Love is Cold

A Hopeless Place

I stared into Leo's dark eyes. I felt mine welling up with tears and I hid my face in my knees. I couldn't let him see me cry. It's something a paladin should never do in front of people. Not to mention, against my personal code.

Leo fit his index finger under my chin and lifted my face towards him. His thumb skimming over my cheek, wiping away some falling ters. I stared into his eyes and didn't see what I expected.

In his eyes, I saw a seriousness that was not a commonly seen part of Leo. He was known for being a prankster and, on occasion, a bit promiscuous. This was almost like looking at a different person. Although, there was also a small hint of a protectiveness that somehow made me feel safe. But my duty to the prince still scratched a the back of my brain like a rabid wolf.

This was not how this trip was supposed to go. I was supposed to infiltrate Queen Rolfe's castle, rescue the prince, and return in a matter of hours. Now, I'm trapped in a cave with Leo Creed, and... possibly... growing attached to him. My head is telling me to stop being a lousy flirt and start back out on the quest. My heart tells me to stay.

"Hey, Gillian might've been sorry, but I'm not," Leo said just before he leaned in slowly, kissing me lightly on the lips. Just barely brush each other on the first pass. He kissed me more insistently the second time. I tensed and wanted to pull away, I didn't.

I don't know what surprised me more. The fact that Leo kissed me or the fact that I enjoyed it. His cool hands on my flushed cheeks. The way his fangs brushed my bottom lip when he kissed me. Oh, euphoria.

For some strange reason, I relished the feeling of his naturally cold lips on the warmth of mine. It was like a chemical reaction that caused my brain to go numb. Every thought gone with nothing except the feeling of us together. I returned it and realized that our positions were kind of uncomfortable.

I adjusted onto my knees and he slid his hands to my waist. I entangled my fingers in his short, soft, dark hair. We were chest to chest, so the leather vest, under a couple layers, made my chest uncomfortable.

He became more insistent and so did I. We were like fireworks, one exploded and another is lit. We sat there together even when the fire had died out. We were now out of fire wood. Within minutes, I was freezing. I took off my boots and hid away in my sleeping bag.

Leo sat by the smoldering ashes of the fire. He was shivering. The fire's remains offered him no heat. He would have to dig some out of the snow, tomorrow.

"Come here," I said. "You're gonna freeze to death." He slowly made his was over. I unzipped the bag and he crawled in. I held him to keep him warm and next to me. He stroked my hair softly and I whispered to him.

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" I asked into his chest.

"I hope so. This is where you said you loved me. And I get to return that love." He kissed my forehead and let his lips linger. I can feel him smile.

"But how long will that love last?" I turn my face up to look him in his dark eyes. His smile nearly faulters, but he looks me in the eyes and says.

"For an eternity, my princess."