That Rex Gotta Roar - Julia Mills Page 0,22

- ounce - of - magic - that's - her - own who has dared to defile our beloved Tallulu Parish and beautiful Swamp. Only you, Clementine Sue Cooper, can save my niece and nephew."

“Miss Mabel?” I squeezed the words through my windblown lips, but no answer came.

Instead, I landed with a thud, thump, and thwap on the cement floor of the basement of Bailmore Hall. On my knees, ass in the air, my face planted on the toes of a pair of size thirteen camel-colored work boots, I groaned, "Somebody, please, tell Satan that the train from the Other Way Round needs seatbelts."

Chapter Six

"You were in Hell?" The concern in Tank's voice was wonderfully reassuring, but not nearly as amazing as the electricity that shot up my arms, danced around in my heart, and made my sweet lady parts dance a happy jig when his hands slid under my arms.

The power of our skin-to-skin connection lit me up like Times Square on New Year's Eve. It. Was. Fantastic. Like life changing. Like I never wanted to be anywhere else. Like I wanted to swoon, fall into his arms, and let him carry me off the bed.

Cassandra literally woke up just to give a really loud Meg Ryan imitation of, “Tank, you big stud, take me to bed, or lose me forever.” (Yes, Top Gun is one of our all-time favorite movies. We watch it at least once a week.)

“Clem? Clementine. Talk to me.”

Isn't my man the sweetest? Really, just a big, old, ball of awesomeness. So worried about me. Trying to help. Being so…

“Clementine?!” He pulled me close, kind of giving me a little shake.

“Oh, shit, I better answer him,” I thought to myself, which meant…yep, you guessed it - my Canary had to interject a smart ass comment just for good measure.

“No, duh, dumbass,” Cassandra snapped. “I would, but I don’t think he can hear me yet.”

Giving Cassie a pass and not telling her in no uncertain terms to 'shut her beak' only because of what she'd just been through, I let my head fall back and pried my eyes open. It took a second, things were still really blurry, and Tank looked like he was stuck in a funhouse mirror, but after a couple of blinks and a little head shake, there he was - handsome, gorgeous, rugged, and all mine.

Something in my mind decided the time had come – I tried to blame Cassandra, but after hearing her snore, I stood corrected and just went for it. Hands reaching for his face, I pulled my hunka-hunka-prehistoric hottie’s face to mine, and right there in front of all my Flock, my mentor, and the Almighty Shifter Wanker, I kissed that man like there was no tomorrow.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. Having never kissed the one and only man and T-Rex in all the world I was meant to love forever, I guess I thought it would be good, but let me tell you… I could have never expected the fireworks that burst to life inside every fiber of my being. It was like being connected to a live wire hanging off a pole while standing in the middle of a mud puddle with the sky lit up with lightning. It was magnificent, terrific, and I wouldn't have changed one cotton-pickin' thing.

In less than a second, his arms pulled me closer, his tongue demanded entrance, and let me tell you, our kiss caught fire. It felt like he was everywhere.

Inside my heart and soul, he became the missing piece I hadn't known I needed. His hands on my butt, his lips on mine, and his voice in my head – I was a whole new Canary!

YES! It happened just that fast. I could hear his thoughts, and let me tell you – my man is naughty in all the right ways. Of course, because this is my story, and shit always happens to me that would never happen to anyone else, every damn one of my besties from the nesties started to clap.

(Yep, you read that right. Those dingbats were clapping like we were center stage at a Rick Springfield Reunion Concert.)

Zelda did that crazy whistle that made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Cora whooped, “Go on, Girl. Get your man.”

Max cheered, "Guess who's next on the baby-makin' list."

Livvie giggled, "Aren't they the cutest. I just love a happy ending."

Moni and Coll groaned in unison, “Good Goddess, get a