Chapter 1

Roxy

Jeez-us it’s absolutely freezing as I step down from the aircraft that has brought me into Anchorage from my home in sunny California. My battered suitcase has seen better days, as I haul it finally from inside the terminal off the carousel.

My stomach is in knots from the mere fact that I have to return home after a few years away. I feel irritated, bitter and vulnerable as I step back onto home turf.

Three years away, and it still smells like regret and testosterone in this damn place.

Returning back to Anchorage is not my choice, however, my mother has just undergone surgery on her gallbladder and asked that I come home to be with her during recovery.

What, like her husband, my stepfather and my asshole, womanizing, step brother, Blake couldn’t be there for her? Sorry, that’s rude I know. She is my mother after all and we do love each other. But having to spend any time around my step brother makes me feel like burning the town down.

The cab driver nods when I give him the address to take me to. It’s in a small town where my mom and step father live, they own the largest house there with iron gates and plenty of land. He is a billionaire, making his money in stocks and shares. And the douchebag son of his, thinks he is God’s gift to women.

That and being a hockey player makes him think he is something special. Entitled comes to mind. Okay, granted he works his ass off practicing, going to the gym and all the games, but still, he is a jerk.

I work for National Geographic as a photographer, so the deal is that I do plenty of nature shots whilst I’m here to cover my spot and to give something to my followers.

Thirty minutes later, I have arrived at my destination. I pay my driver who was a sweet man and wait for him to get my bags out of the trunk. The security guy remembers me thankfully and lets me in through the gates.

Half a mile down the drive is the imposing property and wouldn’t you know it; Blake opens the front door when I ring on the bell. And the man is shirtless. SHIRTLESS!

National Geographic does not prepare you for facing your shirtless smug stepbrother!

I am guessing he is just back from practice or the gym, since I can see sweat glistening on his tan skin. Which I question since he lives in Alaska and it is the winter. So how has he got such a stupendous tan. My mouth has gone dry. WTF? No way.

There is something about his perfect pecs, and his six pack with the glorious V all the way to his waistband. I quickly manage to drag my eyes up to his cobalt blue eyes. He has a cocky smirk on his face.

“Seriously? No shirt, in January? Are you showing off for the snowflakes again, Blake?”

The tension feels hot. I feel hot even though it is sub-zero temperature out here.

I’m wondering if his wolf sensed that I was here since the door was opened so quickly.

Blake smirks at me. I want to slap it off his face. “Some of us, Roxy were born to be hot-blooded. Can’t relate, huh?”

I glare my emerald eyes at him; he merely grins like a shit eating grin.

“You still think you’re God’s gift to hockey?” I snark at him, still standing in the ice cold.

His lips form a smile, his eyes shimmer with something like jest in them. “Just the Ice Wolves, MVP. And your favorite mistake if I recall.”

Fucking asshole. It was perhaps a bad call to sleep with the boss of the team when I was supposed to be covering footage. Yeah, it was a mistake but I don’t need Blake reminding me of it.

My eyes stray again to his impressive abs. He rocks them. It should be illegal for anyone to be this gorgeous. Blake checks me out, checking him out. I blush and look away.

I hate him, so why do I even like the look of him?

“Like what you see, Princess?” he chuckles. I raise my hand to slap him but he catches my hand with his in one lightning move.

“Get out of my way, asshole,” I say hot tempered and flustered. Very flustered. He drops my wrist as if it is scalding iron as I push past him into the enormous, grand entrance with its black and white diamond marble flooring.

“By the way, your old room is now the home gym. You will have to sleep in the guest room.”

What the hell? My room is now his gym? That takes the flaming piss. God, I am literally seething, my body is almost vibrating with anger. And why can’t he put on a T-shirt or hoodie. Anything than having his Godlike body on display distracting me.

“You’re kidding me?” I say perplexed. He shakes his head with a grin on his face. “That’s right across from your room, the spare room I mean.”

He shrugs his shoulders.

“You could always share my room, step sister.” Did he seriously just suggest that? Arrogant s.o.b.

“I’d rather spoon a grizzly bear, Blake. Thanks, no thanks!”

“Yeah, I bet I growl louder.”

Dammit, something in the way he talks with that low, husky voice makes my clit throb and my nipples pebble. My wolf is feeling lustful. That’s all I need. My wolf wanting to get it on with his!

My inner wolf is picking up on his scent and the smell of pine and his pheromones is driving me mildly insane with wanting him. He smells wild, out of control, like your total bad ass boy.

I go tense as he stands right behind me, lowering his head to my ear. His breath is warm against my skin sending shivers up and down my spine. “We’d have a good time, step-sister!”