Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(26)

Morgan’s heart nearly stopped at the question then jolted into action again, soaring as fast as her fire magick in response. She found herself speechless.

“Just one. Just to see what might’ve been,” Beck said. “Then I promise, I’ll leave you alone for good.”

“Is this the only way to get rid of you?” she asked finally.

He laughed out loud.

“’Cuz that’s the only reason I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” he said, eyes twinkling. “It’s the only way to get rid of me for good.”

“Alright. If I must.”

Beck’s smile was wide. He cupped one cheek with his other hand and leaned forward, unburdened by the terror that was streaking through her. His earth magick flowed into her, warm and calming. She’d never kissed anyone since The Incident. She didn’t know what to expect or even if she wanted to know.

He rested his forehead against hers, his thumb lightly brushing the skin of her jaw. Her breathing was uneven, and she gripped his other hand tightly, overwhelmed by the sensations of her excited emotions and fluttering thoughts. As if sensing her near-distress, more earth magick floated through her, soothing the fire.

Beck pulled back far enough that she could see the warmth in his eyes. The side of him that scared her at the wharf – where they were confronted by the Dark girl – was gone, replaced by the boy she knew him to be.

“Trust me,” he whispered. “Just this once. Okay?”

She nodded and wet her lips. His face grew closer, and she closed her eyes in anticipation. Uncertain what to expect, she was surprised by how warm and soft his lips were against hers. His kiss was light, and warm electricity pulsed through her, a mixing of her fire and his earth. Desire lit within her, and her magick rallied with it, intrigued by the new kind of burning in her blood.

She liked his kiss and the way it made her body come alive.

Beck started to lean away, but she moved with him, fascinated by the combination of his soft kiss and the effect he had on her. He released her hand and took her face with both of his hands, kissing her more firmly. His lips worked hers gently, and her mouth opened in response to a flicker of his tongue.

If feeling him started her fire, tasting him made it roar with hunger strong enough to scare her. Morgan pulled back, startled by the intensity of her body’s response.

“Sorry. Too fast,” he whispered.

They gazed at each other, faces inches a part. She wanted to tell him that he’d done nothing wrong. She was afraid of herself, not him. The hands on her cheeks fell away, taking his warmth with them.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but I just …” Beck drifted off, eyes on her lips.

Morgan found herself craving another kiss, to the point that she touched his face tentatively the same way he touched hers. The intimacy of the moment was unlike anything she ever experienced. Already, she missed his touch. For those few, precious seconds, she hadn’t been alone. Not only that, but her fire liked him, more than it should.

She closed her eyes and leaned forward, kissing him with no small amount of apprehension. Beck responded just as gently, his restraint evident. The roar began again, and she pulled away reluctantly, resting her temple against his cheek. He took her hands in his and squeezed them.

“Still walking away, right?” His voice was husky, low. It sent shivers through her.

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“Then you better go before one of us changes their mind.”

She started to laugh then realized what he was saying. If she didn’t leave, he wasn’t about to. Things could go much further than she wanted, faster than she was ready.

With effort, Morgan lifted her head and pulled her hands free. The loss of his heated touch made her ache to feel it again. Unable to look at him, she gathered her scarf and her purse with fumbling hands and got out of the car.

The cold night was a blessing. Without Beck’s earth magick to calm her fire, her body felt like it was fevered. She breathed deep, shaky breaths and climbed the stairs to the main house. At the door, she paused and turned. She didn’t expect to see Beck watching her, standing outside the vehicle with his chin on his folded arms on top of the car.

She waved. He smiled in return. Morgan turned away again and went inside. Part of her wanted to look out the window to see if he was still there, but she didn’t, not wanting to seem like a complete fool after one little kiss.

Or two incredible ones.





Chapter Eight


The voice came again.

I can help you, it said.

Dawn fell silent mid-sentence, trying to figure out what – or who – was talking to her. It wasn’t air magick. At least, it didn’t feel like air magick, which sometimes whispered random things to her. Her element normally didn’t speak in complete sentences, if it spoke at all.

“What’s wrong, sis?” her brother asked.

Dawn’s gaze went from the dark night visible through the car window to her brother. They’d had cocoa after her horrible interaction with Beck and now, Noah was driving them to the Dark campus, her new home for the past month.

“Why’d you come back?” she asked.

“Mum didn’t give me much of a choice,” he replied.

“Like helping out your sister is such an awful thing,” she snapped. “What is wrong with everyone?”