Brandon Wayne Hires a Mere Human

Tuesday yowls and howls, shapeshifter lovers. Okay, my flash scene didn’t quite end, and there’s more to ‘come’. Sometimes, a writer has to go with her muse, and hang on for the ride. Just like my heroine does.
~~~


Brandon Wayne Hires a Mere Human

“Great. Just ducky keen.” I drop the hood of the car. I’d bought the sucker from a two-bit place when my own car had broken down about two hundred miles back.

“I’m out in the freaking middle of nowhere. The crappin’ smartphone doesn’t work.” I stare at the puddle of anti-freeze forming on the roadside.

“What now?” I demand of the universe, and throw up my hands. Seeing a small pile of brush, I move to it, and gather it up.

“What the hell now?” I loudly complain to fate. Bending over, I arrange the dried grass, leaves and twigs on top of the antifreeze. Despite my own end–of-the-rope upset, I don’t want some animal to lick it up, and die.

Angry and afraid, I stomp to the driver’s door. “It’s not like I’ve got big brother OnStar to save my you know what.”

For the tenth time, at least, I try Brandon Wayne’s number. Nope. I feel like strangling the stupidphone. Before I squeeze the life out of its little digital being, I toss it in my open bag.

What good was a job sent from heaven, if I couldn’t even get there? I’d promised to meet Mr. Wayne in Talbot’s Peak tomorrow. And, now, I had no way to even leave a message.

“Crap, crap, crap,” I mutter. Leaning inside, I grab my ancient road Atlas. Whirling around, I plunk my butt down on my car seat, then angle the map so the late afternoon sunlight filtering through forest trees hits the right spot.

“Okay...guesstimating, I’d say I’m about twenty-five miles away.” With hopelessness taking a big bite out of my middle, I toss the Atlas over my shoulder. “Oh sure, I can walk twenty-five miles before nightfall. Sure...yeah...no problem.”

Twisting to look over my shoulder, I gaze at my cushy running shoes, ready in case I do need to walk somewhere. “Gee, here’s a dilemma. Stay in the car with god knows who showing up to do god knows what. Or, get eaten by a bear in the dark of night because I’m dumb enough to try walking.”

I sigh and cross my arms, then attempt to think. “I guess if I survive the night I could walk to town in the morning.” I give the cell phone a dirty look. “Maybe you’ll even work --"

I’m interrupted by the roar of Harley. Yep, definitely coming my way. Torn between panic, curiosity, and hope, I sit paralyzed. I know I should get in the car and lock the doors. Then again, I need help.

“Okay, why take a chance?” I swing inside, and click the locks down. “Even if you are sixty and on the ugly side now...that doesn’t stop...” With the roar nearly deafening, I hunker down.

Tempted to peek out the window, I wait until the thunder-rolling machine passes. Still vibrating inside from the motorcycle’s power, I raise up cautiously. “Omygawd!” I whisper, and scrunch down.

He’s stopped on my side of the road. He’s wearing black leather, at least, his jacket. And, he’s taking off his helmet.

Really scared now, I grip the only protection I have. My hammer. With adrenaline pumping through me a mile a minute, I stay low. Crazy scenes of me fighting bad biker boy off with only my hammer flash through my head.

Yeah, like I really could. Unless, I went totally wild woman. But, somehow my swinging hammer only bounces off his muscles in my imagined defense against his attack. I put a death hold on the hammer, and wait. Do I look?

Knock, knock.

I freeze at the bold knuckles rapping on my driver’s side window. With my heart in my throat, I swivel my head, and look.

Good lord! I swallow with difficulty. I barely believe what I’m seeing framed by the window. I can’t see his face, or much of his torso. But, mygawd. His jeans are molded to his fine, fine hips...and...good lord! Is he hung.

I blink as he knocks again, lightly, as if he knows I’m scared out of my effing wits. Mesmerized by his tanned, masculine gorgeous hand, I slowly rise to a sitting position. Compelled, I gaze upward meeting his gaze.

Many things come to mind, but the man is definitely handsome in that rugged, square-jawed way. And young. He must only be about thirty. Of course, that didn’t stop my fingers from wanting to thread themselves through his honey-brown, longish hair.

Against my better judgement, I lower the window.

“Need a ride, miss?”

Miss?! That blows my mind. His deep sexy voice blows my gaskets. Hell, that makes me think of the damn useless car.

“I could be your mother,” I blurt out. “I do need a ride into Talbot’s Peak. If you could send a tow truck my way. My phone isn’t working...”

I halt on a sharp intake of breath. He’s unlocked the door, and is opening it. Like a modern version of a swashbuckler he steps back, and waits. What? Does he actually expect me to ride with him on that monster hog bike thing of his?

“It’s like a shiny razorback hog,” I utter. Okay, I’m bad about just saying anything at those times when I shouldn’t.

His sudden guffaw startles me. But, somehow, my hand has found my bag, and I’m pulling it toward me, as I turn to step outside.

”Stephanos,” he introduces himself, a smile playing on his too-sexy lips. “Razorback,” he savors. “From now on that will be my bike’s name. Your name?”

“Just call me Dawne.” Gawd, do I sound silly with that name now. In an effort to leave my past behind, and begin again, I’d decided on another name.

“Dawne.” He says my chosen name as if it’s beautiful, then holds out his hand. “I have another helmet. You’ll be safe with me.”

I grasp his hand. So strong, so big. The way I’m responding to him, I almost wonder if he’s cast a spell on me. I mean, other than his blatant virility. But, why would he? I should be nothing to him. Unless, he does truly have a compassionate heart.

“Do you know Brandon Wayne?” I ask for several reasons. If he is a bad guy, well, maybe he’ll think twice, since Mr. Wayne is a prominent rancher in the area.

“I’ve heard of him.” He gently pulls me closer, and shuts the car door. “He owns a large spread, and, they say, part of Talbot’s Peak.” Taking the car keys from my nerveless fingers, he locks the door.

“He’s hired me. I’m supposed to meet him...tomorrow.” I wish I hadn’t said ‘tomorrow’.

Cupping my elbow, he walks me toward Razorback. Is this really happening?

“You don’t look like a ranch hand,” he quips.

“No, but I can whisper to horses. As they call it.”

“You can whisper to me.”

His husky timbre penetrates my ear as if it belongs there. Weird. But, is he actually putting a move on me? I can’t believe it.

“Why? Are you a horse?” I toss back.

“No. I’m not an equine.”

Why that odd answer? I don’t have time to think about it. He unhooks a feminine looking helmet...yeah, he probably has lots of girlfriends, willing wanton women...whatever. With ease, he places it on my head, straps it tight, then gives me an appraising look. He takes my bag, and places it inside a saddlebag.

“Let’s mount up. Ready, Dawne?”

I sort of nod. Although, I’m quivering like jelly inside. It’s been ages since I’ve been on the back of a motorcycle. Not to mention ‘mount up’ is providing all sorts of naughty images, all in vivid, big-screen technicolor. Ohgawd.

“I think you’ll be safer in front.” With that he lifts me astride, and swings behind me, all in one fluid powerful motion.

He rumbles Razorback to life, and in no time we’re flying down the highway. Me, I’m cradled between his black-leather clad arms, and flush against his large, overwhelmingly muscled frame. The wind is in my face, and I feel exhilarated beyond belief. He smells like wind and sun and the great outdoors. He smells deliciously potent.

Maybe, this is a dream. His crotch doesn’t feel like a dream, though.

“Talbot’s Peak is around the bend,” he shouts, and slows to cruising speed. “Coffee?”

I shake my head ‘yes’ before I can think. What am I doing?
~~~~~~

Happy Sun in Gemini Shapeshifting

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

The Rapture

Gypsy peered out at the smoky floor before the stage and decided her senses weren’t deceiving her after all. The Pleasure Club was packed, loud and stinky with liquor more so than normal, even for a Saturday night. Voices reached her over the music, boisterous and shrill, and not all of them sounded fully human.

Of course it was that silly rumor about the world ending tonight. She wondered why they listened, when so few of them were Christians. Any excuse to party, she supposed.

She danced for their entertainment, and her own fulfillment. Lamar had joined her tonight, for their slinky snake routine. She spotted Jamie down by the stage, alone at his table. Mary was dancing with her new partner, Porker, in a mutual silence that spoke more eloquently than words. Not even the world's demise could put an end to newborn love. Gypsy smiled as she danced.

Her smile faded when her gaze passed over that other table, where he sat. Sergei. He had chosen a table closer to the stage than was his wont. Perhaps his usual table had been taken. He watched her with his typical intensity, at least until the point in the dance when Lamar shifted to human. Then he busied himself with his stein of whatever it was he was drinking. Clearly he had no interest in watching a naked male, even though Lamar’s species kept their family jewels discretely tucked out of sight. Gypsy’s amusement returned.

The dance ended, and Gypsy and Lamar left the stage to the usual thunderous applause. Lamar barely took the time to snatch up his clothing. “Gotta run,” he told Gypsy. “My lobo rojo and I have plans tonight.”

She chuckled. “Celebrating the world's end?”

“I doubt if the world is going to end, but I’ll bet we can make the earth move.” He brushed a friendly kiss across her cheek. “That’s in case I’m wrong. See you in the afterlife, chica.”

By the time Gypsy changed out of her costume and returned to the floor, Lamar and Jamie had already gone. Sergei, however, remained at his table. Gypsy felt a twinge of something, she wasn’t quite sure what. Normally Sergei vanished as soon as she left the stage. Surely he hadn’t bought into that stupid end of the world nonsense?

She wafted up to his table. “Good evening,” she said. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re usually gone by now.”

He acknowledged her presence with a small, polite nod. Or did she imagine the warming of those cold blue eyes when he saw her? “The air holds a different taste tonight. A desperation, almost. Tonight is the night to break the mold, and do the unexpected.”

“I see you’ve heard, then. The world is coming to an end.”

He shrugged. “The world will end, or not,” he said, with patented Russian fatalism. “Tonight I choose to stay. I am glad you chose to dance.”

“I can’t think of a better way to go out.” On impulse, she pulled out a chair and seated herself. Sergei raised his snowy brows. “We’re doing things differently tonight,” she reminded him.

“Ah.”

For a time they pretended to watch the band on stage. In actuality, Gypsy looked at Sergei from the corner of her eye, and knew he was studying her with equal subtlety. Normally she could have gauged his mood through her psychic sensitivity, but tonight he was closed to her. Another first. He looked at his stein, sighed, and shoved it to one side.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“I think of the world ending. I think of family I have not seen for too long. I wonder if I will face the Maker proudly, or in shame.” He glanced at the stein but didn’t touch it. “Perhaps I should simply drink more. It seems to work for these.” He nodded at the crowded dance floor. “What do you wish to be doing when the world ends tonight?”

“I want to be dancing. You?”

“I should enjoy watching you dance.”

“Why simply watch?” Taking his hands, she drew them both to their feet. “This is our last night on earth. Let’s greet the end together.”

He was surprised, but he didn’t resist. Taking her into his arms, he slid them into a waltz. The music was some kind of loud, hard-driving metal, all wrong for such a stately, graceful glide, but Gypsy didn’t mind. They melted together, white and red, ice and fire. They found a beat within their hearts, and danced to a music all their own.

Suddenly somebody yelled out, “Hey, we made it!” and the place erupted into cheers and howls. Gypsy started, as if coming out of a dream. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Sergei smiled. “Is midnight. The end has come and gone, and we are still here.” He bent his head to smile at her. “How does one celebrate survival?”

She grinned up at him. “How do you think?”

“A versatile activity, dancing.” He swung her about in a reel more in keeping with the driving music. Gypsy matched his moves, and his smile. She could read his mood now, and it mirrored her own, full of hopefulness, joy, and something more.

The world hadn’t ended. It had just begun.

Homesick and Inner Thoughts

Tavia slipped into the deep end of the natural hot tub. The heat of the water warmed her out layer though deep inside she shivered. Strange dreams and cravings haunted her nights. No one could calm her jittery innards even if they wanted too. She had more than just herself to worry about.

The test results showed two new shape shifters would soon join their group. Tongson wanted to head back to Anchorage and his definition of civilization. Tomas suggested they call in reinforcements and dig in. Tavia wanted to stop worrying and relax. Find somewhere she could sleep without dreaming, without being jolted awake because her spiritual network wanted or needed something. There was time when she called hours and days her own. She'd felt at peace and one with the universe.

"Damn, Shere Khan!" she muttered, her angst and bitterness dripping from each word. "May his hide shrivel up and become moth fodder." Tavia cradle her stomach wishing she didn't have to be so worried and on guard.

When and where would it all end? Even now two of Tomas's informants were making their way to Talbot's Peak hoping to infiltrate Kahn's territory.

* * * * * *

Stanlisus and Kazim watched as two patrol cars passed them up. The older cop in the car gave them the once over in a way that wasn't good. The other younger nodded and eyed them like they'd never seen two guys riding hogs. Okay, so their bikes resembled another time and era. Speed and ground clearance made sense in the outback and woods. Maybe the dopey cops needed someone to show them the benefits of thinking outside their itty bitty boxes.

"Hey remember Tomas said no stirring up shit unless necessary." Kazim took off his helmet and eased his bike's kickstand down. He could hear Stanlisus's laughter over the loud purr of his bike's engine.

"Yeah, well we didn't stir up nothing. Till that old goat cop pulled his car up long side us." Stanlisus shook out his long pale yellow hair as he removed his helmet. "I waved and moved over. Used my signal and stayed within the speed limit."

Kazim shook his head and opened his mouth to speak. The roar of another bike drown out his words. Looking over he damn near dropped his helmet! On the back of the bike rode a big horn sheep and he swore she winked at him as the bike rolled past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy weekend all! Hope you are safe, dry and with your loved ones! Keep a few good books around and relax! I'm busy at work on revisions and edits for JET LAG BLUES. As soon as I have a release date I'll let you know.

Have a great weekend!
SOLARA

Healing Hands and Fast Friends

Musical notes, low on the female register and hummed in a singular pattern, resonated in Finley’s body. Their peaceful sound steadied her as she removed the dangerous heat from her savior’s hip, with the cold hands of a healer.

She, Finley ‘Fiona’ Fairaday, yea she’d get her alliterative parents for that one if they were still around, was right this moment laying hands on a real-life Loch Ness. She wondered at the life of this unusual and beautiful sea monster.

“Sivakka,” she murmured to the quietly resting warrior woman. “Thank you for saving me down in that tunnel.”

Warmth returned to her hands, signaling the end of the healing. The flesh beneath her fingers was once again healthy and hale, soft and pink. There would be no scaring on either her human or sea monster body. If she’d had even an ounce of unnecessary fat, that would have been gone as well. That secret, Finley kept close to her chest. Imagine if the female, and maybe even male, populace knew that dolphin shifters could correct a surplus of human deficiencies, just with the touch of a hand.

Every one of her brethren was different in their healing ability. Some could bring back the senses, others could heal the bones, but the really lucky ones could cure diseases. She, though, was stuck with the vainest one of all. She could make people skinny. It would be a fine “extra” ability to have, if she could help those who needed a reduction in weight for health reasons, but from the little she’d seen of humans, she knew those who would seek her assistance would be the ones who needed it the least. Her life would become forfeit to the vain and not be worth living, enslaved and used as a tool.

“Such deep thoughts crossing those brilliant green eyes of yours, Finley Fairaday.” Sivakka touched her cheek and a gentle vibration eased through her, lifting her spirits just slightly. “Anything you would like to share, sweet dolphin?”

“No, I can’t.” Finley wondered if the sea monster knew she also had a healing touch. Though faint, it was still there, waiting to be tapped.

“Very well then. I will thank you for your beautiful work and I promise you this, you have my protection and affection, friends shall we be.”

Finley stared up at her wonderful new friend and smiled; grateful she had made the journey even if it had almost killed her. She was in a new place and had a fabulous new friend and just perhaps in this town of shifters she could find a new love as well.

“Thank you, Sivakka.”

“Come, Finley.” Sivakka offered her a hand up with a smile as dazzling as a playful electric eel. “Let us go and introduce you to a few new folks and a certain alpha manager I just know would love to meet you.”



Caption Contest!

So I got wrapped up in the story I'm working on and forgot to write a blog... How about a caption contest, instead? I'll start!




"Sam, what are you doing?"
"Hunting."
"That's not food, Sam."
"It is if you're hungry enough."
"I'm not eating that."
"Why not? I'm sure it tastes like chicken."
"I'm still not eating that."
"You're such a girl, Bex."
"You are what you eat, you know."
"Are you hungry or not?"
"That thing is nasty, Sam."
"It's just a bug, Bex."
"Gah, I am never letting you pick dinner again!"
"I wonder how you kill one of these things..."


There! Your turn!

~ Rebecca

Nessie to the Rescue

Full Moon in Scorpio howls and yowls, shapeshifter lovers. What strange times we live in. If someone had written a novel just ten years ago about ALL the events taking place now... well, I doubt it would have sold because the manuscript would have been considered too laughably, outrageously ridiculous.

On the author front, I just finished filling out the cover art questionnaire for KANDY APPLE AND HER HELLHOUNDS. The marvelous and amazing Amanda Kelsey of Razzle Dazzle Design will be the cover artist, and I’m already atingle with anticipation.
~~~

My flash is a continuation of Serena Shay's post on Friday, May 13, 2011, titled:

Friday the Thirteenth Strikes Again - Those Dang Tunnels

~~~~~~

Nessie to the Rescue

The instant Sivakka sensed the little dolphin's interest in her Nessie kind, she realized the brainy creature wasn't using her 'sea street' smarts. Nearly dropping the tankard of ale she was about to serve, Sivakka plunked her tray on the table.

Whirling around, she ran pell-mell for the backdoor entrance to the underground tavern. Her boot heels clicked fast and loud as she elbowed her way through the arriving shifter crowd.

"Emergency!" she shouted to Alexos, Dante's alpha manager. In moments Sivakka raced toward the tunnel that led to her lake.

When she'd first explored the enormous lake, mostly hidden by cliffs that formed a natural archway, Sivakka had discovered the underwater cave. Unbearably intrigued by a large crack in the cave’s floor, she’d managed to wind her long sleek body through, far enough, to taste sea water.

Seeing where the rock ledge ended, Sivakka had angled her head enough to get a glimpse of the ocean currents. At that point, she’d checked her impulse, wanting to find out more before diving into unfamiliar waters.

Rapidly shedding her serving wench’s outfit, Sivakka waded into the shallow water as she initiated her transformation. Her body responded to the silky cold feel of the water, and with a minimum of pain she elongated, her flesh becoming elastic. Fully shifted, she sped through the lake on the driving strength of her four flippers.

Entering the cave, Sivakka squirmed through the opening, and dropped into the ocean channel. Heedless of the other behemoths that could be lurking, she beamed her eyes.

Pulling great drafts of the wet salty air into her lungs, she honed in on the trapped dolphin. Sivakka streamlined her body, and with her flippers nearly spinning, she skimmed over the ocean’s surface, more buoyant than the Atlantic.

Hold on...hold on, she chanted. I’m coming...I’m coming, little one. Sivakka’s internal radar surrounded her, and so far, there were no warning pings.

Schools of fish in brilliant neon colors parted before her, and she caught the faint scent of other Prehistorics, as they were called by her Nessie shifter community. With the close-to-drowning dolphin now on her radar, Sivakka shot toward her, and realized she was also a shapeshifter.

Knowing she would likely terrify the dolphin woman, Sivakka snapped open her mouth. With no other choice, she lunged as if she was about to make a snack out of the hapless shifter. Instead, she sliced through the fine nylon net, using her front teeth like one-sided razor blades.

As the dolphin woman began to sink because of her exhaustion, and her lack of oxygen, Sivakka dived her head, lifting the beautiful creature above the water. In the next instant, she heard a ping that sent shivers of dread racing through her.

The super submarine belonged to a cabal of humanoids who knew about her Loch Ness kind. They wouldn’t hesitate to hunt her down, then enslave her to do their vile bidding. With jolts of fear slithering along the length of her tail, Sivakka remembered her grandfather’s instructions.

Not hesitating, she tossed the dolphin into the air, then caught her. Sivakka wrapped her tongue around the listless dolphin woman to keep her safe from her rows of sharp teeth. Lights out, she reminded herself, and un-beamed her eyes.

Slipping beneath the black ocean, lit only by luminous sea creatures, Sivakka glided away from the sub’s approach. With only her head above the water, she silently propelled herself in the direction she’d come.

Even though the going was slow, and she had to painstakingly skirt the super-tech sub while making her tail act like an eel, Sivakka finally sighted the rock drop-off into the underground ocean. Uncurling her tongue, she freed the dolphin woman, then nudged her into the opening.

As Sivakka began to writhe through the crack in the cave floor, spikes of pain stuck her haunches. The laser strikes were meant to stun her into helplessness. Instead, adrenalin streaked through her, and Sivakka surged inside the cave.

Relieved at her escape, she whipped around to watch for a tracker probe. Nothing emerged through the opening, and Sivakka nosed several boulders toward it. That is, until she decided it might be crucial to other species.

Rolling her entire body, she came face to face with the little dolphin, who gazed at her curiously with one bright eye. For long moments they simply studied one another. Slightly moving her head, Sivakka indicated they should surface.

Hoping the dolphin woman would follow her lead, Sivakka swam toward the cave’s entrance. Once outside, the two of them cruised upward and broke the lake’s surface. The last rays from the sun glinted on the dark rippling water.

Finley Fairaday, Sivakka mind-heard. My name. You’re a real Loch Ness monster.

I am real. My name is Sivakka. Are you well?

I need to shift, then I will heal. You’re bleeding, Sivakka.

We can shift soon, Finley. Once we reach shore. I live with other shapeshifters. We will be safe.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, drained of her energy, Sivakka struggled to make it to her tunnel. When her flippers touched bottom, she desperately morphed to human. Crawling onto land, she collapsed.

The last thing she knew cool hands stroked her hip, and she heard a low musical humming.

~~~~~~

Happy Full Moon Shapeshifting

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~