After the Fall
A Little Nip
G L Drummond and J C Montgomery
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Little Nip
Copyright 2008, JC Montgomery & GL Drummond
Cover Art by G L Drummond
All Rights Reserved.
Smashwords Edition
ISBN 978-1-4524-6313-1
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Dedicated to our families for putting up with our writing obsessions and for our favorite Bad Influences who helped start the ball rolling. You know who you are!
A Little Nip Does the Trick
By G L Drummond
I’m jonesing bad; jittering on the edge of the spaceport and searching the new arrivals.
Two weeks since my last fix. Two. Blasted. Weeks.
I need one, and the spaceport is the best place to make a connection.
Sliding my hand into the pouch attached to my belt, I run my fingers through the dried herb.
Damn stuff doesn’t do a thing for me, but it’s worth its weight in gold when it comes to trading for what I do need.
Another ship lands, and I watch it closely. It looks like the right kind. After a few minutes, a tall, muscular male comes striding down the lowered ramp. One look and I’m on fire. He’s perfect.
I give my hand a good roll in the herb, and rub it over my neck before moving. Casual like, making sure I’ll seem to accidentally bump into him. Goes off without a hitch; his big green eyes blank as the smell of the herb reaches his nose.
Hooked? Check!
Keep walking…is he…yes. He’s tracking me.
There aren’t too many of us humans running around loose, and the other species haven’t quite figured out what to make of us just yet. That makes it a little lonely. Me, I’d learned damn quick which was my favorite species – Katarrs. Six and a half feet of thick, soft fur over truly impressive muscles and much better than an electric blanket for keeping a girl warm during the forty degree Kellestraen nights.
I lead him through the bustle of the spaceport’s market area, repressing a shiver as I glance back to make sure he’s still tracking me. He’s one of the black tiger types; ebony with silvery white striping and big, emerald green eyes.
Absolutely gorgeous, I tell you.
I’d found myself a place shortly after my arrival on Kellestra, after my escape from my Drac owner. It’s not much, just an empty shed I’ve made comfortable, located on the outer edges of the spaceport; but it did the trick putting a roof over my head.
Keying the door and leaving it open, slipping inside, and untying the pouch to be ready. He comes in soundlessly, and I quickly shove the pouch up under his nose, letting go as he grabs it with both hands.
I’m grinning at him as I step back to close and lock the door. He’s pushed his face into the neck of the pouch as far as he can manage, tail beginning to spasm jerkily. He’s not going anywhere, I know.
Except the floor. It’s funny as hell to watch them – the stuff works on Katarrs just like it did on Terran housecats. He goes down and rolls, his tail making jerky loops and face still buried in the pouch.
You have to wait until their tails stop jerking before approaching them. It usually takes about ten minutes, and he was true to form. I kneel on the floor beside him, unlacing the sleeveless vest he wears so I can rub his tummy.
His hands loosen on the pouch after a minute, so I move it away and check his eyes. They’re half-closed and unfocused. Satisfied he’s good and stoned, I start to work undressing him before stripping myself down.
Catnip isn’t just irresistible to them: Phase One is the getting stoned part, but Phase Two – it’s an aphrodisiac. Once he comes down a little, he’ll be ready to play. Curling up against him to wait, I pet his chest, my eyes closing as his body heat soaks into me and he starts purring.
I hate being cold.
I guess some would think that was a crazy reason to be doping Katarr warriors. They are capable of bringing down an elephant single-handedly, and even the Dracs are afraid of them. But, I’ve learned they’re as gentle as kittens unless given a reason not to be.