“Leonardo?” I whispered, gently cupping his face, my hands trembling against his ice-cold skin. His pale complexion mirrored the glassy sheen of his eyes, and the stubble on his chin prickled against my fingertips, sending a faint wisp of steam spiraling between us. I reached deep within, calling on the magic that connected me to the sun, building a flame in the center of my chest, a fire fueled by thoughts of him. This time, the warmth felt different-pure, radiant, like a blend of all the elements combined. It spread across my skin, glowing golden against the silvery shimmer that seemed to cloak him.
“Can you hear me?” I asked, pressing my hands firmly against his cheeks, willing him to respond. But his vacant stare remained unchanged, more distant than before.
Then, in a sudden motion, his icy hands locked around my wrists. His grip was tight, painful, yet I resisted the urge to pull away. Desperately, I pressed my lips to his. His hold loosened, and I felt him pause, his surprise a flicker of awareness. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself against him, feeling the tension dissolve as my nightgown brushed against his bare chest. A strange sensation bloomed within me-a weight in my chest, a tingling sensitivity radiating across my skin.
The soft whimper that escaped my lips seemed to bring him back a little more. He groaned, a deep, rough sound, barely human.
“Kitten…” he breathed, his voice raw, strained.
Before I could answer, he swept me off my feet, and I felt the cold, dewy grass press against my back. The icy dampness seeped through my gown, but I barely noticed it over the growing warmth that pulsed within me, inch by inch pushing back the winter that had settled around us. Everywhere, the plants were encased in frost, the fountain frozen in mid-flow. I wondered briefly what this place might look like in summer, but Leonardo’s shadow loomed above me, pulling my focus back to him.
“Don’t stop touching me,” he murmured, leaning down to press his face into my neck. I tangled my fingers in his hair, melting the shards of ice embedded in it. “Take whatever warmth you need,” I whispered, urging the flames within me to burn brighter. Our bond throbbed beneath layers of ice, barely a flicker now, but I could still feel it-a fragile thread anchoring us together.
Leonardo’s breath was cold against my skin, and I arched as the sharp, sweet sensation of his lips brushing my neck shot through me. I gasped as he tore at the fabric of my gown, exposing my chest to the frigid air, but the cold only fueled the fire within me. His touch kindled the flame higher, each brush of his hands, every rough murmur sending heat surging through me.
He gazed down, hunger glinting in his eyes, his gaze dropping to where my nightgown barely concealed the flushed skin beneath. My pulse quickened under his intense stare, and though the faintest touch of control returned to him, I sensed an undeniable need building within me, one that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long.
I would give him everything-if it meant freeing him from the icy grip that held him. When his hands traced the contours of my body, I felt the fire within blaze hotter, my skin a glowing ember against the cold.
He pulled me to him, his mouth devouring mine, and I surrendered to him completely. My world narrowed to the rhythm of his movements, his touch grounding me in a storm of sensation. A thrill shuddered through me, every nerve on edge, my body yielding as warmth flowed from me to him in waves. At the height of it, light burst from within, casting the entire garden in a golden glow that obliterated the ice and snow, thawing even the frozen fountain nearby.
When the light dimmed, I opened my eyes to see the transformation around us-the flowers that had been encased in ice now bloomed in vibrant colors, filling the air with their fragrance. The frozen fountain had resumed its gentle flow, the sound of trickling water a soft melody in the stillness.
Leonardo released me, his gaze bright and clear, every trace of the cold gone from his skin, his complexion now warm, his cheeks flushed with life. The bond between us pulsed with light and warmth, more powerful than ever, its icy encasement shattered.
“You… you’ve done something incredible, kitten,” he murmured, his voice low, a glint of admiration in his eyes. Leaning down, he brushed his lips to my ear, chuckling softly. “And you taste like heaven.”
“I-I want to…” I faltered, my voice barely a whisper as a blush crept over my cheeks, but the words tumbled out anyway. “I want to know every part of you.”
A smile curved on his lips, and his eyes softened as he traced a line down my arm, stopping at my wrist. “After everything you’ve just given me, you can have anything you want.”
My heart hammered as I let my fingers drift down his chest, my own resolve growing. It was fear, yes-but not fear for myself. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him again, and I hoped he could see that vulnerability in my eyes.
“Leonardo,” I whispered, “I love you. I want to bind myself to you in every way.”
The pain of the past lingered but no longer held power over me. I had laid my heart bare, hoping he would accept it, and I was ready to stand by his side, no matter the darkness that lay ahead.