I wanted it.” She lifted her head to meet his eyes, the blue gaze sucking her in like a black hole she couldn’t pull free from. “I still want it. Want you.”
His mouth came down so quick and hard on hers, she barely had time to take in a breath. His lips drank from hers hungrily, and she found herself being lifted up, her legs wrapping around his waist. She thought he was going to bring her back to bed, but instead, he planted her on the table, pushing his jeans down to take out his already engorged cock.
“Ohh.” She braced herself as he moved between her thighs. The tip of his cock teased at her clit, making her body shudder with little shocks of pleasure. “Please, John.” An arm came around her as he pushed into her, filling her with the familiar feeling of him.
He held her close, kissing and touching every bit of skin he could reach. Her arms, too, wound around him, clinging to him desperately as their bodies raced to the finish line, both of them shaking as they each reached the heights of their pleasure.
When it was all over, she plastered herself against his chest, afraid to let go lest she melted into a puddle on the floor. He lifted her up, cradled her close and carried her to the bed. He attempted to pry her away, but she clung to him tighter. So, he lay them on top of the mattress, cuddling her close as she nuzzled at his side.
Silence stretched on until she cleared her throat. “Um, John. I wanted to ask … where are we?” Her hand played over his chest, enjoying the feel of the rough hair under her fingertips.
“Ranger Cabin. Just outside the entrance to Contessa Peak.” His voice had a rough-hewn quality, as if those were the most words he’d spoken aloud in a long time.
“Contessa Peak?” That was really far away from where she’d started. How did you get all the way up here? she asked her fox. The little creature only shrugged.
“You didn’t know?”
She shook her head and told him what she did remember. “… and uh, then I woke up here.”
He grunted. “Found you while patrolling in the snow. Your fox was half frozen. Brought you back.”
“Patrolling?” Oh right. He was one of the Blackstone Rangers. She didn’t know much about them, only that they protected the areas around the mountains, much like park rangers in national forests and parks. “The storm. It came out of nowhere.”
A sound rumbled from his chest. “Yeah.”
Good thing this ranger cabin was here. Probably had it for emergencies like this. “So … when do you think we’ll get back?”
“Back?”
“Back home. To town.”
There was a pause. “Half the solar panels were knocked out. Should have enough power for two days if we conserve the batteries. I’ll start up the radio and call into HQ. Roads are probably out for now. Might be a while before they can send transport in the morning.”
She glanced outside again. The snow was still falling, though it was calmer now. A million questions zinged through her head. Who was this man, her mate? What did he do for fun? Where did he live? And of course, what would happen when they got back?
Her fox wrinkled its nose at her, as if to say, stop. Just enjoy the moment. They were mates, there would be time enough for that.
And so, putting those thoughts aside, she snuggled deeper against his side.
Chapter Three
His mate.
The words rang in Krieger’s head over and over again, the synapses unable to make the connection, even as he held her in his arms.
His bear growled in protest.
No!
He reined the creature in. It could not touch her. Not his perfect, gorgeous mate. His hand swept down the skin of her naked back, milky white and unmarred except for a smattering of freckles on her shoulders. The imperfection only made her more appealing to him, though, and he found his eyes tracing the little dots.
She shifted around, her coppery red hair spilling over his arm. Christ. Redheads had always been his weakness. Once upon a time. Different lifetime. Different man.
Certain parts of that life remained in his brain. Teasing. Kissing. Fucking. The skills to please a woman and have her begging for more. But with her … it was different. All those before her melted away from his memories.
A mate. God, he didn’t deserve her.
The grizzly rose again, and he shut it away, ignoring its protests.