Vivian Arend - Wolf Tracks

“I have to do a couple of things outside. Look around, get settled.” TJ took off quickly and she let out a big breath.

Holy crap, they were stuck here. She should be absolutely furious. How could anyone in this day and age think it was okay to take a person somewhere without permission? Yet as she wandered the cabin, she wasn’t really upset. She had wanted to have an adventure, and signing up for the expedition had been more Maggie’s idea than her own.

It was partly her fault for overreacting on the stairs. Oh God. She laughed at herself, shaking her head as she wandered the cabin. This—enforced solitude—was what she truly wanted right now. Add the fact that TJ, Mr. Turns-me-on-without-even-trying, was the one she was staying with? She stared at the monstrous bed again. Okay. She was the one out of her mind, but this could actually be a lot of fun.

Of course she still planned on making him suffer. She should be able to get a few backrubs, maybe even a foot massage, out of him if he felt guilty enough.

She spotted a broom in the corner and took a few passes, but there wasn’t anything underfoot that shouldn’t be there. She checked the cupboards, looked under the bed…no dust, no signs of mice. The cupboards were full with dry goods and snacks. It was the cleanest cabin she’d ever seen. Cleaner than her apartment since Maggie moved out, if she was honest.

Heavy footsteps landed on the porch boards and she hurried out of the bedroom to see TJ shoulder his way into the front room, his arms around a paper bag. He watched her closely and she sighed.

“I’m not going to hit you over the head with the cast-iron frying pan I found, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He grinned. “Good, ’cause we’ll need that for breakfast, and pancakes cook better in undented pans.”

She laughed. “Okay, we’ll talk about the abduction in more detail later. Can I help you put things away?”

The bottom of the paper bag he held gave way, sending the contents to the floor in a cascading avalanche. They both scrambled to catch things but in the end most of it ended up in a heap at their feet. She bent to help gather the scented candles, chocolates, massage oil, extra-large box of condoms… Heat raced over her as she held it up, staring at his bright red face.

“Got plans?”

He swallowed a few times nervously. “Only if you do.”

Oh lordy. She needed to regain a little control, and holding the evidence of what could happen very shortly was not making this any easier. She stepped back. “I think…I need some fresh air.”

“Why don’t you let me clean up and put stuff away? You can go…”

“I’ll check out the lake…”

They spoke simultaneously. It was too much and she fled, racing out the door to where the evening breeze carried over the water.

Two more seconds and she would have had him using one of the condoms.

The trail straight in front of the cabin led her to a tiny dock extending over the water. She pulled off her shoes and dangled her feet in the water. She worked hard and played hard, and this being out of control was not what she liked in her life. She’d sworn long ago that she would be the one to call the shots. Yet here she was, totally out of her comfort zone, and the sensation creeping up her spine wasn’t fear, or dismay, but delight.

Why?

She reclined back on the dock and closed her eyes. The sunlight hit her face, its fading heat still enough to help her relax. She was trapped here for the week. There was no way she would be stupid enough to try to get out of the bush alone, so she had two choices. Whine about it, or hop in with both feet. Have a great time with the guy, then take the memories with her when she left.

She needed a break right now anyway. With her partner retired, she had to train a new one, and she had a month’s leave coming. Time to set some new goals for her life. Twenty-six, and already feeling like she might be alone forever.

But not this week. Whether he realized it or not, TJ had hit her right when she needed this most. She sat up and kicked the water, splashing and raising a ruckus. Life should be enjoyed, and she had every intention of enjoying it to the hilt for this week. The sun slipped behind the mountaintop, casting a shadow across the lake and she breathed in the clear air. It was definitely a place to make some memories.

TJ watched her, his wolf poking him to go to her side. She seemed so small and alone sitting on the dock, and he was a little worried he’d pushed it too hard bringing her here. Hopefully the next days would be enough for him to convince her he was a forever kind of guy.

When she threw back her head and laughed, splashing like a child, he had to fight back the urge to run and join her.

All his life he’d longed to have the kind of connection he’d seen in others of the pack. How it would work with him being a wolf and her human, he still didn’t know, but there was no one else who had ever made him feel this way.

Groveling about to commence.

He approached slowly, but she heard him. Turning her body, she pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. She smiled at him and the warmth hit him like a two-by-four between the eyes.

“You getting hungry?” he asked.

She nodded. “By the way, are you going to tell me where we are?”

“Northwest of Haines Junction, on one of the northern arms of Kluane Lake. The cabin is a friend’s, and he and his wife have gone south visiting family.”

“How did you get everything here? It’s clean and stocked and everything.”

“Shaun, the helicopter pilot. He came in earlier, brought supplies and cleaned up for us.”

The streak of mischief lighting her face was slightly frightening. “You seemed to have brought a few supplies of your own.”

He coughed. “About that… I didn’t mean to presume, and it’s totally up to you if we…”

Pam rose to her feet and stretched, and his mouth watered. Her breasts pressed against the front of her T-shirt, the muscles of her arms reflecting the glowing light of the setting sun. She stepped nearer.

“Don’t presume, but I do like you. I’m pretty interested myself, as I think you could tell from the other night. So don’t get all shy and shit on me. Do you want me?”

Oh my God. “More than you could possibly know.”

She licked her lips as she checked him over. “Looks like we might have an interesting week ahead of us. Only your list of activities? I want to see what you’ve got planned. I wanted a northern experience, and you’re going to give it to me, right?”

Oh yeah, he’d give her anything she wanted.

He held out his hand. “Supper first? Then we’ll plan tomorrow?”

She took his fingers into hers and clasped them tightly.

Dishes were done, the fireplace crackled and TJ couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

“Thanks for supper.”

He snorted. “I should have warned you, I’m not that good a cook.”

“Hey, mac and cheese with all the ketchup I wanted? What more is needed?” She held out her wine glass and he topped it up. “Your buddy Shaun did a fine job with the supplies.”

He stared at her a little longer. The smooth sweep of her cheek, the way her hair hung over her skin and shone with the light. She was gorgeous and he ached for her.

“You want to play a game?” He needed something to distract him from stripping her and burying himself in her body before she was ready. Her scent filled the room, and he had to concentrate hard to stop from drooling.

“A game? Sure.” She put down her wine glass and crawled into his lap, and he nearly swallowed his tongue.

“What…what are you doing?” Holy shit. She unbuttoned the top of his shirt and leaned in to press a kiss to his neck.