Cloudburst Ice Magic (7 page)

“Oh, my God, are you serious? You’re going
to stay out here in this shack during the blizzard?” She laid a
hand on his arm and Lily’s anger surged.

Zach swallowed his smile at the horror in
Caroline’s voice as he slid his arm away from her touch. Even
without Lily’s reaction he didn’t like Caroline’s scent or touch on
his body. His cock found no interest in the curvy redhead and
remained quiescent in his pants. It only twitched when his thoughts
turned to the hot night he’d have alone with Lily.
Focus on the
conversation, fool.

“I’m prepared and more rested than all of
you. And Ms. Sinclair will be with me. We’re both trained for this
kind of situation and have the necessary gear for it.”

“But it’s miserable out here.” Caroline
scanned the shack with all the equipment. “Can’t they take all of
us down together?”

“We’ll see. At the moment, it’s not likely.”
He shrugged at her look of disappointment, grateful she wouldn’t be
around to set Lily off more. “Excuse me. I’m going to help Ms.
Sinclair set up a place to rest.”

He swung away from Caroline’s hopeful
presence, wanting to be beside his mate with an urgency that had
everything to do with his aching cock. He needed to touch Lily
Sinclair, smell her, wrap her around him like a cloak of ice.
Soon she’ll be Mrs. Snow rather than Ms. Sinclair.
The
thought made him smile until he neared his angry mate. He found her
damn near thrashing the sleeping bags to the floor with quick,
harsh motions.

“Easy with the bags, Lily. You don’t want
all the stuffing to come out before we need them.”

He’d tried to be flippant, but the look she
shot at him held enough venom to remind him of the rattlesnakes
humans talked about at home.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure there’s room for you
to head down tonight to spend time with Ms. Benedict. I’ll have
plenty of things to keep me warm here for the night.”

Zach gritted his teeth. “I said I’d stay and
I meant it.”

“Look, Zach. I get it. I do. It’s been over
a year since we’ve spent much time together and it’s hard to be
alone.” She set a tarp down on floor and put the air mattresses on
it, her shoulders tight with tension. “Maybe you wanted me back
then, or maybe it was a line to get me out of my depression. Either
way I’m grateful. But if things have changed and you want to find
someone new, I understand.”

A growl worked its way out of his throat and
his hands fisted at his sides. “It wasn’t a line, Lily, and I don’t
want anyone else. I mated you and no other woman interests me,
particularly not a redheaded human with no knowledge of the Ice
Demons.” He resisted the urge to pin her against the nearest wall
and prove she was his mate. “I promise I’ll remind you of our
connection tonight, one way or another.”

“Zach—”

“Trust me, Lily. Don’t give up on us yet.”
He begged her with his eyes, hoping his expression would convey his
sincerity. “Please.”

She eyed him with her lips flat, but nodded.
“Tonight then.”

He hadn’t realized his gut was tight, but it
released with her words. “Thank you.” He wanted to tell her he
loved her, but the moment was lost when Randy approached.

“So base radioed. They’ll be underway within
the hour.” His haggard expression boded ill. “No telling how long
it will take them to get here, but the snowcat is tied up rescuing
skiers near the resort.” He lowered his voice and glanced toward
the others standing around the stove. “There are only three
snowmobiles in working order.”

Lily sighed and shook her head. “It doesn’t
matter. You and the others have to get down tonight. There isn’t
enough fuel or food to last for all of us. And you have to take
them, Randy.”

“There aren’t enough machines.”

“There are if you don’t take all the gear
with you.” Zach nodded to Lily. “Lily and I can keep it here with
us until tomorrow. That way two of you can double up with the
driver. Tomorrow you can send the snowcat to come get us and the
gear.”

“I don’t like leaving anyone behind.”
Randy’s jaw clenched.

“I know, but both Zach and I can handle
ourselves out here, and we have the stove and our gear.” Lily laid
her hand on Randy’s arm and Zach had to fight off the same anger
he’d felt from Lily at Caroline’s touch. “We’ll be okay until the
crew returns tomorrow. Did they say they were bringing fuel and
food?”

Randy nodded. “They said they’d restock the
shed just in case.”

“Then we should be fine.” She patted his
arm. “Trust us. Get back to your wife and let her know you’re
safe.”

Randy sighed. “Okay, Sinclair. I’ll leave my
extra food with you. It should be only one night.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Montesque. We’ll be fine.”
Zach shook his hand. “I’ll watch out for her.”

Randy shot him a half-smile. “You better. I
don’t leave my partner with just anyone.”

Lily snorted. “Is that because I’m a woman
or because six months ago I was a trainee?”

“It’s because you’re my partner and I take
this weather seriously. We’re a team and I never leave anyone
behind.”

Zach grunted with approval. The Ice Demons’
Spring Fling made most snowfalls look like cottonwood fluff.

“We’ll look after each other.” Lily gave
them each a firm look. “That’s what SAR teams do, you know.”

“What I mean is don’t underestimate this
storm. Stay inside and safe. The crew will be back for you
tomorrow.”

“I won’t tell you not to worry, but get
those people down safe. We’ll be fine.”

Zach grunted.
Better than fine if I have
any say.

Randy nodded. “Will do. Radio in every few
hours so we know you’re okay.”

“We will.”

He nodded again and hesitated as if he
wanted to say more, but instead gave them another short nod and
joined the hikers to let them know what to expect. Zach watched the
others gather around Randy and relief filtered across their faces.
They’ll get down safe and I’ll be alone with Lily.
Satisfaction filled his chest until he turned to help Lily set up
the rest of the gear. Her lips lay in a flat line and her shoulders
had tightened again, but some of her anger had mellowed. Zach
didn’t try to break her silence, biding his time before they could
talk about things and clear the air.

Or not talk.
Zach had plans for more
than verbal communication. He just needed the others to leave and
Lily would be his all night.

Chapter Nine

The rescue crew came an hour before dark
with plenty of supplies. Lily helped them get the hikers ready to
leave. All three had to leave their packs in the equipment shed,
but Randy took his to make sure everyone would be secure on the way
down.

Zach oversaw loading what little gear they
did take on the back of the snowmobiles and Caroline followed him
around, trying to make a case for him to return with her to base.
Lily gritted her teeth at the wheedling tones and fawning comments
Caroline used. To Zach’s credit, he remained politely distant.

“Thank you so much for saving us.” Caroline
threw herself into Zach’s arms despite the snow falling harder.
“We’ll be at the Cloudburst Resort for a few more days. Maybe I’ll
catch up with you when you get down.”

“I appreciate the offer, Ms. Benedict, but I
already have a girlfriend.” He set the redhead back on her own
feet. “I hope you get down safely.”

“You’re not married, are you?”

Lily damn near choked.
Holy shit, this
woman doesn’t give up easily.

Zach laughed. “Nope, not yet.”

“Well, then, you just come find me when you
get back to the resort and we’ll just see about that girlfriend.”
Caroline tossed her head with a saucy smile and climbed on behind
one of the rescue crew.

Lily couldn’t stop the snarl ripping from
her throat as she watched the woman wave to her mate with a playful
smile. She resisted the urge to pelt Ms. Benedict with snowballs as
they powered away.

Randy gripped her in a warm hug despite the
need to leave. “Be safe and careful, Sinclair. And don’t forget to
radio in.”

She dredged up a smile for him. “I’ll
remember. Take care of your wife and give her my best.”

“Will do.” He squeezed her one last time,
then climbed on to the last snowmobile and waved has they sped off
into the swirling white.

Lily raised her hand in acknowledgement and
fought to contain her anger.
At least he told the phishing bitch
he had a girlfriend.
She swung around and stomped back into the
equipment shack before she launched herself at Zach and beat him to
a pulp. Yeah, they hadn’t seen much of each other for over a year,
but he was the one who asked her not to give up.

Deep breath, Sinclair. He did turn her
down.

But what made him laugh when Caroline asked
if he’d married yet? Lily groaned as she ripped the stove door open
and thrust a new piece of wood into the hot maw. She hissed as she
barked her knuckles on the edge of the door and yanked her hand
back, her fury surging with the pain.

“Dammit!”

“Lily, what have you done to your hand?”

Zach caught her before she tripped over
their sleeping bags, letting her rest against his chest. She almost
burst into tears with the comfort she felt from him.
Traitor!

Zach scanned her face with concern when she
only shook her head and fought her tightening throat.

“What’s wrong, princess?”

“Everything. Nothing.” She swiped at her
eyes with her burned hand and yelped.

“Let me see your hand.” Zach pulled it
gently toward him, clucking sympathetically at the reddening burn.
“Let’s take care of this first. Then we’ll talk about the
everything/nothing problem.”

“Zach—”

“Shh, just give me a moment.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed
her palm as his body shifted from his human guise to his white Ice
Demon form. Talons grew from his fingertips and his hair turned to
tinkling crystals. The scents of cardamom and cloves intensified as
he blew on her hand, his breath freezing the skin. She loved his
white skin wreathed in blue shadows, but he still wore too many
clothes to see his snowy physique properly.

Nothing could shake her excitement or
curiosity when he shifted. She’d seen him do it hundreds of times,
but it still made her heart pound with delight.

The pain of the burn faded and he gently
rubbed her knuckles, cooling her flesh even more. He drew her hand
to his mouth and suckled her skin. Instead of heat, the delicious
cold pulled the pain away from her awareness and sent a shiver of
pleasure straight to her core.

When he drew back, he gave her a lazy,
sultry-eyed smile. “Better?”

“Yeah.” She hadn’t meant to sound so
breathless and cleared her throat.
I’m supposed to be mad at
him
. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“You never asked. And I’ve never seen you
burn yourself before.”

Lily grimaced. “I didn’t intend to.”

“Let me get out of these clothes. It’s
unbearably hot in here.”

She almost stopped him. Seeing Zach in his
Ice Demon form with his white skin covered in nothing but blue
shadows made her panties wet and her heart race. But she’d missed
him so much she swallowed her protests.
I can look but not
touch, right?

He disrobed down to nothing but skin and
muscles. Shorter crystals covered his chest and belly, arrowing
down to his currently flaccid cock. Blue shadows cradled the ridges
of his chest and belly muscles, and accentuated the flex of his
thighs and ass as he set his clothes aside. Lily sighed with
pleasure, grateful he gifted her with such a magnificent view.
Just looking. That’s all I’m doing.

“Okay.” He took her hand again and inspected
the knuckles. “This looks like it’s healing fairly well. Why don’t
you tell me about the everything/nothing being wrong?”

His question slammed reality through her
dreamy enjoyment of his naked body. She hoped she didn’t need to
wipe the drool off her face as he drew her down with him onto the
sleeping bags. She wanted to throw her worries into the billowing
snow outside and indulge in Zach’s luscious miles of pearlescent
skin. But the vision of Caroline’s fawning smile drained all of her
pleasure.

“Lily?”

“Right. Sorry.” She sat down and unlaced her
boots, stalling as she organized her thoughts.
Time to pull up
your big girl panties.
“It’s been over a year since we’ve spent
much time together and watching you with Ms. Benedict made me think
you might be having second thoughts about us as a couple.”

She held up her hand when he opened his
mouth to protest. “I know. I heard you turn her down when she asked
you out. But then you laughed when she asked if you were married
yet, and it made me wonder just how connected we really are.”

Lily set her boots aside and unzipped her
jacket, scrambling up to hang it on the side mirror of the old
jeep. She added her hat, scarf, and gloves to it, smoothing them in
hopes she could smooth her emotional thoughts. She inspected the
flakes in the jeep’s paint and how the window held a spider web of
cracks across its surface.

“You said we were mated for life back in
December, but I’m human, and life doesn’t give those kinds of
guarantees for my species.” She turned and faced the beautiful male
seated, naked, on their makeshift bed. “You showed me the magic,
Zach, and it’s something I want more of. It turned my life around.
But life’s what happens while you’re busy making plans and I know
things can change. I just need to know if the changes are
permanent.”

Zach rose from their nest and stalked to
her, sliding his hands on either side of her face. He tilted her
head until she met his ice-green gaze. A soft smile curled his
lips, exposing his canines, and some of her fear melted.