Page 18 of A Winter Admire

“I’ve been a healer for many years now. I’m often out here in the forest, collecting plants, berries, and herbs for my poultices, salves, and other medicines.”

That made sense. Sinoe always seemed to know the healing properties of the plants he was studying. He was realising, despite his obsession with Sinoe, that he knew very little about him. But he was changing that. He worried sometimes that he must be badgering Sinoe with all his questions, but Sinoe never seemed to mind.

“I thought perhaps you were a healer when I saw you sketching the firasen tree,” Sinoe said. “When I saw you touch the trunk, I thought you might be collecting bark in case someone in your village suffers a burn.”

“I didn’t know it could be used for burns.” Edwin would have to remember to write that down. “I knew the roots could be used for bruising and swelling, but not…” He flushed, thinking of all the times he had explained the different plants’ usages to Sinoe, often going on and on about their medicinal purposes. “As a healer, you must know so much about the plants. You must think my knowledge to be very basic.”

“Not at all. I’m just glad the villagers remember. We were the ones who taught you the plants’ uses years ago.” He tilted his head. “But perhaps I could help you, teach you more about the plants and their medicinal purposes if that would be useful to you?”

“Really? That would be incredible!” It would also mean spending more time with Sinoe.

The path narrowed so they could no longer walk side by side. Sinoe walked in front of him, and Edwin drank his fill of the sight of Sinoe’s back. His gaze ran along the lean lines of his shoulders, watching the muscles bunch and move as he walked. His white hair swung side to side, falling to his mid-back.

Edwin’s gaze traced downwards along the bumps of Sinoe’s spine. On either side were two dimples, and he wanted to beg to be allowed to touch and lick them. And even though Sinoe wore pants, they did nothing to hide the curves and plumpness of his arse. Desire pulsed in Edwin’s body, and he felt his cock harden at the sight.

“Why did you become a healer?” he said, tearing his eyes away. They were friends now. He couldn’t ruin it all by wanting more than he should.

“I like to take care of those who are wounded. Even when I was a child, I looked after animals. My mother always said that death is a part of life, but I’ve never been so good at accepting that. When I see something in need, I want to help it. I used to bring home all sorts of injured and orphaned animals when I was a child. My mother was not impressed.”

“I was the same when I saw Snowflake for the first time,” Edwin said. “Oh! I should have brought Snowflake to you! You would have known what to do!”

“Who is Snowflake?” The path widened, and they fell into step beside each other.

“My rabbit. Well, she was a wild rabbit at the time. I found her injured in the forest. Her ear was torn, and she barely moved. She had lost one eye, and it had scabbed over. I took her to the village doctor, who thought I was crazy for trying to save her. She said I should make her into a stew.” He grimaced.

“So what did you do?” Sinoe asked, watching him intently.

“I brought her to my house. Fed her and gave her water. At first, she hid from me under the bed and wouldn’t come out. But now she is such a tame rabbit. She always demands pats. She is beautiful, even with only one eye, and half an ear gone. I tried to let her go in the summer, once she was better.” He laughed at the memory. “But she wouldn’t have it! She just followed me home.

“Now she sleeps on my bed,” Edwin said. “Last night, she started nosing my hand when I was sleeping, trying to get me to pat her. And this morning, she woke me up licking my forehead and—” Edwin snapped his mouth shut.

He realised he was going on and on about Snowflake, which usually bored everyone. People in the village thought he was odd, often rolling their eyes at him for caring so much about a rabbit. But when he looked at Sinoe, he didn’t roll his eyes or look bored.

“You cared for a sick rabbit and nursed it back to health?” Sinoe asked.

The look he gave Edwin made his stomach flutter and lips tingle.

“I did.”

Sinoe smiled so widely at him that if Edwin hadn’t been falling in love with him before, then he definitely would be now.

“Next time you come across an injured animal and you don’t know what to do, you can bring it to me. I’ll help.”

Edwin nodded, unable to form any words.

“Just bring it to the valley. Do you know where that is?”

“I do. Although, I haven’t been there since I was a boy.”

“Perhaps you’d like to visit sometime?” Sinoe said. “You could see my home.”

“Really?”

“And there are some unusual plants that grow in the valley, especially in the caves. Perhaps you’ve seen them before, but maybe not, and—”

“I’d like to go,” Edwin said.

“You would?”