Page 72 of Stubborn as a Shadow

Then he cupped the back of my head and drew my face close to his. His mouth brushed mine.

My first kiss.

I curled my fingers in the quilt, as if by closing my hands into fists I could cling to this moment and anchor it in my mind. My eyes fluttered closed under the onslaught of sensations. Fabric rustled faintly. His soft, dry lips pressed lightly to mine. His warm palm cradled my neck. His breath mingled with mine.

With each passing moment, I felt increasingly unmoored, but then his other arm tightened around me to tether me in place against him. Bubbles of happiness fluttered through me again as a kaleidoscope of colors and sparkles danced across my eyelids. It was perfect. And magical. And every single thing I could have ever wanted from my first kiss.

And now I wanted more.

I trailed my fingers down Nelson’s body, scoping out the mounds of his muscled pecs, down to the smooth hard planes of his stomach, and… His hand encircled my wrist and prevented me from exploring any more.

I broke the kiss and asked, “Is something wrong?”

I swore my Nuzzly Nelson squirmed. “We should stop.”

“Oh, um, right.” I drew back, putting space between us. No meant no. I respected that. But I really wanted to ask why he was stopping us now.

“Morgan…” He choked out my name. “It’s not that… It’s just… We shouldn’t do anything more.”

Was I just being hopeful if I imagined a silent “yet”at the end of that?

I forced myself to meet his gaze again. He brushed his thumb along my lips as he drew in a shaky breath. My lips felt tender under his gentle touch.

“We should try to get some sleep,” he whispered. “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Why don’t you come back here?” He opened his arms. I didn’t even hesitate. I dove into his arms. When he didn’t wiggle away from me, I settled down with my head on his chest again. His arms came around me. I sighed and closed my eyes.

I’d just had my first kiss. It hadn’t ended the way I wanted, but that was okay. Because now I knew what it felt like to be kissed. And kissing was amazing. One of life’s many miracles.

And Nelson had initiated it. That had to be a good omen, a sign from the Eternal Magic that everything was sunshine and rainbows from here on out.

Whatever came next, it’d be okay.

28

BATHING AND OTHER DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES

NELSON

Although the bright blue sky was a welcome sight, I could have done without the intense sunlight. It ricocheted off the snow, spearing through me, as if eager to hunt me down even in the darkest shadows of the trees.

I also could have done without the heavy traffic flowing in front of me. I’d heard the snowplows out before dawn, like the pied pipers of waylaid travelers, but I hadn’t expected this many cars.

I should have had us up and out the door as soon as I heard that first plow. At least there would have been less traffic then. But Morgan had been wrapped around me, and I couldn’t make myself disturb him.

I’d been selfish and foolish.

How long would we have to wait for this traffic to die down? A day? Two? Could I survive another night with Morgan and not give in to the need to do more than hold him?

My fingers itched to slip over the skin of his stomach. My lips tingled with anticipation of another kiss. My cock…

I couldn’t think about my cock.

I jumped through the shadows away from the road. Once I was sure I was safe, I shifted into my human form. I needed the cold sinking into me, all the way to my bones. The threat of frostbite slapping my balls might remind me to keep focused on the goal.

My breath formed a misty plume in front of me as I tilted my face to the sunlight filtering through the pine boughs. The sunlight was almost as painful as the cold. I rolled my shoulders to ease the tightness in my muscles. It didn’t help. I doubted anything would help until Morgan was safely ensconced in Willow Lake.

Which reminded me…

I pulled out my phone. Since I hadn't used it since leaving the hotel, my battery still showed a decent charge, but there was still no service. I hadn’t really expected any, but I’d hoped things would improve after the storm passed. But maybe that would have been too easy.