Page 32 of Wynter

I’m gripping the table with so much force, I’m surprised it doesn’t break. And then, I hear a crash.

I spin around, just in time to see an ice block materialize in the middle of the cafe.

“Is that… what I think it is?” Chase asks from behind the counter.

“No, no, no, no, no,” Amber moans, burying her face in her hands. “Not an ice block. Please not an ice block.”

And, just like that, Amber transforms. And completely obliterates the table, and her chair, and her cappuccino mug. She expands, and ice slams into my side. Julian lets out a yelp, and the cafe’s front door explodes. There goes his wonky magic. And Wes groans, but I’m not sure if it’s because of the door, or the fact that Ice Block Amber just threw him into the wall.

I land on my ass and stare at the two seven-foot-tall ice blocks taking up half the room inside Jewels Cafe. Then, one of them starts to transform.

“Zoe? Are you all right?” Xavi cries. And he rushes to my side. He didn’t leave. He didn’t reject me. He falls on his knees next to me and starts running his hands up and down my arms.

“Xavi?” I ask, a little dazed.

“Are you hurt?” he demands, his hands now caressing my legs. Checking me for injuries. Turning me on.

I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from Xavi as I listen to Amber shift back and run to check on her mates. And when I finally glance at them, I find Amber astride Wes’s lap while the two of them make out. Julian joins them, threads his fingers through Amber’s hair, and urges her to kiss him instead. Chase rounds the counter, and I jump to my feet.

“We’re going to grab some Wobble Stoppers!” I shout and drag Xavi out of the cafe.

“Are they… always like that?” Xavi asks, his gaze locked on my lips.

“Pretty much.” And all of the sudden, I want to be like that too.

“Zoe,” Xavi whispers my name and starts backing me up toward the Cleanly Den van. And I want that. I want him.

My pulse spikes. My breathing turns ragged. And then Xavi trips. On the perfectly level sidewalk. And stumbles into me.

Lucky for me, unlike mermaids, Xavi wears pants. And shoes. So I can lock onto both with my magic and steady him before we both fall.

And then he’s spinning us around so his back is against the van, and my palms are flat against his chest, and we’re staring into each other’s eyes.

I move up on tiptoe, Xavi leans down, our lips touch, and I swear I feel sparks.

One touch from his lips, and I’m on fire. You’d think an ice block shifter would run cold, but everything about Xavi is oh so hot. His lips. His chest. The way he knows how to kiss.

I never want this moment to end, yet I can’t seem to get enough. I need more. So much more. I need Xavi.

“Get a room,” a woman mutters behind me, frustration evident in her voice.

Xavi and I pull apart. Both out of breath. Both flushed. And then he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug.

“This is nice,” I whisper against his chest.

“It is.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. And I suddenly want to cry.

I honestly don’t know what’s gotten into me. I guess I’m just not used to sweet. One-night stands, sure. This? Not so much.

“We should fix the cafe,” I tell him cheerfully and spin around to find Peppermint from the post office standing in front of Jewels Cafe.

“You don’t happen to know an Amber Kopieren?” she asks, holding up a letter that has strange runes on the envelope.

“Sure, I’ll make sure she gets this,” I tell her, slipping it into my coat pocket. Then I smile at Xavi like I wasn’t about to start bawling in his arms. “I’m going to grab some spells to fix the cafe.”

I rummage through my van and grab everything I need. When Xavi and I head inside the cafe, there’s no sign of Amber. Or her guys. Okaaay then.

“Where did they go?” Xavi frowns.