Surrounded by lion and man, he was bloody and down. Get up, he heard from the distance. The sun came blinding and ripped at his face like a cougar. He tried to open his eyes but was not able. Get up, he heard again.

Well, shit, another day, another sun storm. Put it on my shoulders, lord, I can handle it.

Get up. The voice was deep and grave.

Get up. The voice was snarling.

Get up. The voice was rising.

Get up.

Get up, handsome.

He opened his eyes, not to man and lion and sun, but to a morning sunflower that a less romantic fellow might short-sell as a woman.

It’s morning! she said, jumping on the bed with the ceiling light coming in and out of focus as her head serenely eclipsed it. He smiled and blinked.

Ah my fuck. What time is it, sweet thing?

It’s 7 a.m. and I’m hungry.

Well we better do somethin’ about that, I reckon. He pulled her feet from under her and she gracefully crashed with her arms adorning his shoulders and her legs spider-swinging atop his.

You’re a—she kissed him—punk.

Yep.

He closed his eyes as their kisses grew longer. Lions again. The sun beating him mercilessly. He heard the grunts of the poor son of a bitch lying next to him. Infernos. The flames twisted and twisted in ferocious circles around him. A rope draped down from on high. He told his arms to move but the bastards declined. He bit hard on the rope that was his savior. Get me outta this shitstorm.

Ow! She cried out. That’s my lip, you naughty.

Sorry, sweet thing. You get to me.

She smiled with her eyes, clutched his beard and ran her motionless lips like butter from his clavicle to his ear. He let out a powerful sigh that lingered like smoke from an exhaust pipe.

I’ll make ya a skillet.

Woo!

She got up and swathed her naked shoulders with a black tank top, which rested snugly on her breasts as she skipped toward the door. He didn’t let it get past her stomach before he reached behind her and clasped his hands in prayer across her ribs.

Bless this sunflower, she’s all I got, he whispered, kissing her neck and breathing in her ear.

You’re cute, she giggled.

Nope.

He put her on his shoulders like a cowboy would a calf and carried her down the stairs.