Page 6 of Animal Instincts

She glanced at the hallway again, watched as Hayden disappeared behind one of the doors, and then it slammed shut. She’d just tell him she was ready to go and that she would see him later.

Danika sat on the couch, which smelled of spilled beer and cigarette smoke, and looked at her phone for the fifth time in thelast half hour. She was supposed to be home in an hour and a half for a dinner with her dad and Damien.

She thought about the SEAL lion shifter, about the last time she’d seen him and the awkward way he had stared at her, as if he had wanted to tell her something monumental, but couldn’t. That had been four years ago.

Even coming home during breaks from school she’d expected to see him in passing, but he’d stayed away. But tonight she’d see him again, maybe even have the nerve to ask what had happened all of those years ago.

To this day it still consumed her when she thought about it, because there was some part of her that felt what had happened between them, that nonverbal, intense interaction, meant something powerful.

She’d come to this party because Hayden said she needed to let loose. After coming back home after two years of school, she knew that starting her life back in the town she grew up in was the right decision.

Maybe she should have stayed another two years at school, gotten her Bachelor’s, and then come back. But the job offer to help with the Internet advertising for a small law firm in town had been too good to pass up.

She wasn’t making as much as she would have if she had her Bachelor’s, but for starting out she was pleased with her salary. She already had her own apartment, albeit a small one

bedroom place, but hers nonetheless. She could focus on living her life, and decide on what she wanted out of her future. Staying with her father was wonderful, and she loved him, but he was just too overbearing and overprotective at times.

But despite the fact she hated being smothered at the age of twenty, she couldn’t fault her dad over the fact he wanted to keep her close. He’d lost his wife, even if it was nearly two decadesago, she knew having her by his side helped him on a level that made him feel secure.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing here alone? Need some company?”

The slurred masculine voice coming from behind her had her rolling her eyes. Of course there had to be someone to deliver a lame pick-up line before the night was over with. She turned and stared at the guy sitting on the arm of the couch.

He was definitely drunk given the stench of booze that came from him, the fact his eyes were half- lidded, glossy and red, and also because he kept leaning to the side and having to right himself.

“I’m not alone, and no thank you on the company.” She’d planned on leaving anyway, and right now seemed as good a time as any. She stood, headed down the hallway to tell Hayden she was heading home before he got too invested in his sex-fest, and came to a jarring halt when someone grabbed her arm.

She looked over her shoulder, stared at the drunken asshole she’d left back at the couch, then lowered her gaze to his hand. “Let go of me. You’re drunk, and I will kick you in the balls.” Taking Tae Kwon Do for the last two years while away from home had been her father’s idea, but she hadn’t fought the suggestion. In fact, she liked being able to learn how to defend herself.

He let go of her arm and took a step back, but he looked at her still, and didn’t turn to leave. “You’re one of those uppity bitches, aren’t you.” He didn’t phrase it like a question, and narrowed his eyes as if that statement pissed him off.

“Fuck off.” She turned around and headed toward the doorway Hayden was behind. When she got there she saw the prick had turned away and was walking back into the living room. “Asshole,” Danika said under her breath.

Facing the door again she banged on the wood until she heard Hayden murmuring on the other side.

“What?” he said, then his question was followed by a female giggle and groan.

Danika refrained from gagging at the mental image that slammed into her head. “Hayden, I’m going to be going, okay?”

“What?” he yelled out.

“I’m heading home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she said louder this time. There was silence on the other end. Then the sound of footsteps coming closer had her moving a step back. The door opened, and Hayden stood on the other side, his shirt off, and his jeans unbuttoned. “God, Hayden,” Danika said and looked away. Hayden was like a brother to her, and knowing what he was going to do with the slut in the bedroom, and the fact he was half naked, grossed her out.

“You’re leaving?” he asked, seeming like he was truly surprised she wouldn’t want to wait out in the living room with a bunch of drunks while he screwed a random chick.

“Yeah, I think staying is probably not the best idea, especially since that asshole over there was giving me a hard time after I turned his ass down.” She looked over at the prick in question, saw him drinking right out of a scotch bottle, and turned to stare at Hayden again.

He was watching at the guy she’d been talking about, and the irritation on his face was clear.

“I have that dinner thing with my dad and his friend in an hour anyway.

“I’m sorry I left you out there. Brandon is a good guy, and owns this place, but some of his buddies are real motherfuckers.” He faced her again. “Let me get dressed and I’ll leave with you.”

“No, I didn’t tell you I’m leaving in hopes you’d leave, too?—”

He shook his head and stopped her from continuing. “You came here because of me, and we’ll leave at the same time, Danika.”

She smiled and nodded. Hayden was one of the good guys, and she was lucky to call him her best friend.

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