by Fiona Roarke
Jake bumped his fist against Nate’s shoulder. “It’s about time someone made you see reason. I’m happy for you.” He gave him a bear hug.
“Thanks. Camille makes me feel good.”
“Does she now?” Jake lifted a brow, peering at his brother.
The corners of Nate’s mouth almost touched his ears, his smile was so big. “Yes, in many ways.”
Standing side by side, they watched their women walk over to them. He paused in mid-thought. Their women? Telia wasn’t exactly his, yet. But maybe.
He had pushed her away before. He wondered what would happen if he let go of his angst and allowed his feelings to grow.
Jake escorted her home after the cake was served. Telia walked slowly to the door, not wanting the enchanting evening to end. He hung his cane on the doorknob and drew her closer. “Thank you for going with me.”
“My pleasure.”
“If I ask you out again, will you accept?”
“That depends, on if you promise not to just disappear on me again. I like you, Jake. I—”
He smothered her mouth with his. She could feel the genuine deep sense of need in him. An explosion of desire, she ignited with a flare of passion so intense it scorched them both. She tugged at his neck, dragging him closer, pressing her body against his so he molded to her every curve. “Come inside,” she urged, her voice husky, her mouth suddenly dry.
“Lead the way.”
The front door closed behind them with a click. She plucked two bottles of water off the kitchen counter as she passed and padded straight into her bedroom. Jake followed. There was no sense pretending she didn’t want what he wanted. Because she did.
She had the rest of the night to get reacquainted. Besides he had a lot of making up to do.
One thing she’d discovered about vampires, they went long into the night and woke late in the morning.
He had a bit of whisker growth by the time they actually got out of bed. Which accounted for the little bit of burn she felt after their morning sex. But it was worth it. She stretched. So worth it.
He rolled her over toward him, sheets and all, and kissed her forehead, then cheeks, then lips. “Okay, my clairvoyant witch, can you read my emotions now?”
“Horny. You want to do it in the shower.”
“Wow. You’re good.” He gave her bottom a squeeze.
“Come on,” he said, taking her with him off the side of the bed. It took him a second to solidify his balance. She used a wave of magic to start the water running in the next room.
“Tricky.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Later, after they ate breakfast, Jake was getting ready to head home. He didn’t fully dress. There was no point in donning the formal jacket again. “I’m going to a mountain ride this evening, want to tag along?” he asked.
“Will I be able to watch you?”
“Yes.”
“Just don’t expect me to join in. I hate heights.”
He gave a low chuckle. “And I thought witches loved to fly.”
“Not this one. And the broomstick thing is fake.”
A pleasant chuckle rumbled through his chest. She saw him to the door where he kissed her goodbye.
“I’ll be back at six.”
Closing the door, she leaned her back against the wood, thinking, what a difference a day could make. She practically skipped into the kitchen to get another cup of coffee. She felt that fantastic.
On the counter, she noticed the snow globe that she had yet to place in a decorative spot. She lifted it and gave it a twirl, watching the snow float as she walked into the living room. Looking around, she settled on end table right beside where she usually sat. That way she could give the globe a swirl whenever she needed a pick-me-up.
She spun around, went to get her cup of coffee and returned to sit and dream over the snow globe.
Chapter Six
The mountain Jake drove to was not far outside the city limits. They took a dirt back-road that wound through dense trees. A group of about six vehicles already had arrived. At the top, the area of this park opened up to huge flat rocks that had been worn by time and Mother Nature.
They were at different stages of unloading their wheelchairs. Some guys were already set up and rode around investigating and testing their special chair or bikes. The one thing they all had in common was fat wheels.
Jake’s bike was a three-wheel configuration with two large wheels on each side and a small wheel in back. He seemed to have more difficulty moving about on this rough, rocky terrain than he did last night. But once he strapped into the bike and donned his safety helmet, he was like any other person. Brave, bold, brazen.
She liked this side of him. He reached his hand around the back of her neck and brought her to him, kissing her soundly.
“We’ll ride for about an hour,” he told her.
She nodded. He propelled the bike with his arms and hands. No wonder his upper body was so ripped—with a workout like this, who wouldn’t be.
She took a seat on some rocks, making sure she was out of the way and yet could see. He was remarkable in his strength. She discovered she loved watching him. He wore a plain white t-shirt and looked handsome as ever.
The memory of running her hands over those hard muscles and plains couldn’t be denied and wanted to run her palms over his pecs again.
But her feelings were more than just physical attraction. He touched her right down to her soul. She’d known it the first time they’d dated, and she knew it now.
He had a resilience about him she admired. He was the type to run away and suffer in silence. She’d gleaned that from him early on in the way he’d tried to keep her out, not totally willing to share himself. But she also detected a stubbornness not to give up.
Over the past six months, he’d encountered a change. As if in healing his spine, other parts had been healed as well. He probably didn’t even realize it. However, she sensed that essence of completeness.
Leaning her back against another larger rock, she enjoyed watching him as the sun began to set. Sometimes the wheels of his bike would do a wheelie or bounce over a hard stretch of rocks and she’d hold her breath. How easy it would be to roll over the edge? She inhaled sharply at one risky moment when he went airborne.
Even though he appeared to have control, her nerves were a mess by the time he finished and stored the bike in the SUV. Because honestly, now that she’d found Jake, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
A week later, they were returning from the Christmas concert at the fairgrounds. It had been a pleasant evening, the weather was crisp. They snuggled beneath a fur blanket and drank hot chocolate. She was getting used to these perfect evenings.
“How about an ice cream on the way home?” Jake asked. “We can stop by I Scream.”
“Ooo, yummy.”
“I take it that’s a yes.”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “But can we get it to take out? I’d like to go park by the falls. The moonbow was so beautiful at Nate and Camille’s wedding last week, I’d like to see if it is there again.”
“Okay. What flavor?”
“Hmm. Orange You Crazy.”
“Got it. Sit tight.”
Telia rolled down the SUV’s window. Hank and Ivy strolled by, they’d also been at the concert. “Hey, great minds think alike,” Telia said.
“Yep. Nothing like a little treat on the way home.”
Jake exited as Hank and Ivy entered. He delivered her ice cream cone through the window and did a dramatic bow as he handed it to her. Then he came around and dropped into the driver’s seat again.
He drove while they ate their cones. A short time later they were parked at the falls. She hadn’t even finished her ice cream yet. They sat for a while until it was gone. Then he said, “I have an idea. Come on.”
He got out and went around and helped her with the door. “Let’s sit on the hood of the Suburban. We can relax against the windshield
and watch the mist.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her by the waist and positioned her on the hood. Then he went to the driver’s side and jumped up in one fluid motion.
“You’re pretty good at that. And strong,” she commented.
He smiled and the tips of his fangs glistened. “Vampire perks.”
They leaned back at just the right angle to view the clear sky and stars and moonbow. The crisp December air rolled off the water. He swung his arm around her shoulders and she curled into him. The sounds of night creatures intensified, mingling with the beating rhythm of the waterfall.
She purred a contented sigh. “This is so nice, I could drift into sleep.”
“Go ahead.”
“Naw. It would be a waste of a perfect snuggle.”
He drew her even closer and kissed her until she felt that familiar warmth melt in her belly. No one else had made her feel this way, as if he gave her breath. And this time she could sense the same love in him.
“Telia, I—”
Telia’s cell phone rang. She wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard it. “My mother,” she whispered. “I’m supposed to leave this weekend for Christmas.”
His muscles beneath her palm tensed.
“Interested in coming with me?” she asked.
He pushed to a sitting position. She raised up to join him. The electricity circling between them intensified, a swirl of unity. Holding her hands he searched her eyes in the light of the moonbow. He swallowed.
Ask me.
“Telia, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” It was a simple yet powerful word, and it held all her dreams and expectations.
Her vampire of few emotions, his smile was the most vibrant she’d ever seen. He drew her into a vigorous embrace. “I’m not letting you go, ever,” he promised. “I love you.” This time his kiss was long and slow. When it ended, he said against her mouth. “We’ll go to Illusions tomorrow.” Small kiss. “I want Willa to create a special ring for you.” Little suck on her lips. “Exactly what you want.”
Her phone rang again. With nimble fingers, he drew it from her pocket. “Tell her you’re bringing a guest, if that’s okay with you.”
She nodded.
“Hi, Mom.” He nuzzled her neck. She couldn’t think when he did that but she gave him more access anyway, because it felt so good. “Yes. I’m leaving Friday. And I have a Christmas surprise. I’m bringing a guest.” She suppressed a moan and moved away from him for a moment. She gazed into his deep brown eyes. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Seven
Telia led him by the hand into her childhood home. The place sat among a neighborhood of Victorian gothic style homes. It was large and spoke of money. He had the feeling that Telia had not wanted for anything growing up.
“Mom. Dad. I’m home,” she called as they entered the vestibule. She twisted to face him, whispering. “I know they’re here.”
“Sweetie,” her mother came rushing down the staircase.
Her dad and sister were on her heels. They all stopped like bumper cars when they caught sight of Jake.
She slipped her arm around his back, as he did hers. “I’d like you meet my fiancé, Jake Newburg.”
Her mother glanced at her husband. “A wedding. Did you hear that, Bart. Our baby is getting married.” She took the rest of the steps at a rapid speed.
“We’re engaged. And we plan to take our time, so cool your jets, Mom.”
The rest of the family made their way down the stairs and joined in greeting Jake and making him feel welcome.
“Have you set a date,” her mother asked.
“Mom. No. For now, let’s just focus on having a wonderful Christmas,” Telia said.
“It will be whenever your daughter wants,” Jake said, flashing a smile at Telia.
The sight of his fangs set her mother back on her heels. “Okay,” she said with a raised brow.
Her dad stepped forward clapping Jake on the shoulder. “Let’s go in the family room and let the girls make their plan of attack for shopping tomorrow. It’s been a tradition since Telia finished college and set out on her own.”
Telia watched the two men disappear into the other room.
A few minutes later, after her mother had proposed the shopping for tomorrow, they joined the guys. As they entered, Telia paused, admiring the poignant scene of her family gathered around the fireplace. The guys with a drink in hand, in conversation. The lights twinkling on the Christmas tree. Her sister adding a new ornament on it. The room was warm and cozy and full of love.
The snow globe, she thought. She had her own snow globe scene right here.
She strolled to Jake and slipped into his waiting arms.
The End
Magic’s Frost
by Sela Carsen
Chapter One
Dima Samarin paid for his drink and slipped into his favorite seat in the furthest corner of the Hallowed Bean. This was his favorite time of day. He’d been waiting at the door when the first, sleepy-eyed employee arrived to unlock and set up for the morning. Technically, the little coffee shop didn’t open for another half an hour, but they’d grown so used to Dima that they let him wait inside, out of the chill, while they went about their work.
They knew he was an oborotyen, a Russian wolf shifter, which meant he could tough out a Siberian winter as long as there was enough to eat. But this was Nocturne Falls, Georgia, not the Rus fae world. Here, it was considered rude to leave someone standing on your doorstep.
He appreciated their kindness.
Over his nearly fifty years, he’d learned to appreciate kindness. There was so little of it in the world.
But it wasn’t just the great coffee that made this his favorite moment of the day. That was always the moment when she walked in.
Like him, the pretty blonde winter elf was accustomed to the cold, but she seemed to embrace the seasonal spirit with knit caps and gloves, long scarves, and crazy sweaters. For the last two months, he’d learned to sit and wait, enjoying the mildly illicit thrill of watching her strip off her layers until she was bare-headed and bare-handed, her long, elegant throat exposed.
She ordered the same thing every day—hot chocolate with a hint of peppermint—and every morning, she would wrap her hands around her cup, close her eyes, let the steam warm her face, and make this happy little humming sound as she smiled before her first sip. And every single morning after she took that tiny slurp, her brilliant blue eyes would fly open, she would suck in a breath, and whisper to herself, “Hot!”
It seemed like his day couldn’t end until she burned her tongue.
Opposite from everyone else trickling into the little shop, he was just coming off his shift as a bouncer at the local nightclub, Insomnia. It was a good job. Not a lot of action because the supernaturals who frequented the place generally knew how to behave. And if they didn’t figure it out quickly enough, they soon learned they didn’t want to be in a position where he was the one who laid hands on them.
But mostly, it was sitting at the door, checking to make sure only members and no humans made it inside. The member’s only club was strictly for supernaturals and their guests. Situated in an old brick industrial building that used to be a gasket factory, the first level was filled with rusting manufacturing equipment to fool any humans who went exploring. A ride in a well-hidden freight elevator would lead supernaturals in the know down to the basement where he waited at the reinforced door to let them in.
It was a pretty swanky spot. Hardly the rough pine bar, sawdust floor, and sour beer type of dump he’d grown up in. Insomnia was all moody lighting and sleek, industrial decor with plush leather seating, and thumping techno music. The club stayed busy until nearly dawn to accommodate the more nocturnal of their kind. Not really his kind of place at all, but as far as jobs went, he was happy.
But Dima much preferred this cozy little coffee shop where he stopped every morning after getting off work.
Exactly on
schedule, he heard her whisper, “Hot!”
She pulled out a beautiful, handmade bag he knew she’d purchased from one of his neighbors, Carina Valdis. A Norse soothsayer who saw the future in her weaving, getting something from her, like commissioning a piece from Willa Iscove’s jewelry shop, held some significance.
Carina had given him a small wall-hanging as a housewarming gift when he moved in. Her smile had been warm, and the bottle of vodka her boyfriend, Rodion Czernovitch, had held out to him, had been perfectly iced.
He remembered her words now, though he’d thought them strange at the time. “I saw clear blue skies for you, Dima. I hope you like it.”
It turned out that the color of the wall hanging was almost exactly the color of his winter elf’s eyes.
Dima quietly snorted into his coffee cup. His winter elf.
He didn’t even know her name because he, one of the toughest creatures in either the mundane world or in the Rus, was too…what was the word…trus. He was too chicken to ask.
Today, she didn’t pull out the sleek little laptop that she usually carried. Since the first day she’d walked in, she would set up her laptop and spend precisely one hour typing with occasional pauses to sip at her cooling cocoa, or simply to stare into space. Today, however, the bag bulged with a stack of papers almost two inches thick. Bright red slashes and margin scribbles covered half the pages that she set aside before she pulled out a red pen and tapped it against her pink lips.
He’d figured out that she was a writer of some kind, and this must be how she fixed and edited her work.
Dima watched, fascinated, as she bent over the pages, her brows drawn into a frown as she worked. His fascination meant he wasn’t paying attention when the mom with a young toddler and a stroller-bound infant slammed her giant diaper bag into the cafe table where his elf worked.