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  She drew up her knees and hugged them, barely suppressing a whimper as a loud rumble of thunder bellowed overhead.

  Tears flowed down her cheeks. She hated herself for crying. It wasn’t who she was. She was tough, independent. A modern woman making a profession for herself and perfectly capable of surviving the elements.

  But leopards and mad men?

  The gusting wind pushed the sides of the tent and yanked at the ropes she’d used to secure it.

  Her shelter for the night would be no help to her if the leopard came back still hungry. But it gave her some kind of mental protection. It wouldn’t be able to see her, and she wouldn’t be able to see it.

  Chloe didn’t know how long she sat there. It became dark. The storm continued. She was cold. She wanted to make food and a drink but was too scared to move. What if the leopard was prowling around outside? What if it was waiting for her to show herself?

  And then pounce.

  As she stared at the shadowed zipper on the tent, watching the material billow, it suddenly pulled upward. The noise of it seared through her eardrums and she scooted to the farthest corner of the tent, pressing herself against it. Once again terror twisted her guts.

  The Shaman was back. He must have outrun the leopard somehow, used his magic and tricks to escape. And now he’d come to kill her, stab her with his rusty knife and bleed her dry

  She held in a scream as a face appeared, the features lit by the weak reflection of the snow on the tent.

  But it wasn’t the Shaman.

  “Aaron?”

  Chapter Three

  Is it really him? Is Aaron really here?

  She wasn’t sure if fear was playing tricks on her brain.

  “Are you unharmed?” he asked, his familiar deep voice was like a song to her ears.

  She pressed her fingers to her lips, holding in a sob of relief.

  Concern flashed over his eyes and he quickly let himself into the tent, securing the zipper behind himself. He then flicked on the small light she’d been too afraid to illuminate.

  As soon as he turned back to her, Chloe hurled herself at him.

  “Hey, hey, it’s all right,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. “I’m here. Nothing will hurt you now. I promise.”

  “Oh God, it was so awful.” She pressed her face against his sweater and closed her eyes. “First the Shaman, and there was … a chicken … and blood.” A sob bubbled up. “And then he was chasing me with a knife … and there was a … leopard.”

  “I thought you liked snow leopards?” He spoke against her hair, his breath heating her scalp.

  “I do … from a distance.”

  “He wouldn’t have hurt you. Maybe lick you a little.”

  “He was looking at me like he … wanted to do more … than lick me.”

  Aaron chuckled and tipped her chin with his finger. “You think he wanted to eat you?”

  “Yes. But luckily he chased the Shaman and not me.” She looked into his pale eyes which were somehow familiar. “Do you think he’s killed him?”

  “I doubt it, maybe just scared him away.”

  “Well, I’m grateful, but what if he comes back?”

  “The Shaman?”

  “No, the leopard.” She nodded at the tent walls. “These won’t keep him out if he’s hungry. You should have seen the size of his teeth. And he’ll have enormous claws, too.”

  “He’s not hungry.”

  Chloe frowned. “How can you know?”

  “There’s plenty of food up here for leopards, plus there’s the chicken.”

  “Oh, yes … I suppose.” She sat back a little and smoothed his sweater. It had rumpled over his chest where she’d clutched it. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” He seemed in no hurry to release her and kept his arms around her torso.

  “But … but what are you doing here?” She frowned. “And where is your coat and your equipment?”

  He smiled, just a tiny tilt of his lips, and gave her a squeeze. “I’ve got everything I need.”

  She raised her eyebrows and sniffed, pleased her embarrassing crying had passed. “But where?”

  “In this tent.” He tipped his head, studying her with the small smile still in place. “I have everything I need right here.”

  “Ah, you knew I’d have all the equipment, right.” She paused. “When you followed me.”

  “I can’t deny I followed you.” He nodded. “And it is a good job I did.”

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. Seeing Aaron stick his head through the tent had been one of the best things to have ever happened to her. “But why did you follow me?”

  “I was concerned for your safety and wellbeing.”

  “But what concern is it of yours?”

  His smile fell away. “More than you could possibly know.” He’d spoken in a low, firm voice, the heat of his words washing over her face.

  She reached up and pressed her palms to his cheeks, his facial hair tickling her skin. “I’m glad you did.”

  “Good.” His eyes darkened and a crease plowed over his brow.

  He is so damn sexy.

  “But right now,” he said, and rubbed his hands up her back and drew her a fraction nearer, “we need to get you warmed up.”

  She shivered and realized he was right, though being so close to him was very pleasant. Despite him not wearing much clothing, heat radiated from his body. And also his scent had wrapped around her, a dark musky smell that seeped into her nostrils and filled her lungs with need—a need for what, she didn’t know.

  She swallowed.

  Yes. I do know.

  She wanted him. She had from the first minute she’d seen him. She could admit it to herself now. His brooding demeanor, the way he seemed to devour her with his gaze, had made him the most irresistible man she’d ever met.

  Or at least that was how it felt right now.

  She threw herself at him, connecting her mouth was his.

  He tensed, his mouth unmoving, his limbs stiff.

  For a split second.

  Then he took full control of the kiss. Groaning, he slanted his head and drove his tongue into her mouth. He slotted his hands into her hair, holding her firm as he deepened the kiss.

  She gasped for breath as lust infused her system. He tasted divine, of man and desire and everything she needed in her life and thought she’d never have again when death had knocked on her door.

  He slipped his hands to her jacket and began to remove it. She helped by shrugging her shoulders, then once it was free, she tugged at his sweater.

  Their kiss broke briefly as they pulled it over his head.

  For a moment she paused and took in the sight of his broad chest. It was tan with the same combination of blond hair with black patches as he had on his head. His nipples were small and hard and his pecs broad—he had three raised scars on the left one, equal distance apart.

  She gripped the roundness of his shoulders and kissed him again, loving the scratch of his beard on her face.

  He was fiddling with her sweater, and within seconds, it was off, revealing her thermal layer.

  “You have too much on,” he murmured.

  “So take it off.”

  “I intend to.” He whipped off her black underlayer, exposing her bra, and then snapped apart the buttons on her trousers.

  Her heart hammered, her breaths came fast. She no longer felt cold, and heat blasted through her. As he kneeled back and deftly set to undoing the laces of her clumpy boots, she stared at his wide torso and the way the muscles in his arms danced under his skin as he worked. There was another scar, on his right forearm, three lines, like the one on his chest.

  Soon one boot was off, and then the other.

  He gave her a dark look, one that oozed lust and desire, and then pulled at her trousers, dragging them down her legs, her knickers going with them.

  “Aaron.” She gasped as the force of his actions knocked her back onto the
sleeping bag she’d set out earlier.

  “I want you to be mine.” He whisked her clothing from her ankles and tossed the bunch of material aside. It hit the lining of the tent and slid down. “I have wanted you from the moment I saw you.”

  “I didn’t think you even liked me.”

  Confusion crossed his face. “The first time I saw you, smelled you … I wanted you.”

  She smiled and spread her legs. “So have me.”

  God, when had she gotten so brazen? It must have been her close shave with a Shaman and a leopard that had done it.

  He scanned her body, his gaze settling on her pussy, and licked his lips.

  A tremor went through her. For a second, her power slipped away and she felt almost sacrificial lying before him. But she wanted to be his, she wanted him more than she’d ever wanted any man.

  He raised so he was on his knees and undid his black pants. He pushed them to his thighs. Apparently absent of underwear, his cock jutted out, hard and thick.

  Chloe squeezed her internal muscles. Damn, the guy was well-hung. But she shouldn’t be surprised, the rest of him was huge, too.

  “This first time, as I claim you,” he said, resting over her, his chest touching her bra and his cock tapping her thigh, “will be amazing.”

  “Claim me?” That was an odd expression.

  He smiled. “Yes. Claim you.” As he’d spoken, he’d pushed two fingers into her pussy. A firm drive until he was knuckle deep.

  She whimpered and arched her back.

  “You’re so soft and hot,” he said against her lips. “And so ready for it.”

  “Yes. Fuck me. Aaron, fuck me.”

  “You are keen to mate?”

  “Mate, fuck, shag, screw, whatever you want to call it.” She reached for his cock and wrapped her fingers around his heated flesh. “Make me forget about everything except you.”

  “I can do that.” He pumped his fingers in and out of her.

  She groaned. She’d meant to work his erection, caress him, too, but all she could concentrate on was Aaron’s touch, his fingers working her internally and the heel of his hand catching on her clit.

  She closed her eyes, the first spark of an orgasm growing.

  After a few minutes, he withdrew. His weight settled heavier over her and his nose touched hers.

  Staring into his eyes, she cupped his cheeks.

  He sought her entrance with the tip of his cock and stilled. “I want you.”

  “You’ve got me.”

  “Have I?”

  “Yes.” She tilted her hips, trying to seat herself on him.

  “Oh, to the gods above,” he murmured and then pushed in.

  His wide cock parted her delicate flesh as he took a slow ride to full depth.

  Chloe held her breath and didn’t take her attention from his eyes as he filled her. It was exquisite to be so stretched, so invaded.

  She curled her toes in their socks and hooked her legs behind his. She was panting, her chest rubbing up against his.

  “I’m going to make you feel so good,” he said, kissing over her cheek to her ear. “Full of pleasure.”

  “Yes, make me come, now.”

  “But you have to keep breathing, you’re at altitude.”

  “So are you.”

  “It doesn’t affect me.”

  She wondered about asking him why, but her need for fucking was stronger than her need to know what he was talking about. Altitude affected everyone. “Make me come. Come with me. Please.”

  He buried his face in her neck and began to rock his hips.

  The way he moved caught her clitoris perfectly and rubbed her internal hot spots exactly the way she needed. She clung to him, straining up to meet his thrusts. Her limbs were tingling, her belly tight. The pressure grew.

  And damn, his cock was rock hard. Could it get any more so?

  “Let the pleasure take you,” he said, suddenly lifting and straightening his arms so he could look down at where they joined.

  “Yes, yes, I’m coming, it’s here, the pleasure…”

  “Come for me, Chloe.”

  She gripped his biceps and cast her gaze downward. Watching his cock shunt in and out and his body drag against her clit, tipped her over the edge.

  “And breathe,” he demanded. “Keep breathing.”

  She did her best to keep dragging in oxygen as her pussy went into a series of delicious spasms. But it was difficult. Her body barely felt like her own. She was a mass of bliss spreading from her pelvis to her fingers, delighting every nerve along the way.

  He caught her chin in his hand and lowered his face. “Breathe.”

  She pulled in a great lungful of air and blew it out.

  He kissed her, withdrew, and then plunged back in.

  Another wave of pleasure shot through her pussy.

  When has it ever felt so good?

  He stayed with her, pumping his cock in and out until her orgasm faded. He then stilled, buried deep, with his breaths slow and controlled.

  “You … you didn’t,” she said, running her fingers through her hair.

  “No.”

  “But I want you to.”

  “I will.” He pulled out and slipped his arm around her waist. “But this way. I do it this way.”

  He flipped her over onto her stomach, and then tugged her to her hands and knees.

  She gasped as her hair fell forward, and she clutched the shiny material of the sleeping bag.

  So he’s a take-it-from behind guy.

  “You’re so sexy,” he said, palming her buttocks. “All I ever wanted.” He slid his touch to her hips and held them tight.

  She braced as his cock nudged her pussy. She had a feeling he’d be letting go of some of the fierce control he always seemed to have over himself. She wasn’t complaining.

  He sank deep, his way eased by the moisture of her pleasure moments ago.

  He groaned. A low-throated, rumbling sound that made her think of an animal, which one, she wasn’t sure. Lion perhaps, or tiger.

  Seated deep, his balls pressed against her labia, he gave another shunt and pulled her back onto him.

  “Oh…” She gasped. From this angle, taking him so high was amazing. She was sure he was nudging her cervix.

  “Yes, mate of mine…” He pulled almost out and then thrust back in. He was in control of her body, holding her exactly where he wanted her. “I’m going to take you now.”

  She didn’t answer because he’d set up a wild, primitive pace, fucking her hard and fast. His flesh slapped against hers. His fingers were like pincers on her hips. His cock speared in and out of her.

  Chloe shut her eyes and succumbed to the moment of being his. Surrendering her body so he could take his pleasure was so erotic. To think this big, tough guy, who fascinated her so much, was only thinking of her, needing her in this moment…

  “Yes. Yes.” He sank deep and came, filling her with his seed.

  Chloe pushed back onto him and clenched her internal muscles around his cock.

  A long, dense growling sound erupted from him and he released her hips and rested over her, his chest hot on her back.

  Unable to take his weight, she slid to her belly, taking him with her.

  He kissed her ear, his breaths competing with the sound of the storm outside, and propped onto his elbows a little.

  “You enjoyed it?” she asked, twisting her head to the side where his face was.

  “Do you even need to ask?” He curled his hips under, reminding her he was still deep inside.

  Not that she could ever forget.

  “You fuck like a wild beast,” she said and then giggled.

  “Maybe that’s what I am.”

  Chapter Four

  Aaron kissed her temple and then withdrew. “Are you warmer now?”

  “Yes, much.” She felt empty without him, but pleasantly aching, too.

  He reached around, unzipped the sleeping bag, and then moved to sitting. “Get in.”
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  “I’m okay.”

  “You won’t be warm for long.” He bent and kissed her bare shoulder. “Your sexy layer of sweat will freeze if we’re not careful.”

  “Okay.” She knew he was speaking the truth. She’d normally have spent the night fully clothed in a situation like this, and in the sleeping bag. Yet here she was, pressed up against Aaron, and feeling as warm as if she’d been sitting by a roaring fire back home.

  She put her feet, still in socks, into the bag and slid down it. “You coming in?” She wasn’t sure there was room, but they’d figure a way.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “But—”

  “Trust me.” He tucked his cock into his pants, and then wrapped his arm over the sleeping bag and pulled her to him.

  She was aware of his body pressing against the length of hers and the heat from him penetrating the high-tech material. Glancing up at his face, she found him staring down at her.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, stroking her cheek and pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

  She smiled. “I look better when I haven’t spent the day being chased around the mountains.”

  “You couldn’t look any more beautiful than you do at this moment.”

  She huffed a little, knowing it wasn’t true. She likely was a mess.

  “Your cheeks are flushed,” he said, “from the efforts of our mating. Your pupils are wide with satisfaction, and your lips…” He paused and swept his mouth over hers. “Swollen from our kisses.” He shook his head. “A woman couldn’t be more beautiful to a man as when she’s fresh from being his.”

  Her heart tripped over itself. Damn, the guy was good. He might not be a guy of many words, but when he did speak, well … she was almost in danger of thinking he could get right into her heart.

  She smiled. “I’m worried you’ll be cold.”

  “Can’t you feel my heat?”

  “Yes.” She paused. “But how come you are so hot? The temperature is well below freezing up here.”

  He said nothing.

  “And you never wear a coat or thermals.”

  “I guess my body temperature runs higher than everyone else’s.”

  “Isn’t that a bit odd?”

  “Not to me.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Shh, now. Try to sleep. You’ve had a long day and there is much to do tomorrow.”