It was so damn cold out today. All over the country there were winter weather advisories and wind chill factors of below zero. Thick blankets of snow encroached upon the asphalt ribbons that wound their way among the mountains. Even my Hummer was struggling to warm today. Usually cold weather was no problem for me but today I was dealing with tittie hard-ons (THO's) constantly. I swear my nipples could cut glass at this point.

I was on my way to ski at the Mountain. Mondays were the days I set aside to give lessons fulfilling my quota and get a free lift pass and so could enjoy being on the slopes on my own. I felt so free flying downhill. There was no greater feeling than catching air on my board up above the incline of snow and ice; the faster, the better.

The only downside was the drying effects of the wind. I had the worst chapped lips I had had since I dated Bree in college. Man, could she kiss both above the waist and below, if you know what I mean...*grin*

I had specs for my eyes, a hat for my head and a great jacket that wasn't too bulky, but did its job keeping the wind off my bod. Too bad my nips didn't notice...brrr. After I grabbed my gear from the trunk, I headed inside to get my assignment for the day.

Dammit, I knew she'd get me back for turning her down the other day, I thought to myself, bemoaning the fact that I ended up on the fuckin' bunny hill again for the third week in a row. Jess was just pissed that I opted out of her orgy at her chalet Wed night last week. There was no friggin' way I was gunna rope myself into four guys and three girls. The equation did not add up in my favor.

Oh well, que sera sera. "What will be will be."

Heading on up the mile long slope, I took a look around as I rode the lift. Amazing textures swept the landscape. It was always a dream of mine as a kid to be helicopter pilot. It would have been so cool to be able to zip and slide over the hills while appreciating the lay of the land. Instead, I opted into the game commissioner program instead. With a background in Criminal Justice and lots of time on the firing range my parents owned when I was growing up, it was a no-brainer.

Hopping off, I glided over to the designated area for lessons.

Only one person was standing there under my flag. She was short with long black hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. The vision she created was striking. She was all wrapped up in her snow outfit; black skins on her legs, a snug sweater on top and there was no hat for this girl. God, wasn't she cold- oh yeah, look at that, she had THO's too. She was definitely cold. Her lips were full, pouty and red. She looked away from me. Oh well, I figured we would observe the five minute wait time and then be on our way.

"'Sup?" I greeted my lone student.

"Hi, my name's Rosalie Hale. You can call me Rose," she said, fixing her blue jean-colored eyes on me. Man, it was difficult to look away!

"Emmett McCarty, pleased to meet you," I extended my gloved hand hand toward her in an effort to appear congenial when all I wanted to do was get this over with and get on with a few runs before it got any damn colder, if that were possible.

"So, I guess its a little cold out, huh?" I asked lamely.

"Only a little," she chuckled. Man, the way her nose scrunched when she laughed made me wanna look at her a little more.

Stare much, McCarty? God, gotta get this over with, she was messing with my man card big time.

"Ok well, since you're up here I assume you know enough to-"

"Look, Emmett, I already know how to 'board," she interrupted, and then continued as my curiosity piqued, "I really just wanted to see if you wanted to ride with me. I'm a photographer for Vail Magazine and I've been assigned to find ho-, I mean, archetypal boarders for an article in the upcoming issue. Would you be interested in spending a few hours letting me take pictures?"

I have to admit my eyebrows went with my curiosity, so I worked hard to cool it as she spoke. She wanted to take pictures of me as I did the one thing in this world I was passionate about? Hell ya, she could!

"Hell ya you can! That sounds like a great idea!" I strapped up my boots while I considered my luck, and oh, my company for the next few hours as well. Life could be worse, that was for sure.