Suddenly, branches snapping pulled my focus to the enclosure’s far east corner by the guillotine doors. There, perched on a large slab of rock, was Zorro, the Amur tiger. All five hundred pounds of him with his thick mane and big eyes fixed on me through the brush. My heart jerked inside my chest as he jumped down from the rock, slowly stalking toward the large window in front of the enclosure which allowed you to be as close as possible to the animals; however, with the way he was transfixed on me, I wasn’t so sure this was a good idea anymore. For Christ’s sake, I was injured, smart thinking on my part, I tell you. And in no time, we were face to face. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to remember I had a way with animals, even the wild ones. My Pop would always tease me, calling me the animal whisperer; I hoped to prove him right.
I redirected my gaze to the ground and turned sideways, hunching down a little. “Hey there, Zorro.” I made a chuffing noise while closing my eyes and listening to the thump of my heart beating against my sternum. I tried to calm my nerves, thinking this tiger could have escaped at some point. The last thing I wanted to do was pose a threat.
CHUFF!
My eyes sprung open to find Zorro rubbing his face against the glass, chuffing all the same. Smiling, I pressed my hand against the window, chuffing back.
“Rayah? What are you doing out here?”
Craning my neck back, I linked eyes with a somewhat concerned Dr. Parker.
Then it hit me. My eyes passed back between Dr. Parker and the tiger, realizing those eyes I’d seen weren’t Zorro's at all…they were Thane's. I felt a tug in my stomach. Either I had sincerely lost it, or there was something this so-called vet was hiding.
I gasped. Oh my God! Is he a shifter, too? Stay calm, Rayah. I didn’t know what his true intentions were, but at this point, I felt I couldn’t trust anyone but my grandfather. I needed to play it cool long enough to develop a plan and then high-tail my tiger-lovin’ ass out of here.
“I’m sorry. I know I should have waited. I just couldn’t take sitting there much longer. I needed some fresh air.”
He studied me for a moment before letting out a sigh. “It's quite alright, Rayah.” Dr. Parker turned to face Zorro and placed his hand against the glass. Zorro affectionately rubbed his face against his hand. "I see you’ve met Zorro. He seems to have taken a liking to you. Normally, he shies away from visitors.” Dr. Parker pinned me with his hypnotic eyes, and my words caught in my throat. Just a glance from this man did things to my heart and body I couldn’t comprehend. I wasn’t the type who initially believed in love-at-first-sight, but he was slowly changing my mind.
Smiling at him was easy, too, even though I wasn’t sure I could trust him. “I’m a lucky gal. He’s a magnificent creature. How long has he been here?” I bit my lip nervously, trying to make small talk. My leg was starting to throb, so I casually backed up to lean against the wall.
“Five years. The first tiger born in captivity here. I handraised him myself.” He smirked as if reliving a fond memory.
“Aww, so you are like his daddy? That’s so cute.”
He chuckled. “I guess you could say that. His parents passed away from an illness after he was born.”
My smile turned upside down. “That’s unfortunate.” It had been tough without my parents and grandmother around. They didn’t deserve what the Shifter Elite did to them. I swore on their graves I would make the commander and his vicious army pay even if I died trying.
I must have been so deep in thought because his hand met my shoulder. “Hey, since you are out here. Did you want to get some breakfast?”
The thought of food made my stomach rumble. “That sounds great.”
“It’s down the hill…so I’ll have to carry you.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
He turned around and hunched over. “Hop on.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very.”
“Well, if you insist.” I shrugged as I carefully maneuvered onto his back, and he carefully hooked his arms underneath my knees while I secured my hold around his neck. “Doctor and personal means of transportation. I just might live here.”
“If you stay here, you are going to have to start pulling your weight.”
“Ha! Very funny.”
We both laughed as he took off down the hill.
Chapter Five
Thane
With Rayah on my back, for a moment, everything felt right in the world. Momentarily, I shut out that there was a secret war between the world and the Shifter Elite. A battle she was somehow tangled up in, and the thought that maybe I would risk everything to protect the girl I barely knew. Because she felt so familiar and comfortable to me. Like I had known her my whole life. I knew it sounded crazy, but how did I even breathe before I met her? And even though I sensed she was starting to put the pieces together when she looked between Zorro and me, she didn't turn away from me or try to run, which was why I needed to tell her the truth about me...about what we had built here. Then maybe she would open up to me about her involvement with the Shifter Elite.
I just needed to find the right time. The zoo was so chaotic here in the mornings.
“Here we are. The best breakfast place in all of the zoo.” I gently set her down onto the ground and stepped aside to open the door for her. “After you.”
“Such a gentleman.” She beamed, hobbling inside. With all her injuries, I was amazed she was fairing as well as she was, her strength just illuminating from her as if she were a diamond.
Walking into the cafeteria, we were greeted by a sea of stares and undercurrent of whispers. News traveled fast around here, and she was at the forefront of every conversation—the girl who broke into the zoo. They were uneasy about having her here. The risk of being exposed was too great for we were in hiding from the Shifter Elite, and she had led the Bloodhounds to our front gate.
“Maybe this was a bad idea.” She pivoted toward the exit.
I gently grabbed her wrist, easing her back to me. “Don’t worry about them. No one will bother you.” With a subtle nod from her, I ushered her past the crowd, staring daggers into whoever’s eyes crossed our path. The gossiping died down as I placed my hand at the small of her back. We found a corner booth by the window overlooking the giraffe exhibit, and I moved another chair over to prop up her injured leg. “So, what are you in the mood for? Braxton, our chef can whip you up just about anything.” I pointed him out behind the corner, and he answered with a knowing nod and waved. His Grizzly bear was on patrol with me last night. During the day, he posed as a chef.
In deep thought, her tongue glided across her plush rosebud lips. Honing in, my mind was pulled into a sensual trance, thinking of how her lips would feel against mine, her tongue lapping up and down my cock. If her eyes were the gateway to her soul, her plump lips told me they were soft, passionate, and eager to please. I must have been so transfixed I'd missed what she had said. “Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.” Fuck, I hope she didn’t notice me staring. Her caramel cheeks flushing crimson told me all I needed to know. She must think I’m a perv. I needed to be better about keeping my tiger under control.
“Steak and eggs sound pretty good right about now. Medium-rare, sunny side up and coffee, black. Please, and thank you.”
A woman after my own heart. “You got it. That sounds good. I'll have the same.”
“Copycat.” Her smile from ear to ear had jumpstarted my heart into a frenzy.
I closed my eyes briefly and inhaled a deep breath before opening them again. “It isn't my fault you have excellent taste in food.”
"Yeah, yeah. Go fetch my food already." Rayah rolled her eyes playfully as she giggled.
God, you are fucking adorable. “Demanding, aren't we? I'll get right on that.” I winked, leaving the table, and strolled over to the counter to order our food. I waited patiently by the counter, dappling in some small talk with Braxton when I heard a distinct laugh through all the commotion in the cafeteria. I looked o
ver my shoulder to find a man with long blond hair sitting in my seat, across from Rayah. That Mother—
“Order up.”
“Thanks.” Hastily, I grabbed our food and speed walked to the table. Whatever he was planning needed to end now.
Luther greeted me with a mischievous smile. “Hey, cousin.” He slapped me on the back, wiggling his eyebrows. He knew he wasn't supposed to be out and about during the day. A few years ago, I revoked his privileges after catching him fucking one of our visitors in the employee's bathroom. I didn't want that kind of reputation hanging over my head. As frustrating as it was, we shifters had to keep our sexual appetites checked around the human staff members. Plus, they were bound to notice a lion was missing from his cage. He must have borrowed a uniform from Zach. If Luther had made one wrong move, his muscles would bust through the seams.
“What are you doing here?” If he thought making a move on Rayah was a good idea, he was sadly mistaken.
“I had to come and meet the elusive gate jumper.”
“Okay, you've met her. Now go.”
He ignored me and went on to say, “Thane here always gets a little possessive of females. Been that way ever since—”
“Isn't there a cage you need to go clean?” I placed our plates down onto the table harder than I intended, drawing attention from the other staff members. Luther was a lot of things, but he was getting on my last fucking nerve right now.
Rayah folded her lips in, trying not to laugh, and placed her hand on Luther's wrist. The sight was an invisible stab to my gut. “Luther. It was a pleasure meeting you. You'll have to tell me more stories about Thane another time. But right now, I'm so hungry I could eat a whole cow.”
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. I believed nobody loved food more than Luther, he even had Braxton beat, and I was sure he had come in his pants hearing Rayah say those words. “It was more than a pleasure meeting you, Rayah. Enjoy your delicious meal.” He stood up, towering over me with a defiant glare. “Thane.”
“Luther.” I glared back, daring him to test me. I wouldn't hesitate to put him in his place. A catfight I'd surely win even though he was taller than me, weighed more than me. I was alpha, and I was king around here.
“See you very soon, Rayah.” The extra pep in his step, alluded his chase of Rayah was far from over.
I watched Rayah watch him until he disappeared through the doors, her bottom lips wedged in between her teeth. My jaw ticked as I sat down, immediately cutting into my steak, thinking she was turned on by him nipping at my heels. I placed my fork down to unbutton the top of my shirt and removed my tie. Suddenly I felt like I was suffocating.
“Everything okay, Thane?”
When my narrowed gaze of fury met her warm honey eyes, my anger subsided to a low boil. “Just be careful around Luther. He can be pushy, if you know what I mean.” I shoved a piece of steak into my mouth. The tender morsel melted on my tongue like butter.
“You wouldn't happen to be jealous, now would you, Thane?” She arched a brow.
I gulped hard. Of course, I was jealous. I wanted her to only have eyes for me, and with Luther’s track record, he always got the girl; however, I wasn’t going to admit it. No. My pride wouldn't let me. “No. I just don't want to see you get hurt. He's a player, Rayah.”
Her face twisted into a scowl. “He seemed like a nice guy to me. Had nothing but nice things to say about you, said I was in good hands.”
“Luther said that?” So, this was the game he was playing. The reverse psychology trick. If not careful, he would be balls-deep inside her pussy by tomorrow. But at the same time, I needed to maintain some sort of professionalism around her. So, take a hike, hormones.
“Why do you act so surprised? Am I not in good hands?”
“Of course, you are. It is just—”
“Just what? Why else did you scare off your cousin?”
"He's not...oh forget it. Okay, maybe I was a little overprotective, but I felt I needed to be, given your state.”
“That’s the only reason, Thane?”
I placed my hand on hers to ease the tension building between us. “Yes, Rayah,” I lied. As much as I wanted her to be mine, I was in no place to start a relationship with someone. Still, I didn’t want her to end up with Luther. If it made me a selfish man, so be it. “Your safety is important to me.”
“Oh, for a moment, I thought...never mind.” Her lips fell into a frown as she picked at her food. Now I was the asshole responsible for putting it there. The least I could do was figure out a way to erase it.
“Rayah?”
Her eyes found mine, and my breath hitched. I wished I could get lost in those eyes forever, but my responsibility to the zoo had to come first. “How would you like to witness a giraffe give birth?” I glanced to my right, and her eyes followed mine. “Kiki, our female, is due to give birth to her first offspring any minute now. I could get us a cart, and we could drive over.”
Her eyes brightened several shades, and that frown I never wanted to see again lifted into a megawatt smile. “Oh my God. I would love that so much. Thank you.” She clapped her hands together excitedly.
“Of course.” We spent the rest of the time in comfortable silence, devouring every bite of our meal.
Zach radioed me the miracle was happening after fourteen long months of waiting. The visitors, alongside Rayah, would get to experience the joyous occasion up close and personal. I parked the cart outside the exhibit and I gave Rayah a piggy-back ride to the employee entrance. We entered the view box overhead, giving us the best seat in the house. I pulled up a chair to the railing, offered her to sit, and propped her injured leg on another chair.
“Oh, this is so exciting. I think it's interesting they give birth standing up. You know, let gravity do all the work, but doesn't that fall hurt the calf?”
“You would think so, but no. The calf emerges in a superman position, and the impact from the fall is what stimulates them to breathe.”
“That makes sense. It's crazy they are up and walking right away when humans take a year to learn.” She giggled.
"Animals are amazing that way." Her enthusiasm was making it harder not to reconsider my stance on a relationship with her. It was easy to imagine the life we could have together. I envisioned a ranch-style home in the countryside with some acreage for our pets and maybe our children to run and play. But with the world in shambles, the reality of that perfect family dream happening was slim. I was ready to shove the idea back into the far corner of my mind until I turned around to find her looking at me with a flesh-burning stare.
“Thane?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want kids someday?” Her question was filled with a heady need I desperately wanted to serve.
My cock kicked in my pants, wanting to spill my seed into her, claiming her womb as mine. Deep down, I yearned for everything about her to be mine. Her laughs, her smiles, her moans, her thoughts, every quivering breath—all mine. I cleared my throat, adjusting my collar. “Um, yeah. I'm open to the idea of children. You?” The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, alarmed and hopeful we were even having this conversation after I had only known her for a short period. But oddly enough, we clicked. In some unspeakable way, our hearts beat to the same song.
“Yes. I love kids.” She didn't hesitate.
Fuck me! Maybe my vision wasn't so far-fetched after all. However, there was still that enormous elephant in the room we were avoiding—our secrets from one another. No real relationship could blossom until we jumped that hurdle. In due time, I kept telling myself.
The oohs and ahhs from staff members below stole our attention. Kiki was quietly hovering in the corner of her enclosure. Giraffes didn't have vocal cords, so the calf was halfway out before anyone noticed. The calf slid out with a thud, and Kiki spun around to lick her baby clean.
Rayah's hand clasped over her mouth. “Oh my gosh, Thane. This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”
“I'd
have to disagree with you, Rayah.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Huh?”
“You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.” Shit! The words slipped out before I could reel them back. The secret was out, and there was no turning the situation around now. Or was there?
Chapter Six
Rayah
You know that feeling you get in your chest when you drink something warm on a cold day? I felt that warmth in between my thighs with a throbbing ache. An urge to be filled to the hilt by an undeniably sexy man who had just admitted he was attracted to me. Back at the cafeteria, he’d tried to play it off after he was devouring my lips with his eyes. It took every ounce of me not to jump across the table and straddle him, glue my lips to his passionate kiss. Especially when he mentioned he was open to the idea of kids. I had dreamed of having a large family, and being around Thane only intensified that desire, brought out my primal craving, my biological alarm clock going off.
Maybe he indeed was a shifter. At that point, I didn't care whether he was or not. I just wanted him, all six feet of him. Every pound of his flesh on top of me, underneath me. Behind me.
Oh, damn! And then there was Luther. His alluring presence serenaded me like the perfect love song. I bit my lip hard, thinking about his striking chestnut eyes, luscious blond hair, and bulging muscles. If there were a third Hemsworth brother, it would be him. A stallion I wanted to ride until my body was sated with satisfaction.
Oh my God...the thought of both of them together having their way with me had me about to combust spontaneously. I needed to expel this energy from my body somehow. There was only one surefire way to do so. I stood, my determination driving me forward, ignoring the pain shooting up my leg. I seized hold of Thane's white coat and flung us out of view from the crowd. I backed him into the corner where another chair was placed. I pushed him into the seat, straddling his powerful thighs.
Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection Page 42