Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Goodie Oo-lah’s Luck-luck Emporium!” the sign exclaimed. “Freshest Boom-boom juice in town!”
Andi had no idea what “Boom-boom juice” was but the store looked open—at least, the lights were on inside—and she thought maybe she might meet someone who could point her in the right direction.
“Come on,” she told Cade, who was still behind her, sniffing the air. “We’re going in there but I want you to stay close to me, okay?”
Again, she had no idea if the big Hybrid understood, but he watched her attentively and seemed willing to follow when she walked towards the store.
Andi tugged at the round door which surprised her by rolling to one side instead of pulling open. She noted that the Zo’rathians must be a fairly tall people, because neither she nor Cade had to duck their heads to walk inside. (Of course, they had seen some of the males already, but it was hard to judge their height when they were all on their hands and knees.)
“Hello?” she called, as she stepped into the store, which was crammed from floor to ceiling with all kinds of strange looking products.
Andi saw rows of what looked like miniature fishing poles with tiny hooks already baited with some kind of purple substance on the end. What could those be for?
There was also a display of what seemed to be sports bras in all sizes…only they all had their nipples cut out. After that, were a row of women’s blouses, also with the nipples cut out. What in the world was going on here? Was it part of the Zo’rathian culture to show your nipples?
Andi really hoped not. She already felt vulnerable enough not wearing a bra under her red wrap dress. Also, Cade had already tried to suck her nipples once—it had felt really good but Andi still felt guilty about it. What would her big Protector say if he found out that she’d allowed that kind of thing between them while he was out of his mind? It wouldn’t be at all appropriate, even if it was kind of hot.
“Hello?” She called, but got no answer so she wandered deeper into the store. She still hadn’t seen any of the advertised “Boom-boom juice” but she had found a display of what looked like dog collars and leashes when a voice behind her said,
“Can I help you?”
“Oh, yes—please!” Andi turned to see an older woman with olive green skin and faded pink hair cut in a short bob. She had a friendly looking face and she didn’t seem disturbed to see two people who were obviously foreigners in her establishment.
“I’m Goodie Oo-lah,” she said helpfully. “Are you wanting a control collar for your Manimal?”
“I’m sorry, for my what?” Andi asked, frowning.
“Your Manimal—him, there.” Goodie Oo-lah gestured at Cade. “How’d you get him to walk upright like that, anyway? Ain’t seen a male walking that way in ages. Not since The Incident.”
“The Incident?” Andi said, feeling confused. “What incident?”
“Oh, you know—when all the males turned into Manimals,” Goodie Oo-lah said. “It’s been ten years gone now since it happened but we’re still getting used to it in some ways. T’wasn’t easy on women who’d had a husband they could depend on most all their lives to suddenly have to restrain ‘em, ya know.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t,” Andi said. “But…why would the women have to restrain their husbands?”
“Why, because The Incident made ‘em all turrible sexed-up, don’t ya know.” Goodie Oo-lah’s eyes—which were faded gray—widened dramatically. “They wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer anymore—that’s when a lot of women started using the control collars.”
“But what do the control collars do?” Andi asked.
“Just watch.” Goodie Oo-lah nodded at Cade, who was sniffing the display of collars. He pressed his nose to a black leather one and Andi saw a spark of electricity pop out from the collar.
Cade made a sound of surprise and yanked his head back, rubbing his nose with one hand reflectively. He frowned at the collar, a low growl rising in his throat.
“Yup—that’s what they do.” Goodie Oo-lah nodded in apparent satisfaction. “Keeps ‘em in line, like—if you don’t want to use your Sweet Drops to do it,” she added.
“Sweet drops?” Andi shook her head. “Look, I’m sorry but I’m a stranger here. Cade here isn’t my, uh, ‘Manimal’—he’s my Protector and the pilot of our ship. We ran into a meteor storm and crash landed in a field full of these bulbous green plants with pink insides.”
“You ran right through the Boom-boom crop?” Goodie Oo-lah frowned. “Oh dear—Farmer Jes-sa’s not going to be pleased about that. No, she’s not!”
“We really didn’t mean to—it was an accident,” Andi said quickly. “I’ve never even seen, uh, Boom-boom until today.”
“Well then, you ought to come taste some of our fresh-squeezed Boom-boom juice,” Goodie Oo-lah said, smiling.
“That’s very kind of you, but honestly I just need—”