His body moved over her, discovering her in a whole new way. Her back arched, and she shifted, wanting more of him. He must have recognized that and his lips came back down on her. He shifted into position against her, and everything narrowed so closely. She groaned softly, a wave releasing through her body. Then he moved and finally, finally, they were joined.

The feeling was unfamiliar, almost painful. But then he was seated entirely and that pain passed. She released a harsh breath and opened her eyes to look up at him. A coupling during the winter festival was more than a blessing. Fordham was unequivocally more than her heart could ever encompass, and to have him here, now, was almost too much to bear. Here, they were united as one. As they always should have been.

Water lapped at them as Fordham began to move, and soon they were meeting the fluidity of the water all around them. A stroke as perfectly timed as the tide and just as inevitable. Magic lit in response to them, as if the faerie lights from the party had never truly dimmed. It had just followed them to this moment. The moonlight touched the surface of the hot springs, brightening the water and forest beyond. Right before her eyes, frost drops bloomed to life. And then, miraculously, snow began to fall as if the very elements approved.

Fordham pushed a hand up into her hair and drew their lips together. Heat sparked through her as she hit the crest of a long wave. And everything crashed down all around her. She quivered in his embrace as he grunted and came unleashed in her arms.

After a moment, they lay, sprawled on the steps of the hot springs. They breathed heavily, releasing hot puffs of air into the sky. Snow touched their lashes.

Fordham pulled her body closer. “I fear to ask…”

“Ask,” she said, kissing his chest.

“Once your engagement has ended, may I court you properly?”

She laughed, leaning on an elbow. “And how do you explain this?”

His eyes were so sincere though. He wanted to do this right.

She pressed one more kiss to his beautifully swollen lips. “Yes. Once I break everything off, you can court me.”

He grinned devilishly. “Then, I believe we should do this a few more times before we get to that point.”

She laughed in relief and fell into his arms all over again.

43

The Geivhrea

Geivhrea dawned the next morning to a bright winter wonderland. Snow blanketed the ground in thick drifts, cloaking the forest and beyond. The temperature had dropped precipitously in the middle of the night, and Kerrigan might have noticed if she’d ever made it to her bed.

“No, don’t get up,” Fordham groaned as she tried to slip out of the covers.

She laughed and snuggled in close again. “We have to return to Rosemont today for the party.”

“Maybe we could stay here instead.”