It was odd eating with someone there. He usually ate alone, scarfing down his food. With Sophie, he slowed down, enjoying just being near her. “Did you buy anything else in the village this morning?”
“I did.” She arched her brows. “I bought some clothes, like this sweater, and some toiletries. Since I noticed you have a hot tub outside, I even bought a swimsuit, just in case. What a great way to relax your muscles after skiing.”
Damon’s throat went dry. Picturing Sophie in a swimsuit in his hot tub left him statue still. He took a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled slowly. “It does indeed,” he managed to utter.
He took a bite of the panini and moaned as the flavors of smoked ham, melted cheese, and tomato mingled on his tongue. “This tastes even better than it smells.”
“One of my dad’s specialties,” she declared with a proud grin and took a bite. Cheese stretched from her lip before she stuck out her tongue and captured it.
He tried not to stare at her mouth, but it was a struggle to break his gaze. Finally, he succeeded and said, “Tell me about your family.”
Her gaze drifted as she appeared to pull together her story. “I grew up northwest of Boston. Not near the coast where I live now, but farther inland. I have two older brothers, both of whom have moved away. One to New York and one to Vermont, but we still try to get together for the holidays. My parents split their time between the family home and Florida with the rest of the snowbirds.”
“They’re not skiers like you?”
“They were.” She sipped some water. “We all used to come up here to the White Mountains. But once my brothers moved away and I went to college, that stopped. They preferred getting away from the snow rather than seeking it out.” She shrugged. “Guess that means I’m on my own coming here.”
You have me now. He bit the words in and stuffed the panini in his mouth before he said something stupid.
“This was my first trip with my roommate, Tara. She’s more of a beginner, though, so you know what that’s like.”
“I do.” That typically meant skiing the easiest trails all day, which could get boring.
“What about you? Does your family live around here?” she asked.
“My parents are dead.” His voice came out without emotion in his practiced response.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her gentle eyes caressed him with concern.
He swallowed the rock-sized lump. “It’s been a long time.” After a measured exhale, he said, “We’re like a family here on the mountain. Our CFO, Grayson Marks, has looked out for me since I lost my parents.”
“That’s great. You must be close.”
“Like brothers.”
“And did you grow up around here?”
How much should he tell her? He rubbed one hand along his thigh. “Yes.” She peered at him as if waiting for more. “The area has undergone much development since the CEO, Rafe Castillo, took charge.”
Rafe purchased the resort a decade ago after making a fortune in real estate. Before then, their pack lived in small cabins in the area. Although the Sacco pack was originally happy to have the humans who’d owned the land gone, they hated the additional development under Rafe’s direction.
“Rafe is the visionary, and Grayson is the brains to bring the ideas to fruition,” Damon added. “I’ve played my small role in helping to build some of the structures, including this cabin.”
Her eyes widened as she scanned their surroundings. “You built this?”
“With help from my pack.” Shit, he shouldn’t have said that. He cleared his throat. “We call our family here a pack.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t exactly truthful either. He squirmed in his chair.
“That’s amazing.” She gazed up at the beams in the ceiling. “I’m impressed.” She brought her gaze back to him and gestured with an open hand. “Since I skied here when I was younger, who knows—maybe we ran into each other back then?”
Would his wolf have recognized her as his mate back then?
Yes, his wolf noted.
To avoid thinking more about the mate problem and avoid revealing any possible secrets of his pack, he shifted the conversation to her visits when she was younger. While she told him about trips coming up skiing with her family, her face lit up.
“I generally come up once or twice a year now,” she noted.
Not enough. “You should come up more often.” He arched his brows. “You could stay with me.”
She gave him a prolonged glance as if assessing if he meant what he said. “Maybe.” Then she took a long sip of water.
A half an hour later, they were at a trailhead at the base of the mountain, equipped with their cross-country skis and outerwear. The afternoon sun shone bright with only a few clouds in the distance. The February air was cool, but they’d soon be warm after they exerted energy skiing.
He motioned for her to start. “After you.”
She hopped onto the trail ahead of him and he followed her. As they progressed down the path into the woods, the snow-covered trees that surrounded them slipped from his vision. All he could focus on was how her body moved from behind. Her full lush ass. Her scent wafting back and bewitching him.
Take her. Claim her now, his wolf urged.
Damon sighed. That’s not how it works. She’s human.
Still, as he pursued her down the trail, the instinct to pursue and claim his mate rose. Damon struggled to restrain himself.
Sophie glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “How are you doing back there?”
If she only knew the battle roaring inside him. “Enjoying the company.” He raised one brow. “And the view.”
After a couple of hours on the trails where they skied along the river and over to a small lake, they returned to his cabin. He walked over to his stereo system and put a Beatles playlist on
