Page 175 of Modern Romance December 2025 5-8

He needed air and now he could get it.

He shoved his feet into his snow-boots and tugged on his jacket as he stepped out onto the porch. Nothing but thick, untouched snow lit up in a hint of silver from the crescent moon as far as the eye could see. The trees were like glittering pillars of white. Only the very edges of their needles poked through the pillowy snow that stood out in stark contrast to the black, shimmering night sky.

Lukas took a deep breath.

And then another.

And another.

Being away from Katherine cleared his head a little. He hadn’t realised that it had happened but in the days they’d been together she had taken over his every thought. A pervasive presence. A woman he didn’t want to be around and yet he so clearly did.

‘How can you want to kiss her after all she’s done?’ he asked in the still night.

He would have loved to know the answer. Why did his body feel like it was breaking to get the smallest of touches? He hated her.Hatedher.

It wasn’t always that way.

No, it wasn’t. The image of the first time he saw her lived in his head. The way she’d taken his breath away. There has always been something between them. Something electric. Something chemical. Something highly reactive to even the smallest stimulus. He couldn’t deny that.

Lukas looked back at the closed door of the cabin. Part of him wanted to go back in there. Sit beside her pretending it was nothing, but inside he knew what it would be: an adrenaline junkie seeking out the thrill.

He turned away to lean against one of the large posts and as he looked up, he saw the night sky shift. Light slowly dancing across the heavens. Muted and nearly white but the longer he stared at it the brighter it became. Brush strokes of pink and green dancing overhead between Lukas and the stars. It was breathtaking.

And he wanted Katherine to witness it with him.

He ran inside and knelt beside the couch.

‘Katherine.’ He fought and lost the urge to run the backs of his fingers down her cheek.

She mumbled sleepily making him smile. She was rather adorable like this.

‘I think you’ll want to see this.’

‘What is it?’ she slurred.

‘The aurora.’

Her eyes flew open. ‘What?’

He laughed at her reaction and fetched her snow-boots, slipping them onto her feet and then bundling her tighter in the blankets. ‘Come on.’

He led her outside and held her back to his body, making sure her blanket didn’t slip, keeping her warm. ‘Look up.’

The lights were flaring beautifully now. Streaks of colour feathering to the heavens while jagged lines swirled and snaked against the black canvas of the sky.

‘Wow,’ Katherine breathed. ‘Thank you for getting me. It’s stunning.’

And then he looked at her. Saw the wonder in her blue eyes. The soft smile on her lips. She turned and caught him staring. Her smile growing full and contagious, stealing his breath.

‘You’re not looking at the sky.’

‘I can’t.’ Pure honesty fell from his lips before he could think about what he was saying. But he couldn’t take it back. Katherine was smart. She knew exactly what he meant. And he was sure his heart ceased functioning altogether when she turned in his arms. The smile dropping off her face as she searched his. Her eyes touching every inch of his skin before trapping his gaze. Something was sparking between them, and they were tinder catching alight. They couldn’t fight it any longer. Not when they were moving closer, when their breaths mingled, when their lips touched and every explosive interaction, all that fire and electricity had somewhere to go.

Katherine gasped and Lukas wasn’t sure if the sound he made was a moan, an anguished wail, a curse or prayer. Maybe it was all those things. His arms banded around her just as her hands peeked out of her blanket to fist the front of his jacket. And he kissed her. Slowly but desperately. Hungrily but savouring. Her taste consuming. Her tongue against his setting off a series of explosions in his body. Making him hard. Needy. Ravenous. And when she angled her head, he brought his hand up to the nape of her neck, holding her in place while he kissed her deeply. Losing control. Licking the roof of her mouth. His tongue dancing with hers. His teeth catching her bottom lip, and he ripped himself away.

He took two steps back and turned away from her. Adrenaline flooded his body. This was how he felt when he threw himself out of a plane, or went skiing off piste, or when he caught his car from spinning at three hundred kilometres an hour.

He was alive.