Read Online Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance) by Jaye Shields - Free Book Online

going to Mudhoney and Pearl Jam concerts, you were probably in kindergarten.”
    “Yeah, I guess you’ve got a point.” She smiled and pointed to the heavy instrument hanging on the wall. “And the accordion? I didn’t peg you for a polka fan.”
    “My dear, there is no music more compelling than the dark romance of the gypsies. Let me demonstrate.”
    He walked over to the wall and picked up the large instrument, hugging it to his body. He fingered the keys on one side and pulled out the opposite end, and a low haunting note escaped the instrument. Focusing his gaze on Michelle, he continued to stretch the instrument to and fro, weaving an intricately dark and romantic tune. Her mind drifted to the dark streets of Paris, where she imagined nomadic musicians gathered around a large bonfire. During that period of history, gypsies had been condemned as thieves and fortune tellers. The eeriness of the music was riddled with dark notes stretching in lamentation, but a rhythm of reckless abandon and optimism. As he continued to play the haunting, yet playful song in the Romany tradition, his eyes closed as if in a trance.
    Michelle did the same, and her feet moved into a dance of enchantment. Her legs carried her to and fro, her body swaying to the music, her arms reaching toward the ceiling as she twirled.
    All too soon, the music stopped and she had a new appreciation for the accordion. And apparently from the way Duncan was looking at her, had a new curiosity of Michelle.
    “The way you move to the music is beautiful.” Duncan had already replaced the accordion on the wall and moved toward Michelle. He looked like a predator as he moved across the large room. As sunlight spilled onto them through the window, Michelle stood motionless when Duncan arrived in front of her and placed his hand on the small of her back. He pulled her body close to his.
    Whispering into her ear Duncan spoke softly, sensuality permeating every word. “Perhaps you were a gypsy in a past life. I swear you have me under a spell.” Shifting his lips away just a little so he could gaze into her eyes, he continued. “You should be careful how you enchant me.”
    Awareness and vulnerability sent shivers down Michelle’s spine. Duncan, too, seemed affected, for he stepped away slowly. She watched him take another step backward, noting the blackness of his eyes, their emptiness, and as she fought a shudder, they focused on her neck.
    Suddenly he became thin air and reappeared only a breath away from her. His stance was ominous and she fought to keep her feet on the ground, wrestling the instinct to run or shift.
    He spoke slowly, his voice nearly a growl. “You should go. We can plant this rose next week.”
    There was no argument, no words. Michelle nodded before turning and all but running down the stairs and out the back gate.

Chapter Eleven
    The days went by slowly for Michelle. She hadn’t shifted for fear she might find herself by the beach.
Too close to Duncan
. Their last encounter had left her so confused. He’d brought her into his home, but suddenly, she was quite obviously not welcome. She had been trying her damndest to forget that Duncan lived off of blood, but he looked like he might take a chunk out of her. She was angry he had caused her to flee the house like a coward. Michelle realized Duncan, too, was probably just as unhappy.
    Now she stood outside of her Maya professor’s office, waiting to catch him to discuss the term paper. Ditching the idea to write on the theme on the Maya ancient ballgame, she decided to ask the professor if she could write instead on jaguar iconography. Keeping her fingers crossed, she hoped she could spend her time researching what could shed light on her mythical origin.
    The tall, handsome professor turned the corner in the hall. At the beginning of the semester, she has been intimidated by the youthful man’s handsome face and worldly intelligence. However, her recent infatuation with Duncan