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At that, her expression turned neutral, portraying the image of a sister who didn’t have any particular disapproval of her family. Her voice was light when she answered.
“It’s boring. Kind of messy, too. Not my type of fun.”
She made it sound playful, but he knew better. Nate didn’t push it, understanding Nicola could insult Nicholas’s friends all she wanted but was no match for Nicholas’s wrath raining down on her if she also crossed him openly. That meant her being careful around Nate, too. Sadness encumbered him, wishing he could tell her where he stood, but the success of his discovery depended on people who didn’t have any connection to Nicholas—and as much as Nicola denied it, she had a connection and loved their older brother.
“I see. So, your type of fun is gallivanting around the Otherworld?”
Nicola beamed, nodding enthusiastically. Then she glanced elsewhere and sent a light tap on his shoulder.
“Hmm. And yours is headed towards us.”
His head snapped up, gaze locking in on the figure gliding across the floor. His heart stopped at the short silver dress she had on, clinging to long, smooth legs that shimmered with whatever she put on. A soft ivory coat hung below her shoulders and trailed to the back, emphasizing the lack of footwear.
Desire flooded his system, starker than anything he had ever felt. The longing grew tenfold, indicating how much he had missed her. But he schooled it all in into a pleasant expression.
“Close that mouth, brother, or else everyone will think you are head over heels,” Nicola teased, not the least bit fooled. Still, she grinned at Winter in approval. “Winter in winter clothes during a winter festival. It’s perfect.”
Winter grinned back, albeit shyly, and he wanted to kiss every inch of her blush away. “Thanks. But trust me when I say humans don’t wear skimpy stuff like this during winter. We will freeze our asses off.”
Nicola laughed, delighted by the honesty. The two got into animated conversation, allowing him to continue admiring her discreetly before ice-blue eyes finally met his.
“Hi,” she said, voice softening. The sound had his gaze straying to plush red lips before he returned to her eyes.
“Hello.”
“And that’s my cue,” Nicola teased, but kissed her brother’s cheek and squeezed Winter’s hand before she walked away.
The two watched her go, standing side by side…fingers brushing against each other. They still needed the perfunctory cheek kiss, a few intimate touching here and there, and to mingle. The thought of touching her sent fire to his senses and made him itch.
“Mingle?”
Winter smiled. “Sure.”
She initiated the kiss on the cheek and sent his jaw clenching. She noticed it, fascinated, and drew his mouth to hers, kissing him gently. But gentleness couldn’t last long as the action only tugged his desire out, and he angled his head to kiss her harder and deeper. Her breath hitched and her body lurched, taken aback, but she clung on to him and responded with a fervor that sent his blood roaring.
When they parted, the crowd was as they were, used to seeing them being intimate. But the intimacy was different, no longer practiced and no longer leashed. Before he could make a spectacle, he broke the connection and breathed hard against her, aware that he was hard and raging inside his trousers.
“We need to get out of here,” he said.
“You said we needed to mingle,” she whispered against his mouth, breathing just as erratic.
“My siblings are here. The royal family is covered.”
“Oh…”
“Even if we aren’t, I can’t possibly last a minute not touching you, Winter.”
“Oh,” she murmured, eyes widening at whatever she glimpsed in his features. Perhaps lust. Perhaps everything else. Still, she tried to clear her throat, sounding shaky. “You lasted a week.”
“A stupid, miserable week.”
Winter swallowed, the longing clear on her face. But she glanced around, too, until her shoulders straightened and determination fought with desire. “No.”
“No?”
“We mingle a bit.” She kissed his cheek, mouth close to his ear. “I read them. We leave if we find nothing bad. I don’t want to ruin what we came here for.”
Disappointment curled, but so did understanding as he knew she was right. It took everything in him to shove the desire down, tucking it in as he grasped for composure. When he nodded and they parted, the first party guest was already on them, greeting them enthusiastically.
