Clouds. Red and black and grey. The lightening was mostly red, with brief flashes of purple or blue. How did the bats stay aloft, with the wind whirling like this? He supposed they were born in this place. Part of him wondered if they didn't generate the cyclone by the beating of their million wings.

They weren't eating him yet. He was still in control. Still holding them off, with his spear in one hand and his shield at the ready. A bead of sweat trickled down his face...

The phone rang three times. Bats fluttered away, revealing the ceiling of his room. He nearly kicked his guitar over as he sat up. Took it from the side of his bed and fixed it carefully back on its hook. Just sat on top of the covers, legs jiggling in excitement as he listened to Wayne's voice. His uncle hadn't spoken to Rosie in a while, so he pushed down the urge to snatch the receiver on his side table. Laughter. His heart rose. Was she happy? Had something good happened? Wayne was telling her about the opossum at work, he knew. Rosie would like that. She loved animals.

Eddie pushed crossly at his crotch. Just the thought of her on the line, and he was getting half-hard. He wanted to talk to her first. Forget that for now. They would get to it.

"EDDIE!" Wayne thumped on his door. "Phone."

"Hello."

"Hi!"

She sounded happy. Eddie flopped back against his pillow. "You heard about the visitors down at the plant?"

"I did!" Rosie chirped. "I'm glad they didn't resort to cats."

"Yeah, Wayne thought that was too barbaric."

"Absolutely."

"You sound...good." Eddie cleared his throat. "A-a-are you?"

"Things are good, yes. I'm still trying to outline my thesis and get it started. I want to get most of it done before the fieldwork starts. That way I can just slot in my data."

"Sure."

"It sounds really boring when I explain it."

"No!" He bolted up. "Not at all. This is...the stuff about those ridges and things?"

"Thermoregulation in prehistoric reptiles."

She was so damn smart. Eddie pulled a book out from the pile on his desk. Rosie had sent it to him to help understand what she was doing. It was meant for kids, but even at that he needed things spelled out. He flipped to one of the pages he had marked. "Those neck cones?"

"Yes. Plates on the back. Crests on the head. Some people think they were for managing body temperature. Some for display."

"Display?"

"Well you see; when a boy triceratops likes a girl triceratops-"

The little purr she did at the back of her throat. Eddie had to take a few breaths to regulate his own temperature. "I get it."

"Do you? Did you know some professionals think they might have changed color?"

"Huh?"

"Yep. Green to red. Maybe more vibrant stuff than that." Her lips drifted closer to his ear. "It's all about bloodflow, you know."

His blood was rapidly flowing away from his brain. "That's cool."

They hung there a while. Eddie wriggling against the tightness of his jeans. Not yet.

"Something on your mind?"

"Believe it or not, there's more going on in this head than...animalistic urges."

"Animalistic?"

Stay on target. "It's about the holidays."

He saw her sitting up in his mind's eye. "Oh?"

"I still can't go. To your parents." Eddie grimaced. "Sorry."

"Oh." Deflated. Just like that. He had such a talent for disappointing her. "What, then?"

"I got some money together." He blabbed. He had to explain before she got too sad. "Not enough to fly across the country for Christmas. Enough to drive into Boston afterwards. And to stay for a bit."

"For a bit?" Rosie still wasn't happy. He hadn't said 'for good', after all. But she had brightened. "How long?"

"Depends how far I can stretch a buck, I guess."

"When? When can you come out?"

"When will you get back?"

"28th." She was starting to bubble up now. He imagined those doe eyes of hers doing that little twinkle.

He kicked his legs happily. "Perfect! I can drive down. Get there on the 29th or 30th. Where are you going for New Years'?"

"I don't know yet."

"Figure it out. And make sure you can bring a plus one."

Rosie laughed. A delighted giggle. He echoed it back. "I will. I'll find something. I'm sure must be someone throwing a party."

"It's a big city."

"It is." Lightness in her tone now. His stomach undid its knots. "Eddie?"

"Rosie?"

"I miss you."

That blasted lump rolled back up his throat. The dull ache of her absence that no amount of imagination could numb. "I miss you, too."

"Come here."

A sweet timbre, laced with honey. He let himself undo his belt, at least. "What for?"

"It doesn't feel the same, without you."

He knew that all too well. Caught the implication, also. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing. Yet."

"Well then I'm getting a head start." Rosie let out a small moan.

"Fuck." He struggled with his jeans, dropping the phone as he fought them all the way down his lanky legs. Rosie was yelling something. "What? What?"

"Are you just whipping it out in front of your uncle?"

Eddie chortled. "No, he got a phone for my room."

A dramatic gasp. "So you're saying we can go all night?"

"I might need a few breathers, but you're more than welcome to."

"Might need to."

His cock twitched at the rasp she had adopted. He finally freed it, using a blob of lotion to coat himself. Eddie had learned to use his fingertips to tease himself to full mast, mimicking the way Rosie tended to lap at him. Envisioned that devious smirk she would give when she looked up and caught him staring, tongue pressed to that sweet spot underneath. A grunt leapt out. She keened in response. They had both learned to be a lot more vocal. "When was the last time you...?"

"Not since last week."

That quaver. She wasn't lying. "Oh, so you've earned this."

"Mmm...you?"

"This morning."

"Greedy." She scolded.

"You're the one sending me all those photos." Eddie twisted his head to look at the one he had propped against his lamp. A particular favorite.

"Want to know a secret?"

"Always."

"I took those after."

"Oohhh." He tried not to think about his uncle down the hall. That added a whole new layer to what he was seeing. "Do you use your toys?"

"Sometimes."

"Use the black one." He ordered. "I want to hear you riding it."

"Have it here."

Eddie pushed the phone flat against his ear, listening to her shifting around, his toes curling at the abrupt moan Rosie gave. His fist tightened around himself, hips bucking against it. "Good girl."

Panting. Whining. She was an expert in matching his need. It was never dull. Never the same, and at times he worried he would forget how she really felt, but it worked.