The following morning, Vivyka’s body ached, and her face felt frozen. She hated camping and she hated cold. But this morning she felt something that meant a lot more then those minor annoyances, she felt Korin’s arms wrapped around her. For the first time in her life, she was waking up in a man’s arms, a man who loved her too. She turned around and faced him.
He adjusted accordingly and smiled as he continued to hold her. “Good morning.”
“How long have you been awake?” she wondered.
“Awhile,” he said simply.
She glanced around and noticed that everyone else was already up. They had all crammed into one tent for the extra warmth their body heat would give them. “Why didn’t you get up with the others?”
“I wanted to stay with you.”
“Hmm, maybe that’s because it’s all warm and snugly in here.”
He chuckled. “I am from here. The cold does not bother me as it does you.”
She grinned impishly and nuzzled his neck, putting her cold face against his warm skin. He jolted a little and she laughed.
“That does not count,” he told her.
She leaned back to look at him and smiled. “Uh huh.”
He kissed her cold nose, then started placing little kisses all over her face, finally ending with her lips. She molded her body more against his as she kissed him back.
“Don’t start, Viv,” Matt told her from somewhere outside the tent. “We need to get going.”
She broke the kiss and turned her head just enough to call back to him, “I hate you.”
“Not as much as I hate the cold,” he grumbled. “Now get your ass out here.”
She thought it was funny how years could pass and yet she was still so well trained. She rolled her eyes at herself and ignored the automatic urge to obey him.
Korin’s gaze was thoughtful for a moment, then he placed gentle kiss on her cheek. “What do you wish to do?” he asked softly.
She looked into his dark, adoring eyes and smiled. “Stay in your arms all day.”
He returned her smile as he caressed the side of her face with his fingertips. “Nothing would make me happier than to never let you go.” When she looked down he asked, “Do you not believe me?”
“It’s hard to believe,” she mumbled.
“Why?”
“Because it’s just me and…” She gave a small shrug. “Why would you wanna stay?”
He moved his hand, caressing her tenderly, down the side of her face and throat. “My heart is here,” he said as he his hand stopped on her chest, covering her heart. “To be with you, is to be whole.”
Her heart swelled and ached. “You’re so beautiful.” She pulled him close and kissed him tenderly. His hand moved to her back, holding her to him.
“Let’s go,” Matt gripped.
“Matt,” Sera said, her tone telling him to stop.
He gave a low growl in return, and Tess laugh at his grumpiness. “Shut up,” he told her, to which she laughed again.
Vivyka reluctantly pulled back a little and looked at Korin. “Suppose we should get going.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “When this is over, we can lock ourselves in away, and stay in bed for days,” he told her with a grin.
“What about food?” she asked.
“I will bring you food in bed, then love you some more.”
She sighed happily and grinned. “Promise?”
“Yes,” he said and sealed his promise with a deep, fervent kiss.
After a few more minutes, they finally forced themselves to get up. When she stepped out of the tent, Sera met her gaze and smiled at her, then got out of Matt’s arms and went to her friend. “I’m so happy for you,” she said softly as she linked an arm through hers and they walked a couple yards away from the others.
Vivyka glanced at Korin as he spoke to Ayden about breakfast. “I feel stupid,” she whispered.
Sera laughed quietly. “You feel giddy,” she told her. “It’s normal. Like when you’re a kid and you wait for your birthday, then it finally comes and you get to open your presents at last.”
Vivyka looked back at her and smiled. “Yes,” she admitted, then sighed. “It’s just…”
“Scary,” Sera supplied.
“Yes. He’s just so different, everything with him is. I can’t read him, I don’t understand his type. It makes me feel… kind of like I did with Matt, but… different,” she grumbled, wishing she could explain it better.
“You feel vulnerable,” Sera helped.
Vivyka nodded. “Yeah. With Matt I felt that way because I was scared of upsetting him.” She shook her head. “Why would I feel that way about Korin? He’s the complete opposite of Matt. I can’t see Korin hurting anyone, unless he had to, and even then it’s difficult to imagine.”
Sera nodded understandingly. “He’s the first man to love you. And love scares us, because when we have it, where afraid we could lose it. It’s not your body you’re scared he’ll hurt, it’s your heart.” She smiled and hugged Vivyka. “Just have faith. It’ll work out.”
“You didn’t say I love him,” Vivyka pointed out.
“That’s for you to work out,” Sera told her. “But know that every love is different, they don’t all feel the same.” She stepped back and grinned up at her. “For now, just enjoy these feelings, they’re good feelings.”
Vivyka looked down, letting her hair fall into her face a little. “It’s all so fast though.”
“I knew I loved Matt the second I saw him,” Sera told her. “Love doesn’t wait. It’s a selfish thing with a will of its own.”
“Sure you’re not talking about Matt?” Vivyka asked, laughing.
Sera giggled. “Speaking of him, we should probably get going.”
Vivyka smiled and nodded. “Well, there is one thing I’m sure of.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you.”
Sera gave her a light kiss and smiled. “I love you, too.”
When they got back to the others, Sera put her arms around Matt, a blissful smile on her face. “What are you so happy about?” he asked.
“It’s a beautiful day,” she told him brightly.
“It’s a damn cold day,” he grumbled.
She chuckled. “It’s a beautiful, cold day.”
Vivyka went to stand next to Korin, but didn’t touch him. It felt weird for some reason around Matt. Korin just smiled and handed her a bowl of oatmeal.
—————
They crossed over the Wahyan River and traveled east, further into the Snow Peaks. The journey to the cave took two days, most of which was spent climbing up a very tall mountain. Everyone except Korin, who was used to the bitterly cold climate, was miserable by the end of it. The frigid wind whipped at them with a biting edge, and their vision was constantly blurred with snowflakes. Matt wasn’t thrilled at sharing a tent with everyone either, with him being smooshed in the middle between Sera and Tess. He had forgotten how much Tess moved in her sleep and had been very tempted to elbow her a few times. On the last day, they reached the cave just as the sun was setting, which was good because a tent wouldn’t have fit on the very narrow pass.
The cave was large and almost perfectly round. On the back wall, a smooth flat surface was engraved with a strange looking language. Ayden cast his light spell, illuminating the place with the white glowing orb that floated above him. While he studied the wall, the others looked around for wood. There was nothing in the cave and nothing outside. Trees were scarce this far up, and what few they could find were wet from snow. However, Korin was prepared. He set down his pack and pulled out three dry logs and some smaller sticks for kindling.
“I really like you,” a shivering Matt said.
Too hungry to focus after the long day, Ayden started the fire and made dinner. They could worry about the back wall in the morning, when their stomachs weren’t growling and their eyes weren’t stinging with the need for sleep.
Vivyka joined Korin who stood in the cave entrance while the venison stew was cooking. She gasped at the breathtaking view. To the west, she could see the ocean; the sun setting on the horizon gave the rippling water a hint of pink. To the east, the Wahyan River snaked through the lower mountains like a graceful silver ribbon. And to the south there was mountains and forests for as far as she could see, white with snow at first, but then becoming a rich green further out over the Aillean Mountains. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.
Korin removed his glove and then hers so he could kiss her hand and hold it in his as they looked out together.
“It’s incredible,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“You’ve been here before?”
“Yes, several times.”
“Why?”
“I spend much of my time in the wild,” he answered. “I have traveled all around the Snow Peaks and know them well.”
“But why?”
He turned to smile at her. “I enjoy being in nature.”
“You think this is fun?”
He chucked at her tone. “Yes.”
“In the middle of no where, in the freezing cold?”
“Yes, though it is not always this cold.”
She shook her head. “I’d rather stick to my version of fun.”
“What is that?”
“A warm tavern with good music and dancing.” She frowned suddenly. “Guess our worlds are pretty different.”
“Yes.”
She held in a sigh. She wished he would tell her how it didn’t matter, but he said nothing.
