Page 25 of Winter's Edge
The weather eased into winter, which was why we already had snow, but on the official first day, it was as close to a frozen hellscape as I could imagine. Whiteout conditions, zero visibility. Making my way to the outhouse using the rope attached to our cabin required serious preparation. The first day of winter had always been like this, as far back as anyone could remember. And then it continued for five months straight. It was brutal and could easily kill. Jade and Lee’s parents accidentally let the fire go out while they were sleeping and nearly froze to death. A few days later they were sick. Doctors didn’t visit Margin’s Row, especially in winter, so a few weeks later, their parents were dead.
Which was why I took winter so seriously.
"What's next?" Grady asked, stirring some mountain chicory in a pot above the fire.
It smelled too sweet to be wolfsbane, but mixed with the moonshine, no one would be able to tell. Grady had had to make the moonshine outside since they didn’t have a cellar like Baba did.
"The only thing left is to add all the ingredients to the glass jar, but we can do that right before I leave since the moonshine has a horribly offensive odor.” My nerves stretched thin at the thought. What if this didn’t work? No. No, ithadto work.
"Ah. Just like Grady’s odor, then.” Archer said from next to me. He sat upright now, the bite in his side healing quickly. Maybe a result of being a wolf shifter. Lucky man.
Grady grunted. "When you're this pretty, you just don't need to bathe as often. Besides, I'm cleaner than you, or at least I was until a certain someone arrived."
My cheeks warmed, but I tried not to show any reaction. It was obvious Grady was referring to me and that I'd inspired Archer to bathe more regularly. A good thing, though I was flattered.
"There's a pot there in the fire," Archer gritted out. "Why don't you stick your head in it for a closer look."
Grady stood and limped across the living room to the table where he kept all the flowers and herbs he’d added to the mix. "Funny guy."
"Mm, I thought so," Archer said after him, his voice icy and sharp.
Grady threw something down on the table—always so loud—and then limped toward the hallway. "When are you doing this, Aika?"
"As soon as possible. Tomorrow.” My heartbeat spiked at how close that sounded, but it had to be done. I ran my fingers through Sasha’s fur, who lay curled in a ball on my left. “Hellbreath will get me there."
"So soon?" Archer touched my hand, gentle so I wouldn't startle, and a bolt of heat shot up my arm. "Are you healed enough to ride?"
"I have to be. I've already been here nearly two weeks, and winter won't wait."
“Still…” He moved closer across the couch and wound his fingers through mine, settling our clasped hands on my thigh.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt since he sat right by the fire, a fact I’d been very aware of every time Sasha had jumped up on him or he brushed his arm against mine. Like now. His bicep curved right up against the side of my breast, pulling the flannel tight against my nipple. He rubbed little circles into the back of my hand. The heat inside me stirred low, skittering across my lap like licking flames. His leg thumped against my knee, and there was barely any part of us that wasn't touching. My breaths grew shallow, and I tried to slow them, deepen them so he couldn't hear me panting. What was it about him that did this to me? And why did I like it so much? I wanted to press into him more. Have him touch me everywhere.
"We'll follow as far as we can and stay until you come out," he promised. "But I don't like that you'll be going in there alone." His breath sighed against my cheek like the kiss of a spring breeze, and I tilted my face up to meet it.
"I know. But it's the only way."
"I don't like that you'll be going, period. I like having you here. Believe it or not, you're much better company than Grady." He laughed, such a light, effortless sound.
"That ray of sunshine? I don't believe it." I grinned but it didn’t stick for long. "I have to go, though, Archer. But I hope that this won't be the last time I see you."
"Me too." He leaned in and grazed his lips across mine, hardly a touch at all, but enough to charge my heart into double-time.
My first kiss with a wolf shifter. My first kiss period. It had both scattered my thoughts and sharpened them around this moment in time.
Despite my inexperience, I knew how the basics worked from some of the books Jade had charmed the librarian in Margin into checking out, the books hidden behind the library desk and not on the shelves.
I leaned in for more. Mercifully, Archer obliged. He swept his lips over mine again, harder this time but still soft, and the heat of him melted into me. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it didn’t seem to matter. Not to him. His tongue parted my mouth open, and I held my breath as my whole body opened up too. He touched the inner part of my knee and slowly trailed his fingers higher up the thigh of my loose-fitting pants.
Energy sparked all over my skin, but especially where his hand was headed as he spread my leg wider. Now it wasn’t just his fingers but his whole palm gliding up my thigh. The size of his hand alone pulsed my blood faster. I gasped, suddenly realizing I hadn’t taken a breath, and reached upward hesitantly for his face. My fingers met the strength of his jaw moving sensuously as he kissed the lingering doubts about tomorrow right out of me.
Then limping footsteps thudded up the hallway, and we broke apart.
Damn Grady and his ridiculous timing.
I covered my mouth to hide my heavy pants, my whole body buzzing and my face heating to the tips of my ears.
Archer cleared his throat.
