Page 57 of His Winter Wonderland

“We haven’t reached that level yet.”

“Oh, but we’ve reached the level of me sucking on your pussy?”

“Hey! Don’t get mad at me just because I’m not ready for you to stay the night. What happened to you being willing to be patient with me?”

He took a deep breath then released it slowly. “Forgive me, Kitten. You’re right. I’ll just get up, bathe…”

“You can bathe at home.”

“Damn. It’s like that?”

Winter nodded. She wasn’t ready to share her bathroom with him.

“Okay. I’ll bathe at home. Just know, groupies like hanging out around my place. And when my hair is wet, all the little witches beg me to let them dry it for me.”

Winter saw red. “Oh, really?”

He nodded.

“Them bitches need to die. And what does he need all that hair for? I say we shave it off.”

Good idea. “Let’s play another game of cards before you leave.”

His eyebrow rose. “Why?”

Winter shrugged. “I just want to play another game.”

“I’m not playing for my decision about Kaede.”

No worries. She’d search for a way to help Kaede on her own. “Okay.”

He grinned mischievously. “If I win, I get to stay the night.”

Winer nodded. His grinned widened. “And if I win,” she said. “I get to shave your head.”

His smile faded away.

Hers remained in place.

***

Rhen

This motherfucker shaved his head bald.

He played a second game, hoping to get a reversal on that decision. Instead, he ended up losing his snow bike. Now he was racing through the forest, trying to reach the village outside the compound to get out of the cold. He stopped when the comm-device in his ear crackled. A voice came through, giving him directions.

Normally, Rhen would’ve ignored the person contacting him. Since the request involved Kaede, he was willing to help. Rhen turned and raced in the other direction. He kept going until he reached the location he was told to go to. A few minutes later he paused when he heard a sound to his right.

He inhaled deeply. He knew that scent. Kaede was nearby. But why the hell did it sound like he was crying? Rhen followed the sound. He found Kaede sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree. And the dragon was really crying. He was so emotional; he didn’t even detect Rhen’s presence.

That was dangerous around here. There was no reason for Kaede to be all the way out here unless he came here to visit the Elders. With the way the dragon was behaving the Elder must not have been able to help him. There was only one way around the curse of the full moon. Death.

“You look how I feel,” Rhen said, making his presence known.

Kaede lifted his head. He quickly started wiping his face and clearing his throat. It kind of bothered Rhen to see the big man crying like that. It wasn’t long ago that he was kneeling in front of his mate, naked, crying. Real men cried. Like him, Kaede had plenty of reasons to cry. If he didn’t figure something out before the full moon, he was in trouble.

“Don’t be ashamed about crying. Especially not this close to the full moon. If anyone has a reason to cry, it’s you. Still no idea how to protect Sin, huh?” Rhen stretched his hand out. Kaede took it and Rhen helped him to his feet.