Page 1 of Animal's Reformation
Prologue
Streams of warmwater ran over Melanie Eaton’s bare back as she stood beneath the shower spray in hopes that it would calm her fraying nerves. She slowly let out a breath, fighting back the bile burning her throat. She couldn’t believe that she’d agreed to meet Hunter Lewis.
What the hell was I thinking? I’m not ready for this.The slight tingle between her legs was an evident reminder of exactly why she’d agreed to meet her online boyfriend. It’d been so long since she’d enjoyed any male attention, and the loneliness that had permeated her life was unbearable. When Hunter had shown an interest in her, Melanie had been flattered, and over the course of four months she’d fallen in love with him.And now we’ll be spending the weekend together.As much as the thought thrilled Melanie, if she wasn’t careful, her nerves would get the better of her, and Hunter would see a trembling mess of insecurities instead of the confident and flirty woman she’d pretended to be.
Melanie closed her eyes and leaned back against the slick tiles. Everything would be all right because Hunter was the man she’d been yearning for, and the things he said to her made her believe she was the perfect woman for him.It’ll be nice to have someone to go out with, to cook for, and to make love to.She smiled as shivers skated across her skin.But … you don’t know if he’s really who he says he is.Melanie shushed the small voice in the back of her mind—the one that had been thwarting all spontaneity in her life ever since she was a little girl. For once, she ignored it and made plans to spend a wonderful weekend with the man she loved.
The day before, Hunter’s strong, deep, and sexy voice silenced the faint warning bells in her brain, and she’d be damned if she was going to pay attention to them now—not when she wasthisclose to a life of happiness and love. She sighed and brushed her fingers across her breasts while she pictured Hunter’s full lips wrapped around her nipples.
Then she heard it, a sharp indistinguishable noise over the rush of water. Her eyes snapped open and she wiped the steam off the glass doors and peered through them. Nothing. But then again, it was hard to see through the mist.These damn nerves of mine!Melanie shook her head and watched the drops of water trickle down the shower doors.Oh God!Her wet hands flattened on the tiles in an attempt to hold her balance. Did she see a shadow dart by the open doorway? A shiver sneaked up her spine. Eyes blinking, she opened the shower door a tiny bit and stared at the patch of light spilling from the bathroom onto the camel carpet in the hallway.I’m just being silly. No one’s out there. I’m sure I locked the dead bolt.For a long second, panic gripped her.Didn’t I lock it?Melanie squeezed her eyes shut, frantically trying to remember her earlier actions.I’m sure I did. Get a hold of yourself. Relax. Hunter will be here soon.The thought of meeting him for the first time helped to divert her attention from irrational fear to contained excitement.
After turning off the water, Melanie stepped out of the stall and wrapped the large plush towel around her. When Hunter had asked her to find a small hotel for them, she’d decided to splurge and booked a small suite at one of the finer boutique hotels in Green Mountain Falls. The only requirements he’d had was that the place be small, secluded, and romantic, and she succeeded on all three points.
Melanie ran her fingers through her long brunette hair and looked into her blue eyes reflecting in the mirror. She was pretty sure Hunter would like what he saw because she’d made it a point to send real pictures of herself, and the way he complimented her made her feel special and cherished—something she’d never felt from a man before meeting Hunter.
She slipped on her robe then towel dried her hair, glancing at the time on the cell phone every few seconds. Hunter would be there in twenty minutes so she had to speed it up. She turned on the blowdryer, and as she ran the warm air through her hair, she heard something coming from the other room. Turning off the dryer, she stood silent and alert, her ears straining to pick up any unusual sound. There was nothing. Just the muted voices across the hall, the soft blowing of the heater fan, and the low rumble of the elevator as the doors shut. That was all … nothing out of the ordinary.
Cinching the belt tighter around her small waist, Melanie sucked in a deep breath, grasped on to the doorjamb, and tried to look into the small living area—but all she saw was darkness. Cursing herself for not leaving a light on, she put one foot in front of the other as she made her way toward a pretty crystal floor lamp she’d seen when she’d first arrived. Groping the smooth glass base, she tried to find the switch as icy fear pebbled her skin. A sigh of relief escaped from her lips when her fingers finally turned it on. She held her breath in anticipation of a warm flood of light, but nothing happened.Dammit!Melanie kept turning the switch over and over as if by some miracle light would appear. Nothing. Groaning, she looked around the dim room trying to find another lamp and spotted one by the sliding glass doors. Earlier she’d gone out on the balcony and watched the town’s twinkling lights sparkle in the distance.Maybe I forgot to lock the balcony door.Of course she was being paranoid again—something that her friends and family accused her of far too often. Who would want to climb up three stories to come into her room? When she thought of it that way, it reallydidsound paranoid and crazy.
Throwing her shoulders back and her head held high, she strode toward the second lamp in the room and switched it on. A golden glow filled the room, washing over the floral paintings on the sable-colored walls, the overstuffed sofa, and the glass-topped coffee table. Everything appeared normal, but why did she sense that something was out of place?
Folding her arms around herself, she turned to look out through the sliding glass door. The lights in the distance winked at her and she focused on them in a vain attempt to alleviate the eerie feeling that someone was in the room with her.
A wisp of warm air caressed the back of her neck and she stiffened. In the glass’s reflection, she saw someone behind her.Oh God!
“Melanie?” a deep voice whispered.
I know that voice. It’s …“Hunter?” She whirled around and met the penetrating gaze of the man she loved. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He let out a rumbling chuckle and gently touched her cheek with his warm fingers, then spoke, “Is that anyway to greet your boyfriend?” A glint flashed in his eyes … or was it a twinkle?
Something was off, but Melanie was so relieved to see him that she pushed the nagging feeling aside and grasped his hands. “I’m sorry, but you startled me. How did you get into the room?”
“You left the door unlocked. I wanted to surprise you, so I came in.” Hunter’s gaze ran over her, and all of a sudden she felt self-conscious.
Melanie stepped back and smoothed down her frizzing hair. “I look a mess. I lost track of the time and haven’t finished getting ready yet.”
Hunter pulled her into him, hugging her tightly. “You look beautiful just as you are.” He backed away a bit, then cupped her chin and tilted her head back so she looked directly into his eyes. “You’re perfect. I’ve been waiting a long time for someone like you.” He dipped his head and pressed his lips on hers.
Melanie closed her eyes and got lost in the warmth spreading through her body. She wrapped her arms around his narrow waist and relished the feel of his mouth pleasuring hers. Suddenly, he broke away and turned her toward the balcony.
“You’re too much, my sweet. I want to take this a bit slower.”
“Me too,” she whispered. For the longest time she’d fantasized being in his arms, feeling his lips on hers, and now that he was here, her body was tingling with desire.
For a few seconds, she waited for him to reclaim her and pull her against him. Then he was behind her again and she leaned into him, loving the hardness of his chest, the warmth of his body against hers. One of Hunter’s arms went around her neck and she ran her fingers over it, gently tugging at the hair on his forearm. He pressed tighter across her neck and she coughed slightly, a single thread of panic weaving through her.
“You’re hurting me,” she rasped, trying to push him away.
“Am I, my sweet?”
Tears streaked down her face as her throat constricted. “Please.”
“This will calm you,” he whispered.
A sweet medicinal smell invaded her nostrils, and before Melanie could process it, a white cloth covered her nose and mouth.What’s going on? I can’t breathe!With muffled cries, she twisted and squirmed to break free, but Hunter was too strong. She struggled to get her breath, but the more she fought, the more she breathed in the sweet substance.Chloroform? Probably.How had something so right turned into something so horribly wrong?
As Melanie clawed at his arms, he rubbed his face against her hair. “You’re so beautiful. You’re just perfect. I love you, my sweet angel,” he kept saying as the fight in her began to wane.
