Because she’s our mate, his wolf insisted.
Damon ignored his wolf’s pestering once again and deepened the kiss. He edged his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She parted her lips wider, welcoming him in. A delicate sigh of relief escaped her, echoing his own need.
As their tongues danced, he tasted the sweetness of mango. She wrapped one hand around the base of his neck, curling her fingers through his hair.
Passion intensified, pushing them near breathless as both seemed desperate for more. Her breasts pressed against him. How he yearned to take her somewhere private where he could remove her dress and savor every inch of her.
He ran his hands over the sides of her body, taking in the delicious feel of her curves. Reaching the bottom edge of her dress, he stroked her thigh. She trembled beneath his touch, gasping against his mouth. Almost certain they wouldn’t be seen back here, especially with him dressed in black and blocking the view of her body, he still opened his eyes to glance to either side to make sure nobody was watching them.
Nobody that he saw seemed to give a damn. They were more interested with their own partners.
His fingers edged higher, exploring the decadent path of her flesh. She took a slight step to the side, giving him greater access. His pulse hammered through his veins, his cock throbbed. He had to touch her. Needed to be inside her.
His hands traveled higher. He agonized to feel that forbidden part of her.
The heat between her legs was almost scorching. Finally, when he touched her, her satin panties were soaked. She moaned and then shuddered.
She broke a hair’s breadth from his lips. “Oh, Damon,” she murmured.
He plunged his tongue back into her mouth and began to slide his fingers beneath the seam, desperate to touch her wet, silky flesh.
Sophie released a shaky exhale and dropped her head back against the wall. Opening her eyes half-mast, she glanced in both directions, and her eyes widened.
She pushed at his chest. “Wait—what am I doing? We are in a public place.”
He pulled his hand away and her dress fell, covering her. Dazed, he could barely find words to form through the sensual fog. “It’s okay.”
She blinked a few times and glanced around. “It’s not okay.” She covered her chest. “I don’t know you. This isn’t like me.” Her eyes, full of desire only moments before, sparked with confusion and then widened with horror.
“It’s all right.” He motioned with a slow, placating gesture. “Nobody should see us here.”
“That doesn’t matter.” Her expression turned mortified. “I don’t act this reckless.”
“I didn’t mean to come on to you so strong. We can slow things down.”
She shook her head. “This won’t make anything better. I didn’t come here tonight to pick up a stranger. I need to go.” She slid to the side, away from him, and then rushed through the crowd.
Follow her! his wolf urged.
Despite the roaring instinct to pursue her, Damon kept his feet planted on the club floor that seemed sticky with beer. It was better to let her go.
After she escaped from view, he closed his eyes. Regret smothered him like a punch to the solar plexus that claimed him of oxygen. He couldn’t breathe.
Who was she? Had he made a terrible mistake in letting her leave?
He reopened his eyes. She was gone.
Chapter 2
Sophie
Six months later…
Sophie chatted with the couple she rode up with on the chair lift. The scent of pine made it still smell like Christmas, although it was now February. Some teens must have thought they were decorating trees as they’d thrown colorful beads and an assortment of bras onto the branches.
She had eyed the steep mountain face on each ascent up this chair lift and now felt ready to tackle it. The whoosh of a skier below kicking up snow as he took tight turns made her heart quicken. It would be a challenge for sure, but she anticipated that descent. There would be no greater thrill to end the day than to ski this run.
Tara had gone back to their condo after lunch. She’d gotten her period early yesterday, and was still sore from skiing for the first time this season. She said the first day was always the worst for her, with headaches and cramps and a nice bout of insomnia. Added to the soreness in her legs, she was done for the day.
“Go have fun without me,” Tara had said. “I’m going to rest and take a sleeping pill to help me get through the night. We’ll catch up tomorrow. We have another full day before we leave on Sunday.”
Sophie was a more advanced skier than Tara. They’d spent Friday morning on their weekend getaway on the trails together, but once Tara left, Sophie challenged herself with more difficult runs. She’d worked up to skiing mostly black diamond runs. This would be her last run of the day, and she’d make it a good one.
“You don’t mind skiing alone?” the blond woman who appeared to be in her forties asked from beside her on the chairlift.
“It’s only for the afternoon,” Sophie replied. “Besides some alone time on the mountain is exactly what I need right now.”
It gave her a chance to breathe and escape the chaos of the city. Although she loved her job and the energetic vibe of working in Boston, the tension from all that peopling could get to her.
A woman skied down the steep double black diamond trail before them, nailing it with tight turns that kicked up plumes of snow behind her.
“She’s killing it. That’s a tough trail,” the guy on the other end of the triple chair noted. “It tore up my quads when I
