LWLU – Fiery Angel
Having a party in these conditions was utter madness. The roads themselves were fine; the people who traveled them were a very different matter entirely. Some moved at a snail’s pace, causing those who thought they could still go twenty miles over the speed limit to slam on their breaks to avoid a collision, only to end up facing the wrong way on the shoulder of the road. Those who actually knew how to drive in snow and ice felt their attention drift to the insane display around them.
That left Sara white-knuckled and on the verge of hyperventilating by the time she came to a stop in the spacious pebble circular driveway.
The snow was still wafting down, kissing her hair as she stepped out of the sensible Camry she drove when the weather was questionable. A few feet shy of the porch she stopped and lifted her face heavenward, eyes closed, letting the snow tickle over her porcelain skin on its descent. Sometimes snow melted on contact, but today it stayed intact, dusting her cheeks in so soft a manner that it was a sharp contrast to the harsh chill of the wind biting through her sunny yellow sweater.
Strong hands circled her waist from behind. “There’s my fiery red snow angel.” His lips grazed against her ear. “God, I’ve missed you Sara.”
“Paul!” Sara spun around and locked her arms around his neck in a fierce embrace. “I didn’t think you’d be here this weekend.”
Arms still around her waist, he pulled back to meet her eyes. “There’s nothing out there that would keep me from seeing my girl on her birthday.”
“But I thought…”
“I moved some things around and took the test yesterday so I could be here before the storm made it impossible.” He searched her face. “Why do you seem more surprised than happy to see me?”
Because I don’t know what to feel anymore.
“Well, I am surprised to see you here.” She bit her lip and gazed at him from beneath lowered lashes. “But it’s a good surprise.”
Paul lifted a hand from her waist and lightly flicked a snowflake from her cheek. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. A really good surprise.” The snow had increased in intensity during their brief exchange and his thick hair was coated with a dusting of blue ivory flakes, only a few shades lighter than his eyes. “I missed you, too, Paul.”
Wordless, he lowered his mouth to hers, covering her lips with a kiss as soft as the snow itself. That was all it was meant to be – a light brush of lips meant to convey the affection they felt after a week spent apart. It didn’t stay that way long.
Of their own volition, Sara’s fingers wound through his dark hair, begging for his nearness, a closeness he gave freely, without hesitation. He let his hand drop from her face to join the other at the small of her back, slipping under the hem of her sweater to warm the icy skin beneath with the warmth he radiated in the storm. The kiss stretched on for an eternity in an instant, cocooning them in a virtual snow globe of emotion.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Sara.”
“Paul…” She blinked back her surprise at the unfamiliar words, still not knowing how to feel, wondering how she was even allowed to feel about that. In a voice so shaky she didn’t trust it she said, “I think that was the best birthday present I could get.”
“That’s not your present, babe. I’ve already hidden that inside where you’ll never find it.” A slow grin spread over his face. “Don’t try to act innocent. I know you.”
Did he? Would Paul ever know her as well as Michael did?
She didn’t know, but she hoped. Unable to say the words back to him over the growing emotion in her throat, Sara poured that hope into her kiss, praying that lips and tongue could tell him what her words were useless to express.
“You know, I’m not sure if we should be telling them to get a room or holding an umbrella over their heads so they don’t catch a cold out here.”
At the sound of her friend’s voice, Sara froze and her eyes flew open. Turning slightly, she mustered up a weak smile to cover her embarrassment at having been careless in the open with a very private moment. Paul recovered first, his tone joking in contrast to the seriousness in his eyes when he looked at her.
“A room’s not a bad idea, Nika, but I’d settle for the umbrella if you’ve got one handy.” With obvious effort, he tore his gaze from Sara’s. “Hey, Mike.”
Michael’s eyes were steely as he slung a casual arm around Nika’s shoulders. “Sorry, Paul, no umbrella today. We’re going to head inside.”
Paul turned his attention back to Sara, snuggling his lips against her neck. “We should go in as well. I wouldn’t want you to turn into a real snow angel out here. Let’s get you warmed up.”
