FROST-BITTEN

(Snowy Knights)

Dr. Quinn Jameson has secured his future by submerging himself in his career, but no amount of money in the world can ease his loneliness. Despite the fact that his inner polar bear is supposed to not need a pack, he finds himself craving more out of life, more contact, more intimacy, maybe even a mate.
Aubrey Celine is pregnant and on the run. This feisty tiger shifter thinks she is out of options when she wakes up in the hospital under the care of the delicious shifter. But after the horror she has gone through, can she trust another man? Even someone who seems so strong and caring?
In the midst of an epic blizzard, these two strangers must rely on each other to stay alive. The sizzling heat between them could melt the ice caps, but will it be enough to melt her frozen heart and give him the warm home he desires most?

Excerpt
The vehicle Dr. Jameson took her too was enormous, and clearly expensive. When she sat up on the gurney with the plan to get up, he barked a sharp No at her.
“You’ve barely got enough on to keep you decent. Let me help.” He instructed, wrapping the thing hospital blanket around her waist and then lifting her as if she didn’t weigh an ounce. She’d forgotten that she was only wearing a hospital gown and panties, but she was grateful that he’d remembered.
His arms felt like thick bands of iron as they held her confidently, muscles flexing with ease. Instinctively she looped her own arms loosely around his neck to keep from falling, and he snorted.
“I won’t drop you if that’s what you’re thinking.”
She felt her cheeks heat, “Oh, no, it’s just…I’ve never been carried before.”
The handsome doctor gave her a thoughtful look before settling her on the plush leather seat. “That’s a damn shame.” He murmured, helping her adjust the blankets around her for warmth and modesty.
Aubrey wasn’t sure what the proper response to his statement would be, so she just stayed quiet. He secured the door, and climbed into the driver’s seat, pulling his cell phone free from his scrubs.
“I need to check in with Kasey…er…Nurse Summers, and make sure everything inside is managed. I was technically supposed to be off the clock forty five minutes ago, so no one should be concerned that I’m gone, but that man of yours is probably freaking the fuck out.”
“He’s not my man.” She hissed, her tiger rushing to the forefront. The only thing stopping her from shifting was her current state of pregnancy. While woman and tiger were generally one and the same being, during the late months of pregnancy the human side of a shifter took over to protect the infant. Her tiger ached to be free, but would never risk harming its offspring. “He’s a heinous beast who seduced me and got me pregnant.”
Dr. Jameson narrowed his eyes at her in the rear view mirror for a moment before he began speaking into his phone. His responses were short and sharp, and within seconds he’d hung up and tossed his phone into the passenger seat.
“All set. Your friend is currently searching the neighborhood for his runaway fiancée, as he believes you went AWOL against medical advice.” he explained as started the ignition. “Stay down a little longer if you don’t want to be spotted.”
Aubrey did as she was told, hunching down on the buttery soft bench seat with only the car’s luxurious interior and one delicious smelling man to look at. Trapped in this enclosed space with Dr. Jameson, she became keenly aware of her body’s attraction to him. Damn hormones.
“It’s normal.” He murmured.
“I’m sorry?”
“The arousal. It’s normal during pregnancy. Your hormones are a bit chaotic.” He glanced over at her and Aubrey felt her face heat up. “I just didn’t want you to be embarrassed about it.”
“Well you majorly failed at that, Doc.” She grumbled.
“My name is Quinn. Considering I just helped you escape a dastardly villain, I think we should be on first name terms.”
Several more minutes passed before he spoke again.
“We just crossed the river, so you should be okay to sit up now.” He instructed, turning the car off the main road.
Aubrey struggled to get her bearings in an unfamiliar part of the city. “Where are we going?”
“My house.” He looked her way again and shifted the gears flawlessly, “Unless you have another destination in mind?”
“I didn’t have any destination in mind. I just had to get out. Honestly, I didn’t even pause to consider the risk of leaving when I saw my opening. I just ran.” Her voice cracked and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She had no idea where the streak of fearlessness had come from. Alex had been threatening her the entire time he’d held her captive, and until the moment she’d noticed the lock wasn’t secured, she’d never even seriously considered making an escape attempt.
“I know who you’re running from, but what I don’t understand is why? What did this guy, Alex, do to you?”
“He kidnapped me.”