“To build an effing snowman, what do you think?” he said with a forced bit of edge to his voice. “Gotta get colder. There’s a thing I never thought I’d say.” He smothered a sigh. “Don’t worry. You’re my antifreeze, aren’t you?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No! Not like that. I don’t want you to go out in this,” Brax protested.
“I’ll put on a coat. I’m coming with you. It won’t hurt me. It might help.”
“Penny, stop, you feel hot, but you’re still human. You’ll get frostbite in seconds in this.”
“Didn’t you tell Mr. Minegold it was pointless to argue with me?”Or did I dream that? My brain works better when I’m touching him. Gotta hold onto him. In more ways than one.
BRAX SIGHED. WHEN THEYcame back, there wouldn’t be sex. She wouldn’t sweetly accept His presence without an argument, an insult, or a denial. Wouldn’t be this fun, strange, blend of affection and honesty. She’d be cured, and he’d be glad. She’d probably avoid him, blushing like mad whenever they were forced to cross paths, if she didn’t hide from him or kill him. His heart fractured like a thin sheet of ice on impact. “No bloody point at all. Let’s go.”
Penny bounded to her closet, and he grabbed his pants but ignored his boots.
Freeze faster if your extremities are exposed.
She wrapped a faded green jacket around her that barely covered her rear. She stepped into boots and marched out of the room while he was calling for her to put on pants or a hat, something. She ignored him, striding down the hall. He groaned and yanked a stupid-looking knit cap off of her desk, and one of the many torn pieces of note paper.
Penny. Brax. Hearts next to their names. He crumpled it and stuffed it in his pocket. It was a nice truce while it lasted.
“WAIT. I HAVE AN IDEA.” Penny skirted her hand under his open duster and rested it on his bare chest as he strode into the hall and to the door that led up the stairs.
“All right.” Gotta hurry. He didn’t like the look of her at the moment. Even adding a single layer of clothing was causingsweat to pour down her brow, trickling over her eyes as she wiped her face with her sleeve.
“It’s your blood that has to freeze in the ‘desolation.’ Can—can you just put the blood outside? Not y-you?”
“I dunno. I s’pose it’s worth a try.”
“I have to drink frozen vampire blood. Or chew, because you can’t drink a frozen anything, it’s solid. Only, I’m burning up so it’ll melt and that’s just... stupid. Who thought of this?”
“Someone who wanted the bloody world to end, because no one would do this shit.” Brax rummaged in his pocket and produced a worn flick knife. “Gimme a cup or bowl, then.”
PENNY WENT BACK INTOthe apartment with wobbling steps and returned, unsteadily handing him a mug and wondering why her head was swelling again. Why her fingers were slipping on the ceramic. Why he had to catch the cup and grab her by the elbow, too.
“Are you okay? You don’t look like you’re feeling quite yourself.”
“I am myself. I’m Penny, and you’re Brax. You’re my... friend. I’m supposed to protect my friends, especially since most of them can’t see what’s out there in the shadows, but my friends think I’m nuts, and I don’t have friends like I used to. Except you. You’re my new friend, and I’m letting you get hurt for me...” Why wasn’t her voice working? Why was he so far away?
The knife and cup clattered to the floor as he snagged her before she joined them. Up in his arms and out the door, where sleet was now falling. “Watching you burning up hurts. Don’t wanna hurt me, do you, baby?”
“Nuh-uh,” she agreed faintly.
“Then let me get you better. I told you, it won’t hurt. Promise. Wanna seal it with a kiss?”
“Mmhm.” Her limp arm gained strength as they stood in the gray, wintry world outside. The sleet wasn’t soft or snowy; it was hard and sharp like tiny stings. Brax’s lips pressed to hers, and she slid down his body, separating.He’ll never get cold if I stand with him, heating him up. She pulled back with a sharp nibble, scraping over his lower lip, bruising him, breaking the skin. Marking him.
I want him to stay mine.
The gesture reminded them both of something. “Penny?” He looked at the concern on her face and knew it was mirrored on his own. The fleeting thought had apparently crossed her mind, too.
“I bit your lip. I tasted blood.Yourblood. I’m still sick.”
“Maybe it wasn’t frozen?”
“Maybe it wasn’t enough?
“I don’t know how much I have to give. An’ I can’t get any more at the moment.” He looked uncomfortably at her. “We need each other. This is so damn backwards, a human needs the vampire’s blood, the vampire can’t bite her. We need each other.”
