Primal Desires

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Las Vegas, Spring, Present Day

One more show, and then two months off -- I can hardly wait!"

Jason understood his assistant's enthusiasm as they waited backstage. During their hiatus, she was going to get married and honeymoon on Bora-Bora. He had no particular plans or destination in mind.

Or he hadn't until a few minutes ago.

"Of course, I'll miss the critters. Do you think they'll miss us?"

The tigers and lions they used in the Beast Master magic show were going to be spending their holiday at a very exclusive private nature reserve. The wolves, of course, never left his side.

"They won't want to come back to work after two months of running free," Jason answered.

He fingered the talisman he'd put in his vest pocket. He'd recognized the gold coin instantly, even though only half of it had been sent to him.

Out front, the applause was beginning.

Even with his powers, it was never wise to be distracted during a performance. He wished he hadn't opened the padded envelope until he was alone in his dressing room after the show. He certainly wished he hadn't read the note.

Now he had somewhere he absolutely needed to be, and an obligation he could not refuse to fulfill.

But at this moment, the lure of the audience called him.

Northeast of San Diego, Spring, Present Day

Sofia Hunyara was aware of the weight of the pendant resting at the base of her throat. Nothing else felt like gold. It was heavy and rich, and there whether she could see it or not. The crescent-shaped half of an ancient coin, which she wore on a leather cord, was tucked discreetly beneath her blouse. She traced the coin's outline beneath the soft silk. Once upon a time the coin had been all she'd had, and she'd fought hard to keep it. In the last few years, she'd kept it in a safety deposit box and hadn't thought about it much -- not until the message arrived last week.

She peered out of her windshield at the house on the hilltop and shook her head. The impressive mansion looked completely out of place in the California desert.

Why am I doing this?she asked herself yet again.

Probably because of her grandfather, and her great-grandfather.

She pressed her palm against the pendant.

And the fact that, except for a distant cousin, she was alone in the world and the world did not make sense. At least the past didn't make sense.

"This should go to your father," her grand-father had said, handing her a small leather bag. "I am so sorry this burden must go to you."

She tugged the bag open and spilled its contents into her cupped hand. It was what she expected, yet different. She looked at the dying man propped up in the hospital bed. "Where's the other half?"

"Your father should be the one to teach you," he said. "He should be here now."

Her father was serving three consecutive life terms at Seal Bay. She was never going to see him again, and she didn't want him teaching her anything. She'd seen what he'd done. But this was no time to take her bitterness out on her grandfather. All she could do was wait for the old man to go on.

"Someday you'll know what must be done. Someday your teacher will be found. Until then, be patient. Someday..."

His last word had beensomeday.Sofia had waited a long time. Much of that time had not been pleasant. She'd stopped expecting explanations, or even wanting them. But now here she was.

Another vehicle pulled up behind hers at the end of the long drive. Sofia got out of her car at the same time a man exited the white SUV behind her. Tall and lean, he had very broad shoulders and lots of wavy brown hair. She was struck by the coiled energy and animal grace in the way he moved as he came toward her. She'd have to be dead not to stare, and she couldn't help but lick her lips.

Okay, the guy looked delicious, but that was no reason to be rude, or blatant. Sofia managed to get the spike of lust under control by the time he reached her, but felt awkward and embarrassed.

She turned her attention toward the Gothic pile of stone in front of them. "Do you think it comes with its own madwoman in the attic?" she asked. "Or do they have to rent one?"

"And do Heathcliff and Cathy have a guesthouse out back?" he answered.

Wow, a guy who knewJane EyrefromWuthering Heights!His voice was deep and rich as cream, and she couldn't help but look at him and smile. She was immediately caught by the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.

She almost stuck her hand out and said,My name's Sofia. Can I have your babies?The odd, powerful reaction unnerved her, and all her usual mistrust and wariness rushed back. She immediately turned and walked toward the house. Who this guy was and what he was doing here didn't matter. She had her own fish to fry.

Jason waited a moment before following the dark-eyed Hispanic beauty, appreciating her long legs and the curve of her behind as she walked away. He also needed the time to recover from the psychic whirlwind that had hit him when they'd looked into each other's eyes. He'd gotten the impression that beneath the skin, she was a creature of fire. He also knew a caged animal when he saw one. He doubted this mortal knew the first thing about her psychic gifts, or knew that she'd unconsciously thrown up one of the strongest psychic shields he'd ever encountered.

He supposed he'd have to go inside to find out who she was and what she was doing here.

He joined her as she rang the doorbell. When no one came to the door after a couple of minutes, she muttered, "Now what?"

There was an ornate brass knocker in the shape of a gargoyle in the center of the heavy wooden door. Jason tried it. No one answered this summons, either.

He was prepared to force the door open, but the knob turned easily. "Shall we?" he asked.

"Isn't this breaking and entering?" the young woman asked.

"I have an invitation to be here," he answered. "Don't you?"

"Yeah," she agreed, not sounding at all happy about it. "All this mystery is so annoying."

He nodded and pushed open the door. The gentlemanly thing would have been to stand back and let the lady enter first. But a protective instinct kicked in, and he went into the house ahead of her.

The entrance hall was huge, and deeply in shadows, but the darkness didn't keep him from seeing the enormous werewolves waiting in the corners. Jason turned to slam the door on her, but the mortal had already followed him inside.

"What's the mat -- " she began as the beasts charged forward.

"Get out!" he ordered, and put himself between her and the werewolves.

The beasts snarled and leapt, and Jason took them all on at once. Claws slashed him across the face and teeth sank into his calf, but he was the one left standing when it was done. It was then that he turned toward the door and saw the young woman staring at him. Her back was pressed against the door, her eyes huge with fear, and she was pale and trembling.

He took a step toward her, but turned as someone began to clap behind him. Jason didn't recognize this old man, but he looked at him in disgust. "Haven't I already passed this test?"

The old man smiled, though it was more of a sneer. "Who says the test was for you, vampire?"

Copyright © 2007 by Susan Sizemore

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Excerpted from Primal Desires by Susan Sizemore
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.