Double Trouble Anthology
Just a quick announcement today!
As an author attending Monsterotica Book Con, I got to participate in the charity anthology for this year. The them was “2”, and with the variety of artists and authors included you can expect a huge selection of unique takes on the 2 theme.
This anthology is only available as an ebook outside of the con. Proceeds benefit ProLiteracy, which supports adult literacy programs across the world.
Want a sneak peek? Read on for a snippet from my short story, which features Underwater character Penny and a Saurian who have a wonderful night together.
Penny carefully didn’t watch her now ex walk away from her. To break up with her, especially at her best friend’s wedding, was the icing on the cake to their tumultuously toxic relationship. She’d been facing rejection as a crustacean shifter among Ceteans for years, but the personal sting of heartbreak made it so much worse.
I’m worthy of more than this, she tried to repeat to herself, despite the hard ache in her heart. The ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd as they watched the happy couple sweep around the dance floor in front of her didn’t help, but she kept her eyes trained on them anyway. She would not watch Charles walk away from her again.
“He is not so charming, eh?” The thick accent and dry timbre startled Penny. The speaker was the Saurian on the other side of the round table from her, who had no doubt watched her humiliation. She didn’t recognize him, but she couldn’t possibly know all of the several hundred guests here.
“Sorry?”
“That male,” the Saurian leaned his horned elbows on the table and nodded toward the direction Charles had gone, “he is not so charming. Not to you, beauty. Not worthy of you.”
“Not sure what business it is of yours.” She crossed her arms and legs as she looked back out on the dance floor, unnerved by his unknowing echo of her thoughts.
“Oh it is not, to be sure,” he chuckled. “But I cannot see a female having a bad time and ignore it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Penny drained her glass and stood to leave; she’d had enough of oily pricks tonight. Not the good kind of enough, either.
“No need to run off, I’m not here to pick your wounds.”
Penny looked at him then. He was light Saurian, all creamy beiges with faint sage and olive undertones to his rough scales. The horns on his elbows and around the crown of his head darkened to a color similar to black sandstone. His keen eyes didn’t snake up and down her body as she’d expected. Instead, they were fixed on her own. The slightly elongated pupil was vibrantly stark against the golden topaz of his iris, made more apparent by the bright yellow line around it. Even in the dim light of the public square at night, they shone brightly enough to make her catch her breath. He waited, unmoving in that way of great lizards; patient, watchful, intense.
“What are you here for?” she asked when she finally caught her breath.
“I was invited, yes?” He leaned back in his seat. “Just as were you, I imagine.”
Penny rolled her eyes. His hissing chuckle drew her attention back to him.
“You want something?” She tried to goad him into some sort of honest response.
“Many things.” He never took his eyes off her. “None of which are here and now.”
Penny stifled a shiver. She didn’t understand why his singular consideration was making her feel hotter along her skin than any physical stroke of fingers or lips.
“Come, beauty.” He stood. Offering a clawed, horny-knuckled hand, he indicated the dance floor. “Let us show the sharks how to have a good time.”
Thanks for reading!
~R