Night Shift at the Aquarium

Leilani stepped into the humid dark of the aquarium after locking her car, the night air thick with salt and the distant hush of filtration pumps. Julius had texted her three times already, voice rough from the fever that kept him home. Cover my shift, baby. Just the evening feed and walkthrough. You’re better with the tanks anyway. She had kissed his damp forehead, promised to handle it, and driven over in the tight black tank top and jeans he liked best on her.

The lobby lights were low. Sergio stood by the security desk, six-four of solid muscle under a black uniform shirt rolled to the elbows, ink crawling over both forearms in dark waves and teeth. He looked up when she badged in. Recognition hit his face like a struck match.

“You’re Julius’s wife.” His voice was low, gravel over velvet. “Leilani. I’ve seen the pictures on his phone. Didn’t think they’d do you justice.”

Heat slid straight between her legs. She smiled, slow. “He’s sick. I’m on feed duty tonight. You the only one here?”

“Just us and the fish.” He clipped a radio to his belt and fell into step beside her as she pushed the cart toward the exhibits. The tropical wing glowed blue-green. Leilani leaned over the first tank, scooping pellets, her ass high and round in the denim. She felt his eyes. When she straightened she caught him staring openly.