Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Once it has passed and I have brushed my teeth, I begin thinking of what I am going to do. I have to get away from here from him. I rush out of the room and into the bedroom, shoving things into my suitcase. I grab everything I determine to be vital and walk into the kitchen.
I put non-perishable things in my purse. I turn to check and see the books he had brought me. A profound sadness washes over me when I think of leaving those behind. I start shuffling them, trying to decide which ones to bring, and something hits the ground.
I pick up the book, and a page falls open. Apparently, he brought a copy of the history of Wintergreen. The page that is opened mentions a woman, an apothecary, as we call them now. Some call them witches, others psychics. According to this, she lives on the outskirts of this country, hours from here, hidden in the woods, in solitude. Only those she chooses to reveal herself to are welcome at her cottage, except the King and Queen, of course.
“Yes. That is who I need to go see.” With my mind made up, I continue to shove what I have in the living room in my suitcase. Remembering I left the bracelet Little Rose gave me on the bedroom side table, I walk toward the room, and the front door opens.
“Elise, what’s going on? Why are you packing?” Of course, I couldn’t leave without one more heart-piercing.
CHAPTER
FOUR
FROST
“Elise, what’s going on? Why are you packing?” I am unable to keep the panic from my voice as I watch as she shoves her shit into her bag. My blood pressure rises as I imagine my life without her. I need to stop her from leaving. It should be insane that I want and need her so much when I’ve just met her, but somehow it’s not. At least to me.
“I’m leaving.” Her matter-of-fact tone of voice gives me pause.
“Where are you going?” I demand, frantic.
“Anywhere but here,” she says.
“But why? I don’t understand. Earlier…”
“Where does your fiancée think you are, Frost?” Her anger is palpable. She’s not looking me in the eyes, and I desperately want her to. I could look into those icy blue eyes all day.
“I don’t have a fiancée, Elise.” I don’t know what I have to do to convince her, but I’ll do it. Even I’ll admit that the press was damning, but it’s not true even if my parents have announced it to the world. I’ve barely spoken two words to the woman, and I’ve never been alone with her before. It hardly counts.
“Don’t make this any worse by lying. I saw it online.”
“And you believe everything you read online? Every shred of gossip about you is true just because it’s online?”
“No, of course not, but…”
“But nothing. I’m not engaged. Not yet, anyway.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she demands. I want to tell her that I have every intention of marrying as soon as humanly possible.
“Nothing but…” I begin, but she cuts me off.
“But what? We barely know each other. We don’t owe each other anything. I’ve got to go. Now.”
She continues into the bedroom before coming back out to finish shoving stuff into her bag. She moves past me, toward the door. Without thinking, I grab her arm and pull her toward me. The flash of that scorches my hand. My eyes move from where my hand is wrapped around her arm up to her eyes. There is a fire blazing behind them.
I pull her into my arms, and before I can think about it, I kiss her. Not the slight brushing of lips from earlier, but a soul searing kiss. My first, and for some reason I know it’s her first kiss too. We gasp at the same time, and I take the opportunity to slide my tongue against hers. Softly at first, but when she moans, I pull her even closer to me, my hands reaching for her slight waist. The temperature in the room rises to a tropical level, but I ignore it. I am lost in her, literally losing track of time.
I lose track of everything in this moment. Everything but us.
Nothing else will ever matter.
Nothing.
CHAPTER
FIVE
ELISE
Holy smokes. Why did no one tell me that kissing sets your soul on fire? Or maybe it is just me? His hold on me is hard, firm, possessive even. He holds me to his body with his mouth taking over mine. His tongue slides against mine, both wet and hot. I have never allowed myself to be kissed before due to my... situation, but I can't imagine anything is better than this.
My hands slide through his hair, anchoring myself to him. Hell, I am damn near climbing him at this point. “I knew you would be sweet and spicy like a cinnamon fireball,” he groans against my lips. I try to find the words to answer him back, but I am transfixed, beleaguered, and dazed by the glow of light forming around us. It's not brilliant, mind you, but it is building in his beauty, like a fall snow globe.