“Yes, because the sun isn’t heating the trash on the ground or the sludge in the Mississippi.”
“Awww, is Etienne cold and grumpy?” she teased. “I should have known you were a warm-weather person.”
“Why?”
“I guess you always look so tan, like you love the sun, or it loves you. I like the heat up to about seventy degrees, and then I’d prefer to tap out.” Etienne chuckled at her response. “What?” she asked. “I hate sweating!”
“Sweat doesn’t bother me. Everyone sweats.”
Ophelia’s mouth curved, and she felt an old twinge of herself return. “I’d like to see you sweat.”
Etienne’s eyes widened, and his lips parted. “Ophelia Marie Oubre, are you flirting with me?”
Ophelia bit her bottom lip and cocked her head with curiosity. “How do you know my middle name?”
Etienne took a step closer to her.
“I told you, I’ve liked you since the day I met you. I’ve picked up on some things over the past decade.” Etienne moved into Ophelia and gently rested his hands on her waist. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, his lips lightly brushing her earlobe. “First one back to the house wins.”
“Wins what?” she asked breathlessly.
“Winner decides,” he said, then spun her around in the direction they needed to go and took off running.
Etienne barely touched the front door before Ophelia. Breathless, they tumbled inside to the warmth of her home. Etienne stripped off his sweaty hat and jacket and hooked them on the coat rack by the door. Ophelia followed suit and dug her phone out of her jacket pocket, placing it on the kitchen counter.
“Well, what will you choose for your prize? Although I will say, youbarelywon. And you had a head start,” Ophelia complained as she filled two water glasses from the fridge and handed one to him.
“Brrrr. I’d like a personal body heater,” he said and took the water glass out of Ophelia’s hand, placing it on the counter, then pulled her flush to him. Her breasts were pressed up against his chest, and his chin met the top of her head. She tilted her head back to see his face as he ran his fingers along her back. On instinct, Ophelia arched into him. He snuck his hand under her shirt and flattened it on the small of her back.
“Eek!” she shrieked. “Your hands are freezing!”
“I told you I hated the cold.”
“So your prize is using me as your personal defroster?”
Etienne nodded seriously.
“Do you mind if I try some magic on you?” she asked.
“Mmm, nope,” he said, pulling her tighter to his body andnuzzling his face against the top of her head. “I’m your guinea pig.”
Ophelia quickly centered herself by listening to the beat of his heart. She thought about how she wanted to send him that delightful feeling of being warm and cozy under a blanket on the couch with fuzzy socks on and a hot chocolate in hand. It was oddly specific, but she felt like he needed just that right now. She let her magic twine through her body, out toward her arms, and into her hands. She pressed her hands into his back as she sensed the magic entering him.
A satisfied shiver shook his body. He exhaled and hummed. “Wow. I feel so much better. So warm and…”
“Cozy?”
“Yes.” Etienne stared into her eyes and whispered, “You’re remarkable, Ophelia Marie Oubre. What you do with your magic...” He shook his head with incredulity. “Your creativity and the strength of it is unlike anything I’ve seen before.”
Ophelia’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Your magic is even stronger than mine, though.”
“It took me a decade to get to this point, and you wield your magic effortlessly. Your magic is tied to your feelings. It’s fascinating to watch you express yourself that way.”
Ophelia couldn’t believe what he was saying. She also had no one else to compare her experience to. She smoothed her hands down his back.
“I’m glad I have you to guide me in all of this.”
Ophelia’s gaze dropped to his lips, and her breath turned heavy. Etienne tightened his hold on her in what felt like an anticipatory move. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she breathed him in. Clean and woodsy. Safe.
