Skin Deep Read Free Page A

do that?”
    Denying it wouldn’t be good. He’d get suspicious if she did. Then again, she wasn’t in a great position to argue with him while he gently held her in his arms.
    “What are you doing in my house when you’re obviously with someone else now?” She tried not to sound as hurt as she felt. She never should’ve let him come into her house. She should’ve just ignored him and gone to bed.
    Needing to be away from him, Angelique squirmed in his grip, and he reluctantly let her go. She backed away, and Monica walked up behind Connor. She placed her hand on his arm and frowned, gathering blood from a slice in his sleeve. Her eyes narrowed as if she understood what had happened, and with a snarl, she leapt through the air toward Angelique.
    Before Angelique could even think about moving, Connor took the impact of Monica’s attack. He’d moved so quickly. One minute she’d stepped away, then he was there. It broke Angelique from her frozen state, and she darted for the bedroom.
    “Angel, wait. I can explain.” Connor’s voice had taken on a gravelly tone. One that sent shivers down her spine. That wasn’t the voice of the man she had loved.
    She closed the door behind her, locked it, and leaned against it. Her thoughts were too scattered. Control, she needed the control. Angelique buckled to her knees. Her skin rapidly stretched, ripping through her shirt and jacket. Biting her lower lip, she held back a cry of agony. Her head bowed forward, and she panted as the pain gradually eased. Where the pain had been, emptiness rushed over her. A big, furry body brushed against her and nudged her with its muzzle.
    Angelique looked up at the large black panther staring down at her. If it had been any other place or any other cat, she’d be scared out of her mind. Kira would die without a place to rest. Besides, they had a friendship and a bond that went deep.
    Kira’s head snapped up, and she crouched. A growl rumbled from her feline lips. The hair on the back of her neck and along her spine stood in black spikes.
    Damn it! Not now.
    Angelique crawled to Kira and placed her hand against the panther’s side. Kira gently nipped in reproach. Sighing, she pulled herself upright, waiting to see what would happen now. Little chance remained that she’d get out of this unscathed. Somehow, she’d have to figure out what to tell Connor about the scratch on his arm. She doubted he’d let that go. And then there was the melanistic black leopard in her bedroom. If he opened the door, she’d be screwed.
    While Angelique could send Kira away, that would be dangerous for her and Angelique. There was enough time for Kira to absorb back into her skin. Besides, Angelique knew there could be dangerous consequences. Some of her kind had died or succumbed to the will of their familiar. The animal’s power strengthened after becoming real and the master’s own faded. She didn’t want to suffer through either option right now. Pulling herself together, she stood on shaky legs.
    A fist tapped against the door. “Angelique? I need to talk to you.”
    “Get her out of my house, or I won’t leave this bedroom. I’ll call the police.” Angelique nudged Kira toward her master bathroom. Of course, Kira didn’t want to go, and she was heavy and stubborn. Angelique sent a sharp thought to Kira, and the black panther finally let herself be guided toward the master bathroom. Thank goodness. “Don’t test me, Connor. You know I will.”
    Connor sighed, and the sound was close, as if he had leaned his forehead against the door. He seemed so weary, and a piece of the ice on her heart melted a little to hear him like that. She didn’t want Connor to sound so sad, but she had to remind herself that he’d brought this on himself.
    “I’ll get her out of here.”
    Angelique shooed Kira into the bathroom and knelt so she was face-to-face with the big cat. She lowered her voice. “If you tear up my bathroom, I’ll skin your hide.