“Come here,” he mouthed, as he nudged her up and over him, so perfectly aligned that when she dropped her pelvis, she found him ready, right where she wanted.
Her eyes captured by his, she lowered her body as slowly as she could, needing to feel every second, every millimeter of this coming together. To hold on to, to remember, to unpack it later when she was gone and this man was just a memory carved out of the ice.
* * *
Sex with Angel was a whole new experience for Coop. Oh, the movements were the same—the in and out, the kissing and licking and rubbing and stroking—but the feelings were different.
She flexed over him, sliding up and down him as if she had all the time in the world.
Clearly, the situation had gotten to him. Fighting for survival, he understood, would do that to a person. It made emotions spring up from out of nowhere. It inspired sensations, even in his body, that he hadn’t previously experienced. Thoughts, even.
Thoughts about the future. Like, maybe they had one.
Which was utter crap. He knew this, she no doubt knew it, but the part of him that he preferred to leave buried, the part she’d forced him to acknowledge, couldn’t seem to get the picture.
He envisioned sharing a room together back at Burke-Ruhe. Or another station. Hell, he’d settle for the crowds at McMurdo, if she were a part of it. Maybe.
Jesus, he was doing this. He was considering changing his life for a woman. Forthiswoman, the one who’d made him feel so threatened he couldn’t talk to her.
Suddenly over this slow, sliding thing, he tightened his hands on her waist and pushed down hard, lifting his hips to get as deep as he could.
He needed to cut the hopeful bullshit. She wouldn’t move here permanently.
And absolutely no way in hell would he leave this place for more than his yearly vacation to New Zealand and the States. Maybe, for that month or so, they could…what? Hang out?
He pressed harder, that thing inside him growing hopeless and grim.No. It won’t work.
When she bent forward, probably to kiss him, he took over, turning it into a rough, harsh joining, rather than the sultry one she’d started. Their teeth clashed, their tongues battled, but then she pulled away, looking…hurt, maybe?
No. Angel was tough. She’d be fine.
In fact, she probably hadn’t thought once about a future with him. She’d told him often enough that he was cold or whatever. The Ice Man, she called him.
She did a twisty thing with her pelvis, and rather than think about going back to civilization, he lost another little chunk of control, grabbed her body, and pivoted so he was on top.
This was better. He slowed, caught his breath, made his movements measured and deliberate.Okay. Okay.
He could do this. A few long, slow strokes to recenter himself. Good.
A hand on her breast. Hot and soft… He dipped, sucked her nipple into his mouth, and gasped at the way she tightened around him. A quick nip, then on to the other breast. He barely noticed his hips picking up speed, hardly felt the way his heartbeat went with it.
When he bent to meet her lush lips with a frantic kiss, it occurred to him that he’d sunk back into her siren’s pull. She was so precious beneath him, her eyes full of life and affection and a good dose of challenge.
I can take you on, the look said.I can turn you inside out and make you like it.
And it was true. The problem was that he didn’t know how he’d find himself again when this was all over.
Chapter 40
Day 15—Norwegian Field Research Camp, 142 Miles from Volkov Station
What was that?
Angel awoke with a gasp, mouth open, heart thudding.
The beep came again, loud as a siren in the absolute quiet of the hut.
When it happened a third time, she shook Ford, who sprang awake immediately.
