“No,” he says. “Your boots are fine, Lumi.”
He rubs the back of his neck, fingers catching in his wild fur. “It wasn’t you. I just... needed a second.”
“A second for what? I ask, too quickly.
His gaze flicks to mine, and then away.
He doesn’t answer.
The wind stirs between us, brushing the cold against my face. Andrik’s hand drops from his fur, curling into a fist by his side. He opens his mouth. Shuts it. Then he mumbles something I don’t catch.
“What?”
He shakes his head, jaw tight. “Nothing.”
He’s shutting down for some reason, and I hate the way it makes my ribs tighten, the way it feeds the part of me that always thinks I’ve done something wrong.
“I didn’t mean to make things weird,” I say quietly. “I just really like being out here with the animals and... you.”
His breath stutters. His eyes fall closed.
I want to scream into the void.
“I mean, obviously you know I like you, Andrik... but today feels?—”
“Lumi.”
The way he says my name makes everything inside me freeze and burn at the same time.
“You didn’t make anything weird.” He murmurs, fingertips grazing the side of my throat. His thumb finds my pulse point, and his pupils dilate when he feels how fast my heart is beating. “I just needed a second, because sometimes when I touch you—if I don’t step away... I lose myself in the moment.” His gaze holds mine, dark and fervent. “And I’m afraid if I don’t tear myself away, I won’t have the strength to stop.” He admits. “And we know what happened last time I lost control.” His words are a haunting reminder.
My heart hiccups as images of Andrik between my thighs flash through my mind. My stomach tightens as his eyes flicker and his nostrils flare. Every unspoken thought lingers between us, and it’s almost unbearable.
He steps closer. “It makes it hard not to want more.”
I know I should hold back and not make this more complicated for him, but I rise on my toes and kiss him—just a tiny peck on his lips.
His breath stammers. His whole body locks up, and for a moment, I’m afraid I misread the moment.
Then his hands find the backs of my thighs and lifts me. My legs wrap around his waist instinctively. He kisses me back like he’s starving. One of his hands slides up under my coat to cradle my lower back, his claws bite into my skin so sweetly.
“Andrik...”
His grip tightens, and his antlers start to thrum.
“I want you. Now.” I moan between kisses.
He starts to shift my body up and down against his torso. The thick, solid muscle creates delicious friction.
And then—a soft weight lands on the back of my neck.
We both freeze.
Something clicks in the air.
Andrik draws back, panting, to look over my shoulder.
“It’s a Skelvyn,” he whispers. “Looks like your next soboeûn is here.”
