The Crimson Z
Robert Cloud
Lee Rush
Richard Savage
Abby Blythe
Kara Elsberry
ISBN 0-9774682-8-3

Collection Paranormal
Stories
688 paperback pages
Multi-format ebook $6.99
Paperback $29.99
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The Crimson Z has it all, contemporary, historical, sweet, sexy, erotic.

The Crimson Z Includes:

Love of a Pendant's Heart
A Short Novella
by Lee Rush

The Anniversary
A Short Novella
By Richard Savage

Incorrigible
A Novella
by Abby Blythe

On The Wings of a Dream
A Novelette
by Kara Elsberry

The Blood Ritual of the Crimson Z
A Novel
by Robert Cloud

The Awakening
A Long Novella
by Robert Cloud

Chapter One

The purple hues of dusk were darkening as he stepped
under the willow tree, edging forward silently. He knew she
was there ... he could tell by her scent on the breeze that
wafted through the willow branches. He peeked around the
trunk of the huge tree and smiled down at her, not surprised
that she was asleep. She had been asleep the first time he
came upon her in this very place. Adrian had been as touched
by her beauty then as he was now but that first time ... well,
that was different. Then he had needed to feed; now he just
longed to see his love.

Over the time he had known her, his feelings had grown
and his heart ached for her when they were apart. Her human
life and his Anthro life seemed to conspire to keep them apart
but he came to her as often as he could.

That first time he had introduced her to the dark pleasure
that paved the way for future feedings, his only intent had
been to have her available when he needed her blood. The
way she responded to him and the way that response made
him feel had begun to change his future plans for her as well
as his attitude toward her. At first, he fought the feelings,
tried to keep her in place as simply something he used from
time to time but that didn't last long. She touched his heart
with her innocence and then her love for him and his picture
of her as dinner quickly faded.

Although he had not been able to give her any sort of
commitment, she had remained available to him and even
desired him, engendering a type of love he had never wanted
to feel again. Too many times he had loved and lost because
of who and what he was. Too many times he had grieved and
been forced to go on again. He wasn't going to do it again ...
but she had changed that and he wasn't sure if it was a
change for the better.

At least he hadn't been sure ... he was now. He loved her
with all his heart and knew as he slid his hand into his pocket
and fingered the small metal piece there, that this day would
bring changes. Changes he hoped she could accept.

He watched her for a few more minutes, then stepped
back and composed himself. Putting most sad thoughts aside,
he stepped toward her as he normally would, brushing the
hanging branches back without trying to be quiet.

She shifted, trying to ease back into the pleasant realm of
dreams. Even though she had been dozing, the soft
susurration of the moving leaves was enough to disturb her in
this place of quietude. She had come to her favorite place in
the world to relax and read her newest acquisition of poetry
in the late afternoon. Apparently she had dozed off as the
warmth of the afternoon turned into the cooler shading of
dusk, and then the buzz of the evening insects lulled her.

She opened her eyes slowly at the rustling sound and
smiled softly. Dangling in front of her face was a pendant of
spun gold, slowly swinging from side to side on a delicate
chain. The barely risen moon shone through the leaves and
highlighted the details of the pendant ... a rose of gold
surrounded by webs of the finest spun threads of gold. Tiny
leaves with all the intricacies of real rose leaves and the
delicate petals made her gasp softly as she reached up with
one slender finger and pushed the pendant to widen the arc
of its swing.

She cleared the sleep from her throat and spoke. All
things, even her voice seemed soft in this special place at this
special time of day where the heat of the day had been
banished by the darkening skies and the scents of the night
blooming flowers filled the air.

"I wonder ... who would be showing me this beauty?"
Turning first her head to catch a glimpse of his fur covered
hand, then turning her upper body to gaze up at the creature
that teased her with the necklace. Her heart leapt as she
caught sight of his face, his strange eyes looking down at her.

No, not strange ... his. Eyes like none she had ever seen
before ... blue with spikes of green around the irises. Once
upon a time, his eyes had seemed strange to her but no
longer. She knew him now, knew his moods, knew his eyes as
they changed color when he was excited, and she knew his
touch as well. She delighted in the knowing of him. There had
been times she had despaired of ever seeing him again
because of the things he was required to do in his different
half-life but he came back again and again and each time he
returned, her heart was filled with more love for him.

"Hello, Adrian."

That's all it took to bring all the feelings for him back in full
force. Some might say she was daft for being here with him,
daft for a young woman to be with such a creature at all, but
they didn't know him. He was a special creature whose
history was buried in the days of old when such as
anthrofoxes were the norm in these parts. She had known
him for a few years now and he was always the same ...
always the soft auburn fur covering his body, always the
almost human visage that smiled at her, gallant and polite
beyond belief.

"Good evening, my dear Crys," he murmured as he moved
around to stand in front of her. He smiled as he saw the light
in her eyes that always shone forth when they were together.

He let the delicate chain slip between his fingers until it
dropped into her hand. As she closed her hand around the
pendant and chain, trapping the exquisite pendant in her
palm, he leaned down and kissed the back of her hand
causing her to shiver with pleasure. He peeked up over her
hand as he kissed it and smiled that sexy smile that seemed
to light up his expressive face.

"It's lovely, Adrian," she whispered, her voice reduced to
even greater softness as the twinkle in his eyes caused her
heart to beat faster.

"And a bit more permanent than the red roses I usually
bring. I hope it pleases you, my sweet Crys."

"It more than pleases me, Adrian. Where ever did you find
such a lovely creation?"

He sat beside her on the blanket and leaned back against
the tree trunk before he answered her. A shadow crossed his
face, but was it from a cloud across the moon? Or a sadness
in his expression? Her heart skipped a beat at the thought
that she may have caused him sadness when all she ever
wanted to do was see him smile.

He was shaking his head as he slid his arm around her
shoulder. She sighed happily at the closeness she had missed
for so long and nestled against him as he pulled her close.
The warmth of his fur against her skin tickled her flesh and
delighted her as his tail wrapped up around her legs. His
breath ruffled her hair as she snuggled against his neck. The
colors of his fur against her flesh blended in the early evening
dark and it was as if they were both human ... or both
anthrofoxes instead of one of each.

"My father said it belonged to my mother, Crys and therein
lies a sad tale."

"You've never spoken much about your family, Adrian. She
almost held her breath at this revelation, anxious to hear
more and perhaps learn something of the past that had put
sadness in his eyes each time he left her.

"My family is long gone, sweet Crys, so there isn't much to
talk about. As for my mother, well, her story is a sad one as I
said ... and not one I like to tell very often."

There was a slight catch in his voice as he spoke of his
mother and it clenched at her heart.

"I didn't mean to..."

"No, of course you didn't and you should know the story if
you are to wear her necklace."

She smiled in the darkness and leaned into his embrace a
bit more, now anxious to hear the tale.

Toy's Story:
Aquisition of a Sex Toy
By Robert Cloud

Bound By Fate
By Lee Rush

Fool Me Once
By Jessica Joy
(Jessica also writes as Abby Blythe)

1 Fan -- Books given this rating include very minimal sexual activity between hero and heroine. Sexual activity that does occur is described without the use of graphic terms. These titles will be found in our Tender Destinations line and in our Amorous Adventures line.

2 Fan -- Books given this rating include a moderate amount of sexual activity between hero and heroine, however it is described in romantic as opposed to graphic terms. These books will be found in our Tender Destinations and Amorous Adventures lines.

3 Fans -- Books given this rating include a lot of sexuality between hero and heroine. The activity may be described graphically but will not include fetish elements. Books with this rating will be found in our Sensuous Journeys line and in our Amorous Adventures line.

4 Fans -- Book given this rating include a lot of sexuality between hero and heroine and will typically include fetish elements. Sexuality in these books is described graphically but with a softer touch than our 5 Fan titles. Books with the 4 fan rating will be found in our Forbidden Experiences line as well as our Amorous Adventures line.

5 Fans -- Books with this rating include a very high degree of sexuality between hero and heroine. These books include fetish elements which are described graphically. Books with this rating will be found in our Forbidden Experiences and Amorous Adventures lines.

Tender Destinations
Are poignant stories of meeting and falling in love. They contain a minimal level of sexuality.

Sensuous Journeys
Are emotional and poignant but include explicit descriptions of the lovemaking between hero and heroine. There is no explicit fetish component in these books.

Forbidden Experiences
Are powerful and emotional love stories with explicit sexuality which includes fetish content.

Amorous Adventures
Are love stories with an element of suspense or danger.