Page 26 of A Winter Awakening

“You’re cold,” Orteo said.

A shadow moved beside him. Orteo was still here. He hadn’t left.

“I fell asleep,” Orteo said. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have let the fire go out.”

Gael could hear rustling, Orteo moving around.

Blankets pulled up over Gael. He lay back down as the heavy weight of all the blankets and furs settled over him.

“Here. That will warm you,” Orteo said.

A second later, the blankets lifted. Orteo slid in beside him and pulled him close. Orteo rubbed his back and arms. The smell and feel of Orteo encompassed him.

“I’ll light a fire,” Orteo said, moving to rise.

“No.” Gael clutched at Orteo’s waist. “Stay here. And it isn’t as cold as the other night. The door is closed, and the cold kept out.” And he didn’t want Orteo to leave. “You’ll warm me.”

Orteo would chase the cold away.

“All right,” Orteo said softly. After a moment, his body relaxed.

Gael closed his eyes and let out a sigh, resting in his friend’s embrace.

I’m so lucky to have a friend like Orteo.

ChapterFifteen

“Good morning,” Orteo said. He held Gael’s slender body loosely in his arms.

“Morning,” Gael said, voice rough with sleep. His brown hair stuck up in all directions, messed up and sleep-tousled.

Orteo reached out and smoothed the curls. Not into place, exactly, but into a slightly less ruffled form.

Orteo’s chest felt close to bursting. Orteo had slept with Gael. He’d spent a whole night with him.

Incredulously, Orteo still wasn’t sure what it meant. He still didn’t know what Gael felt for him. Because although this intimacy between them felt so strong, Gael kept talking about their friendship.

But then, Gael welcomed his touches. Had even welcomed Orteo into his bed! This didn’t seem like friendship. Did it?

“How did you sleep?” Gael asked.

“Well,” Orteo said. “And were you cold?”

Gael shook his head, smiling. “Not after you warmed me.”

Butterflies took flight in Orteo’s stomach. “I think I slept well because I slept with you.”

Orteo let his hand slip down around Gael’s waist, pressing against the fabric covering Gael’s lower back. Orteo watched Gael for his reaction to Orteo’s words and actions. But his expression remained open and content.

Surely this couldn’t seem like only friendship to Gael.

“I enjoyed sleeping with you too,” Gael said, eyes brimming with affection.

Holding his breath, Orteo touched Gael’s cheek, stroking it and then cupping it.

He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake.

Orteo leaned forward, eyes not leaving Gael’s. He pressed their lips together. After a moment, his eyes closed, and he moved their mouths together.