Page 8 of Flames of Desire

I took a seat in the armchair farthest from her, trying my hardest to focus on the fire instead of the way her hair shimmered in the light. I glanced at her, catching her looking at me with an expression that made my breath catch in my throat.

“We should try to make the best of this,” I said, breaking the silence. “It’s not like we have any other choice.”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

I cleared my throat, finally confronting my demons. “We have no idea how long this snowstorm is going to last. It could be hours, or it could be a few days. That means you and I might stay here for a few days.

“I figured you would want to set some ground rules.” I shrugged, glancing at her to catch the moment she fully realized what was going on.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock, flickering to me before she quickly looked away. I pretended not to notice, leaning back against the armchair.

“How many rooms are in the cabin?” she asked, her voice a little higher than usual.

“There’s just one bedroom,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

Her face paled, and I could see the panic slowly taking over. Her eyes darted around the room, and I couldn’t help but smirk at how flustered she looked.

“Relax,” I said, trying to keep the amusement out of my voice. “You can sleep in the bedroom alone. I’ll take the couch in the living room.”

Her eyes seemed to calm down, the tension easing from her shoulders. “Okay, that works. Thanks.”

Wanting to change the subject, I leaned outwards and groaned, “I’m pretty hungry. Have you had breakfast?”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t, actually.”

I nodded, pushing myself off the couch. “Let’s go to the kitchen and whip up some breakfast then.”

I needed a break from the tension in the room, but as I walked toward the kitchen, I heard the soft sound of her footsteps trailing behind me, dashing my hopes.

We entered the kitchen, and I started rummaging through the cupboards. “You check the lower drawers,” I said, pointing to the cabinets near the floor. “I’ll take the ones up top.”

She nodded and crouched down, opening the drawers and peering inside. I reached up to open the higher cabinets. A few moments later, I pulled a box out of a cupboard. “Hey, I found some pancake mix,” I announced, holding the box up for her to see.

Lily looked up from her crouched position, her face lighting up. She got up, brushing her hands on her jeans. “Pancakes sound great.”

We got to work making the pancakes. The kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of pancakes cooking, and for a moment, it almost felt normal— like we were just two people having breakfast together, not two people stuck in a cabin during a snowstorm.

“Can you pass me the spatula?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Sure.” I handed it to her, our fingers brushing for a split second. That tiny touch sent a jolt through me, but I forced myself to focus.

“So, you cook often?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“Sometimes,” she replied, pouring the batter into the pan. “Not as much as I’d like to, though.

“I hear you,” I sighed

“But you, on the other hand,” she continued, turning to me, “seem like you can handle yourself in a kitchen.”

I chuckled, “Nothing too fancy, but I get by.”

The scent of cooking pancakes filled the air, mingling with the warmth of the cabin. It felt oddly domestic, almost like we were playing house. I stole a glance at Lily, noticing how the golden light from the stove highlighted the curve of her cheek. “My God Alex, what is wrong with you?”

“These smell amazing,” she said, breaking into my thoughts. “I haven’t had pancakes in ages.”

“I’m pretty sure they taste just as good as they smell,” I replied with a grin, sliding the first batch onto a plate and handing it to her.

We moved to the small table in the corner of the kitchen, sitting down to eat. The pancakes were fluffy, golden brown, and perfect. I watched her take a bite, her eyes closing as she relished the taste.

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