Between Two and Other Tales of Love and Romance

By Robert Sollars

Buckle up for the usual wild ride when it comes to Robert Sollars’ fiction. Don’t let the title fool you. There is almost no conventional romance to be found here, as that’s not the author’s style. While it’s true that the majority of the 17 stories have satisfying or even touching endings, in order to get there, you’ll most often move through supernatural or science fictional settings featuring a lot of blood and conflict.

Here’s a sample of what’s in store for you.

“A Perfect Crist Maz” demonstrates that opposites can attract even among aliens. The long title story, “Between Two,” gives us a delicious mixture of sex and surprises. In “Saving Sonja,” Larry learns that the past can’t be changed for the betterment of one person or even two. “The Soul Can Be Frozen” is the grimmest of the tales, taking the reader on a literally long, cold road with no warmth or redemption at the end. By contrast, “I Wish...” is the touching story of a man who turns into a sentient teddy bear and finally finds the love he craves.

The collection concludes with “The Conversation,” a short, intriguing tale involving a man and his strong–willed, loquacious cat. It could almost be the first act of a play for which you’re invited to write your own conclusion. Whether you do that or not, the author would no doubt love to hear your reactions to his writing. His contact information is at the end of the book and on his website.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Sollars
• Release date: Nov 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005072575

Book preview

Introduction

In the 1970s, in the song Evergreen from the musical A Star Is Born, Barbra Streisand described love as being as fresh as the morning air. A few years later, the J. Geils Band declared that love stinks. Both of these sentiments are true. It’s also true that, like politics, love makes strange bedfellows.

History is replete with stories of people who seemingly have nothing in common, yet are attracted to each other, fall in love, and stay married and in love long after the time when the naysayers said it would end.

You can fall in love with someone, no matter their physical attributes or personality, because of what’s deep inside them. Perhaps they’ll find themselves in love with you, too. Does it always happen that way? Not by a long shot.

These stories are not your typical love/romance stories. They have twists, turns, and several graphic scenes of sex and violence in them. But I can assure you that they came from my heart and mind, as all my stories do. I hope you enjoy reading yet another side of my personality as my writing career progresses—from security, to fantasy, to horror, and now to romance.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to three very special females.

First is my gorgeous, wonderful wife, Eileen.

My daughter, Tasha, is still a special gift after 24 years.

And last but not least is Jasmine, my furry, feisty feline.

A Letter Home to Momma—Citified Version

Dear Momma,

I…know…you…can’t…read…fast…so…I…am…going…to… write…slow…because…I…love…you.

I got a couple things I need to tell you about what’s been goin on round here. I am hopin you won’t get too upset by some of it. But I do have good news for you.

I met this here girl at the corner store, and she is so sweet and wonderful. Oh my, her perfume of bacon and coffee made me want to get to know her a bit better. I suppose it could be that I scared her out of her wits when she came out of the diner at the corner.

Anyways, I followed that wonderful bacon and coffee smell into the store cause I had to be doin some shopping anyhows. I was walkin down the meat aisle lookin for some fresh beef. She walked up behind me and told me a few things I can’t repeat to you, Momma. It just wouldn’t be proper to talk to your momma like that.

She then asked me if I knew where the chicken was cause she was lookin for some good lookin legs and thighs.

This is when the story turns a tad fer the worse, Momma. She said she needed some good lookin legs and thighs, so I did the neighborly thing and dropped my overalls for her to look at mine.

She started screamin cause I thought she’d never seen such good lookin legs and thighs. Ya know mine jes makes the girlies back there at home swoon! Well, the store manager and the policeman who came in a bit later said that’s not what she meant.

They hauled my embarrassed lil behind to the hoosegow and threatened to throw away the key!

Momma, I ain’t afraid to say I ain’t never been so scared in my life! There was all kinds of bad ones in there!

One feller was in there for killin his dog! He said he couldn’t stand her whinin and hollerin all the time so he killed the bitch! Can ya believe that he killed his own dog? I’d never do that to one of ours. I love em too much.

Nother feller said he’d be happy to show me his snake if we went to the back of the cell where no one could see. I told him I hated snakes and wasn’t about to go with him to see no gol damned infernal reptile! That’s jes sickenin. Those damned things carry all kinds of germs!

Then there was this other feller who said iffen I didn’t give him money fer bail he would cut me. Can ya believe he was gonna cut me? I’m sure happy that piece of shank wasn’t sharp, whatever the hell shank is. Always thought it was ham or lamb.

But the craziest thing happened! That girl that smelled like bacon and coffee came by and said I was kinda cute, so she was gonna bail me out of that there place. Lordy, Momma, I don’t ever wanna go back in here! We all thought Uncle Lester was a lil nuts by always goin inta the barn to make the animules squeal. Ya know how they would a bit when he went in there after he was a tad liquored up?

Anyways, Momma, heres the best part of all that. She didn’ press any charges gainst me and they let me go. I didn’ know you could be charged up in front of the judge. And this judge was nuttin like ol Judge Malichi. Ya know Malichi was always dressed in his overalls and smelled like his hogs? Well, this judge was all purty and clean, and his parfune made some of us sick because we could smell it all over the courtroom. Bay rum I think the man told us. He did tell me I’d have to pay $10 for disturbin the peace.

Anyway, that purty lil filly and I is gonna git married! Yeppers, Momma, it’s true. We’re gonna git hitched as soon as you gits here! Believe it or not, Bobbi Ann is from over on Fish Eye Bottom! Can ya believe that? She lived jes over the hill from Skunk Holler and our place!

Well, Momma, I’d bedder go fer now. Bobbi Ann needs me to filler with sumpin. Don’t know zactly what she keeps saying that fer, but I’d bedder go.

Love you, Momma!

A Perfect Crist Maz

He pushed his way through the crowd inside the headquarters building. He wore his normal perpetual scowl, but this celebration today made it worse. As a Centaurian warrior, he didn’t like crowd situations, where he knew no one in the room. He felt suspicious of everything.

What made things even worse was that he had no idea why he and his fellow warriors had been invited to this Crist Maz party.

He used his warrior’s confrontational demeanor to push his way through. He rarely had to say or touch anything. The attitude, very much Centaurian, did all the cajoling. The scowling face above the neatly trimmed beard intimidated the crowd of humans into parting ahead of him, like the legend of the human called Moses and his parting of their Red Sea.

A familiar female figure appeared in front of him. It was more than strange, but he felt his heart lift in joy and anticipation at the sight of her. She was human, diminutive, not a typical warrior, but that didn’t matter. He lengthened his stride to catch up to her.

A human officer rudely stepped in front of him and began talking to her. The Centaurian growled. There was still a long way to go before trust and courtesy would rule the alliance between Earth and Alpha Centauri.

Her diminutive figure was barely five feet tall, which meant that most all adults around her made her seem like a schoolgirl. But the sultry, ice–blue eyes, the long, shiny auburn hair, and the way her uniform fit made even a Centaurian warrior attracted to her. It didn’t hurt that she could be a warrior when called upon, her skills rivaling those of any Centaurian.

Lieutenant! His deep, growling voice made the human officer turn around and look at him. The human male stared at K’eMPec with contempt. K’eMPec stared back so intently that immediately the man said his goodbyes and left, shaking with fear.

Captain. It’s good to see you again. And then she whispered, My love. Her soft, tender voice full of laughter filled him with joy.

It’s good to see you again so soon, he said. I was hoping to talk to you at this celebratory affair. Although I still do not fully understand this holiday you call Crist Maz. He leaned over and lightly touched his lips to the top of her head.

Why, Captain, if you keep that up, people may get the idea that you’re sweet on me! She turned her face up and planted a kiss on his lips.

Lieutenant, to use a human phrase and sentiment—

You’ve never been sentimental in your life, K’eMPec.

Despite not being sentimental, I can truthfully say that I am sweet on you. However, it is not necessarily a good thing for a female Earth officer to mingle with a Centaurian warrior, especially with the disparity in rank. But I cannot resist your …everything.

She leaned against her secret fiancé.

He placed his massive arm across her shoulders and began to usher her out of the room.

They were indeed an odd–looking couple: he at over six feet and she barely five, he with his bony skull and black hair tied in a ponytail and she with her auburn silkiness flowing freely down to her waist.

He grabbed a glass of what passed for liquor on Earth and handed a second glass to Annika. K’eMPec thought it tasted like quEaG excrement and longed for real, fiery ale or blood alcohol. He drained the weak liquor in one gulp.

Can you make me a kafei? One that is suitable for a warrior? he growled at the man. The bartender looked as though he wanted to hide but finally asked, How strong is strong enough, uh, sir?

Ten shots of espresso distilled into just five. Is that plain enough?

The man backed away and went to his boss, who looked at K’eMPec and waved weakly as both went to prepare the drink strong enough to kill most humans.

Annika came up to him, put her arms around his waist, and hugged him to her. She pulled his head to her and whispered in his ear, When are we going to announce it, my love warrior?

He opened his mouth to speak when a massive explosion sent shards of concrete and steel, dust, and blood everywhere.

The explosion buckled the supposedly extra–strength wall and the ceiling. The debris fell onto the startled human officers and their guests. Centaurian warriors pulled their razor–sharp, curved knives from their sheaths and assumed a standard Centaurian fighting stance.

Darkness filled the empty space and dust clogged the air—at least for humans. The Centaurians breathed in rhythm to alleviate the dust and confusion and induce calm in their warrior spirits, their eyes searching for attackers in the darkened room.

As suddenly as the explosion and darkness had descended, large numbers of black–armored, uniformed soldiers streamed into the hall through the breached wall. They fired energy weapons indiscriminately at the crowd. Veteran Space Command officers and their guests screamed as energy bolts cut them in half. Limbs, blood, internal organs, and brain matter splattered the crowd, adding to the chaos and to the humans’ panic.

The Centaurian warriors, born and bred for combat from childhood, rallied together and formed what the humans would call a skirmish line. Growls rumbled from their throats as they rushed their prey. Even with their armored uniforms, the attackers were no match for the fierce and combat–ready Centaurian warriors and their blades. Deep–throated cries of revenge and blood lust rang throughout the hall as the battle was engaged.

Annika grabbed an energy weapon from a dismembered hand and began firing next to K’eMPec. Energy bolts sizzled by them as they fought back to back and side by side. The warrioress impressed the Centaurian warriors, giving better than she was getting in return.

An attacker sprang at her from the side. Annika splattered his bodily fluids and organs in a wide arc with one shot. Her eyes were wide with a blood lust that most humans never felt, but that her Centaurian comrades most certainly did.

Within a few minutes, they were both coated in Centaurian, human, and their attackers’ blood. The attackers’ blood stank like rotting vegetation and melded with the stench of human blood, fear, and excrement. The screams of humans and the cries of Centaurians searching for more prey to exterminate filled the hall.

Annika briefly stared