Page 22 of The Northern Lights in His Eyes

All of them shared a look. “Okay,” William began. “First thing, I heard the avalanche. It happened after one in the morning. I woke to what I thought was thunder during the last storm. Then, five minutes later, there was a deeper rumble that went on for a while.”

He nodded. “And you think the first one…?”

“Was an explosion at the mining site that caused the avalanche itself. As you can see, the remains are charred. That had to come from a fire. I suspect that the fire started because of the explosion, and then the avalanche wiped everything away. All we saw were pieces of buildings, but Garvin noticed charring when we were up there during the search and rescue.”

Trooper Nelson nodded. “I need to go back to my car.” He left the room, pulling on his coat and gear. He returned with a heavy plastic tool kit. “This isn’t going to tell us what caused the charring, but it will show if there is any sort of explosive residue.” He wiped the wood like they did in airports and put the swab in a small sensor in the case. It beeped and flashed red. “Okay, I think we have an answer.”

“Damn,” William said softly, meeting Garvin’s gaze. “I wish I knew what it meant and what they were doing.”

Garvin moved next to William and slid an arm around his waist. “Me too. Who would try to mine, much less use explosives, at this time of year?” The only answer that came to mind chilled him to the bone.

Chapter 10

WILLIAM WAS glad to be back in the cabin, and the first thing he did after stripping off his cold-weather gear was wash up and change his clothes. Then he settled on the sofa under a blanket. Sasha pressed next to him, glad they were home again. Garvin built up the fire in the stove, and then he too sat on the sofa.

“I don’t get it. Who the heck did we rescue?” Garvin asked.

“Don will figure it out. They were all airlifted back, which means there will be records and things like that. He was as perplexed as we were. We did all we could, and now we have to let him look into things and unravel this puzzle. If nothing else, Don told me the mining company will be fined for improper storage of explosives and environmental damage. He said he agrees that there’s something going on, but it’s likely buried under tons of snow and won’t come to light until spring.”

“Which will probably only end with a slap on the wrist,” Garvin said and then narrowed his gaze. “Don?”

William smiled. “Trooper Nelson. I talked to him while he was eating before hitting the road. He asked me where I was staying and seemed really friendly.” He knew when a guy was interested, and Don had definitely had that look in his eyes. The guy was handsome and really built, that was for sure.

“How friendly?” Garvin asked, leaning closer, his voice rough.

William snickered. “Are you jealous?” he teased, which was the exact reaction he had been hoping for, and it was gratifying. Garvin stared daggers at him, and William smiled as he pulled the blanket up higher.

“That’s why you said something,” Garvin said with a huff. “Was this some sort of test?”

William drew closer. “No, but what if I said you passed anyway?” He closed the gap between them. William was all churned up inside. It had been frightening getting caught in the snow, but he had also spent a long time on the snowmobile pressed against Garvin, with that engine vibrating under him.

He wound his arms around Garvin’s neck, pulling them together.

“And is this my reward?” Garvin slipped his hand under William’s shirt, warmth spreading from the skin-to-skin contact.

“If you want it to be.” He pulled Garvin back until they were both lying on the sofa, with William pressed between the cushions and Garvin. It was like being surrounded by heat. William kissed Garvin hard, releasing all the pent-up energy and anxiety from the morning.

“Jesus,” Garvin growled as he tugged at William’s shirt, soon getting it off. His sweatpants followed, and William was naked. It didn’t take long for Garvin to shed his clothes, and then he practically dove back onto the sofa. William could barely stand it. He tried to take in all of Garvin at once, his hands, his lips, everything. William shook with excitement, and Garvin seemed almost as out of control. This was no slow lovemaking, but a frenzied joining that threatened to send William over the edge. “Roll over.”

William complied, lying facedown on the sofa. Garvin’s weight settled on his legs. “What…?” William whimpered before Garvin spread his cheeks. “Oh my God….” William clutched the edge of the nearest cushion as Garvin thrust his tongue inside him, driving William to distraction.

“Hasn’t anyone ever done this?” Garvin asked.

William shook his head, gasping as Garvin blew his warm breath over his wet skin. “No,” he whimpered and thrust back.

Garvin took him deeper, adding more heat. A slick finger slid into him, followed by another, which retracted and then slipped inside once more, driving William crazy. His mind kept trying to parse the sensations, but they melded together, one on top of the other.

“Then I’m glad I get to be the first.” Garvin pressed his fingers into him, holding him before leaning over him. William turned to the side, and Garvin kissed him hard and deep, touching William’s soul. Damn, all those years of longing burst upward and out as he felt the warm feelings being returned, really returned, for the first time. William hummed his pleasure and gave himself over to Garvin.

William shivered as the cool room air reached his skin, but Garvin seemed to fill him with warmth, and he didn’t care. All he wanted was for Garvin to continue, and he did.

“This isn’t going to be slow,” Garvin warned, his voice cracking, eyes dark as the arctic night sky. Damn, that was sexy, and William braced himself while Garvin hurried away and then returned and pressed him into the cushions. William gasped and pushed back against Garvin’s heat as Garvin slid through his opening and then inside him. William’s head spun as Garvin sank deeper, filling him fast. Without hesitation, Garvin sank to the hilt and then pulled back, rocking his hips.

William held on to the cushions, moving in time with Garvin, their bodies instantly at the same rhythm. “Don’t stop.”

Garvin sucked on his ear. “I have no intention. Hang on, because I need you bad.” He was like a man possessed. He wrapped his arms around William’s chest, holding him as he drove into William, sending them both down a speedway of passion without limits.

“Damn,” William groaned as Garvin pulled him back, holding him tightly, his hands caressing his chest as Garvin took complete possession of him. William loved every second of it. Passion overwhelmed him, and there was nothing he could do but go with it. He knew that Garvin would never hurt him. Hell, he trusted him, and that only added to the intensity.

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