What Reindeer really know – excerpt

“Men like voluptuous women,” Rudy said.

“Yeah, and miss my brain,” Bratz replied.

“A rut’s about sex, not about how smart you are. Why should you care?”

“I want a lifelong mate.”

“Avoid the shape-shifters then. Find a normal man if you want a long term relationship.” It was useless telling Bratz more. Sloshed as she was she’d not listen anyway.

Bratz’s face brightened. “Oh look. Here come some more.”

The brakes of a bus hissed as it stopped at the end of the dirt road. Rudy counted about fifty women carrying blankets and wearing scantier clothes that she did. Thongs were the rage with the younger ones and usually they went topless.

“A drink?” the bartender asked.

“No thanks,” Rudy said. As far as she was concerned she was working.

It was almost dark when another bus pulled up. It was painted red with white anthers on the side. A group of men wearing little more than sheaths swaggered from the bus. They walked along a torch lit footpath towards the nearest open bar where the bulk of the women congregated.

“He’ll have big antlers when he fights later on, “Bratz commented.

Rudy spotted the big blond-haired man at the lead. Well muscled too.

The younger women, obviously new to a rut, found it all very heady and erotic. Rudy had too once, but now it left her intrigued. She felt like the old maid amongst the children, and nearing forty she and Bratz were.

The last man from the bus paused at the end of the torch lit path. He looked around, appearing lost.

“Oh my,” Rudy whispered.

His face was more beautiful than in the photo. His dark hair fell to his shoulders, making him appear younger than his thirty-odd years. He was muscular, but not too much. Perfect in fact. The sheath he wore gave away nothing at all. She considered the possibility of mixing pleasure with business, preferably in that order.

Bratz nudged her, grinning. “I can’t recall the last time you got turned on so much.”

Was she that obvious? Her face felt hot. She cleared her throat and tried to rein in her hormones, but to no avail.

“I think Pete’s about to be frisked by a man,” Bratz said.

The blond-haired man she’d spotted before had returned to where Pete stood. Three women followed.

“You best rescue him if you want him for the night.”

Rudy saw the wide-eyed look on Pete’s face as the blond-haired man moved behind him.

Definitely time to come to his rescue.