One minute Mary was sitting on a hillside wondering what the hell had just happened, the next, she was thrown on her back into the snow behind the tree. Nick’s body slammed down on top of her, squeezing the air from her lungs.
A loud bang echoed through the treetops and a splinter of wood bit into her cheek. “Crap!” Mary yelled. “Is that what I think that is?”
“Shut up and be still.” Nick covered her head with his face and arms, his body completely burying her in the snow.
Another bang split the air, the sharpness of the report sent fear searing through Mary. Someone was shooting at them. The snow beneath her didn’t chill her nearly as much as knowing someone wanted to kill her or Nick, or both of them. Mary lay still, her ears straining to hear what her eyes couldn’t see.
The rumbling engine revved again and roared off into the distance.
Nick lifted his head enough to peer around the edge of the tree trunk.
“I think he left,” Mary whispered. The chill of a moment ago transformed into a slow, steady boil as her body became increasingly aware of Nick’s on top of hers. His chest rested against her, his hips pressing into her hips, a hard ridge evident beneath the bulky snowsuit, pressing into her lower belly.
Heaven help her. She’d just been shot at and all she could think about was the way Nick felt lying on top of her.
Nick dragged his gaze back to her. “You’re right, he’s gone.” Still, he didn’t make a move.
With Nick’s lips a few short inches from hers, and adrenaline pinging through her veins like a pinball, Mary’s mouth dried, her heartbeat increasing to a mad pace. She ran her tongue over her lips, searching for something to say, coming up with nada. Every ounce of her energy seemed to pour into her arms, urging her to...to...
She reached out, cupped the sides of Nick’s cheeks and pulled his face down to hers.
He didn’t put up a fight, didn’t resist.
When their lips met, Nick took control, jerking off his gloves to tangle his fingers in her hair. His lips slanted over hers, his tongue scraping across her teeth, pushing through to toy with hers.
The ridge between them hardened and Mary squirmed to get closer, cursing the layers of clothing in the way.
Her body ached to be next to his, skin-to-skin. She wanted to touch him, feel him, run her fingers over the hard muscles of his chest and down his washboard abs to...
Nick’s lips left hers and trailed a path along her chin to the sensitive area beneath her earlobe.
Without his head shielding her face, a large fat snowflake landed on her eyelid, melting against her heated skin. Another flake followed the first until the cool air and direness of the situation penetrated her lust-clouded brain.
Was she absolutely insane? What was she doing? She slid her hands between them and pushed against his chest.
When Nick’s lips left the curve of her neck, Mary’s entire body chilled. She wanted more but knew she’d be a fool to continue down this path.
Nick stared down at her, his eyes black and glassy. Then he was on his feet, racing up the side of the hill, his gun drawn.
Although she’d heard the snowmobile drive away, Mary couldn’t stop the rush of fear washing over her. What if he hadn’t gone far? What if he was gunning for Nick?
Mary scrambled to her knees and peered around the tree trunk.
Nick had reached the top of the hill, holding close to the tree trunks, barely visible through the thickening snowfall. Then he was sliding down the hill again, headed for the snowmobile that had come to a rest on its side against a large boulder.
Mary worked her way across the slope, collecting their gloves before heading for the machine. She reached it at the same time as Nick.
If not for the cushioning of the seat where it hit, the machine would probably be a complete wreck. As it was, it had sustained considerable damage to the runners and body in the tumble down the steep slope. Ed Scruggs would not be happy.
With Nick on the handlebars and Mary at the other end, they tugged and leaned hard on the machine, pushing it into the upright position. Once on its skids, the snowmobile slid downward again.
Nick and Mary braced against it until it came to rest again on the boulder that had stopped its initial fall. Nick climbed aboard and pressed the starter.
Nothing.
Mary envisioned a really long, cold walk back to North Pole. Her body, already soaked from lying in the snow, shook violently.
After fiddling with the starter and lifting the seat to wiggle the battery connection, Nick pressed the start button again and the engine sputtered to life.
