Snow Wolf, page 1
Snow Wolf
By
K. S. Martin
Other Books by K.S.Martin
Opportunity Knocked
Her Alpha
Wild Kat
Not That Kind of Love
The New Alpha
The Reluctant Alpha
My Boss the Alpha
Once Mated Twice Shy
Summer’s Alpha
The Alpha’s She-Wolf
Turned Alpha
Table of ContentsPrologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Copyright © March 2015, First Edition, by K. S. Martin
Prologue
“Sir, with all due respect, I don’t think that it is appropriate to send us out there together, alone.” She sat there staring her superior down. “There won’t be a team or…necessities?” He shook his head. Amy at times was obstinate and this was going to be one of those times. She was appalled that the head of the department wanted her to go on this expedition in the first place let alone with that womanizing mimbo, the male version of bimbo. He was notorious for getting in a woman’s pants and Amy did not want to be alone with him. Not only did she not trust him, she didn’t trust herself. She didn’t care that he was second best in the field and the only one that could keep up with her intellectually where ice was concerned anyway.
That’s what kind of bull crap Jim was handing her right now but she was only half way listening to him. They would be alone on the glacier for a week with only each other to depend on. She could hold her own and she knew that he could by reputation but still, a week? Alone with him for a week? No way. How was she supposed to resist him for a week? He was beyond handsome, long, lithe, and beautiful. He had gray eyes rimmed with the darkest blue.
She’d never seen eyes like his before and when he wasn’t looking, she was staring at him with her core clenching with want. He would move on after the expedition once he’d had her, but maybe a week would be enough. Maybe she could cherish the memories of their time together for the rest of her life. She’d admired him from afar for so long now but while she was admiring he was doing every female available. That was unacceptable and it infuriated her to no end. She wanted him for her own but the women that he spent time with didn’t look like Amy. They were tall and thin with high cheekbones and pouty lips. They spent more time on their makeup than their brains. He probably wouldn’t make a move at all on her and how perfectly awful that would be. Not a surprise but awful.
Amy learned early that being short, smart, and extra curvy made you an easy target for the kinds of girls that Liam took out with him. Those kinds of girls pretended to be your friend when they wanted something. Amy also learned that she needed to rely on Amy and that the kindness of others was usually fallacy.
“Good, it’s settled. You and Liam will go out, take the measurements, and report back in a week.” He was looking smug sitting there in his high backed leather chair with his dark steely eyes and slicked back hair.
“I didn’t agree to that.” Amy crossed her arms over her chest. “Again. I don’t think that it’s appropriate.”
“Look. Anderson has me by the balls here. It’s in his contract that he gets to pick his team and he chose you. It’s not in your contract so, you do what I say, you have a couple of weeks left on this one, so you write that into your contract next time, and everything is fine. Until then, you leave tomorrow with Liam. He will meet you at the airport. Take the measurements and bring them back.”
“Why me? Why him for that matter? A grad student could do this.”
“A grad student has to have a supervisor and a team to get them in and out, you, and Liam can go it alone. You’ve both been team leaders. If anything happens, you have enough experience to get yourselves out of it. He picked you because you’re the next best in the company.”
“Excuse me? I’m not second best, he is!” That infuriated her. Who was spreading that vicious rumor around? She didn’t really need to guess. Liam.
“You two can figure that out, it’s not my concern, I am only relaying what he said.” Amy harrumphed. “Now, go get ready, I have another appointment. When you come back, I’ll grant you a paid week to recover.” He had the nerve to smile at her as she rose from the chair and huffed out an aggravated breath. Amy stopped with her hand on the door and turned back to him. He was grinning stupidly.
“When I get back, I am putting feelers out for a new position. I don’t like being manipulated.”
“We’ll see.” He had the nerve to reply quietly.
“What did that mean?” Amy muttered under her breath when she’d closed the door.
Chapter 1
Liam watched her exit the office, and did she look pissed! He chuckled. That woman was his for a week. He could see it on her face. She’d evaded him so far but he would have her. She was small, curvy, and brilliant. She would be a challenge. Women usually came easily to him, threw themselves at him but a wolf enjoyed the hunt. While it was always relaxing to have a woman drop to her knees at his feet and take care of his needs, it was boring.
This woman Amy, she was smart. She would not cave easily and she wouldn’t drop to her knees for his enjoyment without much negotiation. He looked forward to negotiating with her, and fighting with her. She was exceptionally beautiful when she was angry, and passionate about something.
He’d watched her at a conference once, explaining how ice layered and captured the environment at the time that it was frozen. Liam understood what she was saying because she made perfect sense. When Michael challenged her findings though she’d stood pulled herself up to her full height of five and half feet, put her shoulders back and obliterated him. It was amazing.
That little firebrand had put Michael McPherson in his place and it was awesome. McPherson was a cocky know it all simpleton and Liam could not stand him. From that moment on, Liam knew that he must have her. That was six months and nine women ago.
Not one of them could measure up to Amy Garrett’s spirit. That woman had exactly what he needed. Women let him do whatever he pleased, she wouldn’t. She would call him out on his shit, he knew that bone deep, she would stand up to him. Amy wouldn’t just accept his bullshit and he needed a woman like that. One that was strong, and smart, smart enough to keep up with him. One that scented like wildflowers and honey, that scent drove his wolf crazy when he got near her.
Lately, he’d been walking by her in the park just to get a stray scent off her. She was always reading trashy novels and giving him dirty looks. He wasn’t sure if she didn’t want him around or if she didn’t want to get caught with those books. He chuckled. He’d seen the covers and had spotted one in a store once. He bought it and couldn’t believe that brilliant woman was reading that trash. With an I.Q. that had to border 180 it just didn’t make any sense but he’d enjoye them reading it together and doing some of the things he’d read. A tingle shot down his spine and right into his balls. He’d have her. Amy Garrett was his. Mine. The wolf growled inside his mind.
Liam watched her turn the corner talking to herself. He grinned as she pointed into the air. He wished he were close enough to hear the conversation that she was having. She was crossing the parking lot to where her car was parked. Liam followed and strolled casually to his antique red sports car. He hopped in over the door. He needed to have the convertible top fixed while he was out of town with Amy but there was never any time. Her compact rolled to a stop behind his and he saw her glaring at him in the rear view mirror. She was saying something but her window was up. He saw her eyes narrow and turned to look at her. She punched it and squealed her tires out of the parking lot onto the feeder road. Liam laughed loudly and headed for home.
***
Krista cackled in Amy’s earpiece. “Finally, a week alone with a man sweetie. You should have lots of sex, lots of loud pornographic sex.” Krista chortled.
“Kris, I told you, I don’t want to be alone with him. I mean he’s sexy as heck but I know I won’t be able to turn him down.” Krista mmm hmmmed her. “I mean you know my situation and he’s…very well practiced.” Amy walked out of the building and crossed the walk to the parking lot. Her blue compact was parked in the back of the lot. While it always seemed like a good idea in the mornings to get exercise, when she came back out in the afternoon she dreaded the long walk to the back row. She reached her finger up to touch a ladybug that flo ated on the air but it buzzed higher when she reached for it. “What if he tells everyone that I suck in bed?”
“If you suck in bed sweetie, he’ll love you forever.” Krista laughed again. “I mean they like it when you suck.”
“Shut up. You have a filthy mouth.”
“Hmm and a dirty mind, can I come along? I mean if he’s as gorgeous as you said I will definitely suck.” Krista said something to someone in her office while Amy climbed into the compact and started it. She carefully backed out and saw Liam hopping into his convertible.
“He’s right there.” Krista hummed on the other end of the line.
“Is he naked?” Krista giggled.
“I’m going to tell him to find someone else.” Amy ignored Krista’s question, stopped behind his car and watched him start it.
“Don’t you dare Amy Lynn, I mean it! You are too old to be a damned virgin. You are going to spend a week alone with sex on a stick. Let nature take its course. If you don’t do this Amy you’ll regret it the rest of your life. Drive away from him right now.” Damn her sister anyway. Amy barked the tires making a fast get away.
***
The trip up the mountain was uneventful. He made sure that she was behind him and never let her get too far back. She muttered every so often about big oafs, stupid contracts and something about her sister. Liam inhaled deeply. They were above the tree line now and the air was getting thinner. The mountain itself was getting steeper and more unforgiving. Liam let his muscles stretch and used the mighty thigh muscles. He looked over his shoulder at her digging her poles into the ice. She lifted her cleats carefully to step then placed them back down just as carefully making sure that her footing was strong. For her size she should be complaining about the climb or the speed they were traveling but she still muttered about contracts and him. At least he was on her mind, he grinned not letting her see him. He was glad that she wore the latest in mountain climbing and cold weather dress. She was sleekly covered head to toe with brightly colored top of the line equipment. Her pack was new, the cleats sharp and the snowsuit she wore he knew had been proofed up to fifty below. He’d seen it in the sporting goods store when he was buying camp food and a new water bottle. Her goggles were tinted to protect not only from wind but also from glare.
“We’ll break camp here.” He said pulling his pack off his shoulders. He wanted to spend some time before dark talking to her, not only about the project but to get to know her.
“We should make the glacier then break.” Amy stepped past him. “It can’t be much farther according to my instruments.” She held up a band around her wrist. She wasn’t ready to make camp and go to bed. It was still too light outside and he was still too sexy. She would only toss and turn.
“It’s another half mile. We will break here. It’ll be dark soon and there is weather setting in.” He bent over his pack and pulled his insulated water bottle out to drink. He looked up at the few stray flurries zipping around in the air as if they were alive.
“Do what you want. I’ll be at the glacier.” Amy kept walking and turned a corner around a large boulder. Liam cursed and put his pack up on his shoulders then followed her. He caught up to her easily and stayed behind her admiring the sway of her hips. He thought himself rather stupid for not letting her lead sooner. Liam was so engrossed with her bottom that he didn’t notice the crevasse ahead of her. The light was waning and the snow was beginning to fall.
Amy dropped suddenly, lost her footing and slid into the hole in the ground. She disappeared in an instant and Liam lunged forward to catch her. She screamed but caught a jagged piece of ice and held on. Liam grabbed her wrist almost as soon as she’d dropped. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. She was too young and had a whole life ahead of her. Her death would not be his fault. It couldn’t be. The wildflower and honey scent filled his nostrils and the beast pushed him. He took deep breaths to ease the urge to shift.
“I have you.” He soothed. He pulled but she wouldn’t budge. “What are you caught on? I can’t pull you up.” Liam tried to see around her leaning close. He heard her gulp.
“It’s my pack it’s stuck.” Liam pulled a knife from his belt and cut the pack loose. It dropped for a few seconds then crashed at the bottom. “You idiot, I need that.” He hauled her out of the jagged hole and pulled her to him. “Let me go.” Amy pushed free of him and looked over the side down to where her red backpack rested too far down to reach without causing serious injury. “Now what? Where am I going to sleep? My food is gone, my water, everything.”
“I told you we should have made camp back there.” Liam said heading in the direction that she was traveling before her accident. Amy thrust her hands on her hips and stomped a booted foot. He heard it and grinned.
“That’s all you have to say?” She shoved hard at his back. “What am I going to eat? Where am I going to sleep?” He looked down at her but continued to walk.
“We’ll make do.” Liam blew out a cloud of white breath. “Come on.” They needed to get away from that hole before she pushed him into it.
“We should make camp.” She said quietly. “It’s getting dark. Maybe we can think of a way to get my pack.”
“We only have one tent to set up so it won’t take a minute. We’ll keep walking. You wanted to continue to the glacier, we will continue.” The snow was falling harder now but he trudged on wondering why she looked so forlorn about a pack. He checked often to make sure she still followed. She kept her head down with a dour expression on her face. She looked deeply disappointed with herself.
With the glacier in site, Liam stopped and pulled his pack off. They’d walked easily at first but the last half mile had to be hard on her. Between the fall and shot to her pride, besides the physical exertion. At least that’s all that was hurt in that fall. It could’ve been deadly. The walk worked his muscles and he was werewolf. He ached so he could imagine how Amy felt but she did not complain. Liam admired that, a woman that didn’t whine. Most that he came across were petulant creatures that needed cared for but not Amy. Amy was tough and he liked that, a lot.
He reached into his pack and pulled out an emergency ration bar. She accepted it and stuck the package in her pocket. “We should get the tent set up before we eat.” How cute, she wanted to help. Liam pulled the tent from its harness on his pack and sprang it open.
“Now eat.” He grinned as her one eyebrow rose over her left eye. She looked at the tiny tent and pursed her lips. “We’ll make do. Eat.” Amy pulled the packet out of her pocket and opened it with her trembling fingers. “Get inside.” He commanded when the wind kicked up and the snow blew. Liam took his sleeping bag off the pack and threw the pack inside the tent. True it was a two man tent but Liam was a big guy and it was comfy enough for him. He unrolled the bag and placed it inside. “Get in.” She nibbled her lip and squatted down to crawl in. “Sweet.”
“Don’t do that.” She scowled and said sternly as she disappeared inside. He smiled wolfishly and was somewhat glad that she couldn’t see him. Liam crawled in behind her.
He stretched out and fumbled with his pack until he found his own dinner and his water bottle. “What are we going to do?” Amy asked.
“Carry on. We’ll eat, sleep, take measurements, and then head back.” Amy rolled her eyes.
“I know all of that. What are we here to measure?” He finished chewing and swallowed. She watched the muscle in his square jaw move. He wondered how long before she gave into that craving to touch him would take. He saw her fist her hand to keep from doing it. She took his bottle and sipped. One eyebrow dipped low over her eye when she saw the predatory gaze that he gave her. “Mine is at the bottom of the crevasse, if you don’t want to share, go get it. You owe me a candy bar too. I was looking forward to eating it.” The ration bar was exactly as he remembered them. They were dense, oily and lemony tasting, like lemon flavored clay. He knew that his meal choice showed a real lack of imagination. He brought ration bars and water but he wasn’t worried about food when he was packing. It would keep them alive but still, they sucked and he knew it. When he’d packed them they were only for ‘just in case’. He’d planned on the wolf getting dinner. It would be harder to sneak out now.
