Species Interaction Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Note from the Publisher

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  About the Author

  Titles by Cheyenne Meadows

  Reviews

  A Silver Publishing Book

  Species Interaction

  Copyright © 2013 by Cheyenne Meadows

  E-book ISBN: 9781622320387

  First E-book Publication: August 2013

  Cover design by Reese Dante

  Editor: Jason Huffman

  Logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing

  Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  This book is written in US English.

  PUBLISHER

  www.SPSilverPublishing.com

  Note from the Publisher

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

  Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  Thank you for not pirating our titles.

  Lodewyk Deysel

  Publisher

  Silver Publishing

  http://www.spsilverpublishing.com

  Dedication

  For Pitor who not only contributed to the original version, gave me suggestions, and bolstered my confidence along the way. He provided much needed technical answers and continues to be a treasured friend. Thank you for everything.

  For Edward: Again, thanks for the critiques, the think tank, the ideas.

  For Tiffany: Without you this book and the series wouldn't have ever made it this far. You're a mentor, a great friend and cheerleader.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  KFC: KFC Corporation

  Jaguar: Jaguar Land Rover Limited

  Lexus: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

  Calgon: Calgon Corporation

  Superman: DC Comics E.C. Publications, Inc.

  Marines: U.S. Marine Corps, a component of the U.S. Department of the Navy

  James Bond: Danjaq LLC

  Indiana Jones: Lucasfilm Ltd.

  Sesame Street: Sesame Workshop Corporation

  Sports Illustrated: Time Inc.

  Transformers (movie series): Paramount Pictures

  Hello Kitty: Sanrio Company, Ltd.

  Taser: TASER International, Inc.

  Goodwill: Goodwill Industries International Inc.

  Energizer Bunny: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

  Playboy / Playboy Bunny: Playboy Enterprises International Inc.

  Born Free (song): music John Barry, lyrics Don Black

  Dirty Dancing (movie - 1987): Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.

  Hit Me With Your Best Shot (song): written by Eddie Schwartz

  Captain Kangaroo: Pat Cashin Individual United States

  Speedo: Speedo International Limited

  Pringles: Pringles LLC

  The Miracle Bra: Victoria's Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc.

  Velcro: Velcro Industries B.V. LLC

  Twilight Zone: CBS Broadcasting Inc.

  Wild Kingdom: Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company

  Jell-O: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC

  Charmin: The Proctor & Gamble Company

  The Exorcist (movie – 1973): Warner Bros.

  Chapter 1

  I, Shyanne McDaniel, being of sound body, and questionable mind…

  Why I agreed to this meeting, I'll never know. Probably because I loved Meat, a part time PI, part time exotic dancer, who just happened to carry liger shifter genetics and possess an attitude that would make any alpha kitty proud.

  Four years ago my husband Wills, an Enforcer for the Peace Protection Division, the highly trained and efficient military-like group who worked to keep peace amongst the shape-shifters, humans, and vampires, was declared MIA after a particularly dangerous assignment. Holding out hope, I raised our twin sons as a single mother, a spark inside believing one day my beloved husband would return. Unfortunately, fate conspired against me, as I learned a few weeks ago. Wills was officially gone, leaving me a widow with two quickly growing children and a life filled with work and motherhood.

  Shaking off the melancholy, I enrolled in college classes where a psychology assignment on human interaction led me to a strip club in order to observe subjects, unbeknownst to them, in their native Friday and Saturday night habitat, watching yummy men shed their clothes. There, I met Meat, ended up kidnapped, and the rest, as they say, is history.

  * * * *

  I pulled out a chair, nervously sitting down while glancing at the faces across the kitchen table from me.

  Meat's parents had called that morning, wanted to have lunch with Meat and me. They would pick up takeout and deliver it to his house so we could talk while eating. The boys were in school, so unfortunately I didn't have a good excuse to miss this great get-together. Of course, Meat readily agreed. I wasn't quite as eager. After all, a week ago at this very table, I impersonated a nun and two more people on this earth decided I was a loon. Not to mention, the memory of the sizzling hot and certifiably kinky activities that happened afterward, still made my belly flip in sensual delight.

  His father Micah, as he introduced himself properly upon their arrival, gave me a small smile, pulling a third drumstick from one of the large buckets of KFC. His mother, Daphne, daintily used her fork to pull off small bits of meat. Her actions spoke of refined living, upscale manners, and money.

  On the other hand, I absently peeled the skin off with my fingers, using my fork to jab and pull, much like a buzzard tearing pieces from a fresh road kill.

  Daphne broke t
he low murmurs of eating. "Tygerius, what is it again that you do and get paid for?"

  Meat shot me a stern look before turning to her. "Exotic dancer." He sank his teeth into a chicken breast.

  Her mouth firmed. "A stripper?"

  He shrugged one shoulder. "Exotic dancer, Mother. I like it."

  Micah snorted and swallowed a drink from his soda. "I thought you might go into the family business."

  I caught the underlying tension between father and son. A random thought sprouted in my mind. "Omigod. You're a mortician?" I stared at Meat as my mouth fell open in shock. Where the idea came from, I'll never know. The word just tumbled out of my mouth.

  His head swung back to me, one eyebrow shot up in puzzlement.

  "You're a mortician?" his father echoed, his gaze fixed on his son. Daphne didn't speak, only paused in mid-chew to stare at Meat.

  "What? No!" Meat quickly wiped his fingers on a napkin.

  I swallowed, taking in this concerning tidbit of previously unknown information. "I don't think I can live with dead people."

  All eyes shifted quickly from Meat to me. Oh, great. I squirmed under the pressure, unable to hold back the question forming in my mind. "You don't have a 'thing' for dead people, do you?" I made the quotation mark sign with my fingers, before barging ahead on the bunny trail. "I mean, I know you're perverted and kinky and all…"

  The stares morphed from one of 'what in the world are you jabbering about?' to one of 'what the crap?'

  A few seconds of silence and I took off on another rambling spiel again. "You know. Like whips and chains, that bondage stuff, and obviously some kind of freaky nun fetish, whatever that's called." I wiped my hands on the paper towel and turned my gaze back to Meat. "But that dead people thingy is…"

  His hand quickly shot out, covering my lips in mid-sentence. I fidgeted, even resorted to licking his palm, all to no avail. He didn't budge. "Baby, I think it's time for your mouth to rest so I can explain."

  I nodded since his hand remained clamped tight.

  "So she's human?" his mother inquired after clearing her throat.

  Meat bobbed his head in agreement. I wriggled harder for release, earning a smidgen of freedom. "I can poof!"

  He slapped his hand back, quelling any more words that might escape.

  Micah's eyebrows shot up. "She can teleport? How is that possible if she's human?"

  Meat snorted, giving me a small shake when I nipped his fingers. "Yes, she can teleport, but she stinks at it. As far as how, I'm not sure. Let's just say it's not an efficient mode of transportation."

  I yanked hard on his wrist. One had to defend oneself after all. "Hey! I got us back from the realm of the white slavery bad guys." He frowned. "Okay. Yeah, so we had to make a boo-boo appearance in the men's bathroom at a rest home, which I happen to know you thoroughly enjoyed. It was poor Ducky who nearly fainted at the ancient man performing self gratification with his wrinkled peanut penis in front of us all. You, big pervert, were too busy watching and laughing like a hyena." So there…

  I heard his low groan followed by a sigh.

  Uh oh. I guess he really didn't want to discuss his kinky side in front of his parents. My bad. Although, at some level, it only seemed fair as he bore responsibility for the nun's habit and my chagrin the last time they were there. Paybacks.

  The corner of his father's mouth twitched. "Let me see if I get this right. You're an exotic dancer, have a 'thing' for dead people, and spend your free time visiting the bathrooms of rest homes in hopes of watching old men jerk off?"

  Meat shook his head, a bit tense, but seemed to take the inquiry in stride. No telltale pink flush covered his tanned cheeks. "Not exactly."

  He shot me a warning glance then whispered in my ear, "One more word out of you and I'll spank your bare ass until you can't sit comfortably for a whole week."

  "Oh, boy. Does that mean you're a sadist, too?"

  I didn't realize that I had spoken that question aloud until Meat growled in my face. "Your father should have grounded you after all."

  Daphne picked up on those words. "Who is your father, dear?"

  Meat's eyelid began to twitch. I bit my lip, but decided to answer and avoid appearing rude. "Victor."

  She pursed her lips then tried again. "Maybe the better question is: what is your father?"

  How did I answer this one? I didn't want to spill the beans on Dad's former career, but I wasn't sure what to say. In all reality, Dad retired as a famed Enforcer from the PPD a couple of years ago. His feats were legendary and mystical, like the basic question of what genetics he actually carried. He possessed fangs, didn't flame into a burnt crisp in the sun, and as far as I know, couldn't shift into an animal's body.

  "He's… well… special." There, that worked. Besides, it was the simple truth. After Wills died, Victor took me under his wing, officially adopting me a couple years later. Despite having no DNA in common, he couldn't have been a better father.

  "Special?" Micah asked, looking more perplexed than ever.

  I nodded. "He… well… used to be… ummm… employed, but now he's not. He writes err… self-help books and is involved."

  They blinked at me.

  "Is he a shifter?" Daphne persisted.

  "No," Meat replied.

  My cell phone rang, rescuing me temporarily from the grilling. I didn't even glance at the number, recognizing the ring tone of "Born Free". "Hello, Andrew." Andrew carried mountain lion shifter genes, and had hung around my house enough visiting Bas that he finally decided to unofficially adopt me as a sister as well. He was also my father's mate.

  "What are you up to?" Andrew's tone carried curiosity with a healthy mix of suspiciousness.

  I sighed heavily. "I'm having lunch with Meat and his parents and…"

  Laughter rolled from the other end and cut me off.

  "It's not funny."

  He snorted. "Oh, yeah it is. Let me guess. You tried teleporting somewhere and ended up in shower again? Have they developed a nervous twitch yet?"

  "Not quite, I don't think."

  He chuckled. "Won't take much longer, I bet. Go on giving someone else gray hair for a bit. I'll catch you later." He clicked off.

  "Everything okay?" Meat gestured to the cell phone in my hand.

  I nodded. "Yeah."

  "Who's Andrew?" Daphne's face turned serious. Her expression alone could scare second graders into perfect behavior for an entire week.

  Without thinking, I answered, "He's my brother. And, he's mated to my father. They have a new baby together, too."

  Meat's forehead thunked on the dining table as Micah started coughing. I could have sworn Daphne's eyes actually crossed.

  Chapter 2

  A jiggling of the door knob woke me from my sleep. Opening my eyes, I discovered three things. First, I snuggled under the blankets with Meat, both of us naked as the day we were born. Second, hushed voices in the hallway carried through my bedroom door. Third, Meat grinned down at me like a Cheshire cat for some unknown reason. Probably a carryover from the naughty activities we participated in during the night.

  "The boys are awake." Meat kissed the tip of my nose.

  "What time is it?" I stretched, immediately grabbing the sagging sheet before my nude bits could be exposed.

  "Breakfast time, according to the little voices."

  "Then clothes are in order." I started to roll out of bed when the door creaked open. In a split second, I found myself covered in an old fashioned nightgown, buttoned up to my chin. Feeling something tugging on my hair, I found a sleeping cap bulging from the weight of my hair. I rolled my eyes at Meat. Yes, I had on clothes, and they sure beat a nun's habit. Yet, they left a lot to be desired in my book.

  "Meat!" the boys exclaimed at once and made a mad dash for the bed. Both climbed up, then jumped up and down excitedly. The springs squeaked in protest as shockwave after shockwave made my side feel like a fishing boat on a blustery lake.

  "Good morning." Meat, now dresse
d in a loose t-shirt, grinned at the twins. Whatever covered the bottom half, I couldn't see for the covers.

  "Are you going to spend the day with us?" Sasha fell to his knees between Meat and me.

  "Maybe."

  Chance looked from me to my boyfriend, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Mommy?"

  "Yes?"

  "Are you going to marry Meat?"

  I choked on my own spit. Meat reached out and whapped me on the back, helping to clear the blockage. Sucking in a deep breath, I debated how to answer. One glance to the side found the overgrown tomcat smiling wide, staring at me in the same anticipation as the boys. Nothing like being put on the spot bright and early in the morning.

  "Umm"—I cleared my throat—"we haven't actually discussed that yet, so I can't answer your question."

  "When will you know?" Sasha chimed in, this time focusing on Meat.

  I could almost feel Meat squirming under the pressure. Turnabout is fair play.

  "Why don't you two head down to the kitchen. Your mother and I will be down shortly." He tapped Sasha on the nose. "If you're good, I'll take you guys to the park today."

  "Yay!" Off they dashed, leaving the door wide open in their wake.

  "Nice distraction." I sat up and met Meat's gaze.

  He shrugged. "Seemed like a prudent idea at the time."

  Marriage? Meat and I? What about matehood? My mind whirled with deep thoughts and emotions, concerns and wishes. How could I broach a subject when I had absolutely no idea how he felt? We loved one another, I held confidence and faith in our bond. However, marriage was something else. We'd briefly discussed how one determined if they were mates. Well, Ducian and I discussed. He led me astray until Meat cleared up the confusion. Apparently, I needed to become pregnant in order to absolutely prove the liger shifter and I belonged together as deemed by some higher power, animalistic instincts, and in the eyes of his pride.