Mating Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novel by Katie Reus Read Free Book Online Page A

at her.
    Fighting fair is bullshit.
That’s what he’d told her.
    And she intended to follow that advice, which was why she’d taken her top off. If she could distract him with her body, she would do it. Without warning, she struck out again.
    This time she connected with his temple in a sharp, satisfying blow. His head jerked back a bit, almost as if she’d barely touched him, but she felt the hard sting on her hand and knew the blow had made serious contact.
    “If I was human, I’d be on my ass right now. Not dead, but definitely unconscious.” There was a slight note of pride in his voice as he looked at her.
    Taking a chance, she struck out again, but he grabbed her hand in his own fist and twisted until he had her pinned on the ground, flat on her back.
    Without even thinking about the move, she kneed him once in the groin. His hold loosened as he groaned, but just as quickly his hand tightened on hers again.
    “Does that not hurt as much to shifters?” she growled between gritted teeth.
    “It hurts,” he rasped. “We just know how to channel the pain better than humans.”
    “That doesn’t seem fair,” she muttered, trying to wriggle out from his hold. Maybe she should feel bad about kneeing him, but after hours of his form of training, she was beyond guilt. The feel of his hard body on top of hers did things to her she’d rather ignore. Her entire body heated and the juncture between her thighs was embarrassingly damp. Feeling all that muscle and strength against her made her remember the many,
many
times they’d been in this very position before. With a lot fewer clothes involved.
    “Fair . . .” Jayce’s gaze trailed to her mouth and instinctively she licked her lips.
    The instant she did, she felt his erection, hard and unmistakable, pressing against her lower abdomen.
    Before she could tell him to stop—or even mentally protest to herself—Jayce’s lips covered hers. His tongue delved into her mouth, searching, hungry and needy. As his grip on her hand loosened and moved to cup her cheek, she could feel herself falling.
    Falling under the weight of his desire and his kisses. The scent of his lust combined with her own was damn near suffocating. She felt as if she were drowning in sensations as his tongue probed her mouth, not gently but expertly and wickedly. He knew exactly what he was doing. Exactly what she needed because he’d kissed her a thousand times.
    And she’d let him.
    But not now. No matter how much she enjoyed it. No matter how much she’d fantasized about being with him again, this would never, ever work between them. He hadn’t wanted her enough to turn her into a shifter when she’d been human. She couldn’t give in to what were purely physical desires now. Even if her new animalistic side wanted only that. She was still in control of her actions. Panic bubbled inside her as she shoved against his chest.
    Thankfully he didn’t fight her, but he also didn’t move fully off her. Just kept his muscular body over hers, pinning her to the ground until finally she pushed him again.
    “I thought training was supposed to be professional,” she said as she got to her feet. Without glancing at him, she grabbed her top from the ground and stalked out of the barn. Jayce didn’t follow and she was glad. Getting away from him was the most important thing for her sanity right now.
    He might have kissed her, but she’d definitely kissed him back. She couldn’t afford to make that mistake again. She needed Jayce for his skills and training. Getting tangled up with him again . . . She shuddered. No, thank you. She might need him, but she wasn’t enough of a masochist to invite the kind of agony he would bring her in the end.

Chapter 3
    H
ow could I be so stupid?
Kat hurried across the open yard toward December and Liam’s house. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to be vulnerable to Jayce like that.
    Taking off her top probably hadn’t been the best idea, but damn it,