Lover's Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novella Read Free

go.”
    His expression darkened. “Damn right he wouldn’t have. And I wouldn’t have either. We’re leaving right now.” He increased his grip, but not so much that it hurt. Just so he made his point.
    She dug her heels in. “No, we’re not. You can go if you want, but I’m staying. I’m not a child and I don’t need your protection. And I sure as hell don’t need your permission. I didn’t ask for you to come and if you don’t like it, you know where the exit is.”
    His lips parted, as if she’d surprised him. Which she probably had. Betas weren’t known for mouthing off. Didn’t mean they couldn’t. “Essie,” he murmured, low and sensual, and ran his hand down her arm, caressing her in a soft, inviting manner.
    Her abdomen clenched with impossible need until she realized what he was doing. She growled softly. “That’s pretty low. If you think you can charm me into leaving because of your sexuality, you don’t know me at all.” That he’d even try stung. They were friends. She wrenched her arm away.
    He opened his mouth but was cut off by the sound of a male voice calling out her name. They both turned and she immediately smiled at the tall, auburn haired man striding toward them. Antoine Kelly was just as she remembered him. Taller than her, though a couple inches shorter than Nikan. With a lean build and pale skin, he would have blended into the vampire community even before he’d been turned.
    “You look just as beautiful as I remember.” Her former professor lightly kissed her on both cheeks before embracing her.
    Next to her Nikan growled deep in his throat, and she turned to find him glaring at Antoine. His expression was so dark she was glad it wasn’t directed at her.
    Her former professor stepped back and held out a friendly hand to Nikan. “I’m Antoine Kelly. Are you two mated? I didn’t realize—”
    “We’re not mated, just friends.” She gently elbowed Nikan, hoping he’d wipe that expression off his face that said he was about to decapitate her old friend.
    Antoine raised an eyebrow and gave her a look that said he didn’t quite believe her. Since Nikan didn’t return his handshake—she wanted to throttle him for that!—Antoine let his hand drop.
    Thankfully he wasn’t intimidated by the man next to her. “After my lecture a few of us are getting together for drinks downtown. It’s a place that caters to supernatural beings. I’d love it if both of you would join me.”
    “Of course,” she said before Nikan could reject him.
    They made small talk for a few minutes, but Antoine eventually excused himself, probably because of the death glares Nikan was giving him. Once her friend was out of earshot, she nudged Nikan in the ribs with her elbow. “You acted like a child.”
    The tall shifter just shrugged and placed his hand at the small of her back. “We should probably hurry if you want a good seat.” He motioned toward the open doors where others were already heading inside.
    Pausing, she grasped his forearm. She wasn’t inclined to complain, but he’d given in way too easily. “Why are you being so acquiescent?”
    “Maybe I just don’t want you mad at me.” She snorted and he shrugged again in that maddeningly casual way of his. “Okay, maybe I’ve assessed that of all the paranormal beings I’ve seen and scented so far, none of them are real threats.”
    That made sense, but she was still annoyed with him. “So we’re not going to talk about the way you just acted toward my friend?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t like vampires.”
    “Apparently. Do you think you can act civil when we go out tonight?”
    “I’ve never claimed to be civil,” he said with a soft growl, flashing his canines.
    After the way her mother had been bullied by her father she’d be damned if she let anyone do the same to her, especially not someone she considered a friend. “I don’t know what your problem is, but keep it up and we’re not friends anymore.” Without