Page 332 of Flirting with Darkness

FIRE KISSED

L.C. SON

THE BEGINNING OF US

RAE

The light flashed brightly past my eyes. Nearly blinding me, I wasn’t prepared for the camera to snap a shot of Kharon and me. Sure, it’s a sight I’d love to capture as a keepsake, but I’m hardly photogenic.

Especially today.

“Are you cold?” Kharon asks, wrapping his black trench around me as we dangle over the icy snow.

I knew it was a bad idea to come skiing with Ross today. My twin had no intention of hitting the slopes at all. His only reason for coming was to see if he could get close to that new lumberjack who was staying at the ski lodge. Ross met him all right. And ditched me the first chance he got.

So what do I do? Continue on with plans of skiing like an idiot. But I got scared. No sooner than I made it to the hilltop, I quickly found my way back to the carriage stalls to head back to the bunny slopes where a novice like me belongs.

I am an okay skier at best, nowhere as skillful as my brother, but I trudged my way onward as if I had nothing to fear.

Thankfully, fate knows best.

I have no business on a black diamond run. At all. I suppose that is why my feet are now suspended over the snow as my fear of heights gnaws within me, inwardly scolding myself for such a foolhardy attempt.

If I weren’t stuck on this lift with Kharon, I might be deserving of my lot for attempting something I knew was idiotic.

But perhaps, I didn’t grab the short straw like I normally do.

After only being stuck for a few seconds, Kharon quickly offers his trench as a shield from the wind while wrapping his arms around me. The warmth I feel from him reminds me more of a bright sunny day, despite the freezing winds whipping around us.

Looking at me through his grayish-blue eyes, I can’t help wanting to drown myself in the entirety of him.

“Rae?” he questions, breaking me from lingering my gaze on the delicate stubble along his jaw and the enchanting way his dirty blonde hair blows, framing his ruggedly handsome face perfectly.

“Yes,” I chattered as the wind hits my face.

“You’re freezing!” He exclaims, pulling me deeper into his embrace. “Come on, get under here, we’ve got to keep you warm.” Pressing himself against me, I quiver when he slides his arm around my waist, slightly grazing my breast. Although not intentional, Kharon’s eyes lock with mine almost apologetically, but I crane my neck into his chest hopeful he doesn’t pull away. “Is this better?”

Damn, even the quiver in his nervous tone as he regards me is sexy as hell.

My heart races, wishing he’dgrazeme again. “Much better,” I whisper, inhaling his sweet, smoky, cigar scent. Secondhand smoke never smelled so good.

“Well, I guess neither one of us thought we’d find ourselves caught on this contraption when we woke up this morning,” Kharon says with a small chuckle.

“Nope.” I release a soft giggle. “Wasn’t quite on my to-do list.” His scent is almost intoxicating, I can’t help taking in large gulps of his aroma. Another wind whips by us and he strengthens his hold on me, pulling me closer. Swinging my leg over his lap, I deepen myself in his embrace, enjoying the steady strumming of his heartbeat.

My hand touches the soft cotton of his sweater vest and I’m impressed I can still feel the outline of his muscular form beneath it all.

Smiling at me as his eyes search my face he asks, “So, Rae, are you a dare devil of sorts?”

“Me? No!” I shriek, looking away from him. “What makes you think that?”

Gazing down under his coat at me, he moves my curly tendrils from my face, brandishing a smile that warms parts of me that have never been touched. “Well, this is a black diamond run. You’ve got to be pretty good to take this one on.”

“Oh, yeah, that,” I frown, thinking of how silly I must look.

“Not that it’s a bad thing, Rae,” Kharon says, lifting my chin back up to meet the new care I see in his eyes. “It’s okay to want to try something new. Even if you have to go it alone.”

Hunching my shoulders, I press my head back into his chest. I like the way he smells, and the cadence of his heartbeat is soothing.

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