Warm & Willing

Warm & Willing
Kate Hoffmann

The Basics of Survival1. Shelter Producer Sarah Cantrell would do anything to make her mark on the industry–including trudging into the woods to convince reclusive mountain man Sam Morgan to host her reality TV series. His hand-built log cabin offers a spectacular view. And Sam's not so hard on the eyes either….2. Warmth When a freak snowstorm strands Sarah in the cabin with sexy Sam, he teaches her the basics of survival. Including the best way to keep warm. Body heat.3. Food Who needs food when she's got Sam? And since it looks as if she'll be leaving without a signed contract when the snow clears, she plans to satisfy her craving while she can.4. Sex?Too late Sarah learns that the greatest threat to her survival is Sam's lovemaking. Because she realizes she can't live without it….

“Turn around and let me see your butt.”

Sam knew that snakes were in deep hibernation at this time of year. But if Sarah thought she’d been bitten, it was his duty to investigate.

“This is the ultimate humiliation. I think I’d prefer to die from the poison,” Sarah said, reluctantly tugging her jeans down.

Sam ran his hand over the gentle curve of her hip. He couldn’t see a single mark. “I suppose it could be a snakebite. Maybe I should suck out the venom.”

“Don’t you dare!” Sarah cried.

“Snake poison can be deadly,” he reminded her.

She sighed, shaking her head. “All right. Go ahead.”

God, it was fun to mess with her. “Hold still.” Softly Sam pressed his mouth to her hip, then touched her skin with his tongue.

Sarah turned around, regarding him suspiciously. “I wasn’t bitten by a snake, was I?”

He smiled. “No. But I’m sure enjoying the view.”

Dear Reader,

It’s very difficult to know what to say. For eleven years Harlequin Temptation has been my home. I’ve written over forty books for this series, and now this one is my last.

I remember my first book so well—Indecent Exposure. It seems like just yesterday that I got the call from Harlequin, telling me they were interested in publishing my manuscript. And since then I’ve had the privilege of creating many stories to share with you.

I hope you’ll continue to look for my books under the Harlequin imprint. The Mighty Quinns will be back in February with my first family saga, The Promise. And then I’ll be making the move to Harlequin Blaze, where you’ll find the rest of the Quinn family in 2006.

For now, though, I hope you enjoy Warm & Willing. And visit my Web site at www.katehoffmann.com for all the news about my upcoming releases.

Best wishes,

Kate Hoffmann

Books by Kate Hoffmann

HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION

795—ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

821—MR. RIGHT NOW

847—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: CONOR

851—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: DYLAN

855—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRENDAN

933—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: LIAM

937—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRIAN

941—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: SEAN

963—LEGALLY MINE

988—HOT & BOTHERED

Warm & Willing

Kate Hoffmann

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To my editors at Harlequin Temptation, who’ve provided inspiration and support over the past eleven years. And to my readers, who’ve been with me from the first Temptation novel to the last. This one’s for you!

Contents

Chapter 1 (#uf9e7d5ce-d823-5703-9179-380c8072a34c)

Chapter 2 (#ua7015354-7319-594d-8dbc-1d5e80525c8d)

Chapter 3 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

1

HE FELT HER WARMTH before he even touched her. The room was dark, so black he couldn’t rely on his sense of sight. She lay beside him in the bed, the warm curve of her backside nestled into his lap. Sam hesitated before he touched her, certain that she was just a figment of his imagination, another dream that would be snatched away before he could find satisfaction.

But when he reached for her, she sighed and whispered his name. It had been such a long time, Sam wondered how he’d be able to take it slow. His body ached with the need for release, yet he didn’t want to rush. He craved the sweet torture that came with losing himself deep inside a woman.

He drew a breath and then smoothed his hand over her naked belly. Her skin was like silk, so warm and soft beneath his callused fingers. He gently turned her in his arms, finding her lips and kissing her softly. She responded immediately, opening to his gentle assault.

The kiss was intoxicating, like a glass of warmed brandy on a cold night. That warmth seeped though his bloodstream, propelled by the slow, even pulse of his heart. He didn’t know who she was or where she’d come from, but he wanted her all the same.