bloodstream

For a breathless moment, she just stood there, her tongue hanging out of her mouth and her gaze a little vacant. Wicked began to inch backward a little. The tension was building and he just knew she was going to spring at him without warning. He braced himself, turning broadside so that his flank could take the brunt of her attack. He still wasn't sure whether it would be sincere or playful.

Here it comes! he thought as the life came back into her eyes and she leaped at him like a tigress pouncing a helpless baby gazelle. She went for his hindquarters, smashing her cold nose against his left buttock and surprising a genuine squeak from him. Wicked tucked his tail to protect the family jewels (I'm the only one left in my gene pool, he thought wildly) and whirled, striking out his left foreleg to give her a frisky smack to the shoulder.