Chapter 57

I hadn’t heard from Grey about any updates on the driver and his son. I could have waited until the next inner circle meeting, but this felt personal. I needed an update now. Plus, I wanted to check on the progress we’d made in and around the Oasis. The spirits and Bound were getting along better these days. Rin and Lassie had taken their human forms, as had Cetus and Cobra. No matter how many times I told them I didn’t need bodyguards, they insisted. Jesse, ever the voice of reason, had convinced me to accept it as my new normal—at least as long as they didn’t hover too close. I begrudgingly agreed.

We climbed up from the portal in our cave, making our way through the various venues. The energy had shifted—more upbeat, more productive. Hardly anyone sat around idly. I stopped to chat with a few men, and their answers were all the same—“things are good,” or “couldn’t be better.” The programs Jesse, the inner circle, and I had implemented were working.

By the time we reached the computer and spying center, the day was nearly gone. I turned to Cetus with a smirk. “See? Told you I didn’t need guards.”

“You’re still in the cave system,” he countered. “Things may be different once we’re outside the Oasis.” Cobra and Lassie nodded in agreement.

Paul glanced up as we entered. “Keith, what brings you up here?”

“I need to talk to Grey,” I said. “He was monitoring a family for me.”

Paul’s expression shifted knowingly. “You mean the driver and his son?”

I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know about that?”

“A few of us do,” he admitted. “Grey can’t always be here, so he made sure his replacement and I would contact you if anything changed.”

“Is Grey around?” I asked.

Paul checked the time. “Should be back any minute. Want me to send someone to fetch him? He went to the gym during lunch, and he’s usually back by now.”

“No need. I’ll wait.”

I wandered around, glancing over the shoulders of the men at their screens. It wasn’t long before Grey walked in.

“Keith,” he greeted me. “What brings you down here?”

I got straight to the point. “You. Any news on the driver and his son?”

Grey didn’t hesitate. “Nothing set in stone yet, but we’ve got records of him filing for divorce. There’s also an application to lease a two-bedroom apartment in his and his son’s name. I didn’t want to tell you until we confirmed they’d moved in. Didn’t want to get your hopes up too soon. Cameras in the hotel caught him asking about the people who rented your rooms. The staff told him it wasn’t his concern, but there’s a chance he got the info later from another worker. No way for us to confirm.”

I nodded, taking it in. “If he moves in with his son, send the same flowers as before. Include a note listing our old room numbers, telling him he’s doing the right thing. Offer help if he or his son ever needs it. Add a phone number to patch him through to me if he calls. Sign it, ‘The Watchers.’”

Grey arched a brow. “So, you’re adding him and his son to our list?”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “The list keeps growing, but most people turn down our offers. When we help, it’s not always money they want. It’s fixing this or making a home bigger because the family has eight kids and only three bedrooms, plus many other things that labor can fix. The men genuinely enjoy assisting other member’s families—it lets them reconnect with the real world.”

Grey smirked. “Good thing we managed to create a few hundred new identities. Using Karl’s companies makes it all easier to manage.”

“It’s a win-win,” I agreed.

With some daylight left, I decided to check the fields and farms. As the sun dipped lower, lights flickered on. The greenhouse caught my eye, glowing like a giant crystal in the fading light.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I turned to find Ben standing beside me.

“Yes, it is,” I said.

He grinned. “Wait till the sun sets—it gets even better.”

*****

I woke up to the aroma of breakfast being cooked.

“Your finally awake! Jesse is cooking today. He told us to stand here and wait until you woke up and said not to do anything that might disturb your sleep,” Rin said as he stood on one side of the bed. I turned to see Lassie on the other side, watching me intently in her Minotaur form. I looked back at Rin, his refined Yeti form covered in sleek, short white fur, leaving his chest, abs, and biceps exposed. He knew exactly how to attract me and was always improving.

“Did Jesse take a shower before starting breakfast?” I asked.

Lassie answered with all her teeth showing. She was smiling. “Yes, he allowed us to help clean him.”

“So, you don’t need to shower again then,” I said, noticing the disappointment in Lassie’s eyes. “If you both stay focused and help me get clean, I’ll let you shower again afterward.” Her eyes brightened with excitement, and she simply nodded.

As I got out of bed, I found Rin already in the bathroom. The shower started as I walked in, with Lassie right behind me. Rin had transformed again; he now had long fur on his arms and legs, leaving his torso bare I stepped into the shower, and Lassie shut the door. Covered in fur, her male Minotaur body pressed close as she and Rin lathered me up from both sides. “You both are getting really good at this.”

“We want to please you, Master. I know you enjoy feeling my muscles, and this way I can get you clean while you enjoy the sensation. I have a surprise for you,” Rin said.

“And what would that be?” I asked.

Rin stepped back, and I felt his cock brush against mine, which was already hard. He moved forward while Lassie kept me from retreating. His cock enveloped mine, and I felt the tip grasping and pulling me in, then releasing. But it held firm deeper inside, stretching and gripping until I was fully inside him.

“Does it feel good, Master?” Rin asked.

“Yes, yes it does,” I replied, unable to look down as Rin pressed his body against mine. Then I felt the tip of his cock draw in one of my balls, followed closely by the other. Although there are no muscles in a cock, the sensation was like a hand stroking me from tip to base, even massaging my balls. As I came inside Rin, the stroking intensified.

“Can we do this again, Master?” Rin asked as his cock released mine. Lassie’s Minotaur form soaped my privates clean after I turned around.

My mind was over stimulated and the only thing I could think of was, “Sure, anytime. It’s just the three of us.”

*****

“So, how was your shower?” Jesse asked

I sat down as Jesse place a plate of eggs with bacon and pancakes in front of me. “Good, but different.”

Jesse sat down and looked me over. “Rin did it to you too, then?”

“Yeah, the docking thing?”

“Yep, very unexpected. He even swallowed me to the root,” Jesse replied. “Hey, how about I join you today to finish your inspection of the Oasis and the surrounding area?”

I looked at him with suspicion. “What made you want to come with me?”

“Nothing. I have a free day and just wanted to spend time with you.”

*****

Even with Jesse and the two bound, Cetus and Cobra insisted on coming along. We took the portal to the cave’s opening on our side of the mine.

“Where to, Keith?” Jesse asked.

“Let’s walk around the farm. Yesterday, I only saw what this area looked like as night fell. It was beautiful with the lights, but I didn’t meet anyone doing their work. I want to see what goes on daily and talk to some men to see if our changes helped or hindered them.” At least the four ‘guards’ gave Jesse and me some space this time. We entered the now-finished barn, and looking around, it seemed like real craftsmen built it. I found two men cleaning the stalls.

“May I ask a few questions? If you’re too busy, we can come back later.”

“Oh, no, we can stop for a few minutes, especially for you, sir,” the bigger of the two answered. This caught the attention of the others, and they paused their work to approach us.

Despite getting very dirty, neither of them wore shirts, just shorts and rubber boots. The bigger guy was very muscular, with his middle bulging out—not fat, as I could see the outline of his abs as he moved. The smaller guy, who was only slightly smaller than me, said, “Ask away.”

“Can you each tell me how things have been going for you since the inner circle mandated the new programs? Do you feel better off, happier, bored? Things like that. Also, if you had your way, would you change any of the mandates?” I inquired.

Both men were upbeat in their responses, finding no flaws or suggesting any improvements. I thanked them and we took our leave. We encountered others and asked them the same questions. The only concern raised was their desire to leave the Oasis and interact with people in the real world. They were aware of the program that assisted family and friends in need, and most were on the list. I candidly informed them that the number of identities usable outside was limited.

*****

As we stepped into the animal shelter, Jennie’s face lit up. “It’s been a while since your last visit—since we first opened. I hope you both are doing well.”

“We are!” I replied with a smile. “We’ve been busy, and this is the first time I’ve been able to take some time away. You were the first place I thought to check in on. So, how are things going with you and Mr. Bishop?”

Jennie gestured around the shelter. “Things are great here. We have more help than we need, thanks to your men volunteering—even for the toughest jobs. The younger folks in town are also volunteering because they get to work with the animals while avoiding the dirty work. I’m not saying all of them feel that way, because they don’t.”

Jesse leaned in. “What about Mr. Bishop?”

“He comes in for a few hours every day,” Jennie said, leading us through the shelter. “With all this help, he’s taking it easy—he is getting older, you know. The shelter is finally making a profit and can cover its expenses, so they hired me full-time. Thanks for all the feed and supplies; they make this possible.”

I shook my head. “Don’t thank us, Jennie. The previous mine owner, before he passed, set up a trust fund to support the shelter for the foreseeable future. That trust fund also covers the items we provide to the shelter.”

Jennie’s brow furrowed. “But the men from your co-op say they are volunteers?”

“And they are,” I replied. “The trust pays your wages and those of any part-time workers. It covers the costs to keep the water running and the lights on, as well as feed for the animals and their medical care. Our men want to help and ask for no compensation. The least we can do is allow them to volunteer.”

Jennie crossed her arms, studying Cetus. “I see you here a lot. You’re not getting paid?”

Cetus shook his head. “No, I do it to set an example for the men.”

Jennie nodded thoughtfully, then motioned for us to follow as she showed us around. As we walked, I asked if there were any repairs or improvements she needed. She assured me the shelter was larger than necessary and, thanks to our men, it was always in great shape.

After the tour, I spoke with a few men who weren’t working alongside the town’s volunteers. Their only request? A little more time here in the real world.

*****

I thought to Leo, ‘Where’s Karl right now? Don’t notify him—I want to surprise him.’

Leo didn’t hesitate. ‘Manager’s office.’

I glanced at Jesse as we made our way inside. “Leo says Karl’s in the manager’s office.”

Jesse frowned. “I wonder why. He has an excellent manager, and the hotel is turning a solid profit.”

I shook my head in amazement. “You’re thinking too hard. Most likely, Karl just wants to introduce his new self to the manager.”

While we waited for the elevators, James approached us. “Finally here to see the new Karl?”

I looked over at James. “What do you mean by that? You and Karl haven’t been around since the incident with that creature.”

“What Keith means is that we wanted to give Karl and you time together before having you both work on the council again.”

The elevator door opened, and we all stepped in. James pressed the button for the third floor and looked at an eye scanner. The elevator display’s rear door indicator lit up. When the door opened, we entered the hotel offices.

James motioned for Jesse and me to go first. “It’s the first door on the right. I’ll wait out here until Karl calls for me.”

We headed to the hotel to find Karl. I hadn’t seen him since he became a new man. By now, he should have wrapped up all his business—transferring the companies he owned to his only living nephew. A nephew who didn’t exist, at least not until we created one for him. He kept the name Karl but dropped Hodgkin for Grace—his grandmother’s surname.

Jesse knocked on the door, and the manager told us to come in, her voice tinged with irritation. When Jesse opened the door, she smiled and waved us in. “Nice to see friendly faces. Mr. Grace, this is Mr. Booi and Mr. Smith. They own the land adjacent to the hotel and lead the co-op.”

Karl stood up and offered his hand. Jesse shook it. I looked at Karl, really looked at him. He appeared to be twenty-seven or a little older—no gray hair, just honey-blond locks and eyes just like the old Karl. His beard was fuller than before. His body was chiseled; even in the suit he wore, I could tell.

Jesse cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to Karl, who was offering his hand to me.

“Sorry, you look a lot like your uncle. May he rest in peace.”

“You two look just as he described you in all the letters he wrote me.”

I played along. “He didn’t say bad things about us, I hope.”

“Not at all. He said I would find friends in you two and told me to take your advice. He also mentioned your co-op, the men in it, and what is required to become a member. I would be honored if you would accept me.”

Jesse spoke before I could. “Your uncle said you might want to join. We can give you a tour and discuss it over dinner if you can spare the time.”

“Yes, I was just informing Miss Newman that I’m giving her full control of the hotel. I will still be the owner, but I’m not my uncle. I would rather reap the rewards with minimal work of my own.”

Miss Newman interjected, “I was following a detailed script of instructions Mr. Hodgkin left until his nephew took over. I never once thought I would take control permanently. I’m not someone who should be in this position; I’m an executive secretary.”

I made a decision. “How about I send you a well-qualified helper? Think of him as your executive secretary. He’s owned many companies before retiring. You and he can work together until you feel ready to take on the roles of president and manager of the hotel. I’m sure Mr. Hodgkin wanted you to be the one to take this position. What do you think, Mr. Grace?”

“Don’t be so formal; call me Karl. Yes, I was named after him. If it keeps Miss Newman here, I have no objections. Miss Newman, I am telling you to hire the man Mr. Booi sends to you. My uncle told me to trust these two, and I intend to follow his advice.”

“Karl, you can call me Keith, and him Jesse. I already feel a bond between us, even though we just met.”

“Well, if that’s settled, can one of you please call James in?”

Since I was closest to the door, I replied, “Sure thing, Karl.” I opened the door and waved James in.

“You already know who James is since he was my uncle’s chauffeur. However, you might not know that he was much more than that. James was his right-hand man in every respect, and I intend for him to do the same for me.”

James blushed. “You are too kind, Mr. Grace.”

*******

This concludes this story, and I don’t believe it’s gained much popularity. I have two other projects in progress, but they are also slow burners. As I mentioned before, my goal is to tell a meaningful tale, not just to create something to get off on.

Please send me your feedback on whether you think I should post another story. Otherwise, I’ll leave it here. As I stated at the beginning, I’m not a writer—just trying it. Thank you for reading.