Better Late Than Not

Hi Dear Readers! Sorry this is late. This last week was busy busy. My Domestic Partner's Man Cub wed last Sunday evening. With family in town and all the associated happenings, I spent more time running and socializing than I normally do. Between getting home at midnight Sunday and end of the month as well as quarter at work, I've been going non-stop in between recovering from lack of sleep.

The basket for Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention is coming together. We've got books and other goodies ready to give away to one lucky winner. I'll be representing our Talbot's Peak gaggle in Chicago. Please enter our raffle and stop by to say hello. Who knows you could also win a role in one of my up coming books!

I'm listening to what is the next segment in Bettina and Louie's story. They are talking and I'm not sure who is going to start off our next piece. Rest assured they will decide and there'll be more to reveal.

Keep safe and out of the weather as needed! Share a good story or two with your loves and spice. I've taken my own advice. My spice are enjoying the attention as am I.

Happy Weekend!

SOLARA

Boot Scootin' Bunny...

Okay, I'll continue the bunny theme of the week.  May I introduce Reggie Rabbit - a misunderstood and maligned Miss from the Doomed Love Club.

~~

Reggie walked down Main Street, her well worn and much loved cowboy boots slapping to a beat only she could hear.  Her nose twitched on more than one occasion even though she’d given strict cease and desist instructions to the little bugger.  Where she was going, any outward signs of her shifter nature would not be welcome. 

As luck would have it spring had sprung into the mid-seventies weather yesterday—a perfect put a smile on your face day.  The kind of smile Reggie needed desperately these days.  Unfortunately, today brought back the low forties, typical for this time of the year, but it froze the fluffy little tail under her short, gauzy – perfect for spring – skirt she’d chosen for this adventure.   

Valentine’s Day had sucked, the day after sucked, the week after sucked and the week after that sucked, as well.  Lately, all of her weeks sucked, but today would change that—as long as she no one asked her where she was going.  Reggie hated to lie, loathed to lie if the truth be known, yet everyone she knew instinctively thought the worst of her.  Years ago, the town had decided she was a lying Lolita and the reputation held, though wholly undeserved.

“Regiiiina Teluska, out and about, in such an inappropriate outfit…considering the weather and all.”

Meriym ‘The Perfectly Putrid’ Link, Mayor’s cousin and the bane of Reggie’s existence all the way through school, drew out her name just as she had in high school.  Regiiiina the vagina her detested nickname all four years lingered on, even into adulthood.  Kids were cruel, but Meriym was vicious.  It probably had a lot to do with Reggie stealing Meriym’s boyfriend, but in her own defense she’d not known they were still dating.  The dweeb had lied to her and she’d fallen for it—hook, line and carrot.

Reggie continued to walk—as she’d always done—away from the mean-spirited ape.  She didn’t have time to engage the lice picker in a war of words, nor did she want to bring herself down before the audition.

“Ooh, is Regiiiina gonna ignore me?”

Cadillac, black jack, baby take me outback…   Reggie fought to keep the tune in her head over the snark coming from Ms. Putrid.  She slowed at the corner and continued to ignore her unwanted entourage.

“A bus stop…  Oh, is it too much to hope you’ve finally decided to take your slutty bunny butt to a different town and leave our good men alone?”

…We’re gonna boogie. The song continued and her toes tapped as she filtered the dance steps through her head.  She would not be pulled into this woman’s spitefulness.  She had more important things to think about…like the possibility of a job, dancing at the new hunter bar that went up across the county line.

“Well?  Are you going to answer me, Regiiiina.”

Reggie bit the inside of her lip so as not to laugh at the other woman’s angst.  The truth was Meriym might be quite likeable if she would find some self-confidence and a scrap of decency. Hell Reggie might even like her if Ms. Putrid would get laid by a non cheating man once in a while.  Not that it mattered one bit; Meriym could never like herself long enough for that to happen.

As the bus pulled up to the corner, Reggie shot the unhappy monkey her best ‘I’m bored now’ look and boarded the bus out of town.  She made her way to the back, knowing full well she was breaking a rule that every alpha in town, male and female alike, had imposed upon the betas on down. 

‘Do not go near the hunter’s new bar!’   

She had to though.  If she wanted her life to change she needed to grab the bull by the horns—not an easy task with some of the brutes she knew—and make it so.  She’d considered approaching the  always fair Dante about adding a night or two of country music to the dance club, then offering to set the mood with some line dancing and yee hawing.  However, since the town males refused to come near her anymore for fear of their women’s wrath, she hated to put the big man in such a crappy position.

The bus rumbled beneath Reggie’s feet and Meriym became smaller and smaller in the back window.  She could do this.  She could fool a room full of hunter’s into thinking she was nothing more than human, she thought.  Even as her little bunny nose twitched.

~~

 Reggie, Reggie, Reggie...

May ya'll find a little boot scootin' of your own this weekend!  Yee Haw!

Serena

Sadie Exacts Her Revenge

Tuesday Springtime howls and yowls, shapeshifter lovers.

It's late. Time for the bunnies to mate. Or not... okay, sorry for that silliness... this is what lack of sleep will do to you.
~~~~~~

~ PART TWO ~

Sadie Exacts Her Revenge

Hunt them down like a relentless slayer, and exact her revenge on the four Velvephur brothers -- to that endgame, Sadie trained her gaze on the dagger.

The very instant Blade Runner leaned over, and swiftly pulled it from the ground, she leaped forward like a jackrabbit. In a few bounds, Sadie hit her stride racing on the course. No need to hurtle through the thick brambles.

Soon enough her Velvephur prey would have to use the main trail. In the meantime, Sadie focused on her breathing, on the running rhythm of her body. Even the Springtime scents of the forest that usually delighted her, and sent her pulse into overdrive, were placed in the back of her mind.

Keeping one eye for any loose stones on the trail, Sadie settled into a fast pace even though she ran up a long but moderate incline. First on her list would likely be 'dumb bunny ass', or the second brother, Zevion. Only because she knew he was the type of runner who started slow, and picked up speed close to the finish line.

She smiled inwardly at the sounds of their bodies crashing through the underbrush not far ahead of her. Strong to her rabbit ears but minimal to a human ear, Sadie easily followed the four brothers' progress.

To her 'somewhat' surprise, Dhogon, the oldest Velvephur, zigged and zagged between a stand of birch trees, then darted onto the trail. So like the overbearing, son of a buck to play hero for his brothers.

She'd show him! Glee burned deliciously through Sadie as she sprinted toward her target. Like a pair of ripe plump turnips his butt was the perfect invitation.

Oh, Mr. High and Mighty Buck made an impressive dash for it, but all of her training kicked in. On a high that made her feel as if she floated, Sadie dashed faster. Catching up to Dhogon, she passed him, then flashed her foot backward -- rabbit style -- just enough to thump his shin squarely.

Down he went. She heard his human flesh thud on the hard-packed trail. Glancing over her shoulder, Sadie watched him tumble backward in an ungainly heap.

Woman-doe power! She silently celebrated as she sniffed for her next Velvephur victim. Supercharged on all the organic carrot juice she'd been drinking for the past several months, Sadie resumed her racing stride.

Ha, her luck held! There was 'dumb turd ass', not thirty feet from her. Zevion emerged fast from between two huge huckleberry bushes. Gaining the trail in a single bound, he took off like the hunted rabbit he was, and the chase began.

Sadie bore down, flattening and lengthening her stride. Her fury at Zevion's refusal to even give her the courtesy of refusing him as a mate, fueled her feet. Before she knew it, his prime onion butt belonged to her.

Matching his speed, she stretched toward her target. Then, with enormous satisfaction, Sadie sank her teeth into the meatiest part of his ass. Hard. Crunch!

Zevion squealed like a girlie bunny, grabbed for his injured butt, then nearly stumbled. He slowed immediately, out of the running. Triumphant, Sadie sailed ahead of him, and felt the big smirk on her face.

As she watched and listened for the next Velvephur, her on-the-inside smile couldn't have been wider. So far, she was on revenge-track, and the lettuce leaves looked greener with every pump of her legs.

Determined to have her full measure of retaliation, Sadie concentrated on negotiating the course. The rough stretch she'd entered snaked downhill. Not far ahead of her, the trail curved sharply, and she couldn't see beyond the outcropping of rock.

However, about a quarter of a mile beyond the outcropping -- midway through the course -- the two other brothers, Dhirkon and Zulian, would be forced to run on the trail instead of staying inside the thickets.

Feeling like super bunny girl, still Sadie checked in with her body. Her blood hummed in her ears nicely, and her heart thump-thumped with a healthy rhythm.

Two down... two to go. Sadie rounded the curve, and seeing neither Dhirkon, the jerk-on, or Zulian, the notorious humper, she searched the dense forest with her gaze.

Elder pine trees lined the course now, so the brothers could remain hidden a while longer. Plus, the deep bed of pine needles lessened the sound of their footfalls.

With a suddenness that stopped and started her heart, Mr. Dumb Bunny brushed against her side. Dhirkon bounded in front of her, acting as though he could outrun Sadie easy as fresh spinach pie.

No way, alfalfa hay breath! Sadie set her jaw, narrowed her eyes, and charged toward him. Mentally, she saw his raised white tail, and with her arms moving back and forth like a track runner, she increased her speed.

With her tunnel vision aimed at Dhirkon's Roma-tomato butt cheeks, Sadie closed the distance quickly. Obviously, stunned by her ability to catch up to him, Dhirkon weaved back and forth, frantically attempting to shake her off his tail.

Take it like a man-rabbit, Sadie scolded as she watched for her opportunity. Anticipating his next jag to the side, she shot her hand between his legs. Within an instant, she gripped his two hot jelly beans.

After giving a fast squeeze, she let go. Mr. Dumb Bunny fell to his knees, the crack of sound audible.

Got to hurt. Sadie jogged past him, taking enormous pleasure in the way he protectively folded his hands over his breeding equipment -- and the stricken, down-a-few-ego-sizes look on his admittedly handsome face.

Surrender my tail pink to you...never! Not in a million zillion years.

With a mental shake of her head, Sadie refocused on the last Velvephur brother, Zulian. Ahead of her about fifty feet, Mr. Humper Thumper raced flat out on the part of the trail that slanted upward and turned to stone.

Oh, yes, did she have a sweetpea plan of revenge for 'dark chocolate eyes', several in fact -- depending on his action or reaction to being hunted down. With her breaths a bit labored now, Sadie sought her second wind as she chased him and assessed his speed.

Carrot tops! He must have done some of his own training, unlike his brothers. With her stride still flowing and easy, Sadie followed keeping pace with Zulian.

She'd need to make her move soon, though, to beat the ungallant, youngest Velvephur to the finish line, and teach him and his clan a lesson in proper chivalry.

Reaching deep down inside, Sadie gathered her remaining strength. She let her done-wrong wrath surface full force. Her feet flew beneath her, on the wings of sheer will.

She ran so fast it felt as though she'd entered some kind of trance. Nothing, no one was going to stop her.

With each stride, she gained on Zulian. Only about thirty feet from him, she rounded the final bend in the trail before the finish line... smack! Hard smack.

Sadie collided with his hard-as-a-shield chest before she could put on the brakes. He'd stopped and turned. Now he caught her as she bounced off his well-muscled, too well-built human male body.

"What are you doing?" she garbled out angrily, then rubbed her now sore nose. "Ouch!"

"I'm letting you catch me, my sweet blossom girl." He kissed the tip of her nose before she could do a thing about stopping him.

"I would have caught you anyway... Mr. Humper Thumper." For some reason, she couldn't muster up the strength to step out of his arms, or demand he release her. Of course, her breaths chased themselves from her physical exertion... and...

"Humper Thumper," he drawled, hardly out of breath. "I heard you called me that. I'll admit to a few raunchy fantasies of you--"

"Shut up." Sadie stomped on his foot, even though she knew it would have little affect, given her soft-soled running shoes. "Oh sure, you can hump every other woman while refusing to hump me as your mate."

He leaned back so their gazes met. Those chocolate eyes of his seemed to search for her soul, for more...

"Wouldn't you have refused me as your mate, Sadie?" His velvety dark tone tickled her inner rabbit ears way too sexily.

Time for action. But first... "Who wants a mate who will mount every woman in sight... well, every woman he can take to the Pleasure Club."

Not waiting for an answer, Sadie grabbed his hand, and whirled around. She gave a good tug, then marched toward the finish line. Either he would follow her.... or not.

If he did, then she'd know.

Instead, Zulian captured her waist with one arm and hauled her against his side so her feet dangled. Like a swashbuckling pirate from her imagination, he strode toward the finish line carrying her.

Breathless, Sadie only had short time to appreciate his passionate manhandling. Because Zulian halted abruptly before crossing the line.

Given the rules, he had no choice. It remained up to her to drag or bring him across.

As he set her on her feet, Sadie smiled most wickedly, even as they faced each other. In full view of Blade Runner and both clans -- although they remained a discreet distance away -- Sadie launched upward on her tippy toes.

She planted a long impassioned kiss on Zulian's tempting lips -- a kiss that seared her down to her toes. Still, her resolve didn't fail her.

Ending their kiss, she sank down to her feet. As their gazes merged, she throatily challenged, "Your turn to chase me. If you want me for your mate, Zulian Velvephur."

Spinning around, Sadie stepped across the finish line, and hopped into a run.
~~~~~~

~ Happy Spring Shapeshifting ~

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~

One Man's Trash ...

“Scat, not again.” Digger upended the cage trap and dumped his “catch” onto the lawn. The fluffy bunny righted itself and glared up at him over such disrespectful treatment. “You might as well switch,” he told the rabbit. “I don’t eat sentients. Lucky for you my nose can tell the difference.”

The rabbit fastidiously brushed its paws over its long, silky fur, straightened up on its hind legs and shifted into a petite golden blonde with curvy hips and big feet. She continued to brush dirt and dew off her skin, all the while growling in a most unrabbitty manner.

“A trap?” she snapped at the wolf, with a curt gesture at the offending apparatus. “You use traps?”

“Sometimes I don’t feel like chasing my dinner. Which is real rabbits, not you guys. You should know better than to raid a wolf’s garden anyway. Look, there’s a sign right there.”

“Since when do wolves grow veggies?” the rabbit retorted, pointedly ignoring the prominent “Herbies keep out, this means YOU” sign right behind her. “You probably don’t even eat half this stuff.”

“No, but the things I do eat love it. So does the human I’m dating. Oh, get that look off your face. Everybody dates a human at least once. Mine likes salads and home-made spaghetti, so stay away from the tomatoes.”

The rabbit eyed the rows of lettuce slyly. “She can’t eat that much. What happens to the rest of it? You just let it rot?”

Digger glared at the sassy bunny. “Okay, just this once. Take what you want and get out, before I haul you inside for breakfast, and not in a good way, either.”

# # #

Lorelei hustled home with her booty, an armful of Romaine lettuce. She had big plans for both the lettuce and the evening. Tonight was her anniversary with her boyfriend Bobby, and she intended to make the party unforgettable.

She probably shouldn’t have been so hard on the wolf for liking to play in the dirt. Everyone should have a hobby. Lorelei’s was creating her own garments, using her own fur—a major advantage to being an Angora rabbit. She’d been wondering what kind of dress to sew to tantalize Bobby with when her nose had drawn her to the wolf’s garden, and inspiration struck.

She added a little skip to her gait as she dashed through the woods to her cottage. She didn’t have much time. If all went well, this would be a dinner to remember.

# # #

“Hey, baby.” Bobby breezed into Lorelei’s cottage and tossed his leather jacket over a chair. Knowing Lorelei’s appetites, the rest of his outfit would probably join it before they got halfway through dinner. “Your big bad buck is here.”

“Just a minute,” Lorelei sang from the kitchen. “I’m putting the finishing touches on dinner.”

Bobby flopped onto the sofa and began to loosen his belt. He knew that tone in Lorelei’s voice. Among rabbits, “hello” counted as foreplay. “What are we having?”

Lorelei stepped out of the kitchen and posed provocatively in the doorway. “Greens.”

Bobby’s jaw dropped. She’d made herself a skimpy minidress that just barely covered the hot bunny bits—all out of broad lettuce leaves. A ring of ranch dressing around her neck and down into her cleavage served in lieu of a necklace. She twirled to give him the full effect. “What do you think?”

Bobby had already stopped thinking with his upper head. He bounded off the sofa and over to Lorelei and took in a deep-lunged sniff. “Farm fresh,” he pronounced huskily. “Where’d you get this? Not from the supermarket.”

“Some wolf’s put in a veggie plot. He’s growing it for his girlfriend or something.” She waved a leaf of her “bra” under his nose. “You like?”

“Me like.” The big buck nibbled at her Romaine bodice. His tongue kept slipping off the greens and onto her bosom. Lorelei didn’t complain. “So this is dinner?”

“This is dinner. Once you finish your vegetables … ” She tore a strip off her skirt and chewed on it suggestively. “Then you get dessert.”

He buried his nose in the dressing dripping between her boobs. “Here’s to vegetarianism.”

Be Careful What and WhoYou Know

Louie looked at the blood red invitation and read the decorative writing again. Snorting, he tossed the invite on his desk.

A hard knock sounded, rattling the closed office door. Great, the culprit was on time. She never let herself be other than punctual. Then Bettina, queen of Talbot’s Peak largest vampire clan, thrived on ceremony and a lot of pomp. Lots of pomp and circumstance. Why the hell had she chosen his miniscule establishment was beyond him. Never keep a vampiress waiting.

Louie moved around his desk muttering a prayer or two hoping Bettina’s mood was better than the last time they’d done business. A century ago in Brooklyn before she’d let her ratty henchmen at him. Shit, who’d known how deadly a few rat bites could get? Louie inhaled and opened the door. This meeting would go better.

“Good Day Your Highness,” Louie offered as he opened the door, bowing low. Red stiletto heels the same color as the invitation greet his gaze. Slowly rising, he took in the gams before him. Built better than most run way models and muscular in all the right places, he swallowed hard as memories rushed to the surface of those legs wrapped around his head as he licked a rather engorged clit bringing Bettina to another deep hard orgasm. He raised higher catching sight of the short black leather skirt that began mid-thigh.

Louie blinked working to keep his gaze off center as he up righted. Never look a vampire dead in the eye ran through his mind. And if he didn’t want to risk another sexual encounter with Bettina, he’d best not let her catch him off guard. The woman oozed sensuality.

Bettina raked her eyes over Louie. How long had it been? Their last encounter had led to a war between the were rats and her fledgling vampires. Dumb assed moves on both their parts. Power hungry and unsure of herself, she’d made rash moves. Building alliances hadn’t come easy to her. Nor were pregnancy and a pending marriage setting well with her. Great, she needed a friend and confidante not Louie cowering before her.

“Louie, stop acting like I’m better than you.” Bettina sighed and hoped she’d not glamoured him. Keeping the edge and illusion out of her voice didn’t come easy. Every time she used more than a hint of her powers, the baby kicked and illness warped through her body. “I really need your help and to sit down.”

There she’d said it. Got out the words she never expected to say or admit. Needing help didn’t sit well with her. No queen outwardly let on her weakness. Like it or not, Bettina needed Louie’s assistance.

Louie waved Bettina in. What had she said? She requested his help. This wasn’t the hard ass Bettina he knew or avoided. Never mind vampires were a loco bunch if not kept under restraint. Add in the mixed bloods and who the hell knew what the outcome would be. Talbot’s Peak had a reputation to defend and keeping peace amongst its citizens mattered to Louie. He liked his unique shifter friends and many of the humans he’d come to know. Talbot’s Peak was home and he wasn’t moving again. Bettina better behave. He’d hate to have to have Gil take her out with a round or two of silver bullets dipped in holy water and garlic powder. Thank goodness for the full moon and the small revolver Gil possessed. Hiding under the desk offered Gil a prime shot if necessary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy weekend everyone! Warmth and Spring are here! Yahoo! Our Talbot's Peak Crew are ready to celebrate. I'm off to a family wedding this weekend. Remember to keep dry and safe in the crazy weather warping across the country. Share a book or two with your spice and loved ones!

SOLARA

Alien Abduction in Talbot's Peak!

“Oh friggy Fig Newtons!”  Frieda scrubbed once again at her goober green face with the washcloth. Every brand of soap she’d used was worthless in removing the paint she’d sprayed all over her body…and she did mean all over.  At least the pubs could be covered, but not so much for her face.  Gah!  How was she going to explain this to the ladies of the doomed love club?

Greely would probably take offense at the color, thinking Frieda was making fun of her froggy nature.  Jada would make snide comments.  Reggie would roll her eyes and Bobbi Sue would hide when the loud voices came out to play.

“Shit!” Frieda threw the rag, knowing it wouldn’t go far in her tiny apartment bathroom then watched it drop down into the sink.  She stared at her still green-tinted face through the soapy splat on the mirror disgusted, once again, for not reading the directions.  She’d been far too eager to meet her date at Dante’s. 

Her hook-up had been arranged online through one of the town’s shifter seeking shifter chat rooms.  It hadn’t been until she’d already struck up a conversation with her date that she’d realized she was in the wrong fetish room.   Sure, the whole alien fetish thing was outside her comfort zone, but she was open to trying new things and really, who didn’t have a funky obsession these days. 

Hell, it was common knowledge that the editor of the Gazette had a thing about rulers.  Then there was the sexy snake who danced in drag at the pleasure club.  Shoot, the town peaparrot was known for her take charge attitude and her love of leather.  Had Frieda known before hand what her date was looking for exactly she would have sent him to Penny.  No matter how Frieda tried to work it, she couldn’t play the part of the abductor.

So she and the alien abductee had both gone home last night, disappointed that there was to be no probing.  Frieda had the double disappointment that she couldn’t remove all of the unused paint.  Now she had to walk through town, looking slightly green and fess-up to her group the big failure of Frieda Farr—again.  

 Frieda flipped off the bathroom light and made her way to the entry way closet.  Surely she had a hat or scarf she could use as a semi cover.  If not, she’d have to man up and walk with her head held high, queen-like. 

The soft material of her Shibari ropes stroked over her hands as she reached for the closet light.  She longed to use the beautiful rigging as they were intended—tightly, sexually and with artistic flair.  Just once she wished she could meet another with a kink to match her own.

LOL...well, Savanna, it wasn't in a brothel, but it did have aliens...kinda.  ~wink~

Have a glowing, green weekend everyone!

Serena

No post

Sorry about no-posting on you guys. I got a new computer and am half way through transferring files between it and my old one... which means I can't find half my files. How about some instant flash fiction, instead? The following is a 3Dimage I made a week ago and I think I'll make up a story to explain it.


Shrill, happy-child giggles echoed throughout the halls, ricocheting off every surface, as shrill noises were want to do when every surface is made of glass. Ishmael pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes tight. His beloved nephews were in the board room again. The Chess King was not going to be happy if they left finger prints all over the place. Again.

If? What was he thinking? Of course they were going to leave fingerprints all over. He loved the little tyrants, really he did. But if he'd wanted to raise little glasswork babies, he'd have married and had some. Life in the Glass Palace was no place for a family. Not that he had any choice but to raise his recently orphaned nephews here, of course. He still had ten years left on his indenture contract. He had been lucky to get an indenture in the first place.

Ten years previous, he'd been a wild young man who'd thought he knew it all. He'd joined with up with a band of like-minded glasswork youths and rebelled against the Chess King. Well, they had thought they were rebelling. The king thought they were a bunch of moronic children. Hence the twenty year indenture to the Glass Palace, "repaying his dept to society" by polishing and shining all the kings ridiculous baubles.

And now he would have to polish the king's pride and joy, a larger than life, living chess set. He entered the board room with a fierce glare on his face, determined that this time, they were not going to weasel out of the punishment they had coming. But then he saw Garth and Gantry looking at him with such earnest little faces. Ishmael signed in resignation. How could he possibly sand the little tyrants' butts after they made him a sign like that?

Running of the Buck Rabbits

Happy 2012 Vernal Equinox, shapeshifter lovers.

May Springtime bring you joy and a beautiful connection with our Mother Earth.
~~~~~~

Running of the Buck Rabbits

Competing with the raw green smells of Springtime, the fast heated blood of rabbit shapeshifters tantalized Dante's nostrils as they morphed to human form. Their rapid heartbeats called to his wild wolfen nature, and he mentally licked his chops.

Instead of giving chase, Dante merely shook his head as he observed the gathering of the two rabbit clans from atop an outdoor stand, disguised to look like it belonged to human hunters. Yip-yip awoooo, the first day of Spring, what else did he expect? When the bunny bucks turned March-mad with the need to hump and mate.

Only it wasn't the four strapping bucks who would fight for a mate on the vernal equinox of 2012. No, Dante had never witnessed this type of 'gamechanger' role-reversal between the sexes. Not once during his lengthy worldwide travels.

So, yeah-howl, he'd had a big paw in bringing it about, though, all to help the little bunny shifter, Sadie. She was an excellent server at the Midnight Stardust Supperclub. So, when she'd come to him with those big brown eyes of hers, and her sweet round face, asking him to keep the peace between her clan and another local clan, Dante hadn't been able to refuse.

Thank the Mother Moon, Blade Runner -- Talbot Peak's resident extraterrestrial rabbit shifter and Dante's good sparring buddy -- had been amused by Sadie's unusual request. He'd taken control the situation with his usual efficiency and elegant style.

Immediately, Blade Runner gained agreement on the rules for the Sadie Hawkins like event, meant to ease tensions between the two rabbit shapeshifter clans. With his carefully chosen team, he'd laid out the miles' long course through the surrounding forest, then placed observation stations along the challenging terrain.

Blade Runner had also appointed himself the official referee. There'd been little argument from the two buck clan leaders, especially after their mates eyed them. Dante had grinned to himself watching the wifely warning -- also the silent promise of mating pleasures later.

****

Sadie twitched her buns back and forth, shaking her invisible tail. She jogged in place preparing to run the course she'd already been over with a fine-tooth comb, and committed to memory.

Oh, tingly-wiggly inside, yes! She was absolutely aware of how the four Velvephur brothers eyed her assets, like a prime patch of carrots.

"Give it up, girl. You won't catch any of us," the oldest Velvephur shouted with an assertive arrogance that flattened her inner ears. "Besides, the Leap Year date has already passed, if you haven't checked a calendar recently."

Lettuce turds, he could be ultra annoying. Not bothering with an answer, or even glancing in his direction, Sadie halted her pumping legs. She flipped her long pony tail over her shoulder, then began warming up her torso with rhythmic waist twists.

"Even wearing that skintight pink racing suit won't help you, sweet cheeks," the next-in-line-brother taunted, amusement in his tone.

Yeah, who's going to look like the dumb bunny ass when I tag your ass? Unknown to everyone but herself, Sadie had trained with the dedication of an Olympic athlete, before she'd even spoken with Dante.

A steady supply of anger had driven each and every step during her long training sessions. Sadie had been insulted to her core by the Velvephur brothers' refusal to honor the agreement their clans had made when they'd been youngsters -- even though Sadie herself had no intention of keeping it.

From the corner of her eye, she watched the third brother smirk, and fold his arms as if all he planned to do was languidly lope his way to the finish line. He winked audaciously, then called out, "I might just let our hot-pink cutie catch me, if she promises to give up the tail pink..."

"Shut up, son," Clan Leader Velvephur cut through the still-chilly morning air.

The neatly spinning flash of Blade Runner's slim weapon aimed at Mr. Dumb Bunny, the Third -- as Sadie thought of him of late -- gratified her some. She also used his ego-stupidity to fuel her. Now the desire to win raged through her like a dry-grass prairie fire.

Sadie twisted at the waist facing the fourth brother, and the handsomest one to her eye. Admittedly, she couldn't get enough of his dark-chocolate soulful eyes, his waves of hair that were the same rich color, his high-jumper athletic build... but she also knew he was a humper, a Lothario-type of the worst order, even for a rabbit shifter. Everyone knew he kept a room reserved at the Pleasure Club, unlike his brothers.

"Anything you want to say?" She tossed her words like a bunch of tasty root veggies at Mr. Humper Thumper, then turned away.

She took a moment to grin. Even to her ears, her tone had been remarkably neutral with just that perfect slice-to-the-gut edge. Focusing on the course before her, Sadie felt her racing engine rev up inside. She loved it.

"Catch me, Sadie. Drag me across the finish line, beautiful tail girl, and I'll honor the marriage agreement between our clans."

A frisson of astonishment shot through her middle. Not so much from Mr. Humper Thumper's words, but because of his calm and enigmatic manner as he spoke them. There'd been a depth in his tone she had no time to explore.

Shaking it off, Sadie leaned forward, and positioned herself to launch into her full racing speed. After all, she had a plan, one forged in the ice and fire of her wrath.

"Ready, gentleman rabbits," Blade Runner intoned. "Once the point of my dagger touches the ground you're off and running for your bachelor's freedom." He paused for dramatic affect, his wand-like blade twirling rapidly between his fingers. "Once I retrieve the dagger, Sadie of the Windflower Clan, will be chasing your un-furry tails." Blade Runner paused again. "As has been agreed by both clans, the outcome of this event will end all enmity."

Like everyone present, Sadie fastened her gaze on Blade Runner. With a precise and artful flip of his wrist, he sent the dagger high into the air. She stilled, tensing. There was no sound as the glistening silver dagger succumbed to gravity, the point aiming for earth.

The dagger struck with sweet precision. From her peripheral vision Sadie watched the four brothers sprint across the start line. By their early speed, and their dash for the brambles, she figured they now suspected or sensed her intention to hunt them down.
~~~

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK... hopefully...
~~~~~~

~ Happy Vernal Equinox ~

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~

Hot Diggety Dog

“Help you with something?” Laurie asked.

Her customer jumped. That answered that. From the way he’d been pouring over the seed packets she’d been pretty sure he hadn’t heard her approach. He swung around and presented her with the most gorgeous golden eyes she’d ever seen. Shifter eyes. Since arriving in Talbot’s Peak almost a year ago, she’d seen enough eyes in all shades of yellow to last her several lifetimes.

None as pretty as his, however. And he’d been nice enough to tie his glossy brown hair back in a ponytail to show them off. Laurie quickly tucked her own auburn flyaway frizz behind her ears.

What kind of shifter could he be? The garden center’s customer demographic fell into two general groups: herbivores growing their own food and human retirees. He was way too young for the latter, but something in his body language didn’t fit the former. After a couple of months she’d learned how to spot the shifters among the scanty human population. Now she was working on telling the meat-munchers from the grass-gulpers.

He gestured at the spinner rack of seeds. “What do rabbits like?”

“Greens and roots, mostly.” Laurie pointed out the carrots, radishes, and three types of leaf lettuce. “Wouldn’t you know that already?”

“Why?”

“So you are a carnivore.”

He narrowed his lovely and now-suspicious golden eyes. “And you’re a human.”

“With a sister who’s married to a bear. Don’t worry, I’d never tell anyone about this place. Next to plants, I love animals. You are … ” She looked him up and down. Nice broad shoulders, trim legs in dirty jeans, a scruff of facial hair. Not much to go on. Then she spotted the telltale clue. “I’ll bet you’re canine. Wolf, I think.”

“How can you tell?”

Since his manner was nowhere near aggressive, she figured he wasn’t an alpha. That gave her the guts to take his hand and spread his fingers across her palm. “The dirt under your nails. I used to raise dachshunds. They tore up my garden like you wouldn’t believe.”

He flashed a smile that put the shine in his eyes to shame. “That’s a bad habit of mine. I figured I might as well put it to good use.”

“You like vegetables?”

“No, but the bunnies do. I like bunnies.” His tongue washed his lips. “I know marigolds drive them off. What else have you got?”

“You mean flowers?”

“Yeah, flowers.” A note of defensiveness jacked his voice down to a growl. “I like flowers, but I keep digging them up.”

“We’ll get you something hardy then, with bulbs. Any favorites? Colors, blooms?”

“Something with a strong aroma. To hide my scent from the rabbits,” he added hastily.

You big liar, Laurie thought with an inward grin. “It’s okay to be a guy and like flowers,” she told him. “We girls don’t mind.”

“Maybe humans don’t. Wolves get picky.”

And probably picked on any wolf who deviated from accepted behavior, especially one of lower rank. “Well, c’mon back to the greenhouse, and we’ll find something a lady wolf would like.”

He trotted at heel like a good doggie as Laurie pointed out the spring bloom display. Definitely not alpha. That was a relief. Sandra’s husband had scared Laurie half to death at first, and he turned out to be the gentlest grizzly she’d ever met. Well, the only grizzly she’d ever met, or seen outside of a zoo.

The wolf’s nose tested a dozen blossoms before he settled on hyacinths. His face took on a rapt expression, like he’d died and gone to doggie heaven. “It smells great in here,” he said on a sigh. “I just want to roll in all the beds. You smell great too. I could roll—” He broke off, a flush creeping under his facial scruff.

“You’re not very good at this, are you?”

“Delta rank, just below beta. Of course, when an alpha swaggers in, we might as well all be omegas as far as the shes are concerned. We don’t get many dates.”

“Well, before you start rolling, maybe we should introduce ourselves. I’m Laurie.”

He took the hand she offered. “Greg. Call me Digger. The whole pack does.”

“I’ll bet you’ve got a beautiful garden.”

“I should probably plant some herbs. For cooking the bunnies.”

“I’d rather not hear about that part of it.”

"Oh. Okay." He looked at the floor. “You’re right, I’m not very good at this.”

They headed for the register. Digger dumped his seed packets on the counter. Laurie took more care setting the hyacinths down. “At what?”

“Asking shes out on dates.”

Laurie rounded the counter. “First of all, it’s ‘girls’ or ‘women’ for humans. Second, I’d rather not know I’m eating rabbit. Third, you don’t have to bring me flowers. I see enough every day.”

“Was that a yes?”

“Yes, that was a yes. I kind of figured that’s what you really wanted, after you spent almost a half hour pacing around out front.”
“Yeah.” Digger smoothed his hand over his hair. “Good at flinging dirt around. Subtlety, not so hot.”

“Me either.” He really was cute, and not an alpha. The big shifters and the aggressive shifters still made her nervous. Laurie figured she could handle a low-rank wolf. Maybe they could talk about gardening.

Plant the seed, nurture it, give it room to grow. Who knew what might sprout out of the soil?

I do love a man with dirt under his nails.

Laurie rang up his purchases, and threw in a free packet of plant food spikes. “See you tonight?” she asked.

Six Sentence Sunday ~ With each lunge...

From the Kougar’s Writing Den ~

Computer count: the last six 'unedited' *X-rated* sentences from Chapter Thirty-Three ~

With each lunge of his cock, her ecstasy winged higher, and she roamed her hands through his hair. Her breasts couldn't get enough of his hard carved chest as he moved on top of her.

Not missing a beat, he sealed their mouths, his kiss deep and wildly passionate. Sherilyn swooned from head to toe even as her pussy sweltered and fluttered around his shaft with the beginnings of her orgasm.

He increased the speed of his spearing thrusts, and she knew what he wanted. What he demanded of her -- the taste of her bliss as she orgasmed around his cock.
~~~~~~

Coming soon...

Her Midnight Stardust Cowboys

[A shapeshifter erotic romance]

~~~~~~

Have a Magickal March Day!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~~~~

~~~ Find out more about Six Sentence Sunday at ~ sixsunday.com ~~~
~~~~~~

The Sounds of Non-Silence

Sally smiled, waving Tory closer. St. Paddy’s Day and numerous shades of green filled the bar. Nothing compared with the shade of green beer Anthony had concocted to go with the corn beef and cabbage special they were serving. At least it smelled pleasant. A hint of mint as it came out of the tap.

“What’s up,” Tory asked as she got closer.

Sally bit her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter. She eyed the two men sitting closest to the front door. Most of their lunch crowd had come and gone. Those two had wandered in twenty minutes ago and ordered two beers along with the special.

Tory’s quizzical look almost undid Sally’s barely regained composure. Sally leaned in and spoke. “That’s Doc James and the new dentist in town, Dr. Snow.”

Tory’s shrug and so what gaze indicated she hadn’t over heard the two’s discussion. Sally slid closer. “The office in between them has a new OB-GYN practice that just opened up. The new doctor is female. She’s a real looker according to the straight single males coming in. Seems both shifter and human are angling for a glimpse of what others are talking about.”

“Oh you mean Azzy.” Tory’s tone stopped Sally from continuing her tale.

Tory grinned. “Azalea Tucker is her name. She prefers to be called Azzy. She’s come by a couple of times for lunch. Offered to take us on as patients if we like.”

The wide-eyed look on Sally’s face said Tory knew more than she did. “Don’t worry. I bet most of the women in town will flock to her. I love her wicked wit.”

Sally’s cheesy grin indicated she knew something. Tory leaned on the bar. “I bet your tale has to do with Azzy.”

Sally’s quick nod and widening smile said a lot. Tory rounded the bar and pointed at a nearby table. “Come on and spill what you know.”

Sally slid into the seat opposite her. “Dr. Snow was in his exam room cleaning up after his last patient. He accidently hit what he thought was the power pedal for his drill. You know that high pitched buzz that you prefer to not hear.”

Tory rubbed her lips together. She had an idea where this was going but wanted to hear Sally out. “Go on.”

“Well about then Doc James walks in calling out Dr. Snow’s name. They meet each other in the hall. Dr. Snow can still hear a buzzing. He explains the problem to Doc James. They search to see what the cause is. About the time they come back to where Dr. Snow was cleaning up, they hear a loud moan and a female voice crying out in pleasure.”

Tory clapped her hand over her mouth to keep her laughter from being heard. She gulped air through her nose. Oh poor Azzy!

“What’s got you?” Sally worked her way to the end of her seat, ready to rise. “Do you need water?”

Tory swallowed hard, fanning herself. “I’m fine. Go ahead.”

“Well Doc James walks over to the wall ready to pound on it when Dr. Snow drops his drill as another high pitched shriek of pleasure sounds from the other side of the wall. Both men are here trying to figure out how to approach the female who occupies the office between them.”

Tory gave up trying to hold back her laughter. Burying her hands in her face she laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. Looking up she caught Sally’s concerned look. Wiping her eyes with a napkin, she motioned Sally near. “Azzy’s been staying at her office until her place is ready. She has gotten much sleep. What better way to fall fast asleep than with a bit of post-coital bliss?”

Sally slapped her hand on the table joining Tory’s laughter. “You mean two medical men couldn’t figure that one out?”

Tory sighed, holding her hurting sides from laughing. “Apparently not!”