“Poor Stone,” I murmur against Taylen’s ear, using the crowd as an excuse to pull him closer. “He’s not used to having his charm fail so completely.”
“Should we be concerned?” he asks quietly, watching Stone’s perfectly styled hair disappear into the festival crowd. “About him buying a house so close to Hunter?”
I shake my head slightly, using my hold on his hand to guide him away from the booth. “Stone rarely pursues anyone he’s likely to see regularly,” I explain. “Besides, there’s no indication Hunter’s even interested in men.”
We weave between clusters of festival-goers, past the mulled cider stand, and around a group of carolers warming up for their next performance, until we find ourselves in a quiet corner where the vendor stalls back up against the temporary fencing.
Taylen’s back meets the rough wood with a soft sound that sends heat through my core as I cage him between my arms.
“You really think Stone will give up that easily?” he asks, though his attention seems more focused on the way my body brackets his against the stall’s wall. His fingers find my waist, slipping beneath my jacket to trace patterns that make it hard to concentrate on the conversation.
“Stone’s not used to rejection,” I manage, trying to maintain coherent thoughts despite the way Taylen’s touch sends electricity through my system. “But he’s also careful about not creating awkward situations. If he actually buys that house…” I trail off as his hands slide higher under my jacket.
“Living that close to Hunter would definitely be awkward,” Taylen finishes for me, but the smile playing around his mouth suggests he’s enjoying the effect he’s having on my ability to focus. “Especially if Hunter’s straight.”
I lean closer, using my position to trap his wandering hands between us. “Stone will figure that out,” I assure him, my voice dropping lower as the festival sounds fade into background noise. “He’s smarter than he lets people think. More careful with his heart too.”
“Unlike some people?” Taylen asks, the challenge clear in his tone.
“Unlike me,” I agree easily, letting one hand cup his face while the other maintains our position against the wall. “I gave you my heart years ago, even when I was pretending I hadn’t.”
His eyes search mine for an endless minute. “You’re ridiculous,” he mutters. “Always saying things like that when I can’t properly respond.”
“Why can’t you?” I ask, my thumb tracing a line across his jaw. “Nothing ever stopped you from saying whatever you want, especially when it comes to me.”
His response is to surge forward, closing the distance between us with a kiss that steals all the air from my lungs. His hands escape the jacket prison to tangle in my hair.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips when we break for air. “Even when you’re being dramatic.”
Laugh bubbles up from my chest, my joy too big to contain. “Especially then?”
“Especially then,” he agrees, tilting his head to capture my mouth again.
The festival noise gradually filters back into my awareness as the kiss ends.
“We should probably rejoin civilization,” he suggests. His fingers are playing with the buttons on my jacket.
“Or we could go back to my cabin. It’s closer. I declare this date over. Time to ravish my boyfriend in the relative safety of my own home.”
He shakes his head. “Not a date.”
I sigh.
“Come on,” he says finally. “Let’s go see what other trouble we can find at this festival.” The words carry a teasing note that makes my heart stumble with joy.
I take his hand as we emerge from between stalls.
The Christmas lights seem brighter somehow as we rejoin the main flow of celebration, although maybe that’s just the effect of happiness making everything shine more intensely. Taylen’s grip remains steady in mine as we weave between booths and crowds.
Even though I would give anything to have Taylen naked in my bed, I can’t deny loving this carefree, teasing Taylen.
30
TAYLEN
The festival lightspierce the darkness like stars. It’s a particularly cold night, but this is Winterberry. We don’t have winter in the name for nothing.
As the temperatures go down, our spirits go up, especially in the face of such an important event.
