Love is a Whirlwind (The Shifter Chronicles 2) Read online

  Love is a Whirlwind

  The Shifter Chronicles 2

  Beginnings Book Two

  M.D. Grimm

  Love is a Whirlwind

  The Shifter Chronicles 2

  Beginnings Book Two

  By M.D. Grimm

  Cover Art by Catt Ford

  Copyright 2021 M.D. Grimm

  Smashwords Edition

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  About This Book

  About M.D. Grimm

  Other Titles by M.D. Grimm

  Connect with M.D. Grimm

  Chapter One

  The family’s guilty secret had grown; Pasiphaë’s bestial

  Adultery now was exposed in her monstrous offspring, the

  Mínotaur.

  Minos determined to hide this disgrace to his marriage-bed

  Inside the twistings and turns of a dark, inextricable maze.

  ~Ovid, Metamorphosis

  Caleb tightened the bull rope, making sure the bull rider had a good grip and that the bull still had the ability to move. The arena was loud, and the barrel man was doing his usual ditty for the crowd. Caleb listened with half an ear, double-checking that everything was secure on his bull.

  He looked into Whirlwind’s eyes and smiled. “Just one more, buddy, then it’s over.”

  “For good or bad,” the bull rider said, thinking Caleb had been speaking to him.

  He patted the man’s shoulder and sat back, waiting for the bull rider to nod to the gate man to let him know he was ready. Caleb looked around the large arena. The crowd was loud, shouting and screaming for bull and man alike. He took a deep breath, taking in the sweat, the scent of bull, and the smell of victory. Whirlwind was the best bull in this arena. He had a 100 percent buck-off rate and the baddest reputation of any bull in the Professional Bull Riding circuit, or the PBR for short. He was up there with Bodacious and Dillinger, and he had won the Bucking Bull of the Year two years in a row.

  He wasn’t the only bull Caleb had in the circuit, however. He had eight other strong bucking bulls, but none compared to Whirlwind.

  He looked back at Whirlwind and knew the bull was antsy. He was ready to get out there and show the crowd what he had. The bull rider gave the gate man his nod. The chute opened, and Whirlwind lived up to his name. The bull flew out of the chute, bucking like a demon, and the rider didn’t stand a chance. Whirlwind twisted like a tornado and kicked up dirt, making it hard for the rider to keep up. It wasn't three seconds before the rider flew off and did a face-plant in the dirt.

  The crowd ate it up, but the bull wasn’t done. Whirlwind ran after the bull rider even as the rodeo clowns descended on him, trying to keep the rider safe. The bull appeared to be satisfied with running those jokers off and let the rider gain his feet. The cowboy hightailed it out of the ring while the bull flung his head around in triumph. He strutted for the crowd, the flank strap and bull rope falling to the ground.

  Caleb grinned wide, his face actually hurting, as he cheered with the rest of the crowd. That was his bull out there. His friend.

  With a coat of rich chestnut, deep brown eyes, and the strength of an elephant, Whirlwind was a prize wanted by many stock contractors. They made numerous offers yearly, but Caleb and his mother would never sell Whirlwind, not for all the money in the world.

  Whirlwind strutted through the return gate, head high. Caleb snickered. Whirlwind was so full of it. Arrogant prick. But he was Caleb’s arrogant prick.

  It was over. They had won. He knew without a doubt or looking at the points that Whirlwind had won. They would take home a good chunk of money along with more prestige than ever before. He wished his dad were still alive. Wouldn’t his mother be ecstatic? Of course, good ol’ Mandy O’Connell wasn’t one to get ecstatic. She would just nod, humph, and say “good work.” But that was the equivalent of other people jumping for joy and doing a victory dance. For himself, Caleb would do a little shimmy. But it was too crowded in the arena to get a good one in at that moment.

  The celebration wore on, the officials named the bull riding champion, took pictures, and Caleb, along with his crew, received the winner’s check and nearly made blind by all the flashes of cameras. The crowds slowly filed out, the media left, and the cleanup crew arrived. Caleb, sweating and probably smelling like a dumpster, made his way to the trailer where they kept Whirlwind.

  The other bulls and the rest of his crew were already on their way home, but he took care of Whirlwind personally. He drove the trailer that housed the star bull, and he set his own schedule when he started home. He always left a day or two after everyone else.

  He called his mom as he walked. “We won.”

  “Of course we did.”

  Caleb grinned, a spring in his step.

  “How was our champ?”

  “As feisty as ever. You should have seen him! He deserves a reward.”

  Mandy chuckled. “I’ve seen him plenty of times. And I’ll leave a reward up to you. The rest of the crew get out all right?”

  “Yep, everything is on schedule.”

  “See you in a few days, then?”

  “Yeah. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  They hung up.

  “Hey Caleb!”

  He turned to face one of the rodeo clowns jogging toward him. It took him a moment to remember the man's name, and the paint was the reason for the recognition. He rarely saw the clowns out of their costumes. Caleb stopped, planning to give him only five minutes of his time.

  “Hey, Rich,” he said. “You were good out there.”

  “Me?” The man laughed and slapped his shoulder. “What about you and that bull? Whirlwind's amazing! Never seen a bull so quick and smart. Sort of eerie, right? The way he knows just how to turn, and when to buck, and how high. Intelligent.”

  Caleb shrugged, unease making his stomach cramp. “As far as bulls go, I guess he's intelligent. You could also say he's well-trained. There were other bulls out there that were just as impressive.”

  “Come on,” the clown said, nudging him. “Just between you and me, what's the secret, huh? You have to admit, he almost has human intelligence—it just blazes in his eyes. Yet he's a bull. Strange, right?”

  Caleb’s palms started to sweat, and he rubbed them on his jeans. “Yeah, right. Listen, I have to go. Nice talking to you. Good show this week.”

  He left as quickly as he could, never looking back. He rubbed his stomach and forced himself to put it aside. That wasn't the first time he'd been asked about the “secret” when it came to Whirlwind, but there had been a strange gleam—almost manic—in Richard's eyes, and Caleb didn’t like it. At all.

  The trailer wasn't as large as
other trailers that housed more than one bull, but the size was adequate for a prize bull. It was mostly black, and the sides were painted with flames and the words, “Professional Bull Riding” in large print. He’d done the work himself. He detoured to the cab of the truck and searched around in the back for a second before finding the duffel he needed.

  When he returned to the trailer doors and opened them, he smiled at the sleeping bull. It was only a moment before the bull opened large brown eyes and regarded Caleb steadily. Those brown eyes could always capture my attention. He stood in front of Whirlwind with a huge smile, and the encounter with the rodeo clown drifted to the back of his mind, buried. This wasn't the day for worries, it was the day for celebration.

  “We did it, buddy. Another notch on our belt and all that money. Maybe we should go commercial, huh? Have you sell a few products?”

  The air shimmered and pulsed around the bull, the sensation causing Caleb’s arm hair to stand on end. Then, right before his eyes—like many times before, though it never lost its awe—Whirlwind shifted into Ryan, his best friend. The same rich brown eyes that belonged to the bull now belonged to a sturdy, naked man kneeling on fresh hay.

  He had a broad chest and shoulders, with a thick waist, thighs, and arms. He resembled a bull even in human form, not simply because of his brutish face, but his temperament. It wasn’t surprising, considering Ryan’s mother was an actual cow, and his father had been in bull form during his conception. It was incredibly rare, nearly impossible, for shapeshifter offspring to be born from an animal and a shifter. Ryan was certainly one of a kind.

  Caleb had learned a lot about the real world from Ryan. Like the fact that there was a shapeshifter community, a community filled with extraordinary creatures that could live as animals or humans.

  Ryan raised an eyebrow. “We’re in Vegas. I’d rather go drinking.”

  Caleb smiled. Ryan’s voice was slightly husky, like he didn’t use it much. He knew Ryan hadn’t for the first years of his life. He’d spent most of his childhood as a bull. Caleb gazed appreciatively at the mocha color of Ryan’s skin and the way the light shone off his bald head. He had a strong chin and a thick nose, his mouth was wide, and he had a small scar that bisected his right eyebrow. He exuded an aura of aggressive strength, and it wasn’t unusual for some people to sidestep him, like they would a bull.

  Ryan said he’d received the scar while practicing shifting with his father. Caleb never got the exact details, but he never pushed. His friend never liked to talk about his father.

  Caleb shoved the duffel into Ryan’s hands. “Get dressed and we’ll go. Any ideas on which bar?”

  Ryan frowned as he pulled on boxers—which he hated—and jeans before shoving his arms into the sleeves of a flannel shirt. “All I’m interested in is getting wasted.”

  Caleb snickered and locked up the trailer before laying his arm across Ryan’s shoulders. They walked out of the parking garage and down the street, toward the lights and noise of Las Vegas.

  “Did those big bad cowboys hurt the little bully?” he teased.

  Ryan poked his ribs, and Caleb laughed. “Watch it, Cal. I’m sore, hungry, horny, and I need a vacation.”

  Caleb rolled his eyes. “Please. You live to throw men off of you.”

  Ryan laughed, the sound deep and entirely too sexy.

  “I don’t know about that,” Ryan said. “I happen to like a few men riding me.”

  Caleb chuckled, but it was slightly strained. He didn’t like to think of Ryan with other men and the occasional woman. It turned his stomach into knots and actually caused pain. He didn’t know why he hadn’t yet said something to Ryan. He’d tried several times over the years, but he never managed to get it out.

  He loved his best friend. He loved his bull shifter.

  But Ryan, well, he never showed any interest, and he wasn’t exactly sure if a shifter could make a commitment to a human. His friend never really told him much about that.

  They walked along the edge of the sidewalk, and he left it up to Ryan to call for a cab. His friend had a knack for getting the drivers to notice him. Caleb was amused that, although it was night, it was as bright as day, and he felt a little like Dorothy in Oz. This wasn’t the first time he’d visited Las Vegas, but if given the choice, he would definitely choose his mom’s ranch in Southern Nevada.

  They slid into a cab, and he also let Ryan pick a bar. His friend lived for Las Vegas. Although Ryan enjoyed his country home, he would often tell Caleb that after so many years of being denied his human side, he relished the times he could act like a human, when he could indulge in all its vices. Most of the time, Caleb took pleasure from watching his friend enjoy himself—except when his friend went off with a stranger.

  “There. Stop here,” Ryan said suddenly. Caleb looked away from his friend and realized they were off the strip, but it was still just as bright. The bar was two stories, rather simple, and the name flashed garishly over the door.

  The Bucking Bull. Ryan was a funny guy. They got out, and Caleb laughed, shaking his head.

  “Hey, look,” he said and gestured to a sign as they approached the front door. “They have a mechanical bull.”

  “Wow, sign me up,” Ryan said deadpan.

  Caleb chuckled and pulled open the door. It was a good-sized bar with pool tables and TVs, and the mechanical bull sat in a small arena at one end. As they stepped in, a woman wearing nothing but a bikini straddled the bull and began to ride it.

  Both men watched in amusement as the woman was tossed off within a second, landing hard on the cushions covering the floor.

  “You should do it,” Ryan said, nudging him with his elbow.

  Face heating, Caleb shook his head and walked to the bar to get a drink. “No way. I’m exhausted.”

  “You’re exhausted?” Ryan slapped his back. “Dude, I’m the one who was tossing those jerks left and right. You just watched.”

  “And set the bull rope. And cheered.” He leaned back against the bar, propping his elbows on it. “I was your support.”

  Ryan smiled, transforming his entire face from brutish to sweet. “You're always my support.”

  Caleb had to look away. His body responded naturally to the warmth and affection in those brown eyes. Ryan hadn’t always had such affection for him—in fact, when they first met, Ryan had charged him, intent on scaring him. After living so long as a bull, it had been hard to show Ryan how to be a human, with all the empathy and compassion it required. His friend had come a long way but still struggled. Though Caleb considered it a success.

  And yet when he imagined leaping into Ryan’s arms and planting a big fat kiss on those sensual lips, he also thought of how his friend would likely smash him into the floor like he did the bull riders. Ouch. Ryan was still a bull in many important ways.

  Whirlwind sometimes charged after the bull riders, ignoring the clowns. Sometimes he’d kick and stomp the rider until they could barely stand. Whirlwind had a violent streak in him, but that dangerous part only made Caleb more excited.

  Damn, did he have it bad. Twenty-one years old and he was still hankering after his best friend. It had never been a crush. Pathetic.

  “Go on.” Ryan nudged him toward the bull. “You ride better than anyone here or in the arena. Go on.”

  Caleb bit his lower lip. He grabbed the shot of whiskey handed to him and gulped it down. It burned his throat, and he frowned at Ryan. His friend smiled again, waggling his eyebrows, and jerking his head toward the mechanical bull. Caleb took a deep breath before striding toward it. He’d ridden Whirlwind before they put him in the bull riding competition. Caleb could stay on for minutes, knowing how Whirlwind would move, knowing what techniques he’d use to toss Caleb off him. He’d also ridden other mechanical bulls, which were nothing compared to the real thing. Still… Ryan seemed to enjoy watching him ride the metal monsters. Lord knew why.

  It was rather embarrassing.

  He moved to the bull, climbed up on it, and w
ith a last glance at Ryan, surrendered his dignity.

  Ryan’s grin split his face from ear to ear. He shouted along with the others as Caleb kept on the bull, never once wavering. His hand was up, his face set, and Ryan clapped and laughed. Caleb looked good up there. His lithe body swaying back and forth, his jade eyes hard with focus. Some would call him skinny or even, heaven forbid, nerdy. He was lanky with curly brown hair, big eyes, and a slightly protruding nose. He had a very distinguished profile.

  Ryan liked the look of him. He’d always liked the look of him, even when he tried to scare Caleb the first time they met. Caleb became his friend not long after, talking to him, thinking him only a dumb bull. Ryan had listened to every word, and the urge to share his secret with someone had grown into a desperate urge to find a connection. He broke his vow to himself and showed Caleb the real him.

  As Ryan watched his friend ride the metal bull, he remembered how it felt when his friend would ride him. Caleb’s strong legs on either side of him, his crotch sliding and bouncing on his back. Ryan shifted his stance, his cock hardening. Dammit. He didn’t want anyone else. He just wanted Caleb bouncing on him… when he was not in bull form.

  And that was the problem, wasn’t it? That was the problem with living as a human, with embracing the need to connect with another being. It always brought hurt and longing. As a bull, he had lived a simple life. His needs were simple and most days slipped together into a monotonous existence. But after meeting Caleb, everything had changed, and he still wasn’t sure if it was for the best. He was already irrevocably attached to Caleb—and even Mandy, Caleb’s mom, to some extent—and if they became lovers… he knew they’d be permanently linked. Did he want that? Did Caleb want that? It was certainly becoming harder to keep his emotions locked up.

  He’d started to grow impatient with his other lovers when none of them satisfied him. He would be distracted during most of the act, and he’d come away feeling a horrible sense of guilt, like he was cheating on Caleb. He didn’t like the emotions at all, and he wanted to hate his friend for exposing him to them, but he was incapable.