Page 21 of A Winter Admire

“Edwin.” Sinoe waited until Edwin raised his gaze to his. “As I said, I like hearing you talk about the plants. As a healer, it is important that I know their properties. But it is nice to meet someone who shares my enthusiasm for them and is willing to talk about them at length with me.”

“Oh.”

“Did you know that oreads believe mistletoe is a symbol of fertility and virility?”

“Really?”

Sinoe stepped closer until he stood only a breath away. “It is why it is a custom to kiss beneath the mistletoe.”

ChapterSixteen

Edwin glanced up at the ball of mistletoe growing above them. Then he looked at Sinoe, focusing on his dark-grey lips. What would they feel like pressed against his own? Soft? Firm? It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss him.

Edwin so wanted to kiss him. He licked his lips. His heart pounded, body flushing with heat.

And fear.

What if Edwin tried to kiss him and Sinoe pulled back? What if his expression turned to disgust? What if he rejected Edwin as Torin had all those years ago? Edwin couldn’t bear to have Sinoe treat him like Torin now did.

Edwin sucked in a shaky breath. “They’re interesting plants.” He turned and walked, staring at the snow-covered ground before his feet.

After a few seconds, Sinoe fell into step beside him.

Edwin’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. He clenched and unclenched his hands. He stole a glance at Sinoe, whose gaze was on the trees ahead, a frown marring his lovely features. Edwin had caused him to frown.

Edwin scrambled to think of something to say. “I’ve never seen that plant before.” Edwin pointed at an ankle-high plant with shrivelled, bare branches.

Sinoe nodded but didn’t speak.

“Will it look different in the spring?” Perhaps if he could get Sinoe to speak, the tension between them would break.

“It will have vivid pink flowers then,” Sinoe said, but he sounded distracted.

“Do they have any medicinal properties?”

“The dried flowers can be used to brew a tea to assist with fever,” Sinoe said, but he was still frowning. “But you must be careful to only give a small amount. Too much can slow breathing and put the oread into a deep sleep from which they do not always wake.”

Silence followed. The past few days, the conversation had flowed easily between them, but now a rift had formed.

“There are a few plants here that I haven’t seen before. Are there many different plants that grow in different places throughout the mountains?”

“Yes.” Sinoe touched the collar of his necklace, finger stroking one of the dried berries. He pressed his lips together. “If you come back to the valley in spring, you’ll be able to better document the plants here. I could show you.” He glanced up at the grey, clouded sky. “But perhaps you aren’t so interested in coming back here with me.”

“But I would be interested!” He reached out and grasped Sinoe’s slender wrist. “I would be very interested!”

Sinoe halted, staring at Edwin’s hand clutching his wrist. Edwin pulled his hand away, shocked he’d grabbed Sinoe like that. “I just… I just wouldn’t want to bother you.”

Sinoe’s gaze met his, silver eyes pensive. “It wouldn’t be a bother, Edwin. You’re never a bother to me. I like spending time with you, and I’d like to show you the valley in spring.”

“Then I’ll come.”

Sinoe continued to stare at him. “Edwin, I… I don’t… I don’t understand…” He sighed.

“What?”

Sinoe shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll be glad to show you the valley in the spring.” Sinoe smiled, and some of the tension inside Edwin released.

“If you like, I could show you my books,” Edwin said. “They are not as good as seeing the plants in person, but they describe the different plants throughout the kingdoms.”