Snowbound: Cold Fire Emma Ray Garrett All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2008 Emma Ray Garrett
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ISBN: 978-1-59596-916-3
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Editor: Crystal Esau
Cover Artist: Reneé George
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Snowbound: Cold Fire Emma Ray Garrett Forest Ranger Eric Lathem’s quite a hunk -- and ten years Kate Jeffries’ junior. So she’s kept her infatuation to herself, her guilty secret. Now Kate’s stranded high in the Rockies, and Eric’s hiked in to rescue her. Little does she know rescue’s the least of his plans.
Snowbound: Cold Fire “Mayday, mayday. This is Kate Jeffries to Ranger Station Seven. Do you read me?” The sound of cracking wood startled Kate and she dropped the radio. Forestry work gave her great satisfaction, and being a park ranger was all she’d ever dreamed of, but spending the last two weeks deep in the Rockies had left her feeling unsettled. A spontaneous snowstorm had dumped more than three feet of powder over the last four days. Being trapped in camp, waiting for a rescue, didn’t put her in the best of moods. A cold shiver wracked her body and the hair on her neck stood up. Something was watching her, out there, in the darkness. Leaves crunched, small branches snapped. Kate’s breath frosted the air in fast, white puffs of warmth visible in the night, as awareness prickled her skin. Kate struggled to get her breathing and pulse under control. Her eyes searched the darkness around the small camp, looking for a shape, any shape, among the shadows. Seeing nothing, she moved slowly, carefully toward her tent and the rifle within. “Kate! Kate! Can you hear me?” The loud calls came from just inside the tree line, right outside the light cast by the fire. She bit her lip to stop a startled screech and turned to face her guest. “Eric? Eric!” Adrenaline drained from her body, leaving her weak and strung out. Thank god, another human being, she thought. Eric Lathem emerged from the darkness. “Kate! I’ve been tracking you through the woods for three days. I tried to let you know I was on my way, but there must be something wrong with the radio. I could hear you, but you couldn’t hear me. I got here as soon as I could.”
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She let out a relieved laugh and pressed a palm to her pounding heart, using her free hand to grip his forearm. She wanted to throw herself at him and hug him hard, but she settled for the simple contact. “Damn it. You scared the shit out of me.” Eric’s tall muscular form was a welcome relief. Kate stood five feet eight in her bare feet, but Eric had at least six inches on her. He was ten years her junior and an absolute hunk. Dark blond hair fell about his face in a casual cut. He had large eyes, thickly lashed, and so dark she couldn’t tell whether they were midnight blue or black. Broad shoulders, a wide chest, and heavily muscled arms all tapered to a slim waist and a firm ass. An ass Kate dreamed of fondling on a regular basis. His nose was slightly upturned and his jaw, rock solid. He had thin, yet sensual, masculine lips. They were the icing on a scrumptious Eric cake. “You hiked in?” She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to push away her sensual thoughts. She didn’t need a twenty-something stud knowing an older woman had the hots for him. She’d never live it down. “Why didn’t you bring the snowmobile?” “I was in the snowmobile. It’s about twelve hours that way.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “It was either go forward or go back, and the weather service is forecasting more snow. I wanted to get to you.” His eyes glinted in the firelight and Kate warmed under his gaze. She knew exactly what she looked like to men. An athletic form and no-nonsense attitude drew them in. As did her large breasts, but she wasn’t pretty by any stretch. She could see exotic, maybe, with her Cherokee heritage. Kate had a bold look, but she wasn’t pretty. “You seem a little edgy. Have you been sleeping?” “Do I look like I’ve been sleeping?” “Obviously not.” His lips turned up slightly. Kate couldn’t help but return the smile. “I’m really glad to see you, but do you have a plan for getting off this mountain?” “We’ll start back down in the morning.”
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“Don’t you have your radio?” “I did, on the way up. I tried it after the snowmobile broke down, but couldn’t raise anything. The storm must have taken out the tower. Don’t worry, Kate. I’m the best mountaineer around. We’ll get home.” Kate dropped into her chair. He was right, but the thought of being stuck with him overnight, in her tiny tent, made her palms sweat. “You’re probably hungry. Let me get you something to eat.” “Okay.” He unzipped his coat and shrugged out of it. “Isn’t it a little cold to be without a coat?” “I’m getting too warm. I don’t want to sweat.” Sweating was the biggest danger in the cold, so Kate nodded instead of telling him to put the damn coat back on anyway. The thermal shirt he wore beneath the coat clung to his shoulders and chest, making her want to lick her lips as she imagined the skin beneath. She needed something to do before she jumped all over Eric, so she stood and offered him her seat, then headed to the pot over the fire. He watched her as she worked. Even though her back was to him, Kate felt his gaze like a touch. After about five minutes, she tapped the wooden spoon on the side of the pot and turned around. “What?” Eric looked up at her, fingering the hem of his shirt. He gave a small nod before standing, lifting the shirt up and off. Kate’s eyes bulged. “What are you doing? I thought you were hungry?” “I am. For you.” Eric dropped his shirt to the ground, revealing warm skin and a broad, muscular chest. His dark nipples stood out against the light brown tan of his torso. When she realized she was in danger of actually drooling, Kate snapped herself back into reality. “I’m flattered, really.” “Shut up, Kate.” Eric’s midnight gaze bored into hers. He slowly slid one hand down his chest, taking a moment to circle one of his nipples.
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Kate watched the movement, wishing her fingers stroked his body. “What did you say?” “I said, shut up.” Eric unsnapped the button fly of his jeans. The moment the denim parted, his long, thick cock burst forth. “Eric!” Kate’s jaw dropped. She tried to close her eyes, but miracles weren’t happening. With a cocky grin, Eric pulled off his snow boots. He slid his jeans past his hips, down his legs, and off. Once nude, he strode toward her, determined and powerful. “Are you blind? Look at all this snow! Put your clothes back on before you get hypothermia!” He ignored her, and Kate moved away, but didn’t get far. Her knees were too weak. The situation was surreal, a fantasy come true, so her mind and body weren’t working toward the same goal. “Come on, Kate. Let’s stay warm and enjoy ourselves tonight.” Eric took his cock in hand and stroked it hard. Kate thought she’d pass out from the wave of arousal pounding in her blood. “I’m sure we would, but we work together. We probably shouldn’t.” To her own ears the excuse sounded flat, but she couldn’t throw herself at his feet. She wanted him, but on her own terms. And having sex in a tent wasn’t part of the fantasy. “It’ll be easier to stay warm if we share body heat. And, Katie, there’s no way I can be that close to you and not taste you.” He stopped in front of her, so close his thick cock bumped against the fly of her jeans. Eric wrapped his hands around her upper arms, pulling her up on her toes. Kate stiffened, a sensual growl rumbling from her mouth, surprising her. “Eric.” Kate couldn’t say anything else. She wanted him that badly. Decision made, hot, wild hunger exploded through her body. She dug her nails into his forearms, drawing blood, trying to bring his mouth to hers. He groaned, his eyes slipping to half-mast as he jerked her flush against him. “Katie. Katie.”
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Eric rumbled low, the sound hitching her breath, sending a shudder of need rippling through her. She nipped at his mouth, excitement and anticipation making her aggressive. His eyes flashed. Eric didn’t waste time with niceties. His mouth covered hers, his lips crushing hers against her teeth. The kiss wasn’t soft or sweet. It overwhelmed, conquered, branded her. Kate’s lips parted beneath the pressure and his hot tongue filled her mouth. He tasted magnificent. Like hot, hard male, like youth, like lust. A frisson of delight danced along her spine. She recognized something in his flavor. Hunger. Her straightforwardness hadn’t put him off. In fact, it seemed to make him more aroused. She moaned into his mouth as she tried to free her hands from his grasp. Eric released her arms, sliding his hands over her shoulders, down the front of her coat, unzipping as he went. Once it was open, he dug his fingers into her ass, and lifted Kate off the ground. As he pressed his pelvis to her belly, the solid length of his cock left Kate breathless. Holding her close, Eric stalked toward the tent. With a lift here, a tug there, and a drop, Kate found herself atop a sleeping bag, looking up at his stiff, engorged cock. Her eyes traveled up, over his muscled stomach and chest, until she met Eric’s eyes. Fiery need swirled there. Eric laced the fingers of his left hand deep into her hair. “Taste me, Katie.” She licked her lips and rose to her knees. The wide, salty head of his cock bumped her lips and she opened to him. “God, yes.” Eric’s other hand found its way to her hair. He guided her mouth up and down his length. When he hit the back of her throat, she swallowed hard. His powerful body shuddered and Kate responded, moisture pooling between her thighs, fire burning in her blood. A strange need rose inside her. Caught in a state of crazed arousal, she swallowed his cock as far as she could before sinking her teeth into the hard, throbbing flesh. “Oh, god, Katie. Harder.”
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The animalistic need to mark this most private part of Eric’s body drove her, and Kate bit him harder, humming and groaning, pressing her thighs together, trying to soothe her throbbing clit. When he shuddered hard and said something incoherent, Kate drew back. She scraped her teeth along his cock as she did, loving the taste of his pre-come as it flowed from the tip. He groaned when she released him. Kate looked up at him, embarrassed she’d been so rough, but Eric’s dark gaze met hers and he smiled. Her body, swollen, wet, and aching, pulsed with need. Her nipples were beyond taut, beyond engorged. She wanted him to fuck her. She needed Eric to fuck her. Now. Eric slid to his knees, sifting his fingers through her hair as he lowered himself. When they knelt face to face, Eric curled his hands around the collar of her shirt. The sound of rent cloth barely registered as he ripped her shirt and bra from her body. Kate shuddered, fighting to stay on her knees as dizzying waves of need flooded her. He kissed her, a hard, quick press of lips before ridding her of the rest of her clothes. Eric pressed her to the ground, humming appreciatively as he took in her form, before settling over her. He kissed her again, softer, teasing his way between her lips. Their tongues tangled, teeth grazed, as their mouths met again and again. He left her mouth only to lick and suck a path along her jaw to behind her ear, his hot breath making her writhe. Kate moaned, lifting her body to his. Kate spread her legs, raising her knees to bracket his hips. She felt the insistent press of his cock against her sex and she whimpered. Eric’s carnal laugh teased the flesh of her neck as he made his way to her swollen breasts. One large hand cupped her right breast, rolling the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. His mouth savored her other breast, his teeth and tongue sliding across her skin, moving ever so slowly toward the hard peak. Finally, his lips wrapped around her begging nipple, and Kate lost her mind. “Yes!” She buried her hands in his hair, pulling his head close. His sharp teeth nipped at her skin, and she cried out in delight. He tormented her free breast with his
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fingers, pinching her nipple until it stung and pushing her over the edge. Kate convulsed, the hot release of her juices coating the lips of her sex and the head of his cock. She let go of his hair and dug her fingers into his back. As she bucked beneath him, he continued to bite at her breasts, hard, stinging strikes that rippled through her body and kept the orgasm on a loop. Her body had never been this aroused, her pussy never this wet. His uncompromising possession rocked her world. “Please, Eric!” Savage arousal pushed Kate to the edge of oblivion. She moaned loudly when his fingers savagely twisted her nipple. “Please, what?” He pulled his knees up and leaned back, better able to torment both of her breasts. He alternated between plucking, twisting, and pinching her nipples until she screamed. “Please, fuck me!” The world spun as Eric flipped her over onto her stomach. He hiked her ass in the air and slammed his cock deep into her slippery sex. Her breath left her in a rush as she cried out. His cock was incredibly thick, stretching her. Kate hissed, the pain/pleasure drawing her body taut. Eric made soothing noises and curled his hands around her hips. He pulled out and she cried out with relief and anticipation. “I can’t be gentle. I’ve wanted you too long.” “I know.” She shuddered. “Just take me.” Kate felt his thighs tighten a minute before he rammed his cock deep, pulling a yell from her mouth. He slid out and back in, harder and deeper than before. His hands tightened on her hips and he pulled her hard against him, punishing her sex with his savage pounding. Regardless, her pussy grew ever slicker. Kate thought she’d pass out from the intensity, the passion, the burn. His possession took her to a place she’d never been, the cold fire of their joining moving her outside of body and into sublime ecstasy. His penetration was unmerciful,
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and she contracted around him tightly, relishing each stroke. Shouts and moans spilled from her lips and she thrust back violently against him. “Don’t stop!” She felt his fingers loosen a bit, and she almost sobbed when he withdrew. Eric didn’t leave her body completely. Instead, he changed his angle and sent Kate over the edge after three short penetrations. “Yes!” she screamed. He groaned and continued to flex his hips. Her pussy was so wet the sounds of her pleasure were audible amid the harshness of their breath. She yelled louder when her second orgasm hit, and again when the third came. Kate’s knees left the ground as Eric stood up, wrapping an arm around her waist, never taking his magnificent cock from her pussy. Holding her impaled, he left the tent. He bounced her slightly, up and down, as he moved. Kate moaned, coming again when he slid one hand up her torso to twist her nipple. Eric stopped in front of a thick tree. “Wrap your hands around the sides, Katie, and hold on.” Eric lifted her hips, pulled out of her throbbing sex, and plunged back in. Kate howled loudly, startling the creatures hidden in the brush. He growled his ecstasy. And he fucked her, if possible, harder and more deeply than before. Kate’s pleasure grew rapidly with each stroke, now forever intertwined with the pain of this violent conquering. Eric branded her with every touch; each movement of his body made Kate cry out with joy. “Katie!” Eric’s growl of completion turned to a long, mournful howl. His hot seed filled her, and Kate shuddered in his arms, the power of his release filling her heart and her soul. A soft purr rumbled from her chest as she sagged against the tree. He pressed his lips to the back of her neck and she smiled. They stood there for a moment before Eric swung her into his arms, cradling her. “Kate, there’s something you should know.” “Hmm,” she murmured agreeably.
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“I’m not sure how to say this.” There was a thread of uncertainty in his tone.
Kate smoothed a hand across his chest. “What is it?”
“I’m not exactly human.” His voice was rough with worry.
“Oh?” Kate hid her grin against his throat.
Eric stopped debating and blurted, “I’m a werewolf.”
She giggled and lightly smacked his chest. “Really?”
“Yeah. I can show you.”
Replete though she was, Kate sighed and let the tingling sensation of her power
rush through her blood. “Me first.” “Holy shit!” Eric dropped the large lynx, which had been Kate, onto the snow. “Eric, that wasn’t very nice. Pick me up.” Kate projected her thoughts, and laughter, in audible form. Eric shook his head as he bent to retrieve her. “Kate?” She laved her rough tongue over his chin and chuffed in agreement. Eric laughed at the irony of it all. “You didn’t really need rescuing, did you?” Kate shifted back into human form. “Well, yes and no. I could’ve come down on my own, but it’d be hard to explain how I made it back without any of my supplies.” “Good point. So, what now?” “Now, Eric, I think we should do the smart thing and have more hot sex.”
Emma Ray Garrett “…and I -- I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” -- The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost
The last line from award-winning author Emma Ray’s favorite poem pretty much sums up her life. Her tendency to do her own thing is what her friends and family love best, and least, about her. Chaos is a constant in the Garrett home, which currently houses three intelligent, energetic children, a devoted husband, her grandmother, and a very large, very lazy, white tom-cat. No matter how busy, Emma Ray writes every day. If she didn’t, she says they’d put
her
in
a
white
coat
with
buckles.
Fans
can
contact
her
at
[email protected] or visit her website at http://www.romancethe-night.com.