And so the waiting continues...

[rflong]

Well, what did I expect. You'd think I'd know by now. I think I will gradually drive myself demented waiting for 

(a) responses to submissions
(b) critiques 
and 
(c) lunch!

At least, working where I work, I get lunch as part of the deal. And its usually pretty good. I have that to look forward to.

I think I have found a couple of places to try for "Come and Play". This isn't a long piece (1600 words), and I know one market was very split on whether they would take it or not. It is dark, and my published work so far as not been so dark ("Anything for Love" is about the darkest.)

Excerpt from "Come and Play" by R.F. Long

I caught her scent from the first moment I walked into the club. In such close quarters these humans seem more like apes to me, heaving and jostling around the bar, writhing their way across the dance floor. But her scent enticed me, drew me in. The smell of her being surrounded me. Like honey and cinnamon, it wriggled its way up my nose and jabbed its pheromone fingers into my brain, almost flooring me before we had even begun.

Come and play.

I closed my eyes to better savour the fragrance that twisted inside my head and, when I looked up again, I saw her straight away. We are forever drawn to one another, alike, akin and yet never close enough.

She sat at the far end of the bar, toying with both a drink and a suitor. He was an ape, dull eyed, but handsome after their kind. She, on the other hand, nearly stole my breath. Willowy, clad in scarlet, her hair was so fair that it looked white when the strobe flared behind her. Her eyes were like slivers of brightness and they picked me out as unerringly as I had found her. She smiled, her lips painted as red as her dress.