Page 23

We lay like that for a while in silence, both staring at the ceiling. This whole situation, the stress I felt at his possible rejection, made my body almost dwindle inside, diminishing the rising heat wave. I knew stress could shorten heat significantly, but could it delay it? I wasn’t sure. I was just grateful for those minutes free of the intense pressure of blood filling my lower abdomen tightly.

For some reason, I felt strangely heavy, worn out, like I’d just fought a mental battle. But I needed something, though I wasn’t sure if he would allow it. Slowly, I shifted a bit closer to Winter, then… even closer, pressing my head against his shoulder, almost shyly.

Immediately, I could sense his stiffness, so I stayed still for a while, letting him adjust to it, and after a moment, his energy seemed to ease. Then I grew bolder and pushed my head even closer. Finally, just to test it, I rested it on his shoulder.

And then, a small miracle. Winter’s arm slid under my back and… he embraced me!

Now, I was lying snuggled up to him, wrapped in the warmth emanating from his body. Only then, feeling somewhat calmer, I closed my eyes and let myself drift off.

***

I woke up completely disoriented. My head was still on his shoulder.

Winter was lying on his back, face turned up, eyes closed. But the moment I blinked into awareness, he stirred too.

It was much darker outside. We must’ve slept at least an hour. My leg throbbed again, the painkiller had worn off. On top of that, there was no mistaking it now: my heat was intensifying again. My body felt that particular kind of raw, oversensitive way, where every little touch made me shiver.

"We drifted off for a bit," I muttered, and he glanced at me. In this position, our faces were very close.

"Yeah, not great. I should be outside this whole time, on the lookout for drones…"

"It’s getting dark, Winter. And my heat’s starting."

His gaze dropped to my lips, like he was bracing for what was coming next. So I looked at his lips too.

His face seemed different somehow, maybe because he was still a bit drowsy: softer, gentler, more open. Like that nap had loosened something in him. Or maybe… it was surrender? Whatever it was, I welcomed it. In the state I was in, with heat slowly rising through my veins, I really needed the shift in atmosphere.

There was also something I’d been wanting to tell him for a long time, something I kept trying to piece together in my head, but the words never seemed right. Maybe now… I was finally ready?

Still staring at his lips, I whispered, "You don’t even know how often I’ve thought about kissing you, Winter. You have these lips… that practically beg for it. They don’t seem to match your cold exterior. What do they hide? A gate to another Winter? A version of you I haven’t met yet?"

Winter stared at me, listening to my words attentively, as if I were giving a one-man performance.

"Throughout these months, I often wondered what it would be like to make love to you, what expression you’d have on your face. Would you make sounds, or are you the silent type?"

Winter seemed almost hypnotized by my words. He kept looking at me, not interrupting, his breathing and heartbeat noticeably quicker.

"And your skin, Winter. It reminds me of snowy satin. I wondered if it would taste like sweet ice cream if I ran my lips over it. And again, what expression would you have then? Would you give in to it?"

This trance just kept going, and he kept listening, eyes wide.

"What would you feel if I kissed your neck gland? Would you tremble? Would you moan? Believe me, I’ve thought about all these little intimate details of your body… so many times."

"I guess you’ll find out very soon," he suddenly muttered, almost breathlessly.

"My body… it’s gearing up now, Winter. It’s coming. But if you changed your mind, I will try to push through it…"

Winter’s hand landed on my mouth, pressing it, silencing me. I opened it a bit and my tongue touched his skin, making a small shiver run over his perfect lips.

"Stop, just stop talking, Sariel. I accepted it already. Even if it’s not an ideal scenario, I intend to enjoy it. So just leave the ‘I’ll manage’ part. It’s not needed. We’re good to go."

For a second, he looked like he was going to kiss me, but I made him stop, by blurting out, "There’s just one problem."

His eyes snapped up. "Only one?"

I smirked. "Okay, I lied. There are way more than one."

He let out a sharp breath and rolled his eyes.

"But there’s one urgent problem…" I went on. "I never wanted my first time to happen without a shower. Hygiene’s important. You think I can get into the stream with my bad leg?"

Winter burst into a short laugh, as if relieved by the sudden change of subject.

"Very… practical thinking. And I fully support it. Your leg is splinted with sticks and cable, not a cast, so I don’t think getting in the water will be a problem."

My expression immediately soured. "Come to think of it… My leg. You think it’s going to get in the way of—?"

Winter pulled a thoughtful face. "Depends on what position you want to go with."

We stared at each other. "I think I want to start with something classic," I muttered, feeling silly.

Winter scratched lightly at his chin, his cheeks slightly flushed. "You… on the bottom?"

I couldn’t hold back a quiet, self-conscious chuckle.

"Yeah, exactly as I drew it."

"Your drawings were… interesting." He made a meaningful smirk.

"Wish I could explore more… of my other fantasies, but—"

"The leg can get in the way."

"Yup. I’ve heard heat hormones have pain-relieving properties, but we still should figure out a position that spares my leg. Got one in mind that won’t wreck me?"

"Rider."

The conversation was embarrassing, but at the same time… exciting. The change in mood was so very welcome. From rather unpleasant to a bit technical, then to more playful?

I tilted my head slightly, almost slyly.

"So… are you volunteering to take a ride on my… uh… horse?"

Winter was struggling to hold back laughter, just like me. "Heat lasts a bit. You never know what mood we’ll be in."

For a moment, he seemed to be debating whether to say something. Then, suddenly, he added, "You know… I’m not overly experienced in this. I only bottomed for Finn before, and that wasn’t on a regular basis. In all the other relationships, it never happened."

For some reason, it didn’t surprise me, I wanted to know his explanation. "Can I ask why?"

Winter scratched his chin, his gaze drifting toward the cave’s entrance, where the sun was hiding behind the horizon.

His free left hand lifted, and he absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair, which was tied back in a loose ponytail, though a few strands had come loose. It made him look far less stiff, polished, and formal than usual. Now he seemed more human, almost approachable.

"The people I was with just kind of… assumed I was a top. Finn was more of a top than a bottom. And we always clashed over that."

"So what do you prefer?"

Winter sighed. "It’s not about ‘preferring’. Both roles can be enjoyable. I think it’s about energy… about what feels right in a particular relationship. It just sort of happens naturally."

"I’d like to be inside you," I said, letting out my natural honesty.

I saw something flicker across Winter’s face, like a small twitch.

"Wow, you’re quite direct. But I like it, you…" he hesitated, "seem more real, more alive, with this openness."

I had no idea how to interpret it—a proxy confession that he liked me too? Maybe I shouldn’t get so ahead of myself. But there was something that needed to be cleared up.

"So… you’re saying no?"

"I’m not saying no," he murmured, not looking at me, his gaze fixed on the fast-moving stream.

A wave of heat rolled through me. Having him beneath me? Making him submit? Almost as tempting as submitting to him. I didn’t know what was more enticing. One thing was certain, I wanted to see his face when he came, lost in pleasure, dropping his guarded demeanor, position not important.

Along with this vision, I could feel the heat building inside me, like a tsunami gaining momentum.

"Alright… I think we really should try to bathe. But first, maybe we should eat something? I’m getting kinda hungry. Heat’s gonna drain a lot of energy."

Winter nodded.

We grabbed the last two fruit bars and opened a can, splitting its contents in half. Luckily, the nuts were relatively filling.

Once we finished eating, in complete silence, I handed him half a piece of chewing gum I’d found in the toiletry bag of that older omega. I had one more in my bag, along with a box of mints. He took it with a small nod, and I could tell he appreciated the gesture.

Just to be sure, I also took another painkiller.

"So… should we get undressed? The big reveal, huh? You’ll probably have to help me get my pants off."

I gestured toward my injured leg. Winter scratched his chin.

"I’ll have to untie the splint first. There’s no way I can get your pants off with these sticks in the way."

"Um. That’s probably… not a great idea, removing the support?"

He hesitated for a moment.

"Definitely not. But what choice do we have? Cutting pants is out of the question. I’m still hoping your leg isn’t broken, just sprained, so maybe we’ll manage."

"So now I’ll need help every time I undress?" I stared at my foot.

"I don’t think you’ll need pants for the next two days."

I smacked my forehead theatrically. "Ah, right, heat! I’ll be naked the whole time!"

This time, Winter couldn’t hold back, he let out something between a snort and a laugh. I really appreciated the new mood that emerged between us, helping me forget about our harsh reality.

Winter got to work untying the sticks while I unzipped my pants. My leg hurt like hell when he moved it slightly, but I didn’t say anything, only clenched my jaw.

But when he took off my shoe, I couldn’t help the groan that escaped. My foot was swollen, and when he pulled off the sock, it got worse. Just above the heel, but below the ankle, was a dark bruise spreading beneath the skin.

"Subdermal bleeding…" he muttered, then looked me in the eyes. "This isn’t just a sprain. You must have torn a ligament."

Gritting my teeth was all I could do to keep from screaming.

"Your leg needs to be properly stabilized. These sticks are barely holding up. I’m not a medic, but I can bet that with an injury like this, there shouldn't be any movement in the area if you want the tear to heal."

"Well, I’ll just have to deal with it," I ground out, fighting through the pain.

I slowly pushed my pants down over my hips, and Winter helped me slide them past my injured foot.

Now left in just my boxers, I glanced at Winter, then gradually pulled them down. His gaze, completely unbothered, not a hint of embarrassment, landed on my crotch.

"Yes, yes. They’re mint green," I quipped. "Let me guess, yours are white?"

Winter looked at me like I’d just stated the obvious.

"What other color would my pubes be? It would be weird if they were anything but white."

I grinned. "I hope you’re not just staring at my pubes, though. There are other… body parts nearby begging for a bit of attention."

Despite my aching foot, somehow my dick was already semi-hard, hanging heavily against my left thigh.

Winter’s eyes swept over it. "It’ll have all the attention it needs soon enough."

Still grinning, I peeled off my jacket, then unbuttoned and shrugged out of my shirt, pulling my undershirt over my head last.

Winter watched me closely.

"You did ballet, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, four years."

"Well, your body shows it," Winter muttered. "You’re so… flexible. Lean."

I was completely naked now, sitting on the mattress. His gaze could roam freely over every inch of my exposed skin.

There was something thrilling about it, being fully bared like this in front of someone, it was new for me.

Winter's eyes slid over my hips and thighs.

"Can you do the full split?"

"Sure I can. Both ways."

He didn’t comment on it, but I could sense his growing curiosity.

"Your turn, Winter. Let’s see… those icy landscapes for a change."

Interestingly, Winter didn’t seem even slightly self-conscious about getting undressed. Well, he’d done it before in front of other men, so he’d already broken through that initial awkwardness.

Calmly, he slipped off his jacket, then his shirt, then his undershirt, folding them into a neat pile on his mattress.

I let out a low whistle.

Winter was a lot more built than I expected; broad, sculpted shoulders, a defined chest, and arms that looked like they spent quality time with heavy weights.

"Damn, you must live at the gym."

Next to him, I felt like a scrawny twig. I wasn’t weak, not by any means, my muscles were long and sinewy, but Winter had me beat in sheer mass.

One thing we had in common, though, was that neither of us carried an ounce of fat. His abs were shredded, an impossibly defined eight-pack.

Then, with the same casual ease, he pulled off his pants and boxers.

Just as I’d suspected, his pubes were perfectly white. But there was one noticeable difference between us. I was au naturel, but he had them neatly trimmed, kind of elegant, actually. And his dick…

To my surprise, he was semi-hard too.

I estimated it as being around eight and a half inches, so an inch shorter than mine, but it had the same thickness.

Something else caught my attention.

I’d expected his nipples to be a similar color to his deep pink lips, but they weren’t. They were just slightly darker than the rest of his skin, a pearly, almost-white shade of pink. It fascinated me, and I caught myself staring.

But given how overwhelmed I felt in that moment, I spared him my commentary.

Winter observed my reaction to his body with absolute calm, then he said, "We should use one of the blankets as a towel. After we’re done bathing, I’ll hang it outside to dry. Though with this island humidity, it’ll probably take at least two days."

Then he turned and walked toward the widest part of the stream, where the water formed a small pool.

From behind, he looked just as good as he did from the front, that’s for sure. Toned, muscular ass. A trim waist. Wide, strong shoulders.

My blood pulsed hotter in my veins. The urge to explore those unblemished expanses of his body was growing.

Winter tested the water with his foot.

"It’s pretty hot, but bearable."

Then he came back to me, reaching out his hand to help me stand on my good leg.

As I rose, suddenly we were very close. Both of us completely naked. His hand settled on my lower back, most likely to steady me, but my thoughts were going in a different direction.

I felt his fingers drift up, tracing the ridge of my spine, moving in a soft, teasing way.

Up close, his eyes looked different. Even in the dim light, I could see the details of his irises, like tiny silver ice crystals.

He was looking at my lips.

Our breaths mingled. Our skin touched, warm and tight against each other.

"You’re so… lithe, so sexy," he whispered suddenly, still watching my mouth.

Instead of heading toward the water, I just stood there, staring back at him.

I’d never been this close to his face before. I dropped my gaze, taking in his lips, soft, full, beautifully shaped. That deep, wine-colored pink was hypnotizing. Like ripe grapes, begging to be bitten into.

They were slightly parted now. Winter was breathing a little faster.

At the same moment, we lifted our eyes and locked gazes.

"You know," I murmured, breathless, my exhale brushing against his lips, "the first day I walked into your office, I noticed your lips. I imagined leaning in and kissing you. It was kind of masochistic because I knew you’d throw me out on my ass."

Winter didn’t say a word.

I kept my eyes on his lips. So damn tempting…

Slowly, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. His skin was warm. Silky smooth. Nothing cold about it at all. It reminded me of satin.

Winter’s crystalline silver eyes stayed on me the whole time, completely still, as if he was waiting. I knew this was going to be the moment of our first kiss.

I leaned in very slowly, closing the distance to less than an inch. I could hear his heartbeat speeding up even more.

His breath smelled like mint gum.

"I wonder if they’re soft?" I murmured, keeping that last inch of space between us.

Winter’s eyelashes trembled slightly. With the tip of his tongue, he wet his lower lip.

He was teasing me, I could feel it.

So finally, I didn’t want to wait anymore. In an agonizingly slow motion, I brushed my lips against his. A divine, shivery pleasure coursed through me as I gently captured his plush lower lip, brushing it with my tongue, caressing it softly, then nibbling, eventually sucking on it.

Savoring the moment, I took my time, languorously drawing it out. His lips were just as incredibly soft as I’d suspected—insanely good to kiss, like velvet against mine.

I wanted to keep tasting them forever. I opened my mouth wider, taking in both of his lips, deepening the kiss, pressing my mouth firmly against his. Only then did I slide my tongue between them.

Winter let out a quiet little sigh.

His hands lifted and came to rest on my back. We started really kissing, the intensity and sensuality of it building with every second. Our tongues twisted together, and soon, I felt it—pressure growing against the lower part of my groin. My own hardness responded, pressing back on his abdomen. Another shiver of pleasure ran through my entire body… and only then did I break the kiss.

Winter slowly opened his eyes, his pupils almost eclipsing his irises, and I couldn't help but say,

"Wow… Best first kiss ever. And yeah, now I know. They are indeed very soft."

A subtle smirk appeared on those very lips, but he didn’t say anything.

I gazed deep into his eyes, noticing a slight shift, they seemed softer, and his cheeks had taken on a faint flush.

"I’ll definitely be indulging again later," I said, "but maybe we should get into the water first."

Winter’s expression was hard to read. He made a small shaking move of his head as if to snap himself out of something, then turned toward the water, studying it for a moment. He took my hand, supporting me from the left side.

We both carefully eased ourselves into the stream, it was surprisingly warm, maybe even a little hotter than I would’ve preferred, but unexpectedly, it helped. Submerged in it, I felt the pain in my leg ease up.

We sat down almost side by side. It turned out the water was just the right depth so that only our heads and the tops of our shoulders stayed above the surface. The bottom was a mix of gravel and stones, pressing into sensitive areas, but it was bearable.

"Well, with water like this, at least we won’t freeze. Plus, hygiene just got easier," I muttered.

"The real question is whether we’ll overheat instead."

Our carry-ons were close to the stream. Winter leaned over slightly and grabbed the late omega’s toiletry kit.

"I don’t feel comfortable digging through someone’s personal things," he muttered, "but I think he must’ve swiped this soap from a hotel. Not like he’s going to need it anymore, unfortunately." His voice held a faint bitterness.

He held up an individually wrapped bar of soap, definitely hotel-grade. It wasn’t big, but with careful use, it could last a while.

"We should probably stick to cleaning the essentials. The rest of us’ll get a pretty thorough soak in this boiling water anyway." I sighed.

"Agreed," Winter said with a slight smirk. "At this temperature, our skin’s gonna get pruney fast. We could even scrub off dead skin with some sand, it’s a great exfoliant. I’ll grab some from the beach tomorrow, since it’s mostly gravel here."

"I don’t see any dead skin on you. Your skin’s like silk," I murmured, giving him a meaningful look. "Makes me want to… keep touching it."

Winter had that subtle smirk on his lips again. "You know, my skin is pretty sensitive, almost like that of a redhead."

For a moment, I stared at him, mouth slightly open. His words sounded incredibly sensual, enticing… My pulse spiked instantly, and my breath caught in my chest. I just knew, the first wave was approaching. Fast.

"It’s coming, Winter, I can already feel the clenching. Down there." I shot him a pointed look, as if he weren’t perfectly aware of what I was hinting at.

Winter exhaled a small puff of air. "The problem is that the omega didn’t have any lube packets in his toiletry bag."

I smiled faintly. "That won’t be necessary for me. I produce slick. But… I do have a few packets in my bag."

"Oh… Why?"

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, do you really have to ask? As the saying goes, ‘Better safe than sorry.’" I chuckled with a bit of mischief.

"Besides… there’s always cum," I added in a lower voice.

Winter, whose cheeks were already flushed, probably from the hot water, but maybe not just that, murmured, "I see you think of everything."

"Not really. I mostly just make it up as I go. Planning’s more your thing, isn’t it?"

Under the surface of the water, I slowly reached out and placed my hand on his thigh. I saw the small, almost imperceptible shudder that ran through him.

"But I would love to go back to the… sensitive skin topic, and explore it a bit more in depth, if I may."

"What is there to explore?" Winter tilted his head, looking like he was barely holding back a chuckle.

"Oh, a lot… I really like your skin," I murmured.

"You’re fascinated by white skin?" He raised an eyebrow at me, perfectly mixing a playful and disapproving expression.

I scoffed. "It’s not about the color at all. You could be green or blue! It’s the whole package, everything about you fits together. You look like a prince of the ice elves. As an artist, I appreciate a cohesive aesthetic."

Winter rubbed his chin.

"Most people don’t see it as a ‘cohesive aesthetic’. What they see is pale skin. They usually assume I’m albino."

"Well, I’m different. I like looking at you. A lot."

Winter’s silver eyes drifted across my face.

"Interesting… You know, I was thinking the same thing about you."

"Thinking what, exactly?"

"A bunch of things I’m not going to disclose," he muttered with a subtle smirk.

Then he turned his head toward the cave entrance. There was less and less daylight; the inside of the cave was gradually being filled with shadows.

But there was another pressing issue, one that was becoming harder to ignore—like my ongoing erection and more frequent contractions in my hole.

One was especially intense and made me gasp a bit.