Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
QUINN
“We’re closed.” August’s response is frigid.
So, that’s how he’s going to be?
“That’s not what the sign outside says. According to it, I still have five more minutes to indulge in some ice cream.”
He grunts, which I choose to interpret as agreement.
The second I walked into Land of Ice Cream and Snow, I knew that cracking this Ice Elemental was going to require some effort.
Good thing I’m planning on enjoying every minute of it.
I’ve always wanted to seduce a man.
“Hmm. Now, what do I want?” I tap my fingers on the counter that separates us. The chalkboard catches my eye, and I can’t help the triumphant grin that spreads over my face. “How about a big old scoop of today’s special? Looks like that’s the Fiery Queen.”
If it’s possible, his attempt to act like an ice sculpture takes on a new level of rigidity. “We’re out.”
“Oh, really?” I saunter over to the glass display where customers can peer down on the variety of flavors, each one designated by a handwritten label.
Up front and center, I spot a half-full container with a little tag that reads Fiery Queen in block script.
“Because, as far as I can tell, you’ve still got a bit left.
” I press my hands to the glass, enjoying how the heat from my skin fogs the surface.
August doesn’t admit to lying. He just stomps over to the ice cream and snatches a cup from the neat stack behind the counter.
“No, wait.” My protest stops him before he can scoop out my treat. “I want a cone.”
The man growls, but I’m having too much fun with playing the temptress to worry about whether the sound is sultry or menacing.
August replaces the cup and grabs a waffle cone. I can’t wait to have the crispy dough in my mouth, knowing the flavor will taste exactly how the delicious man in front of me smells. If my plan works, ice cream is not all I’ll be using to satisfy my craving.
Even as stress radiates off of him, August forms my dessert with smooth skill.
“Here.”
He’s gruff as he extends the offering to me. I make sure our fingers brush as I accept the cone. He snatches his hand back, as if burned.
Not yet, but maybe soon.
Keeping my gaze on him the entire time, I drag my tongue across the creamy, frozen treat in a slow lick. August’s eyes don’t leave my mouth.
The intensely delicious flavors distract me from my mission as they bombard my tongue. For a moment, I drop the seductress role as I fight to keep my eyes from rolling back into my head.
“Bless the goddess, this is fucking amazing. What’s all in this?” I savor another slow lick.
August’s clenched jaw relaxes a hint, and he grumbles out an answer with sheepish pride. “Honey, cinnamon, whiskey.”
“And this is what I taste like to you?”
That gets him to shut back down, shutters dropping over his eyes. He steps back and crosses his arms over his chest, as if that’ll somehow block my advances. Like he thinks I’m going to climb over the counter to get at him.
Silly Ice Cream God. That’s not my plan at all.
I’m going to get the Viking to come to me.
I take my own backward step, moving just far enough away that I’m sure August has a full view of my outfit.
No point in denying that I know I look like sex on a Popsicle stick.
This dress has hung alone and forlorn in the back of my closet for close to a year.
When I tried it on in the store, the crimson fabric felt like a second skin, so I immediately bought it.
But since that moment, I’ve never found the right occasion to slip it on.
Until today.
Eyes on August, I enjoy another lick of my cone, briefly reconsidering my plan as I experience the glorious taste of Fiery Queen.
The payoff will be worth it, I remind myself.
I hold the cone away from my face. Not too far though. Close enough that I might bring it back for another lick at any moment, but far enough that I clearly want to talk. “You left Damien’s party pretty fast.”
He grunts.
“Pity. Wouldn’t have minded spending some time in the water with you.”
August scowls. “If you like water, you’re better off with my cousin.”
I see he picked up on the past between me and his relative. Have to admit, I didn’t expect to keep my affections within the family.
But just because the two men are cousins doesn’t mean I find August any less enticing.
“I had a cherry that was in bad need of popping. Sammy helped me out. It’s probably worth noting that I never requested a second round.” I affect a stage whisper. “This might be news to you, but your cousin is slightly full of himself. Not the best quality in a bed mate.”
The Ice Elemental snorts and then glares as if he’s mad at me for making him laugh. “You need to finish up and head out. I’m closing.”
“Of course. I’ll get right on that.” Even as I agree with him, I don’t make a move to eat any more. Instead, I encourage the rising heat in my body to decimate the perfectly sculpted scoop.
Standing in the middle of August’s shop, I let the sweet treat melt in my hand. Rivulets of ice cream trickle over my fingers, like sugary veins forming on the surface of my skin.
“Quinn,” August growls. “Eat your gods-damn ice cream.”
I bite my lip and blink the widest eyes I can manage at him. “What if I want you to eat it?”
August shoves a hand into his messy golden hair, muttering curses and looking anywhere but at me. A chill rises in the air, pushing back against my heat. I watch in fascination as frost scatters over the taut skin on his exposed forearms.
What would it feel like to touch that? To lick it?
“I think you should leave.” He won’t look at me. Won’t even truly tell me to go.
Because August wants this too.
The only reason he’s holding back is because he thinks his powers will hurt me. But this Ice Elemental has no idea how hot my fire roars, especially around him. August might as well be a blacksmith pumping the bellows in his forge, feeding the flames under my skin with pure oxygen.
He’s going to have to do a lot more than gently suggest I leave to get me to walk out of this shop.
“Hey, August?” I affect an innocently curious tone.
Something in my voice has him glancing up. But his crystal gaze doesn’t reach mine. Instead, his deeply blue irises focus on my arm. The one that clutches my ice cream cone.
Streams of Fiery Queen trail the entire length of my forearm, collecting at my bent elbow and dripping onto the dark hardwood floor beneath my knockoff Louboutin heels. I mourn the waste but remind myself that it’ll be worth it if my plan works out.
While he’s distracted, I push on with my question, suppressing an evil grin as I go.
“When you’re fully aroused—you know, hard, ready for action, on the verge of begging to get inside a woman”—August’s throat bobs as he swallows, and his glare flicks up to my face—“does that frost cover your entire body?”
He glances down at his arms, scowling, annoyed that his powers are giving away so much of his inner turmoil. His thick fingers rub the frozen surface, as if they can erase the evidence. “This is a bad idea.”
Ignoring him, I trace a finger through the soft ice cream in my cone. With it thoroughly coated, I slowly suck the whole finger into my mouth, enjoying the taste and the way August’s eyes track the movement.
Once I’ve lapped up all the delicious cream, I shoot him a grin. “Then let’s be bad.”
I don’t know what part of my performance was the last straw, but August’s stoic resistance cracks. Before I can blink, he’s around the counter, gripping my shoulders in a tight grasp.
A soothing coolness seeps from his palms as they press into my overly warm skin. I want to lean further into him, but the frustrating man keeps me at arm’s distance.
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
Staring up at August is like standing at the foot of a jagged, snow-capped mountain. The sight is glorious … daunting … terrifying in a way that makes one question if the magnificent image was meant for any eyes other than the gods.
He steals the breath from my lungs, but the lightheadedness reminds me of what it’s like to summit such great heights. I want to climb him.
“Quinn?”
Apparently, my silence was enough to cause worry. His eyebrows dip, and his fingers press deeper into my shoulders. The Ice Elemental’s ruggedly sculpted face loses its frosty shield, and his inner turmoil lies bare.
The heat pulses, a living thing under my skin, and I don’t bother fighting the power begging to be released.
As I keep my gaze on August’s face, a reddish light flickers, casting interesting shadows over his scruff-covered chin and his high, round cheekbones. His eyes widen, tracing over my body, where I know small flames have started to form.
Silently, I say a thankful goodbye to my outfit. Not even a jaw-dropping crimson dress can survive my powers. I’ve never mastered that level of control.
But I know, deep in my bones, the flames will never injure August. The same way his ice won’t hurt me.
Time for him to learn that too.