Cloudburst Ice Magic (11 page)

A soft cough interrupted them and they both
looked toward the entrance of the cave. A short woman with white
dred-like crystals tied back in a beaded leather thong stood
waiting at the door. She wore robes of shifting white, like the
mists on the glacial lakes Lily had visited in the Alps, and she
nodded to them in greeting.

“Good evening. May I come in?” The voice
held patience, time, and wisdom all rolled up in a melodic
package.

“Oh, please, Matriarch. I want you to meet
my fiancée, Lily Sinclair.” Zach beamed as the woman approached the
bed in an oddly sinuous fashion, as if her body heard rhythms
beyond Lily’s hearing. “Lily, this is Icedora Mistweaver, Matriarch
of the Oro Creek clan.”

“Hello. Very nice to meet you.” Lily hoped
she’d offered a proper greeting. The woman looked and sounded
important. “I’d get up, but I’m afraid I’m not properly dressed.”
Lily crossed her arms over her exposed breasts and tried not to
blush.

Icedora smiled and her brilliant blue eyes
twinkled. “I’m just pleased to see you up at all. We were concerned
you wouldn’t make it through the fever. But I see Zach’s love for
you and his prayers to the Goddess were answered.”

Lily swallowed hard. “I guess I came pretty
close to dying, again.” She grimaced and shot an apologetic look at
Zach. “Sorry.”

“You’re safe and strong now, princess.
That’s all that matters.” He cupped her jaw and kissed her lips.
“Well, that and you marrying me. Everything else is graupel.”

“Did I hear that correctly? You’ve accepted
his proposal of marriage, Lily?” Icedora’s smile widened. “That’s
delightful. Will you be staying in Cloudburst?”

Lily looked at Zach and raised her eyebrows.
“Will we?”

He huffed a laugh. “I was packing up my
stuff to move here when I got your text. You must not have gotten
my email.”

Excitement warred with chagrin. “My phone
died and I haven’t been home for forty-eight hours.” She couldn’t
quite kill her grin. “Were you really leaving Las Vegas for
Colorado?”

“Not for Colorado, for you.” He shook his
head with a deprecating smile. “I’d planned on picking up a ring
before I arrived and surprise you with a romantic dinner and a
proposal. But you and I don’t seem to do things in typical
ways.”

Lily tossed the blankets off and threw her
arms around Zach, ignoring her nakedness. “Oh, thank you, Zach.”
She hugged him tight, her heart filled with relief and joy. “I knew
Mt. Charleston was your home, but I just couldn’t go back there.”
She pushed him back to search his eyes. “Are you really okay with
moving here?”

“I am.” He nodded then glanced at Icedora.
“That’s if the Oro Creek clan doesn’t mind a couple of new
residents.”

“We’d be happy to have you.” The Matriarch
inclined her head, the crystal dreds tinkling softly. “There’s a
matter of a small ceremony, but that’s easily taken care of when
you’re feeling up to it.”

She smiled and took her leave, the scents of
iced granite and heather sifting through the air in her wake. Lily
turned her gaze back to Zach, inhaling his spiced chai scent and
feeling at peace for the first time in months.

“So, about that ceremony.” He grabbed both
her hands and pulled her closer so they sat nose to nose. “What do
you say adding a little wedding to it?”

“I’d say that sounds perfect.” Lily grinned,
but it faded when she remembered where they were. “Uh, what are we
going to do about the rescue crew coming for us tomorrow?” She bit
her lip in chagrin. “I’m not really up for hiking back to the shed
tonight. And I promised Randy I’d radio in every few hours to let
them know we’re okay.”

Zach sat back, his expression thoughtful.
“I’ll head back to the shed, grab our gear and the radio, and bank
the fire in the stove so it doesn’t set everything alight. We’ll
check in and let them know we’re fine and will walk out when the
weather clears, but they’ll need to get the extra gear.”

“But they’re coming for us tomorrow.”

“Oh, I seriously doubt that.” He gave her a
smug grin.

Lily raised her eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because the Ice Demons have a wedding to
celebrate and that should make the Spring Fling even more
exuberant. I figure the weather’s going to get worse. At least for
humans.”

Lily laughed. “Yeah, that might make things
a little dicey for mountaineering.” She squeezed Zach’s hand. “Will
you be able to carry our two packs without help?”

“Yep.” He kissed her forehead. “Get some
rest, princess. I won’t be long and I plan on snuggling with you
for the rest of the night.”

“Snuggling sounds wonderful.” She settled
back into the powder sheets with a sensuous wriggle and Zach’s eyes
flared with lust. “Hurry home, Zach.”

Chapter Thirteen

Zach smiled to himself as he loaded the last
of his and Lily’s gear into the back of her Jeep. It has been a
wonderful few days. Memories of her dressed in a flowing,
form-fitted gown with ice crystals woven into her hair still
hardened his cock. The dress showed off hints of her aureoles and
the tantalizing wedge between her thighs as she walked. His body
had reacted then as it reacted now, with a full blown hard-on. Lily
had raised her eyebrows at him as a brilliant grin wreathed her
lips, but she’d said nothing.

Fortunately, none of the other Ice Demons
thought anything of it. He wore nothing but his natural form, and
she’d only been dressed for her own cultural norms rather than
those of their new clan.

Despite his body’s reaction and his hunger
for Lily, they’d spent a quiet wedding night as she recovered from
both the fever and the exhaustion of working to rescue the hikers.
But the days and evenings afterwards had made up for the rest. Lily
bloomed as an Ice Demon hybrid and the sex had been phenomenal.
Best Spring Fling ever.

As promised, he’d recovered their gear and
radio, and Lily had checked in periodically so her partner didn’t
worry. The rescue crew had rested easy when they’d explained their
situation and in light of the rough weather, had left them in
peace. They’d hiked out from Mistweaver Tarn when the storm
settled.

And tonight
w
e’ll make our own
little storm at home.
He definitely had plans for his new wife
as soon as they returned to her house.

The thought of Lily as his wife warmed his
chest more than he thought possible and his gaze fell to his left
hand as he pushed open the doors to the Cloudburst Resort’s SAR
equipment room. He’d left Lily talking to Randy Montesque,
reassuring the older man that they’d been fine during the harsh
weather.
More than fine.
Randy hadn’t believed her, but Lily
showed no signs of distress. Even the remnants of the fever had
retreated and she damn near glowed.
Or maybe that’s me seeing
how fucking sexy she is now that we’re married.

Looking around, Zach didn’t spot them, so he
continued his path toward the main foyer of the lodge. The resort
teemed with people out on holiday. He and Lily had made it back on
a Monday afternoon and the café and Soggy Miner Bar already had
good crowds for Spring Break. Zach looked for Lily around the
foyer, but moved on toward the Copper Café when he didn’t see
her.

“Zach? Zach Snow?”

He turned his head and plastered on a
courteous smile when Caroline Benedict waved at him from one of the
tables. “Hello, Ms. Benedict.”

She excused herself and hurried to his side.
“You look like you made it down okay. I can’t believe how long you
had to stay out there. How were your nights in the equipment shed?”
She tilted her head with a coy smile.

His mind replayed the sex, Lily’s fight for
survival, and their wedding. “Good. Uneventful.”

“So, how about that drink? You still have
that girlfriend to worry about?”

A real smile curled his lips. “Nope.” As
Caroline’s expression turned hopeful, he added, “She’s my wife
now.”

“What?” Her face froze, not quite smiling,
not quite frowning. “What are you talking about?”

“You asked me on the slopes if I was
married. I said not yet.” He lifted his left hand where the
Matriarch had tattooed a shining ring into his ring finger. “That’s
why I came to Colorado this weekend before I got the call. I was
going to propose.”

Caroline’s gaze zeroed in on his hand. “Oh.
And she must’ve said yes.”

“Yep. Worked out pretty well.” He nodded and
spotted Lily emerging from the Café with Randy. “I hope the rest of
your vacation is relaxing, Ms. Benedict. Glad you’re back safe.
Stay out of trouble, now.”

Zach gave her a fleeting smile as he walked
toward his wife.
I have a wife now.
The thought made his
insides tingle. Lily caught sight of Caroline over his shoulder and
her smile faltered a bit, but it returned when he wrapped an arm
around her waist and kissed her forehead.

“What was that about?” Lily raised an
eyebrow.

“Tell you later,” he whispered as he held
his free hand out to Randy. “Everything okay here, Mr. Montesque?
Good to see everyone made it down safely. Mind if I steal Lily for
the rest of the week?”

“Nope. I think you’ve both earned some time
off. No one else is going out until the avalanche danger has
passed, so it should be pretty safe to stay home.” Randy eyed Zach
as he tilted his head toward Ms. Benedict. “She make her last play
for you?”

Zach’s respect for the man’s powers of
observation went up. “Yep.”

“I saw her working you pretty good up there,
but figured you were smart enough to know a good thing when you got
it.” Randy nodded at Lily. “Don’t squander it.”

Zach shook his head. “No, sir. I got my
talons locked in tight now. Lily will never be rid of me.”

Especially now when they shared blood, a
mating bond, and wedding vows.

“Thanks for your help up there, Zach. Much
appreciated.” Randy shook his hand again. “See you in a few days,
Sinclair.”

Zach would have to talk to Lily about
changing her last name. They waved as the older man retreated
toward the equipment bay.

“You ready to go home?” Zach turned Lily
toward the resort entrance.

“Yes, and I think we should celebrate.” She
held up her left hand with a tattoo that matched his etched into
her finger. “We have these new rings and all.” Hers sparkled like
diamonds in the sunlight. “I can’t stop looking at it.”

“I can’t stop looking at you. Let’s go home
and work on reminding you why I prefer blondes.”

Lily laughed as they strode out to her jeep
and Zach’s cock hardened again. Yep, he definitely preferred
blondes. A grin split his lips.
Now it’s time to show her,
forever.

THE END

About Siobhan Muir

Siobhan Muir lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming,
with her husband, two daughters, and a vegetarian cat she swears is
a shape-shifter, though he's never shifted when she can see him.
When not writing, she can be found looking down a microscope at
fossil fox teeth, pursuing her other love, paleontology. An avid
reader of science fiction/fantasy, her husband gave her a
paranormal romance for Christmas one year, and she was hooked for
good.

In previous lives, Siobhan has been an actor
at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, a field geologist in the
Aleutian Islands, and restored inter-planetary imagery at the USGS.
She’s hiked to the top of Mount St. Helens and to the bottom of
Meteor Crater.

Siobhan writes kick-ass adventure with hot
sex for men and women to enjoy. She believes in happily ever after,
redemption, and communication, all of which you will find in her
paranormal romance stories
.

Connect with Siobhan online at:

http://siobhanmuir.com

http://www.facebook.com/siobhan.muir.35

http://twitter.com/SiobhanMuir

http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com

http://pinterest.com/siobhanmuir.35

Other Books by Siobhan Muir

Her Devoted Vampire
(from Evernight Publishing)

Queen
Bitch of the Callowwood Pack
(from Siren Publishing)

Not a
Dragon’s Standard Virgin
(from Siren Publishing)

Cloudburst Colorado Series

A Hell Hound’s
Fire
(from Three Lakes Books)

The Beltane
Witch
(from Three Lakes Books)

Christmas I.C.E. Magic
(Happy Holidays from
the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology
)

Cloudburst Ice Magic
(from Three Lakes
Books)

Bad Boys of Beta Squad Series

Bronco’s Rough
Ride
(from Three Lakes Books)

The Navy’s
Ghost
(from Three Lakes Books)

Coming Soon

Take the Reins

Cloudburst Coffee & Spa
(Cloudburst Colorado #3)

Second Chance Succubus

Read on for an Excerpt of
The Beltane Witch
, Book 2 in the Cloudburst, Colorado
Series, available at Smashwords.com…

Darius chuckled, sitting forward to lean his
elbows on his knees.

“As you command, my lady.” He inclined his
head. “My petition is the same as last night. Beltane is a week
away. The Summer Court has chosen your fair little town as the
location where they shall perform the healing ceremonies to
strengthen the wards, and you’re the only witch here who can
perform the rituals correctly.”

“That’s debatable,” she mumbled, but he
didn’t seem to hear her.

“Come now, Lady Foxglove, you must
understand what a great honor this is. The opportunity to serve the
Court in this way is not offered lightly.”