An otherwise ordinary job assignment is about to take an unexpected turn Sofie Braun is part of a survey team looking for prospective drilling sites in Beaumont, Wyoming for Shale Corp. Having come out of a relationship that just crashed and burned, Sofie is ready to busy herself in some work to take her mind off things. ... until she encounters a mysterious stranger who is more otherworldly than he appears and whose very presence leaves her heart hammering at her throat... moreAn otherwise ordinary job assignment is about to take an unexpected turn Sofie Braun is part of a survey team looking for prospective drilling sites in Beaumont, Wyoming for Shale Corp. Having come out of a relationship that just crashed and burned, Sofie is ready to busy herself in some work to take her mind off things. ... until she encounters a mysterious stranger who is more otherworldly than he appears and whose very presence leaves her heart hammering at her throat. He's in charge of Beaumont in all but name. As the Alpha, Ashton is responsible for the pack that's lived in the foot of these mountains for centuries--responsible for protecting their secrets, and to dispense harsh justice to outsiders looking to harm Beaumont. When he hears of a group of outsiders probing around places that they have no right to be at, he is determined to find out why they're there. Her search will leave her with more questions than answers Sofie is a believer of facts, numbers, and figures--not magic and mates--and she's determined to find out more about the mysterious Ashton, his connection to the town, and why she's so drawn to him. But the more time she spends around him, the less any of it makes any sense, and Sofie will soon learn that some things are better left unexplained... EXCERPT However, Sofie has already made up her mind. She has known what she was going to do from the moment she saw Ashton. It is inevitable; this is where she is supposed to be. She pushes the dark story that he has told her out of her head. Now, it’s just about the two of them. Instead of answering him, she goes on to her tip-toes and pulls his head down towards hers. He doesn’t resist, allowing her to lead him to where he wants to go. When their lips touch, the electricity that has been passing between them since they first set eyes on each other crackles and fizzes. Sofie had never understood what people meant when they said that they saw fireworks when they kissed someone. Now, she understands it perfectly. It starts as a soft, slow kiss, both of them testing, teasing the other. Their tongues meet, and as they taste each other, Sofie feels she’s floating. Ashton moves his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She feels his hard body against hers, and she can barely breathe through her own desire. He kisses her deeply, sucking her tongue and nipping her lips. But all of a sudden he pulls away from her, and Sofie is left hanging, desperately hoping that he hasn’t just had a change of heart. She’s breathing hard, like she can’t get enough oxygen into her lungs. Ashton stares at her like she’s a present. “You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he says reverently, tracing the line of her cheekbone down to her jaw. “I want you so badly, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.” He pulls her face closer to his so that their foreheads are resting against each other. less
