Paranormal Fantasies: A Promotional Collection of 14 Erotic Supernatural Stories by Annabel Bastione Read Free Book Online Page A

was crumpled, its lips curled in a
snarl. Rob drew back his fist and punched the wolf in the nose. It
whimpered and released him.
    Rob staggered to the porch, cradling his aching hand. Several
deep puncture wounds were filling with blood. “Fuck!” he swore as
he ran inside. He ran water over his hands and scrubbed at the
wounds. It hurt like a bitch, but he gritted his teeth. He knew how
bite wounds could get infected. He wrapped his hand in gauze and
mentally cursed himself. What if the animal had rabies?
    He eased himself into bed, shivering. The night passed with
fitful, restless sleep. When first light grazed his eyelids, he
shot upright and dressed. His hand was throbbing, and the pain had
traveled to his elbow. He splashed some cool water on his face and
left the cabin. The clinic was only a few miles away. First, he
made sure the wolf had disappeared, and indeed it had. There was no
sign of the beast.
    * * *
    “ Yeah, this is a bad bite, alright,” the doctor commented as
she turned his hand over. “How did this happen?”
    Rob’s face suddenly flushed. He couldn’t exactly tell the
truth, could he? “I’m not really sure what I did. I was just
walking through the woods and it attacked me.”
    The doctor’s skeptical gaze peered at him. “You wouldn’t have
happened to be feeding them, would you?”
    “ Me?” he asked in an innocent voice. “No, ma’am I would never
do that.”
    “ They’re wild animals,” she said in a stern voice. “If you get
them habituated to humans, more of these attacks will
occur.”
    “ Mmm.”
    She released his hand and rummaged through the cupboards.
“Right. Well, I’m going to rub some ointments on these wounds and
prescribe you some strong antibiotics. Be sure to take all of them,
and not stop when you start to feel better or it will get
worse.”
    Rob moaned in pain as the doctor gently smeared the ointment
over his wounds. She pursed her lips at the wound, apparently
confused. Shaking her head, she dressed his wound and gave him a
slip of paper. “Come back in a week.”
    * * *
    He pushed away the unfinished plate of food and sat back on
the couch, shivering. He had inexplicably acquired a craving for a
bloody steak. He usually liked his steaks cooked medium; the sight
of blood made him feel ill. For some reason, his mind had changed
overnight. He had awoken craving the savory, iron taste of blood
rolling over his tongue.
    So far, the ointment and drugs had done nothing for his arm.
It ached more than ever, and was getting worse.
    A hard knock at the door startled him. Rob clutched his sheets
and stumbled towards the door, which was still banging
resolutely.
    “ Jesus, I’m coming.” He yanked open the door with his good
arm.
    Robert’s ire evaporated as his eyes fell on the most gorgeous
man he had ever seen. The stranger was well-built, with wide
shoulders and rippling biceps peeking out from his tight, white
t-shirt. The shadow of a beard stroked his strong jaw and dark hair
fell haphazardly into his warm, brown eyes. Those eyes were knitted
into an expression of concern.
    “ Hi, my name is Dave.” A thick, deep voice rumbled out his
throat as he outstretched a hand.
    Robert instead offered his left hand and they shook awkwardly.
“What brings you here?” Oh God, he’s so
hot.
    He jerked his thumb behind him. “I heard there was an incident
with a wolf here.”
    “ Yes,” the man’s sudden presence struck him as odd, though he
wasn’t complaining. “How did you know that?”
    Dave gave him a smile. Rob felt warmth flush his chest. He was
so handsome.
    “ It’s a small town. Everybody already knows.” He gestured
towards Rob’s injury. “Is that where he bit you?”
    “ Yeah.” He sniffed, shrugging it off. He didn’t want to look
weak. “It’s not too bad.”
    Dave raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing smile. “Do you
mind?”
    “ Sure.” Rob dropped the sheets and carefully unwound the
bandage, gritting his teeth against the