Page 16 of The Shapeshifter’s Secretary (Charmed Away Temp Agency #3)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ever since that phone call, Tony had been down on himself. He stopped smiling, kept his head down, and didn’t speak unless spoken to. It bothered Taron. He knew Tony sometimes felt like a burden, he saw the hesitation and the discomfort every time someone had to step in and help him, but Taron didn’t feel that way. Everyone needed accommodations. Some were just more obvious than others. Hell, he couldn’t sit still for the life of him and had to find a secretary who could handle his constant disappearing acts. Taron was the last person to judge someone's need for accommodations.

He was determined to get the poor man to smile again, and he ran into the perfect opportunity on Friday morning. They were back at the testing location, with Tony sitting in a more comfortable wooden chair out of the way taking notes. The thunderbirds did fly-bys, keeping their output as low as they could manage. Taron was supposed to be paying attention, but he kept seeing Tony’s slumped posture out of the corner of his eye, and it was distracting. So when he overheard the research team mention a get-together to celebrate the first week’s progress, he thought it was a brilliant idea. He even texted his friends and invited them to join in.

Taron: Who’s ready to party?

Isaac: Not it.

Taron: Oh come on. Be nice. We’re celebrating the progress of Project Thunderchicken after the first week of testing.

Ozen: Stop calling it that.

Maverick: What have I said about calling it that?

Taron: Spoilsports. Come on. Please?

His phone rang a second later because Ozen never did enjoy texting. Old man.

“Why do you really want us all to go?”

Taron gasped, mock offended. “I resent the idea that I have some kind of ulterior motive. I’m just trying to help.”

“To help who, exactly?” Ozen asked, his tone dry.

Pursing his lips, Taron considered lying, but he had no reason to. What was so wrong with wanting to make his assistant feel better?

“Tony,” Taron answered with a sigh. “He’s… struggling. I think he feels like a burden for needing so many accommodations, and he’s really withdrawn because of it. I want to take him out and show him that no one sees him that way.”

Ozen was quiet for a moment. Taron waited for him to say something about him trying too hard or causing trouble, so it was a pleasant surprise when his friend agreed with him.

“If he truly feels that way, then a more casual setting might help.” He paused before asking, “You truly like this man, don’t you?”

More than his friends knew. But Taron wasn’t ready to admit that yet. He’d been known to jump in too fast. He didn’t want his friends to think he wasn’t serious. But there was something about Tony that drew him in. He just needed more time to figure out why. And he couldn’t do that if Tony convinced himself he didn’t belong here and left.

With Ozen on board, the rest fell in line, including the grumpy dragon. They made plans to show up at a nice restaurant, and Taron made his own plans to drag everyone to a bar afterward. He was pretty sure he could get his friends to agree since their mates hadn’t been yet and they liked to spoil them. Besides, the drinks were amazing and strong enough to even get a dragon drunk. It would end up being a fun night if he could just convince everyone to go.

After the plan was set, he sidled over to Tony, giving him an enigmatic smile. “Tony, my dear assistant. Do you have plans tonight?”

Tony looked up at him, but he had that same blank stare he’d taken on since that asshole berated him on the phone earlier in the week. Taron hated it, and he was determined to fix it.

Before Tony could answer him, though, Taron was called to join the research team to discuss the results for the week. Dammit. He didn’t want Tony leaving before he could convince him to go along.

Luckily… Or maybe unluckily considering who distracted him, Tony was still there when he was through. Zephyr was standing next to him, trying to make conversation. Tony would nod politely, but he wasn’t engaging like he had before. It was difficult to watch, and Taron didn’t even like Zephyr. At least, that’s what he told himself in the mirror every morning this week. He hadn’t yet managed to convince himself that the itch under his skin didn’t have something to do with his ex.

He jogged over to join them, giving Tony his brightest smile. “Tony, I have something I want to discuss with you. Can you wait here for just a moment?”

Tony nodded, lowering himself back into his seat. He looked dejected, and Taron could practically see him preparing himself for the worst. Poor thing. He turned to Zephyr, tipping his head to lead the annoying thunderbird away. As much as he’d like to say he could do this on his own, it was supposed to be a party with the entire research team, including the thunderbirds. If Zephyr was going, he could back Taron up, at least.

“What’s wrong with him?” Zephyr demanded.

Taron shook his head, keeping his voice low. “I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything outright. He’s just… blank. I know he sees himself as a burden, and he’s got some serious self-esteem issues. I want to bring him out tonight to help him out. Did you hear about the party with the research team?

“Yeah. I planned to stop by. Do you think he’ll join?”

Taron glanced back at Tony. He looked like a kicked puppy, frowning at the notepad in his lap, his big shoulders high by his ears. Taron wanted to wrap himself around the man and pepper him with kisses until he smiled again.

“Not without cajoling,” Taron admitted. “He barely responds anymore. If we want him to go, we’ll have to…” He didn't even want to say it out loud. Ugh. For Tony, he’d put up with it. “Work together…”

He kept his face neutral and ignored the way his stomach tightened whenever he got too close to his ex. Their relationship had been a disaster. He wouldn’t allow himself to have lingering feelings. Nope. None there. Nothing. Nada.

He really needed to get better at lying.

The look Zephyr gave him said he was about as happy with that idea as Taron was. But like Taron, he glanced at Tony and his expression changed to something softer and more concerned. It made Taron’s hackles go up a little, he didn’t want to drag Tony out only for Zephyr to steal him away, but it was too late to change his mind. Zephyr nodded, turning back to him.

“Alright. Let’s approach him together. If he’s truly that out of it, he might just go without argument.”

Here’s hoping. Taron took in a deep breath, bolstering himself, before they both headed to where Tony was sitting together.

“Tony!” Taron beamed at him, drawing his attention. “Let’s go for a drink.”

It obviously wasn’t what Tony was expecting, because he frowned deeply. Taron would be offended if he didn’t know how much Tony was struggling.

“It’s a company event,” Zephyr added to back him up. “Everyone who is working on the project is going.”

Slowly, Tony got to his feet, his confusion mounting the longer he looked at them. Taron worried they were going to lose him, so he looped his arm around Tony’s shoulders, squeezing tightly, and threw in his last idea.

“Have you ever been to another realm before?”

* * *

Tony was confused. He’d been expecting Taron to fire him. Sure, he hadn’t had any more major accidents that week, but he still needed a lot of accommodations. He figured Taron would be tired of him by now. So when he and Zephyr, a man Tony knew Taron really didn’t like, approached him together and invited him out, he didn’t know what to say. Or do.

Maybe it was a last hoorah thing. Liquor him up before letting him go so the sting wouldn’t be so bad. That was probably it. And honestly, of all the ways he’d been let go, it was the least objectionable. He nodded slowly.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

Taron lit up like a light show, beaming brightly at him. Tony’s stomach tightened, but he stuffed the feeling down. His stupid crush on his boss wasn’t going to help him, no matter how nice the shapeshifter was to him. Taron kept his arm thrown over Tony’s shoulders, careful not to throw off his balance as he hobbled to where the company car was waiting. His pain had gone down from an eleven to an eight thanks to the visit to the doctor, but he still struggled to keep up most days. Taron was nice enough to slow down his pace for Tony’s benefit, and Zephyr fell into step beside them.

The driver for the company car was a kobold named Ghrid. He was short-tempered, often glared at Taron whenever he ended up as Taron’s driver, but he was okay with Tony. He didn't complain about how long it took him to settle in the back seat anyway.

“Go sit in the front,” Zephyr demanded, while Tony was settling into his seat.

“What? Why the hell would I do that? You go sit in the front!” Taron argued.

Tony couldn’t really see them without leaning funny, and he didn’t want to hurt himself, so he could only listen to them bicker. It was a common occurrence, and Tony would be used to it if it didn’t seem to always have something to do with him. He felt guilty about causing trouble for them.

“If you want him to be comfortable being out late, then I need to help him on the way. You can handle one trip in the front seat. Don't be such a brat.”

Wrong thing to say. Taron took offense, and Tony knew he’d start screeching eventually. Ignoring the pain that shot up his side, he leaned over and grabbed Taron’s wrist, tugging slightly.

“I’ll sit in the middle. Please don’t fight.” Because of him. Again.

Thankfully, they went with the idea and Tony slid into the smaller middle seat so they could both crowd it. It wouldn’t exactly be a comfortable trip, he wasn’t a small guy, and neither were Taron and Zephyr, but at least no one would be seething in the front seat. Tony would deal with it.

“To the station, Ghrid, my friend. We’re celebrating this week’s progress in the demon realm. You’re welcome to join us.”

The irritated noise from the front seat preceded Ghrid’s growl. “I’m on duty tonight. Someone has to drive your drunk behind home.”

“Ah. True. Apologies. I’ll make it up to you,” Taron promised.

“How’s your pain?” Zephyr asked in his ear. It made Tony shiver, and he just barely hid the reaction by rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. These two had a serious effect on him. If he wasn’t careful, they’d figure it out, and it’d only make it that much more awkward when they fired him.

“I, uh… It’s fine, I guess. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Zephyr’s dark eyes narrowed, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he said, “I’m going to do the same thing as last time. Even if the pain is okay right now, it’ll help you get through the night. Alright?”

Tony nodded uneasily. It felt nice the first time, but he was still convinced he was going to be let go. Why would they be so nice if they were just going to take it all away again? Did they feel guilty? That only made him feel worse. They shouldn’t have to coddle him to let him go.

While he was busy spiraling, Zephyr put his hand on Tony’s thigh, sending tiny electric shocks up his side through his clothes. He sucked in a breath, startled for a moment, before relaxing into it. It did help a lot. He almost wished he could take Zephyr home with him. What would it be like if there weren’t clothes in the way? Would it help more? But then he’d have to be naked for Zephyr to reach the more painful spots. Not that he’d necessarily have a problem with that. He cast a quick glance at the man beside him. No… He really wouldn’t.

His mind dipped straight into the gutter, imagining what could happen if they were both naked. And because Taron was practically glued to his side, he entered the daydream, too. Tony felt himself swell as he was bombarded with images, and with them both so close to him, there was no hiding it. He ducked his head, his face turning bright red when he noticed the smile tugging at Zephyr’s lips. Goddess, he was the worst. Zephyr was trying to help him feel better, and he was imagining him in every dirty way possible. Firing him was for the best.

“Sorry,” he murmured. He wished he could lean away, but that would only put him closer to Taron, and it wouldn’t help anything. In the end, he could only put his hands in his lap to hide the bulge and hope he didn't start crying from embarrassment.

“It’s fine,” Zephyr answered in a whisper. “It’s bound to happen when your body feels relief from pain after such a long time.”

Yeah, let’s go with that. It had nothing to do with Tony being a pervert. He might burst into flames at this point, he was blushing so hard.

Firm hands gripped his shoulders, turning him a little so Taron could rub the knots. Tony’s stomach hollowed out and the problem only got worse. They were both touching him now, and he was both turned on and terrified. He didn’t know what any of it meant. Why they were being so nice. And he was afraid of getting used to something he couldn’t keep. No matter how much he wanted it.