The Beast's Desire 1-3 (Paranormal Romance, Beast Lust Series) by Emerald Ice Page B

Bigfoot-shifter existence quiet for over fifteen years. Apple Creek Forest Preserve had been the perfect place to protect him and his brother. It was secluded, and after the park had closed, no one visited the place – ever.
    He whipped off his towel and wiped the shaving cream from his face, suddenly angry with himself. How could he have been so stupid as to involve Chloe in his life in the first place? Granted, it wasn’t entirely his fault; the moment Kane appeared to her shortly after she had crashed her truck, he should have put a stop to their involvement right then.
    The only reason he hadn’t was because he had been lonely – they had been lonely. It was a selfish, self-serving decision that he now regretted deeply.
    Well, he supposed, loneliness wasn’t the only reason. It wasn’t just that she was smart, beautiful and a breath of fresh air to their secluded lifestyle.
    There was something more : something he felt about her that drew him to her. She was on his mind constantly – her beautiful blue eyes, her long blond hair, her soft, curvaceous body, the way she smiled, the look on her face when she climaxed – she always seemed to be his next thought. Her scent and the sight of her made his cock rock hard and he felt as though he was losing his mind.
    What he felt for her was so much deeper than attraction; the animal side of him accepted th at part easily while the human side had to analyze it to death. Bigfoot view: The most powerful want and need for her filled every fiber of his being. Human view: It was irrational to think he could already have fallen for her, right? Then again, he was certain this was exactly how he felt.
    He shook his head, admonishing himself silently. Between he and his brother, it was he who always made the “safe” decisions. Due to their shifter heritage, the decision to move here and to take the job as a ranger, was the only way he and Kane would have a shot a decent life.
    But, this woman threw all of his logic and sound decision-making skills to hell. His animal side was obsessed with her, and he would swear, even though they’d only just met, she was the one who would make their family complete. He couldn’t get her out of his mind or his heart, no matter how wrong he knew it was to pursue her.
    His thoughts were jarred back to the present as his brother, Kane, walked out of the house and stood in the front yard next to him. He sniffed the air deeply then stated matter-of-factly, “Chloe was here.”
    Before Ronin could nod, a woman’s scream rent the stillness and both men took off to help the woman they inexplicably found themselves caring about so deeply.
    * * * *
    The two big cats circled Chloe, both baring their teeth and growling. Chloe had never been in a situation like this before, but it was obvious to her neither of the felines was exactly “normal”.
    Even though the panthers’ features were similar to a big cat’s, there were a few noticeable differences: First, these big cats were the largest she had ever seen. Male panthers weigh between eighty and one-hundred fifty pounds, these two were well over two hundred.
    Second, their eyes were strange – they held an intelligence she had never witnessed in wild cats, which now made complete sense to her. They were shifters, too – they had to be.
    Her voice shook as she spoke. “Look, I just want to leave. I won’t say anything, all right?”
    The big cats caterwauled, the disturbing sound echoing throughout the forest, making Chloe jump. In response to her sudden movement, the larger of the two cats sprung forward and pushed her to the ground.
    The bigger panther shifted smoothly, his body changing into a tall, lithe human male. He straddled Chloe just above her hips, and bent over, his face inches from hers. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you, little girl?”
    Seein g the panther change into a man made the shifter seem less harmful and Chloe responded more flippantly than she should have.