Sinful Instincts (Woodland Creek) by J. D. Hollyfield, Woodland Creek Read Free Book Online Page A

is just not possible,” I spit out. Because I live in the real world. Not the storybooks with make-believe bullshit and paranormal nonsense.
    Without time to acknowledge, Sin advances from his sitting position across from me and is suddenly lifting me from my chair, pinning me to the counter. “It’s real, Emma. You saw it with your own eyes last night. The sooner you accept it, the sooner we can move forward with my plan.”
    His body is brushing against mine as he speaks to me. My skin prickles from the touch of his fingers that are resting on each side of my hips. God, why can’t I act like a normal person and flip out? I mean, he just told me that not only did a paranormal creature attack me last night but he’s also one, and here I am standing with my insides knotting and my legs clenching together. Get it together, sister.
    “What—what are you?” I ask, my voice shaky.
    “I am like him,” he states with no remorse. He presses his body closer to mine, if even possible. He dips his head lower and angles his mouth so it’s at the same level as my lips. “I’m a shape-shifter. I have the same leopard beast inside me scratching to come out. Does that scare you, Emma?” he taunts me, knowing my response will be a lie.
    “N-N-No,” I stutter, completely losing my brave stance. There’s a glimmer in his eyes, and they’re back to glowing.
    “Well, it should,” he declares. He brings his hand into my hair, placing the loose strands behind my ear.
    “What do you want from me?” I whisper through my quivering lips, although I’m not sure whether it’s from lust or fear of this bizarre man. In human form, he is walking sex. But to think about what I saw of him last night scares the piss out of me.
    He releases my body, and I slide down his hard chest until my feet touch the ground. “I want you to help me lure in the beast I have been searching for these past five years. He took something from me, and I want it back. Once I retrieve what he stole from me and rid this world of him, I will be gone, and you can continue on with your life.” He explains his plan like I’m simply going to fetch his mail and water his plants then go about my day.
    “Why me, though? I don’t understand. Why can’t you find someone else to help you?” I inquire.
    “Because there is something about you. You remind me of someone. And apparently, my enemy also sees the resemblance.”
    “Who?” I ask inquisitively, watching him tense, almost unwilling to answer.
    “Just someone he took from me. And for that, I’m going to end his life.” He is back to being hard and uncaring.
    “Listen, Sin, that’s not really good enough for me. I think maybe you would have better luck finding someone else—”
    “You will help me,” he cuts me off, his teeth clenching. “I chose to protect you instead of ending my long journey and taking what was rightfully mine – his life. I made an error in judgement and chose to shield you and allow his evil to escape my grasp. You will help me. You do not have a say.”
    I'm beginning to shake. His hard stance is unnerving me. I’m not sure whether to go all bat-shit crazy on this guy and attack him, call the cops, or just go crawl back into my bed in hopes I’m still fucking dreaming. Of course, instead of any of those logical options, I poke more into this crazy story. “But why me?”
    He begins to turn his back to me. “I told you. Because you resemble someone.”
    “Who?” I poke again, feeling I have the right to know.
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Well, it matters to me, since I'm kind of in the middle of this now.”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Oh, it does fucking matter!” I spit out . For all that’s holy, am I the only sane one here?
    He turns abruptly, the chair next to him flying and slamming against the wall. I shut my mouth quickly, my bold self completely taking a hiatus. With lightning speed, Sin is back on me, lifting me in the air and pressing me against the