by Desiree Holt
I snicker as I reach into the fridge and pull out a pre-made salad that we picked up from the hospital and put it in the old man’s lap.
“Eat,” I command as I hand him a fork from the utensil drawer. “I’m going to shower.”
The old man frowns at his meal and sighs. “Ryan, you’re going to kill me before the cancer does.”
“Har, har.”
I take off my shirt as I head to my bedroom and bathroom. I try to stop worrying about my grandfather. And I try to forget about the woman from last night. Goddammit, I told her my name thinking that she’d give me hers. She didn’t.
Now I have the phantom memories of this hot chick that I banged last night. At least the sex was good. I can work off that memory for a long time.
And as I turn on the shower and I feel the hot water soak my skin and slick back my hair, I do start to work from that memory and work off some anxiety. I face the corner and brace myself with one hand as I stroke my length with the other to her memory. Her brown hair, green eyes, perfect round breasts with pert nipples. I remember how hot and wet she was for me, the way her pussy tasted, the moans she made as I thrust into her sweet wetness.
I was on fire last night, and I made her come again and again.
I stroke in time to the memories, and when I come myself, it’s with a raw, animalistic groan.
Fuck, that felt good. And I think I just purged myself of the mistake of fucking her last night. My hot memories of it make up for the awkwardness of this morning.
I dry myself off and pull on a pair of pajama bottoms—when you work until two am and then bang a hot chick, you really don’t care what you look like in front of your grandfather. He wiped my ass when I was a baby, so the pajama bottoms are really a courtesy.
When I pad out into the living room, I freeze, seeing that the front door is slightly ajar. Terror seizes my gut and I whip my head around, looking for the old man.
“Grandpa?” I say, panicked. “Grandpa?”
“In here, Ryan,” comes his voice from the kitchen.
And as I step into the kitchen, I freeze for a different reason.
“It’s you,” I whisper. The woman whose fantasy I just jacked off to in the shower.
She’s dressed in a business suit, her brown hair pulled back into a bun that somehow manages to be professional yet sexy at the same time. Our eyes meet, and I see the slight flush of her cheeks.
“Ryan,” the old man says, as if I haven’t just seen a ghost from the night before. “This is Leslie Andrews. She’s come here with a, ah, very interesting proposition.”
She gets to her feet. I’m glad she moves, because I don’t think I can. She holds out her hand for me.
“Pleased to meet you Ryan Shepherd. As your grandfather said, I’m Leslie Andrews. I’m a recruiter with Shifters Unlimited.”
None of this is making any sense, and she wants to shake my hand?
I look at her extended hand and then glance back at my grandfather. Who the fuck did I just fuck last night?
Chapter Four
Leslie
“What the hell are you doing here?”
His words cut through me, but I guess I deserve it.
I can’t fucking believe it. He’s the grandson of Ernest Shepherd, the rhino shifter that I’ve been looking for. This entire time, I could have talked to him about the opportunity for Ernest and moved on. No sex. No awkward morning after.
Which I’m sure is still smarting to his pride.
Still, I keep the smile plastered on my face, going into full recruiter mode. I have a rhino to acquire, and regardless of how hurt he is or whatnot, he’s not going to get in the way of my job.
“I’m talking to your grandfather about a job.”
He blinks. “What?”
“A job,” Ernest says, cutting in. The corners of his lips are pulled up mischievously. I think he knows what I did with his grandson last night. How fucking embarrassing. “One that will set you up for life, Ryan.”
“Me?” Ryan asks incredulously. He puts a hand on his chest, indicating himself. “What about you? You can’t do any sort of work. You…”
“I can work,” Ernest says defensively, raising his chin. “Especially with the kind of job Miss Andrews is offering.”
Ryan cranes his head over towards me. “What kind of lies have you been telling my grandfather?” he demands. “And what you do mean, Shifters Unlimited?”
I level him with a stern gaze, telling him without saying that he’s not fooling anyone. “I’m a recruiter for an agency that places shifters into zoos, circuses, and other places that have need for animals. Your grandfather’s status as a rhino shifter—”
“How the fuck do you know about that?” he demands.
“—can be very beneficial for the Bay Area Zoo. They have need of a white rhino for their upcoming events, and would like to have him be a part of their exhibition for as long as he wants.”
Ryan stares at me, aghast. “You can’t do that. He’s an old man.”
“Fuck you, too,” Ernest mutters.
“There’s no way that he can work.” Ryan crosses his arms and shakes his head. “He has cancer, and needs rest, not a goddam job.”
“It’s not hard work,” I tell him blithely. “All he has to do is stand there. And he’ll be paid well for the work.”
Ryan’s cheeks color a deep shade of red from anger. “Look, I don’t know how you know that we’re shifters, but you’re not getting him. And that’s that.”
That perks my ears and I blink at him. “You’re a rhino shifter too?”
Ryan’s face falls into slack shock before he presses his lips together, clamming up. Yeah, I’m not going to be able to get a “yes” or a “no” from him.
Fine.
“He’s a rhino shifter, too?” I ask, turning to Ernest. “A white rhino shifter? I thought that rhino shifting isn’t passed through genes.” Werewolves and werecats, yes. Every shifter species is different, but rhinos are one of those where one has to be initiated.
I didn’t think that Mr. Shepherd would have passed it onto Ryan.
Ernest shrugs, enjoying my shock. “Family bonding,” he says humorously. “Some people take their kids to Disneyland. The Shepherd family likes to dress up as rhinos.”
“Grandpa,” Ryan warns.
I pick my jaw up off the floor. So not only has my file been wrong about stating that Ernest had no next of kin, it also didn’t say that there was another option for the job. This could certainly change things. That is, if Ryan would agree to it.
And if I can get over my embarrassment.
Keep it together, Leslie.
“Well, if Mr. Shepherd isn’t able to take this opportunity,” I say, straightening, “would you be willing to take it, Ryan? The zoos aren’t picky about who takes the position, I really just need someone who can fill the Rhino habitat for Safari Days.”
He scoffs. “To shift and stand around for people to look at me? Hell no.”
I roll my eyes. Even though this assignment started off different compared to any other one I’ve been working on, this part is always the same. People brushing off the job as a gimmick.
Good thing money talks.
“It pays very well,” I say.
Ryan’s jaw tightens. “I’m not interested.”
“Ryan,” Ernest says, breaking into our conversation, “I know that I’ve been a burden and that you’re busy working the bar, but she’s offering a lot of money. Money that could set you up for life.”
The younger man stuffs his hands into his pockets. “So? My main worry right now is to make sure that you’re taken care of and to keep The Drinking Horn open. I can’t do that if I’m the fucking rhino at the zoo.”
Stupid man. I open my briefcase and pull out the file, flipping to the page that has the offer on it. I toss it on the kitchen table and it splays out perfectly, allowing Ryan the chance to see the number that’s on the table for him. He looks at it, scoffs, and then I see his eye
s narrow as he pales. Gulps. And then looks back at me incredulously.
That’s right. I mean business.
“Is this a joke?” he chokes.
I shake my head. “I assure you, this is a legitimate offer. Zoos and other institutions are willing to pay handsomely for shifters to step in when they have a vacancy. They realize that there is a bit of a hazard and they also appreciate your discretion in keeping this practice quiet.”
“Hazard?” Ryan asks.
I gesture vaguely. I hate this question, because while it’s rare, I’m required to warn shifters. “There have been some, ah, incidents with poachers in the past.”
You wouldn’t believe the danger that animals face in zoos on a daily basis. And based on Ryan’s eyebrows furrowing together—oh, my God, that’s so adorable—he doesn’t believe it either.
I sigh. “I wouldn’t knowingly put you in danger. Money is money, but I draw the line when my talent can genuinely get hurt. No one has gotten hurt on my watch.”
“Watch?”
Here it comes. “I’m considered your handler for the first three months of your contract. I’m on hand to address any grievances or unsatisfactory items for you.”
He snickers. “So you’ll be working with me, 24/7?”
I cross my arms. “That’s right.”
I can’t believe that I’m extending an offer to a guy who I slept with the night before. Not that he wasn’t bad—no, he was wonderful.
It’s the fact that I was stupid enough to sleep with the grandson of the very man I was looking for. And now we may work together.
“What happened to the other rhino?” Ryan asks after a long pause.
“He died of old age last week. The zoo has been ‘renovating’ his enclosure, but they need a rhino for Safari ‘Round the Zoo. It’s the biggest event of the year for them and generates a lot of donations from the public.”
He taps the offer on the table. “Millions enough to cover this kind of money?”
“It’s above my pay grade to ask that question. All I need is a rhino shifter to stand in until they find a replacement rhino.”
“And if they don’t?”
I smile. I’ve got him now. “Then you can be the rare white rhino of The Bay Area Zoo for as long as you want. There are clauses in that contract for extended work. As you’ll see.”
Ryan eyes shift to Ernest. “What do you think about this?”
The old man has been silent the entire time, watching our conversation ping-pong back and forth. It seems like he actually enjoyed it, based on the half-smile he has on his lips.
“I saw the offer before you came in,” he says. “I would take it myself, if I was young and able-bodied, but it wouldn’t do for a second white rhino to die in as many weeks at the zoo.” He winks at me. “Bad for business.”
“Of course you wouldn’t go,” Ryan says. “I wouldn’t let you.” He combs a hand through his hair, indecisive.
My eyes connect with Ernest’s and I want to tell him to knock some sense into his grandson. If Ryan doesn’t take the offer, then he’s a bigger idiot than I would have thought.
“Listen, Ryan,” Ernest says softly. He wets his lips with his tongue, giving him time to consider his words. “I know that the medical bills aren’t cheap. I know the financial state The Drinking Horn is in. I know that if something doesn’t happen, my life will be bankrupt and I’d be dragging you down with me.”
“No,” Ryan whispers.
I remain still, not wanting to interrupt but also not wanting to be a part of this conversation. Ernest and Ryan have their own privacy issues to sort out, and while I am a recruiter and I knew the older man’s deepest secret, I don’t want to pry more.
But if I draw any attention to myself, I’ll distract them from the task at hand, and I can’t have that. So I stay.
“Yes, I’d be dragging you down with me,” Ernest says, turning away from Ryan, as if he’s ashamed. “I’d take the job myself, but you’re right. I have to take care of myself.”
“What about the bar?”
Ernest shrugs. “We can change the hours. A bar doesn’t keep the same hours as a zoo, I think we can pull off both. It’s a matter of if you can.”
I’m surprised they’re so committed to the bar. My middle clenches with a twinge of absurd jealousy. Blake wasn’t that committed to me. And here they are, committed to a dream.
Ryan’s jaw clenches and unclenches as he considers Ernest’s words. He glances back at me, and I’m surprised to see anger there. Why anger? His family is in a pickle and I’m his savior offering him a way out. There shouldn’t be any anger at all.
Hell, he should be kissing my feet.
“And you’re all right transferring the job offer to me?” Ryan asks, his voice low, dangerous.
I fight the urge to sigh in relief. “All the agency and the zoo want is a white rhino. They don’t care where it comes from. I’ll have to update the contract to have your information, but it would be the same pay rate and everything.”
Ryan closes his eyes and lets out a shuddering breath.
“All right,” he says. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter Five
Ryan
First day of work jitters.
It’s stupid, really. I haven’t had those jitters in a long time. I’ve been at The Drinking Horn for three years now, and you really don’t have a first day when it’s your family’s business. And before that, I was on dead-end jobs that I couldn’t wait to get out of.
So no, there wasn’t any nerves for those jobs.
However, shifting and becoming a rhino for the zoo? I’m scared shitless. And I’m not sure what it is. Is it because I’m shifting in front of people? Is it because I’m sharing my hidden identity with the entire world, even though they don’t know who or what I am?
Or is it because I’m afraid of letting Grandpa down?
I suspect that it’s the latter. Leslie’s green eyes watching me aren’t helping anything though. Even though it’s three days after she offered me the job, we still haven’t addressed the elephant in the room; that we fucked each other in her house. And it was such a great time.
“What?” I mutter, shrinking under her gaze.
“Nothing,” she says, looking away. Her cheeks flush red, from embarrassment. After all, the last time she saw me naked like this, I was pounding into her against the wall
Yes, I’m naked. Right now. In front of her and a few doctors and veterinarians. Aside from a lengthy non-disclosure agreement, what the contract—which I looked over with a fine tooth comb—didn’t state was that I’d have to have a physical both as a human and as a rhino.
This just adds the humiliating cherry to the top of a shit sundae.
Do it for Grandpa. Do it for Grandpa.
“All right,” says Dr. Chin, the doctor who has been examining me. She looks at me with the professional detachment, which is appreciated because it seems like Leslie can’t do the same for me. “You need to shift into a rhino now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.” She takes her clipboard and steps back with the rest of her colleagues, watching me.
Well, this is awkward. Shifting, like masturbation, is one of those things you do in private. When I was younger, I used to sneak away to my room and shift, away from the rest of my family. I trampled a few toys and busted a wall as my childhood home was no place for a rhino. You would have thought my family would have had a rhino-safe house, but we didn’t. It taught me to be very careful whenever I shifted.
“O…kay…”
I let out a sigh and close my eyes. With darkness surrounding me, I can pretend that I’m alone.
Ha, yeah right.
I call forth my inner beast, the rhino-me that has been pacing and antsy for a few weeks now. I haven’t let him out of this mental cage that I keep him in because, really, where in San Francisco is there a place where a rhino can run around without causing headlines? I have to drive out to one of the national preserves and
keep my fingers crossed that no one sees me.
And with Grandpa’s sickness, there just hasn’t been time.
Hey buddy, I say to the beast, time to play.
He awakens with a roar that is only inside my head, yet shakes my bones. I let out a cry as my bones immediately start shifting into place. I fall on all fours, feeling my bulk increase with each heartbeat. My skin stretches and turns rough as my face elongates and the horns start protruding. My eyes move up my head and change shape. I lose my fingers and toes as my feet come in.
It takes about thirty seconds. And it’s fucking uncomfortable every time.
A rhino’s eyes are on either sides of their heads, so when I open my own eyes later, I see more of the room, while having a blind spot where my horn is. I blink a few times and turn one eye to the group of humans watching me, giving me the best view of them as possible. The doctors have that impressed look about them—I know I’m a beautiful rhino, let’s be honest.
But Leslie watches me curiously, seeing me in a different light than the others. Her mouth hangs slightly open, and I see her eyes rake me up and down. It’s not sexual. Not like when I came home with her.
She’s genuinely intrigued by me. I thought she’d done this before. But this is the look of someone who is truly seeing something for the first time.
So glad you like what you see, I tell them, and then I grimace. They are neither rhinos nor rhino shifters, so they can’t understand my speech. I forgot as I’ve either shifted with my family or by myself. Speaking with others has never been an issue before.
This is going to be so lonely. I almost back out, even then.
No, you can do this, Ryan.
“Can you hear me?” Dr. Chin says, speaking in a loud, staccato voice, like someone speaking to a person they believe doesn’t understand them. “Nod your head if you do.”
I lower my head, and they all clap in excitement. Boy, if nodding gets this big of a reception, I can’t wait to show them tricks. Leslie doesn’t clap though; she’s still watching me with that curious expression.
“We’re going to examine you now, Mr. Shepherd,” Dr. Chin says in the same, loud tone. “Nod again if you understand.”
