Page 34 of Gifted to the Frost King

The feral gleam burns in his gaze.

“Please, Frosty. Come back.”

Licking over my lips, I don’t let my nerves steal my resolve. It’s the only thing I can think of that might reach him. Pushing up on my toes, I meet his cold lips with my own. Warm light spills from my chest even as the King’s lips remain unresponsive. No matter. I have enough heat within me to thaw his icy exterior.

Pulling back, I kiss him again, harder this time. The snowflake at my throat erupts in white light I can see even through my closed eyes. Slowly, I feel the beast loosen his hold on me. His lips become more pliable until they gently return pressure on mine.

I give a moan of encouragement, unsure if I’m doing this right. The last boy I kissed was at nine, and it lacked any sort of expert technique. Whatever I’m doing seems to be working as the coldness in his body melts away—his hands rover over my waist without any pricking of claws.

Frosty hauls me closer to him, our lips coming apart momentarily before reconnecting. There’s an urgency to his kiss as if he can devour me whole. The rough trunk of the tree digs into my back. One large hand skims over my backside, and I gasp into his mouth. Using the opportunity, his tongue tangles with mine—guiding it with gentle strokes on how to kiss him back.

My head spins at the taste of him. I want to swallow it down and commit every part of him to memory. His muscles meet my soft curves. My breasts are crushed against his chest, and his seeking hardness presses against my stomach. A delicious shiver of pleasure rips through me as he hauls me more firmly against him.

His other hand goes to my hair, resting against my skull and tilting my head upwards. I never want to stop. Desire, something I’ve never felt for anyone, pours from me. This is a dangerous feeling, but I can’t help but give myself over it.

Frosty tempts my selfishness. I let his kisses wash over me and forget what I should be doing. There is only his mouth and his tongue. My thighs rub together—wetness already forming between them. I’m desperate for any sort of friction.

His teeth snap my lip and give it a gentle nip. My eyes fly open as he trails open-mouth kisses along my jaws. His hands slip from my head and find the small of my back. He nips at my pulse, and my mouth falls open.

“Frosty.”

He chuckles against my throat before skimming his warm tongue up my neck. I shiver as he presses one final firm kiss against my lips. Pulling away, the tree against my back is theonly thing keeping me upright. My legs feel like jam. I suck down mouthfuls of cold air.

“Beautiful,” he whispers, tucking a stray hair behind my ear.

My face flushes; the reality of what we’ve just done presses down on me. His clear gaze lingers on my cheeks as his grin deepens. Clearing my throat, I scan the treeline behind him instead of meeting his gaze.

“I’m glad you’re, um, back.” I want to smack myself.

A warm palm cups my chin and brings my eyes back to him.

“The beast is hard to keep tucked away. It takes considerable magic to do so—magic I’m quickly running out of.”

I nod. “All the more reason I need to get to the bottom of this curse.”

The King’s eyes turn sad before dropping to my mouth. His thumb traces my swollen lips, and suddenly, I’m breathless again.

“Why did you kiss me, Dove?”

My face heats anew.

“It seemed like the most logical thing to do.” I shrug.

Sadness frosts over his gaze, but he merely nods, dropping my chin. I immediately want to ask for his touch back. He steps back from me, putting more unwanted distance between us. Pushing off the tree, I stand before him close enough for our chests to brush.

“But mostly because I wanted to,” I admit. “I haven’t kissed anyone in a long time. I’ve never felt like this before.”

A satisfied smile stretches his full lips.

“Then it was my honor to receive your kiss.” He winks at me. “I’d very much like them bestowed upon me again. Several times.”

I playfully swat at his arm.

“You’ll have to do something to earn it,” I tease.

When have I ever felt this comfortable around a male? In my heart, this feels right; it feels as if I’ve known him all my life. It is as if we are merely two beings meant to find each other—not doomed by some curse and forced to search for a way to break it before time runs out.

That cold thought threatens to ruin the moment, but I shake it off.

---