride the bus to school when you were a kid?"

"Still think Josiah would've been fine on his own," Chris groused. "What was it? A half-hour ride? Not even."

"Don't be grumpy now, Chris. Might upset the kids," Vin said. Failing to soothe his lover, he leaned in close to his ear. "I'll give ya a nice backrub when we get home, okay? Just don't spoil the kids' fun."

"I'm not spoiling…" Chris saw the firm set of Vin's jaw and said grudgingly, "Okay, okay." His eyes darted around, making sure no one was in listening range. "Don't plan on settling for a backrub, just so you know," he said softly. "Been almost a week."

Vin cocked an eyebrow. "Who told you to fall asleep last night?"

"Work hard for a living, Vin," Chris said.

"Getting old is more like it," Vin teased. Ignoring Chris's mumblings, he wandered off to join the group, immensely pleased with himself. Every weekend Chris swore he'd let nothing rile him and every weekend Vin had him riled before noon on the first day.

At the gate, Josiah handed them their passes and maps of the zoo, with their intended route marked in red. "I really appreciate you boys helping out."

"Happy to do it," Chris said. He was being sincere, despite his displeasure with their chosen mode of transportation. Josiah volunteered much of his free time working with Denver's underprivileged youth. So did Vin. The least Chris could do was spare them one Saturday.

"Remember," Josiah said, "our kids are wearing the orange pinnies and smiley-face name tags."

Chris and Vin nodded, mixing in with the gaggle of seven- to twelve- year olds as they passed through the entrance to the zoo.

The first stop was Primate Panorama, with its full compliment of monkeys, orangutans, and gorillas. Along the way, and once inside the habitat, Josiah told the children about the large silverback gorilla they'd be seeing, Koundu.

Chris and Vin saw him first. "There he is," Chris said, pulling his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose. "What's he doing?" he asked hesitantly.

"Let's just say I hope that's Mrs. Kuondu," Vin replied with a laugh.

Josiah had been strolling backwards, spouting what he knew about primates, hoping the kids would absorb some of the information. Then spotting the gorilla as he spun around, he said, "Isn't he huge?"

"Can't rightly tell from here," Vin said. Snorting, Chris gave him a little shove.

"What?" Josiah asked. "Oh." Smiling and raising his eyebrows, he said amiably, "Perhaps it's time to check out the grizzly bears."

The kids seemed oblivious to what was going on and were easily enticed away from the mating display with promises of feeding the animals on the African-style farm before heading to the bears.

The next hour or so passed pleasantly, the adults having a little trouble keeping up with their charges. They weren't misbehaving, not at all. They were just very enthusiastic. And energetic.

"Is it lunch time, yet?" Chris groaned after retrieving a wayward fourth grader.

"Chris," Vin warned, "behave." He glanced around, the kids off in a run toward the Siberian tiger habitat, and kissed his lover on the mouth. "How often ya hear me say that?" he asked.

"Luckily, not too," Chris replied, 'accidentally' brushing the front of Vin's jeans with the back of his hand. "Guarantee you won't be saying it later," he added with a small smile.

Vin's cock jumped in his pants and he glared at his lover. "Supposed to be with the kids," he said, a little more hoarsely than he'd intended.

They caught up with the crew and found Josiah shaking his head. "Must have put something in the food today, " he said.

"Mr. Sanchez," one little girl said, "I think that tiger is hurting that other tiger."

"Wow," Chris said. "Look at him go."

Shooting Chris a stern look, Josiah tried to reassure the children that everything was okay. "Let's keep walking," he suggested, hoping that not all the tigers were feeling quite so randy.

Vin had gone a little ahead of the group, wanting a moment to settle himself. Coming back down the path, he said, "Might wanna skip the giraffes."

"You're kidding?" Josiah asked incredulously.

"Nope. And it's bound to get the gang curious," Vin observed. He lowered his voice. "Male's mounting the female from behind and biting down on her neck. If nothing else, folks tend to notice giraffes' necks, especially little folks."

Chris came up behind Vin and whispered in his ear, "Wish I was mounting you from behind, biting down on your neck."

Vin shivered at Chris's words and at the honey-dripped way he shared them. "Knock it off, cowboy," he growled tightly with an elbow to his lover's ribs.

Josiah pretended to ignore the interplay. "Hippos? Elephants?"

"Ya got your map, there, Josiah. What's next?" Vin asked, pulling away from Chris.

"I'm about ready to give up on the map idea," Josiah said. "Unless they have one marked 'Animals Not In Season' or something.

"Penguins, then," Chris said. "Who'd even notice if they were mating?" He walked off, goosing Vin as he passed.

"Son of a bitch," Vin mumbled. Must've been something in Chris's food this morning, too. Not at all like him to be so coltish in public. Or else it was a lot of payback for one mildly cheap shot about his age. Vin might have liked to ponder the complexities of Chris Larabee's thought processes, but the rambunctious play of some of the boys and girls brought his attention back to his responsibilities.

They were safe with the penguins. The polar bears, however, were another story. Some of the older kids began boasting that they knew what was going on. Josiah tried to play it down.

"So do I. They're horsing around, of course. Just like you guys do," he said authoritatively. Judging from the giggles that response drew, Josiah realized he'd have to keep the older kids from getting too explicit with the younger kids. Or maybe just chuck the zoo idea altogether and go to the Botanic Garden instead.

A zookeeper came over and offered a slight apology. "Sorry, it's a little early for the polar bears to be mating. Must be the warm weather or something. Gets them crazy."

"Warm weather gets me crazy," Chris observed casually, glancing mischievously at Vin out of the corner of his eye.

"What don't get you crazy?" Vin inquired sarcastically.

"You, naked," Chris said under his breath, "spread eagle on my bed. That never gets me crazy."

"That's it," Vin snarled. 'Ziah, where you headed now?" he asked.

The zookeeper offered a suggestion. "Might want to try to the Kid Zone, ride the Pioneer Train or the Endangered Species Carousel. Probably a safe bet."

"Then the Kid Zone it is," Josiah said. He addressed the kids with good humor. "Who wants to ride a train?"

Amidst the groans from the older kids and the cheers and jumping up and down from the younger ones, Vin grabbed Chris's arm. "We'll meet you there in a while," he said to Josiah.

Chris dug in his heels as Vin tried in vain to drag him off. "Where are we going?"

Vin's hand slid down to clasp Chris's. "To see the Komodo Dragons," Vin said.

"Aren't we supposed to be chaperoning the kids?" Chris asked.

"Don't give me no lip, Larabee," Vin said, tugging on his Chris's hand.

"You said--"

"Know what I said. That was this morning. Now I'm saying we're seeing the Komodo Dragons."

Finally moving his feet, Chris said, "Vin, you're holding my hand in public."

"Well, if you weren't so damn stubborn," Vin complained, gripping his hand more tightly.

"I don't like reptile houses." Chris intoned, trudging along reluctantly. "They're dark and creepy."

"Better be dark," Vin mumbled.

"What?"

"Move your ass," Vin said. "We don't have all day."

When they arrived at the reptile house at Tropical Discovery, Chris asked, "What was so important that we just HAD to see the Kimodo Dragons?"

Vin pushed the door open, still dragging Chris in tow. He and Chris both removed their sunglasses in the darkened exhibit. "Gotta be here somewhere," Vin murmured, stalking through the building. "Finally," he said.

"Finally, wh-" Chris didn't get to finish. He found himself pushed into a darkened alcove just around the corner from an emergency exit. Vin slammed him against the wall, sealing his lips to Chris's in an angry kiss.

Vin pushed Chris's head back, kissing his chin, his throat, his chest through the layers of clothes. The sharpshooter fell to his knees and started undoing Chris's belt.

"Vin," he hissed quietly. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Exactly what it looks like," Vin answered.

"You can't!" Chris cried. "There are people around. Kids."

"So lower your voice, damnit," Vin growled. He pulled Chris's zipper down, working the blond's cock free. After licking the exposed sex from base to tip, Vin took the head into his mouth.

Chris glanced around frantically, but he could see very little. Could barely see Vin right in front of him. He could feel him, though, and he tried to discourage him. "Not here, Vin," he whispered as his cock responded to the stimulation Vin's hot mouth provided.

Vin stood. "Yes, here," he insisted. He pushed Chris aside and, leaning his forehead against the carpeted wall, started undoing his own jeans. "Fuck me, Chris."

"What? Are you nuts?" Chris asked.

Vin twisted, capturing Chris's lips and encircling his cock with a sure hand.

Chris gave in to the kiss, moved his hips in time with Vin's jerks. "We don't have anything," he said when they separated to catch their breath.

"Don't care," Vin said in his deliciously sexy drawl. He again faced the wall and pushed his jeans lower.

Chris nuzzled the back of his neck. "It'll hurt," he said into Vin's hair.

"Some. Still want ya to do it," Vin said, shoving his ass into Chris's swollen sex.

Chris spit on his hand, knowing it wouldn't be near enough but not letting that stop him. He pressed into Vin, his lover flattening his palms and pressing his forehead against the wall.

"Vin?"

"Keep going. Hurry," Vin said.

Chris rammed his cock into Vin, froze at the cry the sharpshooter couldn't contain. Listened, eyes and ears wide open in the dark corner. Other than their breathing and the distant voices of excited children, all was quiet.

"Sorry," Vin panted. "Move, Chris. Move."

Chris fucked him, breaking out in a sweat as he drove into the sharpshooter hard and fast. He reached for Vin's cock but Vin slapped his hand away.

"Not yet, cowboy."

Chris didn't ask why, just kept moving. The friction was almost painful yet he couldn't stop. It was too amazingly good to do anything but keep going. For Vin, too, judging from his low-pitched moans. Hands squeezing Vin's hips, Chris thrust deep inside him, muffling his scream of release against the sharpshooter's flannel shirt.

After taking a few needed minutes to regain his composure, Chris pulled out of Vin slowly. Vin turned in his arms, kissing him, stroking his hair.

Chris traced Vin's lips with his tongue. "What about you?" he asked before pressing his lips to the throbbing pulse in the sharpshooter's neck.

Vin chuckled, an almost dismembered sound in the near blackness of the alcove. "Maybe you could use your mouth? Don't wanna make a mess."

"Okay," Chris said, knowing Vin could maybe make out a nod but not the consent in his face. No sooner had he kneeled before his lover and opened his mouth to Vin's cock did shrieking juvenile voices resound in the building. He felt Vin's fingers tighten in his hair and waited. Louder and louder the voices echoed as they came, then grew softer as they went. Chris's heart was racing, from Vin, from this Doppler Effect of taunting cries and possible discovery, and he remained motionless.

Vin rubbed Chris's earlobe with his thumb. "Best hurry, cowboy," he said.

Chris went down on Vin about as hard as he'd fucked him, sucking on Vin's cock with heated enthusiasm. He was hungry for Vin, as always. But the fear of detection drove him as well, even as it excited the hell out of him.

"Yeah, yeah," Vin uttered, trying hard to control his volume as he came in Chris's mouth.

Chris swallowed Vin's juices, careful not to let any spill. He was still licking around the head when Vin pulled him up for a kiss. Not an angry one but one so sweet, it made Chris's heart ache.

"You know," Chris said finally. "I really should be worried. You getting turned on by animals screwing and all."

Vin kissed him one last time then pulled away quickly. "Right. You carrying on had nothing to do with it."

Chris adjusted himself then gave Vin another hug. "You started it, calling me old." He said it playfully, too lightheaded to even pretend to be angry.

Vin hugged him back. "So this was about proving your virility, huh?"

"**This**? You tell me what this was about," Chris said. "I was just trying to give you something to look forward to tonight."

"And pay me back for implying you're more about senility than virility?" Vin asked impishly.

Chris shrugged. "A little. Plus I kind of like watching you twitch. Don't see it too often."

Vin shook his head. "We better boogey."

They ducked into the men's room to hurriedly wash up before half-walking, half-running to the Kid Zone.

Josiah and the children were waiting by the concession stand. "There you are. We took a vote and we're going to eat then visit the Tropical Rain Forest. Ought to be pretty uneventful over there," he said neutrally.

"Sounds good," Vin said, shaking hands with the kids, trying to hear all their stories at once.

Josiah narrowed his eyes. "Vin? Is that a cut on your forehead?"

Vin's fingers flew to his hairline. "Where?"

"Looks like…rug burn," Josiah said. "Huh? That's weird. Okay, kids are we ready?" Off he went like the pied piper, the children jostling and playing as they followed along.

Chris burst out laughing. "Rug burn," he said.

"Ain't the only thing burning," Vin said with a grin.

"Looks like you're gonna be the one hating that bus on the way home," Chris observed.

Vin nodded. "Looks like."

"Don't worry," Chris purred, slipping his arm around Vin's shoulder. "As soon as we get home, I'll kiss it and make it better."

Vin shrugged him off with a roll of his eyes. "Don't start that shit again, Larabee."

"What?" Chris protested innocently. Watching Vin and not the path, he almost bumped into Josiah, who'd stopped to wait for them.

"Thought after lunch we'd also check out the baby Kimodo Dragons," he said.

Vin was sure the guilt was splashed all over his face. But he sounded normal when he answered, "Sure."

"Sure," Chris concurred and winked at Vin. "Are there Kimodo Dragons here?" he asked his lover innocently.

"Apparently," Vin said.

"Hmm," Chris said. "I just love reptile houses, you know."

Vin chuckled. "I should hope so. Come one, those kids are way the heck up the path already." He slapped Chris's shoulder and took off in a trot to catch up with the children.

THE END