Polar Bared by Eve Langlais Page A

held out a hand to help her stand.
    As she reached for it, she noted the blood staining the sleeve of his torn coat. “You’re hurt,” she exclaimed.
    “It’s nothing.”
    Nothing to him perhaps, but Vicky didn’t do so well with blood. She swayed on her feet.
    “Don’t you dare face plant on me now,” he growled. “Stick with me, Pima.”
    “I really don’t like that name.”
    “Then prove me wrong and stay upright.”
    Swallowing against the dizziness, she averted her gaze. “Lead the way.”
    He did, with a gun in hand. Just the fact that he had one was almost enough to send her into sweet oblivion, but somehow she managed to keep to her feet. One step in front of the other.
    She stared at the back of his legs, focused on them to the point of hypnosis. When he stopped, she almost ran into his back. As it was, when he whirled, she’d stopped close enough for an up-close view of his jacketed chest.
    “Is that your camp?”
    She had to lean around him to peek. The mini tent village rose from the whiteness with a familiarity that signaled safety.
    “That’s it,” she confirmed.
    “Then this is where we part ways.”
    He was leaving? Why did the thought make her sad? Surely, she didn’t want to remain with a man who nonchalantly announced people were out to kill him as if it were an everyday occurrence. Apparently she did because she asked, “Will I see you again?”
    “No.”
    How firmly he announced it. Not a maybe. Not even a possibility, which meant she wouldn’t have to face him again. But she could already predict he’d revisit her in her dreams. Her usually boring dreams.
    If only I had a memory I could look back upon. Something positively daring and exciting. Arousing…
    Somehow knowing she’d never have another chance gave her the courage to act. She took him unaware when her hands tugged at his head. He lowered it, and she rose on tiptoes to press her lips against Gene’s.
    It might have been minus a zillion degrees outside, but that didn’t stop the fire that erupted with the kiss. His mouth parted, an exhalation of surprise brushing her lips. She almost drew back, but to her shock, his arms wrapped around her and lifted her. She might have started the embrace, but he took it over. More than that, he moved the kiss to a whole new level. A hot level.
    Oh my god. Forget the paltry embraces of her past. This was a kiss. This time when she almost swooned it wasn’t out of fear, but her first, genuine experience at what true desire felt like.
    His mouth slanted over hers, tugging and sucking at her lower lip. She couldn’t help a small moan of pleasure. A sound that broke the spell.
    Abruptly, she found herself apart from him, standing on wobbly legs, watching as he strode away. No goodbye. No final parting look.
    Just a set of tingling lips and a memory she would never forget.
    Unlike her camp, which seemed to have forgotten she existed. Heck, they’d never even noted she was gone. She strode into the mini tent city, still somewhat dazed, expecting to have to answer a barrage of questions. On the contrary, the few folks milling around didn’t spare her a second look.
    No one had noted her absence. No one realized her tent remained empty overnight. No one cared.
    She almost cried. The knowledge she had no one who gave a damn was enough to make her wish Gene had kept her after all. At least he seemed to notice her.
    But Gene was gone. Forever. Bummer.
    And stupid me, I never even got a picture. No matter. His image would probably remain forever imprinted in her mind.

Chapter Nine
    Walking away took more effort than it should have. It didn’t help that his bear roared at him to go back. It didn’t want him to abandon his Pima. It thought Gene should go back for another kiss. And more…
    Complete and utter fucking madness.
    Gene couldn’t offer Vicky anything, other than a fast screw because that was what it would be. Fast. The damned woman ignited all his senses with her bloody