Although veterinary technician Carlton is violently allergic to cats, he loves them with an undying passion, enough to tolerate miserable symptoms to keep working with the felines in the San Maribal Zoo. The cheetahs especially fascinate him. Then he meets a mysterious stranger who is evasive about why he’s in the zoo -- nude and after hours! This man tells Carl there’s a cat inside him wanting to get out. That sounds really crazy, and the suggested way to make it happen even crazier ... but exciting.<br><br>Zyl is a member of the ancient shifter tribe, or Were-Kind. His people are working to enforce humane treatment of animals and save endangered species. Hearing of a planned raid by an extreme animal rights group to free the denizens of zoos, they realize this will a real catastrophe. Joining forces with regular humans to avert the problem will mean “coming out” as the powerful beings they are. Again, a potential disaster.<br><br>Attracted to Carlton against his better judgment, Zyl teams up with the vet tech he meets under awkward circumstances only to discover a valuable ally and a soul mate.

Catastrophe

Zyl backed away then, pulling Carl’s slighter body with him. He spun the other man around and again drew him close. “I hurt you, didn’t I? I got carried away. I don’t usually lose control that bad. Are you all right?”


Carl nodded, his face buried against Zyl’s shoulder. “Not hurt,” he murmured. “Well, maybe a little good hurt, I’m fine. I needed that, wanted it.”


“What can I do for you now? That was all about me and I’m not just a one way kind of guy. The first time, the other night, we were sharing. I want to share more.”


Pulling back a bit, Carl reached and caught one of Zyl’s hands. “Come on, then. Let’s go to the other room, get on the bed. Right now I’m kind of worn out, I’ll be okay if I can lie down, lie down with you.”


Chapter 21