“I kind of want to get back to Jenny,” I said apologetically.
Chelsea smiled charitably. “I understand. But this won't take long, and there's stuff you NEED to know.”
“Okay,” I said, making my way to the bed and sitting down.
“Humans..if they end up working here, they don't normally stay human for long. IF they survive.”
“Yeah..I think someone else told me that earlier today,” I said, trying not to think much about the fact that this was now the second overt warning I'd gotten.
“You need to understand, I'm not trying to scare you..” Chelsea said. “But you're in OUR world now. Fully. You signed the contract, which makes you fair game. Nobody here's obligated to be on good behavior just for your sake, and a lot of us..don't exactly consider humans to be our equals.” She put her hands up in a semi-defensive gesture. “I'm safe. I PROMISE YOU, I'm safe. But others..they're not going to really consider your consent, or even your safety to be a priority.”
“Like Ms. Adair, or the security guy, you mean?”
Chelsea paused for a second, and then shook her head. “Photographers..they're a commodity. Especially MALE photographers. Almost all of us..when we shift, we get horny. Some of us, it's because almost all of the photoshoots are designed to be arousing, so we basically start associating shifting with sex. Or it feels so good that we have to blast off an orgasm or ten before we settle down enough to change back. Or in the case of werecats like me..” she nervously fidgeted and pushed her hair behind her ears, “ANY sexual stimulation causes the shift.”
“Wait,” I said, fully realizing I was missing the point, “Like, ANY stimulation?”
Chelsea blushed hard. “Yep. The only time I stay human is if I'm giving oral.” There was a moment of awkward silence between us. “Anyway..” she said, fidgeting nervously again, “That means that during or after the photoshoots and video sessions, you've got horny girls looking for a sexual outlet, and hormones and instincts raging out of control. And we know we can overpower the photographers. And I'M SAFE,” she emphasized again, “But it's just a fact, and one we're aware of. And a lot of the girls here aren't exactly going to hold back.”
“So the photographers are getting bitten?”
Chelsea nodded again. “Yup. Or being forced to lick pussy. Either way, that's a one-way trip to infection city. Seriously, if you even have one drop of a shifter's cum when they're in their shifted form, you're gonna be whatever they are.”
I was alarmed. “Shit, I went down on Jenny last night!” I blurted out, not even thinking about the awkward oversharing. “Am I a werewolf now?”
Chelsea laughed. “Lycan, don't say werewolf. They REEEEEAAAALLLY hate that.”
“Shit, yeah, I know..I'm working on breaking the habit,” I said, acutely aware that she seemed to be missing the point. “But still, am I..”
Chelsea shook her head. “No. It's only infectious if they're fully shifted.” Another pause. “But yeah..that's a real risk. And fighting back? That's a no-go. That gets people killed. It triggers the predatory response.”
“So you're saying that I'm in danger of getting raped one day, huh?”
Chelsea sighed rather glumly. “It sounds awful when you say it like that, but yes. And..I'm not trying to justify it or defend anyone..but instincts can go haywire. And a lot of the girls live here full time, and it can be lonely. It's enough to make anyone go kind of boy crazy, especially if they're nearing or in their heat cycle.”
“And Ms. Adair wouldn't dream of stopping any of them from harming or turning a photographer, would she?”
“Nope. She does have male shifter models as well, but she keeps them on a separate floor. Unattached supernatural males aren't allowed to show up here, because of the orgy potential. Only mated couples are allowed to live together also on a different floor, and the ones that have bred successfully are kept on yet another floor, which is a very family-friendly zone, as I understand it. And that's the thing – my room is a normal room for a single shifter. Jenny's is big simply because she's the top earner and the boss' daughter. A mated couple gets a bigger room. And if you've bred, you get the equivalent of a double suite, since you've got at least one or more kids. It's a status and comfort thing. So you have horny shifters that have nothing to lose and everything to gain by turning you.”
“But even if they turned me, that doesn't make us mates. I could always refuse, right?” I asked.
It wasn't that I was planning on being turned, but I figured I'd cover my bases.
“You could,” Chelsea said, “But you probably wouldn't. Or you'd change your mind soon after. The part of you that's born from the infection..that animal part..it's bonded to whoever turned you. It's literally your first instinct. It'll always be inclined to listen to them, protect them..and be attracted to them. And basically, as a male, your instinct would also be to claim a fertile female. So she just starts presenting herself to you, and you're likely to end up as a couple within a session or two, even if you're protesting while you're human.” She let out another long sigh and glanced at me. “Trust me. I've seen it.”
Another howl echoed outside. I don't know how to explain it, but it sounded sad. “Look..umm..I really need to go. I really don't want to leave her alone right now.”
“Yeah,” Chelsea said, and again there was a bit of a blush. “Before you go..I want you to know one other thing. I'm telling you this so you don't hear it from someone else and get the wrong idea. Jenny and I have been lovers for quite awhile. I'm only a few months older than her, and we both kind of awakened at the same time, I guess you could say. She's VERY special to me.”
“I'm not trying to mess up anythi-” I said, starting to apologize and plead my innocence, only to have her raise a hand and silence me.
“No, it's not like that. We're friends with benefits that have a very tight emotional bond, I think would probably be the best way to put it. You're good for her. The way she smiled earlier, I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen her react that way, and most of them were from something I said or did. She's fragile. She's not used to romance. You could destroy, and I mean DESTROY her heart if you're not careful.”
“I promise you that I won't,” I said, meaning it with every bit of myself.
“Don't promise that so soon. You've only been here a day,” she said quietly. “But..umm..I have a strong feeling about you. I like you, new guy.” She leaned over and kissed the corner of my mouth again. “Now go,” she said softly. “Go to my best friend and your maybe-girlfriend.”