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EXCERPT
ANIMAL INSTINCT
By Michelle M Pillow
Chapter One
Eve Matthews stumbled drunkenly into her
office trailer at the Jameson Wild Life Rescue and Preserve. The trailer was
dim, but she spent more time in it than in her own apartment and didn’t need
light to find her way around. Everything was neatly organized and put away. Her
desk sat in the corner, dominating much of the small front area. An old brown
couch was next to it. The poor piece of furniture had seen better days, but she
couldn’t see spending the Preserve’s money on a new one when they had so many
rescued animals to take care of.
Plopping down on the couch, Eve kicked her
feet up on the broken coffee table and sighed. She rarely drank, but a night
spent with her overbearing socialite parents was enough to warrant the rare
occasion.
"Evelyn dear, why didn’t you bring a
date?" her mother had scolded the second she walked in the front door of the
mansion home.
"No, hi, how are ya?" Eve growled under
her breath, feeling a small measure of drunken comfort in talking to herself.
"How’s the job? Save any lives today? We missed you, Eve, glad to have you
home."
Nope, what she got was, why don’t you have
a man?
If it wasn’t bad enough, the entire party
had heard her mother’s comment and it was all anyone wanted to talk about the
entire evening. Are you dating? When are you going to settle down? What ever
happened to that nice doctor you were seeing? What was his name? Henry Statton?
Yes, what ever happened to Dr. Statton? You were so perfect for each other.
Eve frowned. A reflection of moonlight
caught her eye as it landed on the small scrap of paper hanging on her wall.
Evelyn Matthews, Veterinarian. You’d think that would have been enough to make
her family proud.
Suddenly, a dark figure leapt from the
floor to settle next to her. Eve jumped in surprise to see the black panther. A
small giggle left her lips as the large animal set his head in her lap. She
stroked him behind the ears, drawing comfort from the animal’s friendship.
"What do you think, Midnight?" she asked
the big cat. She called him Midnight because of his beautiful dark coat of fur.
It was so black it was almost blue. "Do you think I should have told them about
Henry? I could just see it. Mom. Dad. I know you like Dr Statton, but after I
found him in a dress, his cock shoved down his male receptionist’s throat, I
just couldn’t bring myself to marry him."
The panther nudged her hand and lifted his
face close to hers. She chuckled, feeling the animal’s warm breath on her neck.
Eve loved all animals, always had since she was a girl. She found them easier to
talk to. They listened, didn’t judge her, and she didn’t have to worry about
them telling her deepest secrets. Animals didn’t betray their friends. Not like
humans did.
She usually made the rescued animals sleep
either in the lab or out in the large prairie they had set aside for the cats.
But Midnight was different. He had come to her a mangled, broken mess. It had
been the worst case of neglect and abuse she had ever seen. He’d been found in
an old barn. No one knew where he’d come from. The best they could guess is that
he’d escaped his owner and crawled to the barn for safety. That’s when she’d
been called in. The stupid police officer at the scene had wanted to put him
down. Eve wouldn’t let him--not when he had a chance to live.
For long months it was touch and go and
she’d almost lost him on several occasions. He needed constant supervision those
first weeks and so he had slept in her office while she nursed him back to
health. Sometimes, thinking about all the cat had survived, she was astounded
that he’d lived at all.
Ruffling his fur, she grumbled, "Oh, I am
really going to miss our little talks together, you know it. But it’s not fair
to keep you locked up in this office all day and night. You deserve to live out
in the open with the other cats."
Eve closed her eyes and leaned her head
back on the couch. A little moan left her lips and a small tremor worked its way
through her body. She absently kicked off her shoes and pulled her socks off
with her toes.
"Why don’t I have a man, Midnight?" Her
head pulled up so she could look into his entrancing golden eyes. "My mom’s
right. I am kind of pathetic. Why couldn’t men be more like you? Fierce and
wild, strong, silent, knowing when to give comfort and when to take it.
Protective."
A sound of misery and discomfort rumbled
the back of her throat.
"And do you know how long it’s been since
I’ve had sex? Not that the sex I’ve had has been anything to brag about, but at
least it was something. Sometimes, I think I’m so aroused I’m going to explode
from the pressure. Not that you understand any of this, I’m sure."
The panther’s ears twitched as if it truly
listened. Eve frowned at him in thought, stroking her hands over his face.
Sometimes, when she looked at him, it almost seemed like he did understand her.
Midnight’s eyes closed as he enjoyed her attentions.
"Uh, I think I’m going crazy. I’m going to
end up alone--the old cat lady children run away from in fear. It has been way
too long, that’s for sure. But the only men who want to date me are stuffy,
boring doctor types and I’m too much of a coward to go after what I really want.
I am not sure I even know what I really want. If there ever was a truly sexually
repressed human, that would be me. But, you don’t have that problem do you, boy?
I bet not. I bet panthers never have to think about it. They just act on
instinct, pure animal instinct."
Eve pushed up from the couch, walking to
the small bedroom in the back of the trailer. The room was set off from the
larger front office with a small bathroom next to it. The queen sized bed was
covered with a mountain of pillows and blankets. A small dresser was along the
wall, next to a full-length mirror. She began undressing, not caring that
Midnight followed her and watched.
Throwing her silk shirt on a chair, she
then jerked her long legs out of her slacks. Stumbling before the mirror, she
looked at herself in the dim light. She was pretty or, according to her mother,
she would be if she put on more makeup and did her hair in something other than
a sloppy bun. Her body was toned from spending hours on the prairie caring for
over three hundred animals. Her skin was tan and her blonde hair streaked from
hours in the sun.
Tugging at her hair, she loosened the
blonde waves down over her back. "I lied Midnight, I know what I want. I want
just one night with no commitments, like a stranger I don’t have to talk to. I
want him to be a wild, untamed lover. I want … I want him to be bold."
Eve began running her hands over her body,
feeling the weight of her breasts through the tight hold of her white silk bra.
Her nipples hardened with instant longing. It really had been too long. She was
frustrated beyond belief and masturbating had long since lost its appeal.
Eve sighed and fell back on her bed
wearing only her white silk panties and bra. A dreamy sigh came to her lips, as
she closed her eyes. "Mmm, that’s exactly what I want. I want a big strong man
who can pick me up, crush me against a wall, and fuck my brains out. I want
someone who doesn’t care what others think of him--a true rebel. I want someone
sexy and wild and confident, with a motorcycle and tight black leather pants
that mold to his deliciously firm ass. Someone who’ll just look at me and make
me melt into a puddle. Mmm, that’s what I really want. But I’m a coward,
Midnight. I’m too scared to go and find him. Besides, guys like that aren’t
attracted to safe, boring veterinarians who live in trailers, talking to animals
as if they were people."
Eve started to laugh, a sad sound that
held no merriment.
"It’s just as well," she murmured, too
tired to move. "I wouldn’t know what to do with a man like that anyway. I’d
probably tense up and start crying out of fear."
Midnight jumped on the bed and lay close
to her side, not touching her skin. She sighed, long and loud, and absently
patted his back before falling into a deep sleep.
© copyright 2005, Michelle M.
Pillow
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the
author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living
persons or events is merely coincidence.
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REVIEWS
JERR
5 STARS!
Animal Instinct by Michelle M. Pillow
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat level: O
Veterinarian, Eve Matthews, finds her only male comfort in Midnight, the Black
Panther she rescued and nursed back to health. Eve longs for just one night with
a real man who can satisfy her needs. Viktor is a shape shifter, stuck in his
cat form after sustaining fatal wounds. He has fallen in love with Eve, his
savior. Yet when he returns to human form, he finds both loving Eve and
protecting her from his enemies both arduous tasks. Will they be able to survive
these odds?
This is my first read from Ms. Pillow and I have to admit that I was thoroughly
impressed. Her story is a favorite by far with its gripping tension, steamy love
scenes and well-developed characters. Viktor is sexy, as both panther and man,
and Eve is a hilarious heroine who knows what she wants and goes after. I highly
recommend this story for those who enjoy a spicy, short and entertaining read.
You will not be disappointed.
J.B. DuBose
Just Erotic Romance Reviews
TRS Reviews
5 HEARTS!
Animal Instinct by Michelle M. Pillow
Evelyn is a vet and most of her friends are animals, she has befriended a black
panther she has lovingly named Midnight. However she doesn't know that Midnight
is really a shape shifter named Viktor. She has no explanation when her dreams
take a very erotic turn, but she intends to enjoy it to the fullest. How will
she react when she finds out that her dreams have been real and the man she is
involved with is really a panther?
This anthology is awesome and just what you need to get you into the
Halloween spirit. This book is composed of five wonderful tales of the
paranormal combined with action and adventure that will keep you on the edge of
your seat. All five authors have done an excellent job of creating stories with
interesting characters and memorable plots. This book is sure to be a favorite
for any season and readers will love the intense sexual couples in each story.
Usually in anthologies there may only be one or two good stories, in this one
all of the stories are excellent and you can't wait to get to the next one. I
highly recommend this book for paranormal lovers or readers who prefer bite size
stories.
Reviewer: Angel Brewer
"Michelle M. Pillow's Animal Instinct is one of my favorite stories in
this anthology. Viktor is suave, sexy, and that purr is enough to make any girl
hot under the collar. Eve is a kind and caring person who truly enjoys the
animals that she takes care of. The chemistry between Viktor and Eve is almost
palpable, nearly leaping from the pages." Sinclair Reid
eCataromance Reviews
4 STARS
"GHOST CATS is an extraordinarily good anthology. Every
story in here is exciting and engrossing. Full of shapeshifting cats of all
kinds, there’s a story for everyone’s tastes here. I loved the wide variety of
stories. Picking a favorite is impossible as each of these stories are quite
unique and thrilling in their own way. If you’re looking for a great paranormal
and perhaps love your werewolves, but want something a bit different, GHOST CATS
is the anthology for you. Pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed." Nicole
Hurst, ecataromance
Fallen Angel Reviews
"4 ANGELS! Animal Instinct is a highly erotic and fun story. Eve is a
genuinely nice person and Viktor is an extremely hot male. These two heat up
everything around them as they make their fantasies come true." Susan T, Fallen
Angel
Coffee Time Reviews
4 CUPS
"The characters are well
rounded and very likable. Viktor is a very sexy panther and Eve
is a perfect foil for his dark allure. The love scenes are very hot and steamy.
The
storyline is intriguing and I found it very enjoyable to read. Ms, Pillow has
penned a
creative tale that fans of shape shifters and the paranormal are sure to love."
Susan White
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
LOVE ROMANCES
4 HEARTS!
"GHOST CATS is a wonderful mix of shapeshifter stories showcasing some of New
Concepts Publishing’s best paranormal talents, and is a great way to sample a
variety of authors’ offerings."
Tammy
Joyfully Reviewed
"Animal Instinct is a very erotic, romantic, and arousing story. I really
enjoyed it." Nannette, Joyfully Reviewed
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