“Isn’t that dangerous?” Brenda asked with concern in her voice.

Alek stood up and pointed around the room, "Tina, you will pack up all of these things right now, and you WILL come home, and that is FINAL."

Christina screamed, "No way! This is MY life, and I say I'm staying RIGHT THE FUCK HERE!"
 

Dan Arsenault's 50th birthday bash is an extravagant affair and Emma meets an old friend. She now has to cope with a boy friend, a guy who's a friend and a job, too.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit ..." she repeated as she hyperventilated. She ran into her bedroom and stared at the piles of clothes. The mess was one thing, but how could she explain all the male clothing? "I'll just tell them I have a boyfriend," she reasoned aloud, "And he's out of town ..."
 

A tear ran down Christina's cheek. "You have to talk to me Nina," she cried. "Please?" she whispered as she dropped her head and sobbed quietly. "Nina, you have to open the door. I'm leaving soon, and I don't know if I'm ever going to see you again. Please, don't be mad at me."

 

"David," Christina said, "I'm glad that you and I got a chance to talk tonight. See, I'm on to your little scheme. Nina isn't going anywhere with you tonight."

David sneered, "Why don't you let Nina make up her own mind?"
 

“Brenda, there are no guarantees in life. Especially with what one person feels for another and I’m in the same boat as you - I don’t want to be hurt either! You know I was just dumped by my old girl friend and I was angry. But then I realized that you were there and I knew you were a much better person than my last girl friend. I worry too, because I’m having these feelings also and I’ve never felt like this so soon. It scares me as much as it does you.”

Christina couldn't stand the devilish look on her aunt's face. "I know," Christina explained, "I got up early to cook something for lunch." She looked pleadingly towards Misha in the hopes she would let the subject drop.

Christina had reached an entirely new stage of embarrassment; she could feel heat pulsating throughout her entire body. "Aunt Misha, I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that at all," Christina protested.

What have I gotten myself into now? Brenda wondered. Two years ago I was just a surfer dude without a care in the world. Look at me now: standing at the sink in high heeled boots, in an apron, cutting lettuce and trying to make my boyfriend’s mother like me. Where did I go wrong?
 

"Come back tomorrow," he beamed.

Blushing, Christina said, "I think you'd work faster without any distractions."

Richard answered seriously, "I need you around to answer any questions that may arise." In a much more playful tone, he added, "Besides, you are far and away my favorite distraction."

        Doing her best to pretend that nothing was wrong, Christina spent most of Friday helping Misha and Nina with household chores. Her attempts to savor her time with Misha and Nina were crushed by their concerned looks. When she looked into their faces, all she saw was worry. The women carried on all day, making small talk and doing chores. None of them dared to address the complications that that were tearing Christina in two.

        Christina felt utterly lost. Had she ever felt so disconnected? Perhaps, when Amy had dumped her, but this was far worse. There was no way she could hold on to her family, and she doubted that even her gift, if Andrei could pull it off, would mend the rift that had formed between her and Alek.

Mario rose and helped Brenda from her chair. He wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and led her to the door and opened it for her. When they stepped outside he took her in his arms and kissed her softly. Brenda thought she would melt right there. She had never been kissed like this before. Their lips touching so softly and yet a passion flowed between them. Brenda was becoming very excited. Her nipples grew hard and she didn’t want this to stop! Mario pulled his lips from hers and looked deeply in her eyes.

“Brenda, I’m having feelings for you that I didn’t know existed. I think...I might be...falling in love with you.”

        Pulling the pillow off of her head, Christina forced her eyes to focus on the alarm clock. "Crap," she yawned. It was already past eight; she'd slept late yet again. She had spent most of last night Googling taxation problems to no avail. Dropping her bare feet onto the cold floor, she went into the bathroom. Her eyes winced in the pale light as she took stock of what she saw. As usual, after her Oak Grove vacations, Christina was still a girl. Even without her false breasts in place and with her disheveled morning hair, there was no doubt about it. Her powder blue cotton pj's, which were covered from head to toe with yellow chicks, certainly didn't help her cause. She was in a difficult spot- she would be returning home for Christmas, so she did not have the luxury of getting a haircut. She'd just have to find some way of making herself a convincing boy in the meantime.

Love Is Grand
by Annabelle

PREFACE

Retired and independently wealthy, 60 year old Stan Berman discovered he had only 12-18 months to live due to a rare neurological syndrome that would sap his strength and motor skills, but the symptoms would not onset for at least a year. The widower’s only family was his devoted son Patrick and grandson Michael.

A life-long cross dresser, Stan confided in his kin that he wanted to live as a woman for a year, and if they joined him, they would inherit the entire estate.

3 months later, “East Coast socialite” Sarah Berman moved to a luxury condo in Beverly Hills with her daughter Pamela and granddaughter Madeline.

“And in 18 months,” Sarah thought to herself, “My doctors will realize that the diagnosis was wrong! It won’t matter — my girls and I will be too busy shopping, partying, and chasing men to care!”

The video player seemed to stare at me like a mechanical toad squatting amid the remains of some disaster in an electronics warehouse. The woman tending the stall appeared more than keen that I should buy it, though in truth my interest had waned as soon as I was close enough to discover that it wasn't a U-Matic - a video format from the heroic age of technology - after all.

This image had been my entry to a romance novel book cover contest I had entered when I had been a more active member of the IMVU community. IMVU is basicly an avatar oriented chat system where I had been known as Xoey. All the clothes I had created for avatars (including the Alice dress shown on the cover) can be found in my catalog there. You can see the full size version of the image by clicking on the title, just like you would to read a story. Enjoy! :)

        Christina could feel time stalking her all day. She'd called Steph last night after dinner to give her all the bloody details of their double date.

        Steph, of course, had been absolutely elated. She'd explained that the Clairmont Inn was a small bed and breakfast on the edge of town. Its dining room was the closest thing to an extravagant restaurant Oak Grove had to offer, and it was certainly the most romantic place anyone could have picked.

        Had Christina known this, she would have insisted that they go anywhere else, but it was too late now. While she was sure that the day was dragging for Steph, she could feel the minutes slipping away. She wondered if this is what it felt like to be on Death Row.

Dragon and Tiger

By Darian Deamos

Chapter One: Awakenings

Jason woke slowly. There was an ache in his body and his head was pounding. There was a feeling of wrongness as he slowly fought his way to consciousness. He went to wipe the detritus of sleep from his eyes, and became aware of a problem. His hand was manacled up and away from his body.

Moments after his fact made itself known, its implications percolated into his awareness, and alarm chased the remnants of sleep from his mind. Shaking his head to clear his wits he took stock of his situation.

        Pulling the still-hot load of towels out of the dryer, Nina piled it into the laundry basket. Taking a towel off the top, she started folding.

        Christina took the next one, folded it, and placed it on the stack they were building on top of the dryer.

        "Thanks for helping out with my chores," said Nina.

        Christina responded, "Your chores are my chores."

        "In that case, do you want to write my history report?" Nina joked.

A meeting with Ananisia to discuss her love life and a lecture about an ancient philosopher. The unexpected return of a family member places old matters in proper perspective. A parting in the early morning. A trip brings Tyra and Wanda to a dangerous valley. The meeting of an old flame. An old friend from the earliest days appears in the night. A new beginning?

A willing pupil for a dangerous game. A January - June romance, or let's keep it in the family. A power meeting with the Slavers Guild. Explaining to Daphne her new position in life. Nikolai's night ride is abbreviated. A last night in the palace is bittersweet. Tyra meets Kim in the garden and explains.