Animal Instincts by Gena Showalter Read Free Book Online Page A

was not upset. Really. “I second that,” I said, adding it to the list, circling it and putting three stars beside it.
    “I third.” Kera tapped her chin with a manicured finger. “I also say we add a man who refuses to wear a condom because it inhibits his pleasure.”
    “Oh, that’s good. That’s very good.” I gave the list another glance. “Okay,” I said, “we need one more requirement, then we’ll have ten.” When no one answered, I said, “What’s it gonna be, girls?”
    Mel jumped up. I could practically see the light-bulb shining over her head. “I know! A man who leaves you unsatisfied in bed, concerned only with his own orgasm.”
    I smiled. “Well, I do believe we’ve just eliminated every man on the planet earth.”

4
    A Tigress marks her territory and cuts down anyone who dares enter. Poachers must learn the error of their ways or they will continue to enter the forbidden land, hoping to find a wounded cat to enslave. Fight. Never give an inch.
    T HE RESONANT VIBRATO of the doorbell sounded, capturing my attention.
    Who could that be? Because I’d agreed not to take on any new clients, I had nothing to do for the rest of the day and had decided to work out to my favorite T-Tapp DVD (I hoped to build some muscle tone), so was dressed in cutoff shorts and a sports bra.
    Frowning, I padded across the shiny wood floor. I didn’t want to deal with guests.
    The bell sounded again. And again. And again. Myfrown became a scowl. Did people really think ringing the bell over and over like that would make me open the door faster? All it did was irritate the hell out of me.
    I glanced through the peephole. When I saw who stood in the hallway, the breath caught in my lungs. I froze. Shit. Shit! Royce Powell was here. Visiting me.
    “Oh, my God,” I gasped out, hand tightening on the doorknob. What was he doing here? I looked horrible. No makeup. Hair a wreck. “Shit.”
    He rang the doorbell again, but I didn’t open the door. I’d let him think I was gone. Yes, I decided, nodding. That was a good plan. He’d go away.
    “I know you’re there, Naomi,” he said on a laugh. “Open the door, you little potty mouth.”
    I ducked away from the peephole, realized what I’d done and straightened. He could hear me, but he couldn’t see me. I gazed through the hole again and gulped. Had he appeared so rugged and sexy the last time I’d seen him?
    A shiver stole over me, and I forced myself to think of a turkey-and-cheese on rye. My diversion tactic didn’t work. A hard knot formed in my throat, even as a delicious warmth spread through my stomach.
    How pathetic was I? Acting like a sex-starved…Hey! I was a sex-starved woman and he was total eye candy, so I had every right to lust after him. All it meant was that I was a normal, healthy woman. Nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to get in a panic over. I straightened my shoulders. What did it matter if he saw me looking my worst? Seeing disgust in hiseyes as he looked at me might do me some good, help rid me of my growing obsession with him. At least I didn’t have dirt on my face this time.
    I pasted on a false smile and opened the door. The scent of man and sandalwood instantly wafted to my nostrils. My eyes gobbled him up. Royce wore a dark blue suit that probably cost more than I made in a year. No predictable tie hung from his neck. Instead, the top two buttons of his shirt were open, revealing a small patch of dark, bronzed skin.
    A casual appearance, really, on any man except Royce.
    His midnight brows winged in amusement. “Do I pass inspection?”
    That hard knot of embarrassment fell from my throat and into my stomach, obliterating all hint of tingling warmth. “I wasn’t staring at you,” I said, scouring my mind for a plausible explanation. “I was lost in thought about something completely unrelated to you.” Genius, Naomi. You idiot.
    His eyes gleamed bright and he coughed. Hoping to cover a laugh? “I see.”
    I scowled. “How