Catlin's Appaloosa

By Charlie Richards

Detective Catlin Hill doesn’t understand the instant, possessive attraction he feels for the slender John Doe in the hospital bed. But the minute those scared baby blues meet his, Catlin lets his protective instincts rule him. The guy has amnesia, and it’s only from a conditioned response that Catlin confirms his name is Gallo Ricci. After passing the case to a fellow detective, he takes the victim home with him and gives in to lust. For some reason, it doesn’t even faze Catlin when his new lover turns into a horse in his living room. When a group of guys drop by and start talking about mates and centuries of living together, Gallo has a panic attack, proving his past abuse won’t allow him to take charge enough to claim Catlin. Is their relationship doomed from the start? And what’s tough enough to take down a shifter and leave him in the hospital?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: May 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781771111775

Book preview

Detective Catlin Hill doesn’t understand the instant, possessive attraction he feels for the slender John Doe in the hospital bed. But the minute those scared baby blues meet his, Catlin lets his protective instincts rule him. The guy has amnesia, and it’s only from a conditioned response that Catlin confirms his name is Gallo Ricci. After passing the case to a fellow detective, he takes the victim home with him and gives in to lust. For some reason, it doesn’t even faze Catlin when his new lover turns into a horse in his living room. When a group of guys drop by and start talking about mates and centuries of living together, Gallo has a panic attack, proving his past abuse won’t allow him to take charge enough to claim Catlin. Is their relationship doomed from the start? And what’s tough enough to take down a shifter and leave him in the hospital?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Catlin’s Appaloosa

Copyright © 2012 Charlie Richards

ISBN: 978-1-77111-177-5

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

Catlin’s Appaloosa

Kontra’s Menagerie: Book Two

By

Charlie Richards

Dedication

To Jason – because I know you’re always there if I need you.

Chapter One

Detective Catlin Hill stared at the man in the bed. The nurse had told him the patient regained consciousness for several minutes just over an hour earlier. He’d been getting coffee, then his captain had called, and damn it, he’d missed it. Now Catlin wanted nothing more than to see those eyes open. He imagined the lean, muscular African American’s eyes would be brown. He knew it sounded stereotypical, but weren’t most black men’s eyes brown? Catlin couldn’t remember seeing any other color on a dark-skinned man.

He cringed. Yeah, that sounded racist. Catlin sighed and ran a hand through his own short brown locks. He knew he wasn’t racist. His best friend, Detective Brock Ridgeon, was black. Brock didn’t seem as tall but was definitely broader than this guy, and he was easily darker.

Easing into the chair at the head of the bed, Catlin rubbed his eyes. It had been too long since he’d had a decent night’s sleep. Three days? Four? Ever since he’d been called in on this John Doe’s case, a mugging, from the way the witness spoke. Catlin wasn’t so sure. His gut told him differently, and it didn’t matter how many times his partner on the force laughed at him, he knew better than to ignore his gut.

A soft groan from the bed interrupted Catlin’s thoughts. He leaned forward. What was it about this man that was so different? Okay, besides the obvious, that Catlin would be more than happy to fuck or be fucked by this sexy man. Did it make him a pervert to be obsessing over an injured man? Shit, he hoped not.

The fluttering of the patient’s long, black lashes caught Catlin’s attention and he spoke softly, Hey, you with us, friend?

Yeah.

The guy’s raspy, whispered answer sent shivers all the way down Catlin’s spine, settling in his balls. His cock twitched in his jeans with the start of an extremely ill-timed erection. He shifted in the chair to hide his growing bulge, just in case the guy glanced at his groin. Wishful thinking, Catlin was sure.

Do you know where you are? he asked gently.

Hospital, the guy said, cracking his eyes open.

Fuck! I was wrong. This guy’s eyes weren’t brown. They were blue, as-clear-as-the-sky blue. He’d never seen anything like it. Catlin nodded, buying himself time to engage his brain. Mentally smacking himself in the back of the head, he couldn’t remember the last time a guy affected him this way. My name is Detective Catlin Hill. Do you remember what happened to land you in the hospital?

The patient’s eyes slid shut for several seconds before reopening. No.

Okay, Catlin wanted to figure out a way to get beyond the one word answers. Can you tell me your name?

That question received another slow blink, followed by a sigh. No.

At least that coincided with what the nurse had said. You were found near a motorcycle. The registration paperwork said Gallo Ricci. Does that ring a bell?

It’s pronounced Guy-o Reechee, he whispered, and Catlin’s brows lifted at the automatic correction. A slight smile curved the corners of the man’s square jaw. I guess that’s me then, huh?

Yeah, I guess so, Catlin replied with a relieved grin. At least he could confirm the handsome man was no longer a John Doe. Do you remember anything else? Is there someone I should contact about you? Parents? Spouse? Siblings? Children? Even as he rattled off options, Catlin prayed a couple of those weren’t viable for the man."

There’s…someone. Then Gallo frowned. I can’t remember.

Just relax, Mr. Ricci. It’s not uncommon for memory loss in head trauma cases, said a middle-aged, dark-haired doctor as he strode briskly into the room followed by a nurse.