(Holiday Hanky Panky 1)
Date Published: October 30, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
Agent Nick Pierce is known as an effective tracker with a caustic wit and unparalleled paranoia. He’s harassed or insulted more magical creatures than most people have ever met. He’s hidden his bisexuality for fifteen plus years and is content to take that secret to his grave until he meets a police detective moonlighting as a dancer at a gay club.
Bob White is protective of this newbie who’s followed a friend into Ravencrest, at least until his full-time gig as a police detective makes him think Nick might be a suspect.
As their attraction grows, Nick’s virginity and his terror of one specific vampire are thrown into the light. Nick must defend himself from Bob’s suspicion and the vampire’s next attack. But can he quell SearchLight’s desire to wipe Bob’s memory?
The crowd was a little ugly tonight. Not because of their glitter or makeup but because of their forced smiles. Bob White, who went by Birdie when he was performing, read the signs. Most of the drag queens were being protective of their dates and of anyone who looked fragile. Bob approved. Maybe he could lighten the mood. Tonight was his show. He wasn’t dancing every song on stage, but he got to couple with many of the drag kings and queens. Being androgynous as well as good at disguises meant only a few knew him with all his costuming in place.
Now, though, he was stripped to the waist and clad in jeans. Because it was his show, he’d chosen most of the night’s music. However, when he strode onto the stage, the music that began to play wasn’t what he’d picked. He caught CJ’s eye, saw the wicked gleam in it, and inwardly sighed. He had a choice. He could either dance to this country song or he could raise a stink.
He chose to dance to the het-suggestive song. He’d heard this one a few times. The other officers at the station listened to just about everything at one time or another. He did his best to turn the heterosexual-focused song into a gay anthem through the movement of his body and his facial expressions.
The Ravencrest Club, which was mostly a gay bar although all were welcome, seemed hotter tonight than usual, and Bob turned a swipe of his forehead into part of the dance. Considering it was November in New York, it really was warm in here.
He quit worrying about the heat when he caught sight of three men standing close to the edge of the stage. Two of them, a Native American and a Caucasian man with black hair, had their arms around each other. The third stood close to them but he looked distinctly uncomfortable. He had lovely light brown eyes and hair like wet sand’s deepest hue swept back from his forehead. He was tanned and fit and although he didn’t wear a skintight T-shirt, the leather jacket that he kept zipped showed off his physique. He was sweating. It gleamed on his forehead. Bob wondered why he didn’t show whatever he was wearing underneath. Maybe it was offensive. Or maybe he was embarrassed by it. Or maybe he just wanted to feel protected. His anxiety was almost palpable.
Bob didn’t examine the other two quite as closely. For one, they were obviously together. For another, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Bob danced right up to the discomfited man, presenting his ass for either a smack or nothing depending on the guy’s nervousness level. After he’d danced there for five seconds, he faced his intended target again. To his surprise, the man was holding up a five-dollar bill and looked intimidated. Bob took pity on him and took the money with a bow and a smile.
The object of his attention flushed but didn’t drop his eyes, even when the Native American half of the couple nudged him. He gave off a general air of confidence despite the way he chewed at his lip for a moment.
The music ended then and Bob came back to himself. He hadn’t meant to spend so much time with this unknown person. He retreated a few steps and bowed to the cheering, whistling crowd.
Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her website.
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
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