Read Online Snowbound (Arctic Station Bears Book 1) by Amelie Hunt, Maeve Morrick - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amelie Hunt, Maeve Morrick
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window there and see for yourself.”
And there it was. I could barely see it through the blowing snowfall and perpetual twilight. It looked like a small island in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by patches of drift ice and towering icebergs. Landing lights flashed red in the distance, giving the surrounding snow an unearthly glow.
“Hold on, doc,” Ben said. “We’re headed down.”
“You can get us to the ground, right?” I asked. I had to clench my teeth and grip my seat for dear life as another gust of wind made us its plaything.
He laughed. “Oh, for sure! That’s the easy part. In one piece? That’s where it gets tricky.”
He continued laughing at my obvious discomfort as I fought the sudden urge to murder him. That probably wouldn’t help with the landing though. I crossed my arms across my chest and looked out the window. “Very reassuring.”
“We’ll be on the ground in two shakes, doc. And without a mark on you, cross my heart.”
I tried some controlled breathing and watched as we approached the base. I could see some figures emerge from the base and walk toward the landing pad. Not a single coat among them. Winter was Oliver’s favorite time of year. He could walk around in shorts and a t-shirt. Part of the trade-off for changing into a polar bear once a month, I guess?
With a thump, we were on the ground, and Oliver was pulling my door open. The freezing wind took my breath away as I struggled to remove the headset and unbuckle the harness. Ollie was still sexy as hell, and he smiled warmly as he offered me his hand.
“It’s great to see you, Allie,” he said. He almost had to yell to compete with the helicopter’s slowing rotor and the howling wind. I ignored his hand and jumped down from my seat in the helicopter. And immediately slipped on a patch of ice.
My life flashed in front of my eyes as I imagined busting my ass in front of my ex and a group of complete strangers. But I didn’t fall. I landed in strong arms. Impossibly warm, strong arms. I opened my eyes and met a gaze that was even warmer than the arms that held me. Impossibly, his smile was even warmer still.
My God, his eyes are blue, I thought. More blue than any eyes I’d ever seen. They were they color of frozen sky. Sandy blond hair blew gently in the freezing wind. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, but his facial hair did nothing to hide his chiseled features.
Looking at him, I felt immediately safe. I knew that he’d never let me fall. My heart pounded in my ears and my breath caught in my throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked. He helped me stand, but I was still a little dizzy.
“I’m…fine, thank you,” I said. “Nothing hurt but my pride.”
He stuck out his hand. “I’m Dr. Liam Roy. I’m the administrator here at the lab. But call me Liam, please.”
I shook his hand and was thrilled when he firmly gripped my hand. I hated weak handshakes. “It’s a pleasure. Dr. Alanna MacCready. Allie.”
“Oliver has nothing but nice things to say about you. We really appreciate you coming.”
“I didn’t tell them how clumsy you were though, Allie,” Oliver said, smiling. “I figured you would rather just show them.”
Fucking asshole. I fought to summon my sweetest smile. “I can’t wait to tell them how clumsy you are, Oliver. In bed.” His eyes flashed with anger and his smile vanished.
Ben laughed and clapped Oliver on the back. “I like her, Ollie!” He grabbed my bags from the helicopter.
“I can get those,” I said.
“No sense in doing everything yourself,” Ben said. “I like making myself useful. Plus you can walk with me and tell me about what an asshole Ollie is. Can’t wait to hear!”
“We’ll make the rest of the introductions inside,” said Liam. “Let’s get out of the weather.”
I wasn’t aware of it at first since a circle of shifters generates as much heat as a furnace and I was standing in the center, but it was freezing. “Perfect,” I said.
And there it was. I could barely see it through the blowing snowfall and perpetual twilight. It looked like a small island in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by patches of drift ice and towering icebergs. Landing lights flashed red in the distance, giving the surrounding snow an unearthly glow.
“Hold on, doc,” Ben said. “We’re headed down.”
“You can get us to the ground, right?” I asked. I had to clench my teeth and grip my seat for dear life as another gust of wind made us its plaything.
He laughed. “Oh, for sure! That’s the easy part. In one piece? That’s where it gets tricky.”
He continued laughing at my obvious discomfort as I fought the sudden urge to murder him. That probably wouldn’t help with the landing though. I crossed my arms across my chest and looked out the window. “Very reassuring.”
“We’ll be on the ground in two shakes, doc. And without a mark on you, cross my heart.”
I tried some controlled breathing and watched as we approached the base. I could see some figures emerge from the base and walk toward the landing pad. Not a single coat among them. Winter was Oliver’s favorite time of year. He could walk around in shorts and a t-shirt. Part of the trade-off for changing into a polar bear once a month, I guess?
With a thump, we were on the ground, and Oliver was pulling my door open. The freezing wind took my breath away as I struggled to remove the headset and unbuckle the harness. Ollie was still sexy as hell, and he smiled warmly as he offered me his hand.
“It’s great to see you, Allie,” he said. He almost had to yell to compete with the helicopter’s slowing rotor and the howling wind. I ignored his hand and jumped down from my seat in the helicopter. And immediately slipped on a patch of ice.
My life flashed in front of my eyes as I imagined busting my ass in front of my ex and a group of complete strangers. But I didn’t fall. I landed in strong arms. Impossibly warm, strong arms. I opened my eyes and met a gaze that was even warmer than the arms that held me. Impossibly, his smile was even warmer still.
My God, his eyes are blue, I thought. More blue than any eyes I’d ever seen. They were they color of frozen sky. Sandy blond hair blew gently in the freezing wind. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, but his facial hair did nothing to hide his chiseled features.
Looking at him, I felt immediately safe. I knew that he’d never let me fall. My heart pounded in my ears and my breath caught in my throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked. He helped me stand, but I was still a little dizzy.
“I’m…fine, thank you,” I said. “Nothing hurt but my pride.”
He stuck out his hand. “I’m Dr. Liam Roy. I’m the administrator here at the lab. But call me Liam, please.”
I shook his hand and was thrilled when he firmly gripped my hand. I hated weak handshakes. “It’s a pleasure. Dr. Alanna MacCready. Allie.”
“Oliver has nothing but nice things to say about you. We really appreciate you coming.”
“I didn’t tell them how clumsy you were though, Allie,” Oliver said, smiling. “I figured you would rather just show them.”
Fucking asshole. I fought to summon my sweetest smile. “I can’t wait to tell them how clumsy you are, Oliver. In bed.” His eyes flashed with anger and his smile vanished.
Ben laughed and clapped Oliver on the back. “I like her, Ollie!” He grabbed my bags from the helicopter.
“I can get those,” I said.
“No sense in doing everything yourself,” Ben said. “I like making myself useful. Plus you can walk with me and tell me about what an asshole Ollie is. Can’t wait to hear!”
“We’ll make the rest of the introductions inside,” said Liam. “Let’s get out of the weather.”
I wasn’t aware of it at first since a circle of shifters generates as much heat as a furnace and I was standing in the center, but it was freezing. “Perfect,” I said.
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