Pollinators: Pollenverse, #1

By Tia Fanning, YD LA MAR, Selena Michaels and Dani Carr

Welcome to The Planet of Otherworldly Delights. Here, giant insects and sentient plants are the dominant species. Bees are geniuses who live in city hives and work in natural science labs as chemists, botanists, and geneticists. Wasps, who live in quaint mud villages, are strong and loyal warriors who protect their home planet and its many inhabitants…

 

…so the flyer for the Intergalactic Writer's Conference read.

 

But the truth of this planet is much darker than any of us ever realized. Here, the ferocious wasps run an organized crime syndicate that supplies black market aphrodisiac honey to the Pollenverse. This erotic honey is made by the mad-scientist bees who gather their extraordinary nectar from gardens filled with predatory plants who kill any pollinator who doesn't submit to their carnal demands…

 

And on a planet where the insects are the dominant lifeform, who might the enslaved pollinators be?

 

Humans, of course.

 

* * * * *

International Bestselling Author YD La Mar, Amazon Bestselling Author Selena Michaels, and NEW *Rising Star* Author Dani Carr-- Oh! and Author Tia Fanning too-- have come together to present a fascinating dark romance anthology for those who love their science fiction sexy and their monsters otherworldly. POLLINATORS, the first book set in the POLLENVERSE, offers four unique stories meant to entertain and titillate those brave erotic readers ready to experience a world where dominant insects rule, passionate plants seduce, and mutant monsters rise as revolutionaries on a mission to free the poor human pollinators…should they want to be rescued. After all, it's called The Planet of Otherworldly Delights for a reason.

 

It is our sincerest hope that you will enjoy these dark, fun, spicy love stories.

 

Prologue: Journey to the Pollenverse

Tale #1: A Queen's Harem by Selena Michaels

Tale #2: Stung and Mossed by YD La Mar

Tale #3: Bondage and Botany by Tia Fanning

Tale #4: Muck and Mire, Suck and Sire by Dani Carr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fanning, Mason & McKee, LLC
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215925706

Tia Fanning

Tia Fanning has discovered that she always writes a little of herself into every story, and in that vulnerability, is committed to writing the best stories she can, challenging herself and her readers to experience the full range of emotions in every adventure presented. Be it love, lust, humor, grief, or even pushing cultural boundaries that may be deemed shocking by mainstream readers, Tia believes that it is her responsibility to tell the story as honestly as possible without letting her fears, societal pressure, or the possibility of censorship shackle her creativity. Life is a spontaneous, thrilling journey filled with highs and lows and unexpected twists and turns, and Tia wants her stories to reflect that awesome reality.

Book preview

© 2022 YD la Mar, Tia Fanning, Selena Michaels, Dani Carr

Pollinators

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

No part of this book may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any medium, whether electronic, internet or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

All trademarks and trade names are used in a fictitious manner and are in no way endorsed by or an endorsement of their respective owners.

This title may contain but is not limited to offensive language, graphic violence, mature themes, sexual situations, and adult content. Reader discretion is advised.

Book Description

Welcome to The Planet of Otherworldly Delights. Here, giant insects and sentient plants are the dominant species. Bees are geniuses who live in city hives and work in natural science labs as chemists, botanists, and geneticists. Wasps, who live in quaint mud villages, are strong and loyal warriors who protect their home planet and its many inhabitants...

...so the flyer for the Intergalactic Writer’s Conference read.

But the truth of this planet is much darker than any of us ever realized. Here, the ferocious wasps run an organized crime syndicate that supplies black market aphrodisiac honey to the Pollenverse. This erotic honey is made by the mad-scientist bees who gather their extraordinary nectar from gardens filled with predatory plants who kill any pollinator who doesn’t submit to their carnal demands...

And on a planet where the insects are the dominant lifeform, who might the enslaved pollinators be?

Humans, of course.

✽✽✽

Bee with solid fill International Bestselling Author YD La Mar, Amazon Bestselling Author Selena Michaels, and NEW *Rising Star* Author Dani Carr— Oh! and Author Tia Fanning too— have come together to present a fascinating dark romance anthology for those who love their science fiction sexy and their monsters otherworldly. POLLINATORS, the first book set in the POLLENVERSE, offers four unique stories meant to entertain and titillate those brave erotic readers ready to experience a world where dominant insects rule, passionate plants seduce, and mutant monsters rise as revolutionaries on a mission to free the poor human pollinators...should they want to be rescued. After all, it’s called The Planet of Otherworldly Delights for a reason.

It is our sincerest hope that you will enjoy these dark, fun, spicy love stories.

Author Note

No husbands or insects were harmed in the making of this book. Nor did Author Dani Carr’s husband leave her for a group of sex workers. (She wanted you all to know that.)

Beehive with solid fill This book takes place on an alien planet. Dark themes are explored. The stories were meant for a mature audience. Reader discretion is advised. We ask that you proceed with caution as we travel across the galaxy to explore the unknown. The Pollenverse.

Enjoy!

Prologue: Journey to the Pollenverse

Tale #1: A Queen’s Harem by Selena Michaels

Tale #2: Stung and Mossed by YD La Mar

Tale #3: Bondage and Botany by Tia Fanning

Tale #4: Muck and Mire, Suck and Sire by Dani Carr

Dedication

Jackie, this fun book is dedicated to you. Thank you for all you do.

Prologue: Journey to the Pollenverse

Tia

This is my first trip into space. Of course, only something as important as an intergalactic writer’s conference and retreat would ever get me to leave Earth. Well, that and the fact that Author YD la Mar’s personal assistant is paying for everything.

Life as a starving artist. *sigh* Being an author was a labor of love, that was for sure.

As for YD’s personal assistant, Jackie is a strange sort. I once asked what her last name was so I could pass on her information to another author looking for a PA, and she’d answered Noname. Jackie Noname.

...like, WTF?

Anyway, Jackie is as mysterious as she is beautiful. But that is what makes her so freaking cool. Plus, she is apparently incredibly wealthy, comping this trip for her favorite author, YD la Mar, as well as for me and Author Selena Michaels. All because we are YD’s besties. How awesome is that?!

I still haven’t figured out why Jackie is working as a PA when she is already so incredibly wealthy. She must love books a lot. It’s the only reasoning I can come up with.

Before we left Earth, Jackie had said we three were perfect for this conference, which was why she’d invited us. She explained that we were well-rounded between YD’s love of monster cock, Selena’s love of kidnapping and forced breeding, and my love of erotic BDSM. I’m still not sure how all those elements make us well-rounded as a group, but it’s not like I’d ever ask Jackie to explain herself. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, as the saying went.

While YD and Selena bicker with each other over noodles, I look out the window into the inky blackness of space. The little spacecraft Jackie owns is comfortable enough. I had initially been terrified to leave the planet, but the ladies had assured me it would be fine, that space travel was safer than airplanes or the flying cars on Earth. Plus, they told me there would be free ice cream. And possibly vodka.

I’d read in the news about alien traffickers abducting poor unsuspecting humans from their spaceships, but Jackie assured that we would be nowhere near all that. But my overwhelming anxiety makes me ask once again, as my submissive little heart craves constant reassurance.

Are you sure this conference is in a safe area?

I lean my quad cane against my chair.

Yep! Jackie rolls her eyes. They love you humans around here.

Huh. Such an odd thing to say. Shouldn’t that be we humans?

Jackie is a human too—at least that’s what she’d said when YD hired her. Not that we would be against hiring aliens as personal assistants or anything. It’s just that human PAs know the human reader market, which is the market we three write for.

Technically, I hadn’t hired Jackie. Not like YD had. I can’t afford a PA. Jackie had just kind of taken me and Selena on as an extension of YD.

My mind lingers on thoughts of Author Dani Carr. I swear I could smell her Daffodil perfume in the cabin. Dani had wanted to join us, but Jackie claimed there was only room for three passengers on this trip. Jackie then joked about not wanting too many authors to go missing at once. YD’s assistant is so funny.

Oh well, it’s probably for the best. Dani claims to have horses and a goldfish to care for. I think horses might be code for her many well-hung lovers. She’s a #whychoose the-more-the-merrier kind of author. As for her goldfish, that might be her husband. I don’t know. She’s a bit weird... and Canadian.

The discussion in the cabin moves to the things we’d all be doing once we arrived at the conference. I’m the good girl in the group. I never do anything wrong. I likely would stay in my room mostly. I miss my husband. Incredibly.

I didn’t have the heart to tell my companions that I had accidently offed my spouse. They all had liked Warren so much, but...

*sigh* It’s kinda his fault. He wouldn’t have died if he hadn’t made me so wet.

I’d never even heard of secondary drowning before hubby’s demise. Lung inflammation to pulmonary edema to respiratory failure to cardiac arrest. Ugh. Too embarrassing. What could I say when people asked how he died? There’s no polite or graceful way to say, He aspirated on my cum.

So, when anyone asks, Warren is still alive. Busy working. Ever the supportive spouse. Even allowed me to go on this trip...

...from his spot on my mantel.

The only comfort I have is knowing that the love of my life died happy. Literally died with a smile on his face. He always did love to eat.

Anyway, I had received his life insurance, but it is not enough to go splurging on intergalactic travel. Space travel is still a rich person’s luxury. I need that insurance money to last, especially since I don’t have any real income of my own.

I’m seriously hoping this conference changes that, though.

Maybe we’ll meet new contacts, network with other industry professionals, even find a literary agent interested in taking all of us on. Hell, maybe I’d find an alien publisher who’d like to translate some of my erotic work. The possibilities are endless.

Fuck, I need a drink.

Dani

These bitches think they can leave me behind.

How rude is that? I’m the life of the party.

It’s probably because I can’t keep up with their drinking. Especially Tia. Man, can that woman drink. Or maybe it’s because I’m Canadian. They probably worry I’ll melt if I leave the Tundra. I tell them all the time that I don’t live in the Artic Circle, but they don’t believe me. They think I use a dog sled to get around and live in an igloo.

Well, too bad for them. I’m here whether they like it or not. I can’t wait to see their faces when I show up at the convention with my new book.

Or maybe that’s why they didn’t invite me. They think my book was shit and were trying to save my feelings. Oh my God. I need to apologize for thinking they were being bitches. I love my friends. Crap. Now I feel guilty.

Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. No. That’s the old me talking. The new me, with some medicinal help, is confidant. Is take charge. Is not afraid.

Holy shit, why is it so bumpy back here? What was I thinking when I snuck onto this spacecraft? There’s not enough pot in the world to make me feel safe back here in the cargo hold. I couldn’t even find a seatbelt, so I had to use tarp strap to tie myself to the side of the ship. Another big bump has me clutching my stomach. It’s okay. Everything will be fine! I blame D, my ex, for this entire mess. If he would have stayed on Earth, I’d be at home on the farm with him, not in some godforsaken metal shit box hurtling through space, about to die.

When the holographic image of D had popped up in front of me last month, calling me from his drilling rig on Mars, he’d been surrounded by no less than ten exotic beautiful alien females. I’d been shocked. I thought we’d had the perfect life but there he sat, fondling enormous alien boobs and getting a lap dance from a pocket sized three-eyed alien. They were all over him, begging for attention which he was quick to give them. I think he’d forgotten that he’d called me.

I politely clear my throat, waiting for him to notice me on the screen.

Oh, Dani. I forgot about you.

Obviously. I’d whisper to myself. What’s going on D?

I’ve decided to stay here. You haven’t been giving me the attention I deserve, and I’m not putting up with it anymore. One more bologna sandwich or can of stew and I would have lost my mind. And I had to get my own coffee. What kind of wife doesn’t bring their hard-working husband a coffee, for fuck’s sake?

But–

No. I don’t want to hear it. Ah, I’m coming.

Oh, thank God. Wonderful! I can’t wait to see you.

Huh? No. I’m not coming home. I’m coming in this hooker’s mouth.

Oh. Um, okay. That hurts.

I’ll send money for the kids, but we’re done. You should be happy. Now you have more time to write. And remember, it’s not you. It’s me.

You just told me it was me. Like, literally.

Well, I gotta go. Have a good life.

I’d tried my best not to let our breakup effect our day to day lives for the sake of the kids. I mean, I’d stolen a few joints from my son, but who could blame me. Then more bad news.

Coming in from feeding the horses, I’d seen a note on the table. They were gone. Apparently, the kids wanted to go live with D for a while. I was boring. They wanted adventure, and D promised to take them to the intergalactic Disney World. Ungrateful brats. I gave them the best years of my life...

I don’t really mean that. My kids are my world, and I shouldn’t begrudge them the chance to have some fun. But I could be fun. Honest.

Now I’m old. And fluffy. Cause who has time to work out and stay in shape with five kids, a demanding husband, and a budding writing career. And now I’m either about to die a horrible flaming death or attend my first writers conference where I’ll probably make an ass of myself.

I could faintly hear laughter coming from the floor above me. If only Jackie Noname had invited me to join them. Then I wouldn’t be cowering in this stupid, cold cargo hold. What a bitch.

Selena

If heina slurps another goddamn noodle without sharing, I’m going to break her jaw, Luciano Picone style.

Psst, Tia.

She ignores me.

I wait, trying not to think of all the problems I had left on Earth.

Tia. I nudge her shoulder trying to get her attention, but she’s too busy paying attention to whatever Jackie is saying about the conference.

I, for one, don’t want to be here. I’d rather stay home. But Tia promised drinks and laughter. Who could say no to that? I could. I definitely could’ve. But then YD said she’d gut me like those fish I’m always talking about in my mafia books. So, here I am.

What? I’m trying to pay attention, Tia finally snaps, almost knocking her cane over in the process. Isn’t this your first conference?

That’s neither here nor there. I want YD’s noodles, and she’s not sharing. Look at her teasing me.

YD La Mar slurps louder. As if on cue, my stomach rumbles.

Just ask her for a bite, she whispers, if you want them so badly. She’ll share. Tia turns back to Jackie Noname.

Noname. Suspicious name, for an even more sus person.

Don’t you think this was too convenient? I interrupt Jackie’s speech for the millionth time. Like, we didn’t even pay money to be here.

Pain shoots through my scalp. Heina had thrown a utensil at me.

Ouch, what was that for? I rub the back of my head, irritated.

She always did show her love with a bite of pain.

Being rude. Hush your mouth, fool. YD smirks before nodding to Jackie Noname.

I’m certain Tia thinks I signed off on these shenanigans, but I did not. At this point, I’m pouting. My lip is poking out, and neither of my friends seem to care about my feelings. Why aren’t they more concerned that we’d been traveling for what seemed like forever with no real answers as to where we were going?

Didn’t we learn that getting into strange vehicles always ended in tragedy?

Hell, I wrote that very thing all the time. All my heroines ended up kidnapped.

I know. Here I go again being the pessimist. YD would throw another utensil at my head if she knew my thoughts.

Fuck! I’d been swindled.

Bamboozled. Conned by the best of them.

YD had promised we’d do another cowrite as long as I was on my best behavior for this conference. When I’d told her I’d rather stay home in my sweatpants, she’d said failure to appear would mean leaving our latest character as a standalone.

What a cruel taskmistress.

As for Tia...well, as long as she was told she was a good girl, she would comply. Just ask that husband of hers. What was his name again?

The spaceship jolts. Ugh. I get nauseated. I wonder if there’s a bathroom but am too afraid to leave my seat with all this turbulence. What if I get sick all over Jackie Noname’s expensive spacecraft?

So, I hold it in. Just like everything else.

Dramatica, YD hisses.

What? How did you know? I look down, wondering if my body was letting off some kind of dramatic pheromone that I knew nothing about.

It’s your face. YD ropes Tia in. She has a face, doesn’t she?

She’s not wrong. We’ve all seen the face. She covers her mouth and giggles. Oops, there’s goes the lips again.

I can’t help laughing a bit too. Tia was a bright light soul shimmering in a sea of darkness. It made me want to kidnap her and take her away on an exotic retreat, but those kinds of things only happened in books.

I’m not pouting, I grouse.

Both ladies shrug and we all watch the stars fly by at the speed of light.

Psst. It was too quiet, and I wanted to hear the sound of my voice even if it was awful. Anything to fill this oppressive silence.

The ladies ignore me.

Tia, did Daddy say you could have orgasms on this trip? I ask, stirring the pot.

Uhm, yes? Tia’s eyes grow wide as she shoots off an innocent look.

Lies! YD yells.

Agreed. It’s good when me and YD are in agreement with each other. God knows it’s hard enough when we butt heads.

Then I’m telling, I threaten although I have no real authority here. It’s just nice to put Tia on the spot and watch her squirm.

I’m a good girl, Tia bristles. He won’t believe anything you say.

Classic manipulation, I quip.

What was it you said that one day? Topping from the bottom? YD interjects.

I snap my fingers. Yes, wasn’t that on a live?

Her readers are probably taking notes, YD reminds.

I do no such thing! she cries, grasping her heart. I’m a good girl, she reiterates.

Ha! They’ve got years of Tia Fanningness to try out on unsuspecting men. We all laugh because Tia’s brand as a good girl is only sustainable between the hours of nine to five. Then Altia comes out and takes over. It’s best to sit back and watch the fireworks when she allows her inner dark mistress to reign supreme over us normal beings.

We are almost here, Jackie Noname announces. Finally.

I think that last part was mumbled so we wouldn’t hear it, but I’ve got the ears of an elephant.

You know...you don’t have to be so mysterious, Jackie. In fact, you could stay with us during the whole retreat. We miss your face on a daily basis. I feel like the only time we ever see you is when you're behind the wheel of your spaceship. YD gets up to hug her wayward PA.

I concur. Tia, shouldn’t Jackie stay with us instead of Gallivanting to planets unknown?

That would be my recommendation, but you know you guys' sometimes Jackie’s gotta do what Jackie has to do. We should support her.

Whack, I mumble.

That’s not jive. YD grumbles, shaking her head in dismay.

We just want to play together.

Tia just smiles. She’s used to us like this. Just like we are used to all the love and sunshine she puts forth into the universe. Until the sun goes down and she starts acting like she’s from that movie where if I got her wet after midnight, she’d probably devour my soul. Or whatever happened in that movie, I’m too young to remember. After all, I’m just a millennial. I don’t even work here.

YD

Eating my noodles peacefully , I think about all the things that’s happened over the course of a short period of time. Has it been months? Years? How did it