Page 13 of A Bear Ski Instructor Christmas (Holiday Shifters of Frost Mountain)

Oh, What Fun It Is to Ski in the Dark on Christmas Day!

Okay, maybe that hadn’t been his brightest move…

In his defense, he couldn’t help himself. He felt like he would explode if he resisted the urge to kiss her a second longer. Even now, he fought against the need that slammed into his groin and demanded that he rip her sweater and trousers off and bury himself in her. Ever since she arrived on this mountain, she’d awakened a hunger in him that he hadn’t even realized he had.

Desire and morality met in a clash of fiery sparks inside his chest. What he’d done was wrong because he barely knew this woman, despite everything she’d said, despite his incomprehensible attraction to her. They’d barely had a proper date, and he’d already thrown himself at her like a ravenous tiger.

Somewhere in a corner of his heart, a small voice told him that he hadn’t done anything wrong. After all, she was his woman, as hard as it was to believe that. Not to mention, she was matching his passion, kissing him as fervently and desperately as he kissed her. There was no protest, not even a moment of stiffness. She sighed against his lips, bringing up a hand to caress his cheek. Her fingers were warm against his skin.

His groin aching, he traced the tip of his finger down the side of her face, caressing her cheek. She was an epitome of perfection, and he was kissing her, and she was kissing him back. This was no dream. It was real, and it was thrilling. Hunger clawed at his insides, and he wrapped his arms around her. It wasn’t until he felt her soft bottom press against his thigh that he realized she was straddling him. Somehow, without even realizing it, he’d pulled her toward him.

Reluctantly, he broke the kiss so he could gaze at her again. In the firelight, her eyes seemed to change color. She propped her hands against the chair on either side of his head, and her lips parted in a series of gasps. They gazed at each other for a moment—or what felt like three warm summers—her breaths caressing his face. The air between them was growing hotter by the second, charged with their mutual desire. All was silent except the crackling of the fire. If Michael listened carefully, he was sure he could hear his heart thudding with anticipation.

Before he could utter a word, she closed the small gap between their lips and let out a moan of pleasure as she kissed him deeply. His hands fell to her waist, his fingers digging into the tender flesh. He throbbed against her center with an urgency that defied all common sense. As if on their own, his hands made their way up her body, under her sweater. The skin underneath was even warmer than he’d anticipated. Rachel didn’t stop him but leaned even closer as his hands closed over her breasts.

“Oh, yes,” she sighed against his mouth. “Oh, Michael—”

Whatever she was going to say next was smothered by another kiss. Lips and tongues collided in a kiss that was growing hotter by the second. His hands cupped her breasts, kneading them with a desperation that threatened to consume him. When he took her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, she moaned again and ground against his throbbing erection, the feeling of her soft body against his sending sensations through his eager body.

Michael fought to retain his self-control—or at least, what remained of it—as thoughts of what she looked like underneath all her clothes took over his feverish mind. He pinched her nipples again, and she arched and ground against him, eliciting a growl from him. She broke the kiss, panting with the pleasure that he so willingly gave her.

It did feel like one hell of a dream. It wasn’t every day that a random woman appeared and kissed him, claiming to be his lover. He’d known her for, what, three weeks? A month? Whatever the case, things had certainly escalated rather quickly. But he didn’t mind one bit because he craved this woman just as badly as she wanted him. Her body aligned perfectly with his as she straddled him as if they were somehow made for each other.

He giddily entertained that thought for a moment before sliding his hands out from under her sweater. He tipped his head to let her kiss him again, then grinned at her.

“I can’t believe this is real,” he admitted.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing ever since I got here,” she countered with a smirk that knocked another inch into his erection.

“Why don’t we take this someplace else?” He needed to get the heck out of this hot, stuffy Santa suit. Even more, he needed to take every strip of clothing off her to reveal the wonder underneath.

Even before she nodded in agreement, he was already getting to his feet, carrying her with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he cupped her bottom as he made his way toward his bedroom. Once there, he set her down and quickly divested himself of his Santa suit, plus the hat, and helped her out of her sweater and trousers.

Michael stood back, gazing at her naked body in amazement. “You’re…beautiful.”

She looked a little embarrassed at his words. Michael couldn’t see why. He came closer, his hands settling on her narrow waist, and exhaled softly. If she’d been beautiful with clothes on, she was a total knockout without them. The sight of her standing before him made his brain short-circuit and set his body aflame at the same time. Man, what he wouldn’t do to plant kisses all over her soft, creamy skin. What he wouldn’t do to be inside her right now…

Her gaze dropped, and he followed it, unable to resist a sheepish grin. His erection throbbed proudly before him—as if she needed any more evidence of the desire coursing through him. When he brought his gaze back to her face, there was a gleam in her eyes. That was all it took. Michael pulled her into a kiss, running his hands up her arms, through her hair, along the smooth curve of her back. She arched against him with a sigh, her breasts crushed against his chest, and he felt her nipples harden.

He led her toward the small bed and eased her gently onto it without breaking the kiss. Before he could make another move, she flipped them over with surprising strength so that he was underneath her. He blinked at her in surprise.

“Allow me,” was all she said, and before he could protest, she trailed her hand down his chest in a tantalizing motion, finally curling her fingers around his pulsing erection. A groan of pleasure escaped his lips, and excitement continued to build up inside him.

She kept her fingers curled around him even as she lowered her lips to his pulsing head and licked it, sending a shiver through his body. She took him into her mouth once, twice, and he growled his impatience. A smile danced on her sexy lips as she gazed at him; she straightened and slowly lowered herself onto him, her beautiful turquoise eyes widening as he filled her.

“Oh, God, I nearly forgot how amazing this was,” she gasped.

She was warm and tight around him, her fingers splayed on his chest as her back arched. He braced his hands on her waist to steady her as she began to move, a whimper escaping her lips, rising to a moan as she picked up the pace. Michael saw her facial muscles contort with pleasure. The silver pendant on her necklace gleamed, dangling above his face.

Exhilaration coursed through him as she rode him, her hips jerking and her bottom slapping against his thighs with each thrust. Michael felt his climax draw nearer, and he gripped her waist tighter, grunting his pleasure through clenched teeth.

“Michael,” Rachel panted. “You feel so good. You—” She threw her head back in a moan, and he gazed up at her, marveling at the sheer sight of her.

This was his woman. She was his, as unbelievable as it sounded.

Only he didn’t couldn’t remember her, not the way he needed to.

She was not his woman.

“Oh, Michael,” she moaned again. “I’m going to—”

Her body seized as she came, a cry erupting from her lips as spasms rolled onto his cock. She continued to ride him until his climax hit him a moment later, and he, too, gave a jerk as he spilled his seed into her. A deep groan parted his lips, and he let his hands fall from her waist, panting in the aftermath of their lovemaking.

Rachel lowered her body completely onto his, planting a kiss on his lips before resting her head on his heaving chest.

“I love you,” he heard her say.

I love you?

Michael’s breathing faltered. His lips parted, but no sound came out, and he felt a wave of relief when, after what felt like an eternity, he heard her gentle snores.

***

Michael wished he wasn’t in his head so often. It wasn't good for quality sleep.

It was still mostly dark the next morning when he crept out of his cabin, skis clutched under his arm, and made his way through the silent village to the entrance. Alone, he carefully put on his skis and faced the slope stretching before him, gripping his poles tightly.

A short skiing trip down the mountain was in order. He’d barely gotten any rest in hours, and it wasn’t simply because he hadn’t been alone inside his cabin. It was the thoughts that swirled around his mind, keeping him company. Christmas Day had arrived. In a few hours, all of Melinor would be awake and celebrating. For now, the morning was cold and dead, perfect for the time alone he needed to go over his thoughts about what had happened last night.

Last night.

God, if she hadn’t been curled up against him when he opened his eyes at midnight, he might’ve been convinced that he had imagined it. But she was back in his cabin, lying stark naked and welcoming on his bed. The mere memory of her eyes widening as she rode him was enough to fill his body with warmth as he pushed off the spot and sped downhill, the icy wind blasting him in the face. Christmas had come early last night.

And then she’d told him she loved him.

The words had hit him like a speeding sleigh, leaving him unable to come up with a response. Did she love him? Well, it made sense if they’d been a couple before he arrived on Frost Mountain. But despite the sparks that flew around in his chest whenever he saw her, saying I love you to someone he barely remembers beyond the past few weeks seemed a little…rushed.

He powered forward, snow spraying in his wake as he swerved to avoid crashing into a small rock.

Close shave there .

Digging his poles into the snow, he propelled himself further, eyes narrowed against the wind.

He wouldn’t have felt so awkward last night if he’d actually remembered her. But at the rate things were going, it didn’t look like he’d be getting those memories back anytime soon. No, siree. He’d have to come up with some kind of explanation when he returned to the cabin. No doubt, he’d hurt Rachel’s feelings last night with his silence.

I’ve seen the way you look at her , Elena had told him the other night. You don’t even remember her.

As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. And as badly as he hoped he was wrong, the possibility of never getting the rest of his memories back was gradually becoming a certainty in his eyes.

Do you think she’s the better choice? Elena had asked him.

Michael brushed the memory from his mind. He didn’t need to think about that. Not now. Not ever.

The path widened and narrowed as he sped further downhill, skirting around a tree stump by the edge. There was barely any light around, but he could just make out the dark woods on either side of him. The snowy path stood out easily, grey in his dimmed vision. He squinted, his gaze focused on a bend in the road. Maneuvering it wouldn’t be easy, not without enough light, but he was pretty sure he could—

I love you. Rachel’s voice filled his head, soft as a whisper.

Michael fought to clear his mind of the thought. Why had she told him that? And why, just why, couldn’t he remember enough to honestly give her the response she deserved?

He never saw the rock, only felt the impact as his skis collided with it. A shock traveled from his toes up his body, and a yell built up in his throat. He shot into the air like a rocket, the wind roaring in his ears. A bright light exploded behind his eyes as his head connected with something solid.

An image flashed through his mind, vivid as ever. It was one he’d seen before a slender woman wearing a sequined black dress, sitting across a table from him with a fork and knife clutched in her hands. The image shifted, and in his mind’s eye, he caught a glimpse of a slender neck, a smooth jawline, a dazzling smile, a pair of turquoise eyes…

And then his world went completely dark.