Animal Attraction [Paperback]

Charlene Teglia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2009

Chandra Walker has a secret hidden in her genes—she’s a rare female werewolf. Now that her all-male pack has located her, it’s her destiny to sample each man’s pleasures and choose a mate from among them—a mate who will become pack leader. Soon the strongest alphas are competing to bring Chandra the most ecstasy, but only one man will claim her. Find out who in Animal Attraction…

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charlene Teglia’s first Ellora’s Cave title released in February of 05. Since then her books have garnered several honors: 2005 Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Erotic Novel, 2005 CAPA nomination for Best Erotic Anthology, two Love Romance’s Reviewer’s Choice Golden Rose Awards, Fallen Angels Reviews Recommended Read and she is a three-time recipient of the 5 Blue Ribbon Award from Romance Junkies.

Charlene is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency and writes for St. Martin’s Press in addition to Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

It's Amazing How Much Can Change In The Space Of A Heartbeat. 

One minute, I was alone in the Tysons Corner leather store organizing stock. Rehanging jackets that had been tried on and decided against, or more likely tried on for no better reason than to get me to turn around and reach up to unhook them. It had been that kind of afternoon.

 

And then the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My first thought was, Oh shit, I'm going to be robbed. In which case I would calmly and quietly open up the register and let the crackheads clean it out. There are some things worth fighting for, but a minimum-wage job in a mall store isn't one of them.

 

"I want . . . that," a voice said far too close to my ear. The voice was deep, masculine, and sort of growly. The owner of the voice exhaled and warm breath moved over the exposed skin at the nape of my neck. I wished I hadn't cut my hair so short. A strange man's breath on my skin made me feel far too vulnerable.

 

I turned, putting a little space and the brown leather bomber jacket I was holding between us in the process. Now I could see who I was dealing with. His eyes were dark brown lit with amber. His hair matched his eye color and fell just to the tops of his shoulders, although the natural curl made it look shorter. He had an uncompromising expression on features that looked vaguely Slavic, and while he wasn't much over six feet he managed to give the impression that every inch was formidable. He wore blue jeans and cowboy boots and a white long-sleeved T-shirt with a Harley-Davidson logo that couldn't possibly be warm enough in the dead of winter, even in Virginia.

 

Maybe he really had just come in for a jacket. The hackles he'd raised coming in didn't lie down, though, so I remained on guard. I have pretty good instincts for trouble, and they've saved me too often for me to ignore them.

 

"I don't think it's your size," I said, continuing to hold the distressed leather between us. Not that it made much of a barrier, but it was something. "There are more over there." I tilted my head to indicate the rack. My hands stayed right where they were, at about middle height where they could block low or high without having to travel the full distance either way.

 

He gave me a measuring look and then obligingly moved to the display of bomber jackets. I breathed a little easier when he put a couple of feet between us.

 

"Chandra," he said, drawing the word out. He lifted a sleeve for closer inspection as he said it. "That's your name?"

 

"Says so on my name tag," I said. I smiled, but my lips were tight over my teeth. I didn't want to encourage any familiarity. He'd come into my store while I was alone, he'd stood too close, he'd breathed on me, and now he was using my name. That was a good tactic for getting somebody to relax and trust you: use their name. It had the opposite effect on me, coming from him.

 

"Did you know it means 'the moon shining'?"

 

"No," I lied. I knew what the books said, but I was pretty sure it really meant my birth parents were liberal arts students with more romantic ideas than money or sense. They'd put me up for adoption and stuck me with the name as part of the adoption requirement. Although part of me had always wondered if that was so I could be tracked down eventually. There aren't a lot of redheaded American women in their early twenties with Sanskrit names.

 

"Do you dream of us?" He raised his head as he asked the question, his eyes intent on mine.

 

"I have lots of dreams. Everybody does." I shifted my feet, preparing to fight or run if I needed to. I didn't like anything about this encounter. "One of my dreams involves making sales and staying employed. Do you want to buy that?"

 

"I haven't tried it on yet." His lips curved in a smile I didn't like, even though I had to admit it looked good on him. He looked like he was laughing at me. Toying with me.

 

"I'm not sure it fits." He took it off the hanger and put it on. It seemed to me that he drew the motions out deliberately, like he was putting on a show for me.

 

I watched the way he moved, but not because I was taken in by a nice body. I noted the harnessed power in his movements and mentally upgraded his strength significantly over my initial estimate. If it came to fight or fight, I'd run. I was too likely to lose a physical confrontation, no matter how many dirty tricks I knew. He was solid and graceful and he knew how to use his body to advantage.

 

"I'm Zach," he said, smoothing the front of the jacket. My eyes followed his hands. The jacket looked good on him. I suspected pretty much anything would.

 

"Nice to meet you." My tone was .at and unfriendly. The gleam in his eyes told me he wasn't discouraged.

 

"Now we're on a first-name basis." Zach the stranger took a step forward, and I stepped back to maintain our distance. He quirked a brow at me. "Running away?"

 

I ignored the question. "Bombers are on sale this week. Twenty percent off. Would you like to wear that out?"

 

"Yes." He grinned at me. "I suppose you'd like me to buy it and leave now."

 

"You might also want something to protect the leather." I waved at the counter by the cash register. "You should treat it before it's exposed to rain."

 

"The cow this came from stood outside and got wet," Zach pointed out, his lips twitching with what looked like a barely contained urge to laugh.

 

"The cow wasn't a fashion garment." I walked around and behind the register, managing not to turn my back to him in the process.

 

"Already you're changing how I dress, and we haven't even had our first date." Zach the outrageous flirt took the jacket back off and handed it to me so I could remove the security tag and scan the price. His flirting didn't reassure me at all. Everything about him screamed stranger danger, no matter how hot he looked in tight jeans and boots and a leather bomber.

 

"Then you're getting off lucky, since we aren't going to have a date." I charged him for the leather protector and told him the total.

 

Zach gave me a gold card that didn't improve my opinion of him in the least. So he had money. That didn't make him safe. It might conceivably make him an even greater threat. Some people thought money would buy anything and enough of it made them exempt from the rules.

 

According to the card, his full name was Zachary Neuri. I gave him the jacket to wear out of the store and bagged the bottle I didn't think he'd ever use. Which made me even happier about selling it to him.

 

"You don't trust me." Zach's smile vanished as he donned the garment.

 

"Mom warned me about guys like you."

 

"Then you should have expected me." He looked so intent and determined as he said it that I had to fight the urge to take a step back. "I'll be seeing you, Chandra."

 

After he left I stayed still, focusing on breathing until my heart rate settled down. What was that crack about my mom? I'd meant my adoptive parent, but was he in some way connected with my mysterious all-records-sealed birth mother?

 

I finally went back to organizing the stock, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. When two other store employees came on and my shift ended, I was glad to leave. I wandered through the large shopping center on a random route just in case I wasn't simply jumpy and paranoid after meeting Mr. I'll-Be-Seeing-You.

 

Most guys didn't rattle me, not even bullies. Zach had not been most guys. But I didn't see anybody who matched his height and shape, didn't glimpse a brown bomber or curling hair, when I paused and turned to look around me from time to time under the guise of browsing. So I made my way to the entrance nearest my car and headed toward my parking spot. I walked quickly but steadily, head up, eyes forward, the keys ready in my hand.

 

A trio got out of a car near mine, two men and a woman. I didn't make eye contact, just noted their position and adjusted my angle so that our paths wouldn't intersect.

 

Except they did, because the trio moved toward me and spread out, making a sort of loose net. They were too close for me to safely get my door unlocked and inside, so I turned to put the side of my car at my back and drew my feet into the cat stance.

 

The back of my neck was prickling again and goose bumps marched up and down my skin. I ignored the distraction and kept the three of them in my field of vision.

 

Which is why I saw Zach before they did. He appeared behind them, seemingly out of nowhere, and maneuvered himself in front of me so fast I blinked.

 

"Rhonda. Wilson. Miguel." Zach nodded at each of them in turn. "Did you want something?"

 

"Is she your bitch?"

 

The woman who I guessed must be Rhonda asked the question. I had a sudden vision of Zach and myself in orange prison garb and swallowed a laugh. His bitch? Was she kidding?

 

"She's my business and none of yours." Zach's answer was flat.

 

"She's on our territory." This from the big, bald black guy. I wasn't sure if he was Miguel or Wilson. Neither of the men looked Hispanic to me.

 

"She has a job in the mall."

 

"She should find another one. It'd be better for her health."

 

I went cold. Had I stumbled into some sort of gang-related turf struggle? Thanks, Zach.

 

"I take her health very seriously." Zach's tone intensified wi...

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Original edition (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312537417
• ISBN-13: 978-0312537418
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlene Teglia's adventurous romances have garnered several honors, including the prestigious Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Her work has been translated into Spanish and German, excerpted in Complete Woman, and selected by the Rhapsody, Doubleday and Literary Guild Bookclubs. When she's not writing, she can be found hiking with her family or opening and closing doors for cats. For news, excerpts, and more visit www.charleneteglia.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars get a crash course in Werewolf 101, March 18, 2009

By 

C. Dionne "Chrissy Dionne" (Cloverdale, OREGON USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animal Attraction (Paperback)

Since Chandra turned twenty one two weeks ago she's been besieged with night terrors and her senses have gone into overdrive. She's always been sensitive to sounds, smells and tastes but now just the scent of her neighbor's perfume is overwhelming - from the floor below. Chandra doesn't understand what's happening to her and since she's adopted she can't even ask her parents if there's something in the family background that could explain her odd symptoms.

Aside from dealing with her own body and mind's odd betrayal, Chandra's suddenly met a man whose cryptic messages have her questioning whether or not he knows more about her and if he plays a part in her future. When Zack thwarts an attack by what seems to be a gang she realizes that her life is about to change and not in a way that would coincide with her plans. Zack kisses her and tells her to come home and she'll find the place she sees in her dreams. Instead she returns to her home where she relives the events of that day before going to bed, only to wake up restrained in the arms of a man she doesn't know. According to David, he'd been guarding her when he heard her distress so he came in to protect her and his restraining her is as much for her own safety as his - she fights dirty. After receiving a kiss from David Chandra goes back to sleep only to wake up later more confused than ever.

Chandra's decides to pay a visit to the local library to do a bit of research on some of the clues that Zack and David had dropped and maybe even figure out if the place she dreams about actually exists. The only thing she does learn for sure is that Zack's surname is a name for a northern Slavic tribe whose men turn into werewolves. Her metabolism kicks in and Chandra begins to feel lightheaded so she decides to head home thankful that she has something in the car to tide her over. She only makes it into the car before David intercedes and makes the decision to take her home with him. It's obvious she has no clue what's happening with her own body but Zack, David and the rest of the pack will ensure that she makes her first change safely. There's also the little matter of her going through her first heat. Each man has his own part to play in seeing her through the all-consuming need for intercourse for hours on end. As if that isn't enough, as the pack princess it falls to her to pick her mate and the pack Alpha from amongst the men. Which man will she choose?

ANIMAL ATTRACTION is a sensuously erotic paranormal story that werewolf lovers are going to thoroughly enjoy! Charlene Teglia surpasses even my expectations with this delightful tale of paranormal suspense. The premise behind the story is a bit shocking if you consider one woman with twelve men but as you're pulled into the plotline the characters interactions make perfect sense and are more of an emotional connection than simply a way to relieve sexual urges. I adored getting to know Chandra and agonized over her situation along with her. She's a strong woman who is thrust into a unique situation and isn't sure how everything will work out. Ms. Teglia is a talented writer who has quickly made a name for herself and keeps surprising readers with new twists in her fast paced passionate and captivating storylines.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars XXX Porno in a book, September 17, 2009

By 

R. McFeeters "Book Junkie" (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animal Attraction (Paperback)

Wow, this book is not for the faint of heart. I like paranormal romance, but I didn't know what I was getting myself into with this one. This was full blown erotica and I thought JR Ward was daring LOL guess not.

Seriously though, the erotica is strait out of a hard core porno.

The actual story is about a young girl named Chandra who was adopted and there for has never met her biological parents. She is working in a mall living a hum-drum existence when a exotic customer (Zach) comes in to her store to buy a leather jacket. That individual happens to be a Werewolf. Turns out that Chandra is werewolf princess and she is about to go into heat.

The werewolf Zach who is the Alpha of the pack tells her to come to their home before the full moon so that they can "service" her during heat. Of course she thinks he's crazy. But the next morning she awakes in her apartment with another werewolf embracing her in bed (David). She becomes week and dizy and David brings her to their home.

The full moon is in one day. Zach and David introduce her to a pack of 11 Weres (including themselves). Then they pretty much tell her that the day of the full moon she will go into heat and have sex with the whole pack together and then the following day pick a mate. She is still pretty logical so she makes a run for it, but they nicely wrangle her back into the house. She spends the rest of the night trying to come to terms with the reality of her situation, in the meantime Zach pays her a few visits and they have some foreplay.

Then things go from some what plausible to downright odd. She gets dressed up all pretty and goes to dinner downstairs with all 11 Weres and acts like she not about to get it on with them the next day in a full on orgy- huh? They take her outside where they all have a chance at a dance with her. She is left to set on bench were she is attacked by a Shape shifter (panther), but a blade of grass that turns into some sort of man saves her (sound strange yet?). She's taken back inside and David or Zach can't remember who now lets her know that there is rouge wolfs who would like to see her dead (which are lead by the Werewolf who killed her father), and that leaves the reader to assume those rouge wolfs have paired up with the Panthers.

Fast forward the next day, she goes in to heat and for several chapters has unbridled sex with every werewolf present in every way shape and form you could imagine...inventive and dirty things are said to her like "I'm going to nail you hard". She doesn't mind one bit . She goes from being coy to being like a cat in heat.

The next morning she is told by the blade of grass guy that she is pregnant with Jacks baby a red headed werewolf who really is a sub-character. She also manages to kill her fathers killer in the woods after a run. Wow, crazy morning I guess.

She wants to keep the baby naturally so she tells Zach she is pregnant but wants him as her mate then she informs him that if David ever wants to take a piece of her she won't be able to tell him no. David then arrives and tells her this is okay, she can have two mates for life -- David and Zach...lucky girl. Just like a little girl she behaves like a kid in a candy store and only after 2 days she is madly in love with two Werewolves. So there you have the happy family a Queen Were with two mates and baby in the oven by another Werewolf. Oh and I forgot to mention she can see the future too - phew the end.

3 stars for the sex alone.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animal Attraction, May 14, 2009

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animal Attraction (Paperback)

Chandra Walker is experiencing things she can't explain. She is highly excitable and often aroused and doesn't know why. Working in a leather shop in the mall, she comes face to face with Zach, a big man whose looks and mannerisms scream alpha male. Unsure of his intentions, Chandra is leery of him but soon realizes that he only has her safety at heart. What other man would fight off strangers for a woman he doesn't know?

Zach is the alpha of an all male pack of werewolves. Chandra is the female destined to be the true leader of the pack - only she doesn't know it yet. She will though because her heat is coming upon her with the arrival of the full moon. Convincing her to take part in the initiation ceremony might take some time.

Chandra is told that in order to ascend to the throne of her pack, she must make love with all of the males and then pick her consort. What happens when Chandra realizes that there is no way she can choose between two of the strongest men?

Animal Attraction is chock full of hot wolf loving and even hotter ménages. Each and every scene made me blush and at first I felt sorry for Chandra having to take on so many men in a matter of hours. Then, I was envious because each and every male character was beautiful in his own way. With a surprise ending that made me smile, Animal Attraction is a great read. Hands down this is the naughtiest erotic book I have read in months!


Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed