As the sun dipped below the horizon, we picked a spot by a cluster of boulders to make camp. We spent the last of the daylight gathering bits of dry wood for a small fire. Since neither of us were affected by the cold or the snow, the campfire was more for light than heat.

When he pulled the flint out of his pack to start the fire, I stopped him. "I'll do it," I said a little too brusquely, trying to ward off the flutters that his proximity was causing.

He leaned back to watch, and I snapped a spark out of my fingers. He grinned and watched me bring the campfire to life, then I pulled my boots off with a groan. The only break we'd taken was when I had my tantrum in the snow.

I wiggled my toes by the fire and sighed happily. I didn't need the heat of the fire, but it still felt good against my abused feet, which were still recovering from my barefoot romp through icy plains.

"Hey!" I said as Jastin grabbed a foot and inspected it.

"Good." He replaced my foot and picked up the other one. "You are healing nicely." With a final pat, he set my foot down and leaned back in a relaxed pose. "I enjoy watching you make fire."

I couldn't stop myself from grinning. Damn him and his charm.

I scooted a bit in a lame effort to put distance between us.

"I enjoy making it," I said, and formed a fireball, tossing it between my hands a few times before reabsorbing it.

His eyes followed the flaming ball, and then looked back at me when it disappeared. "Beautiful," he murmured.

I assumed he was talking about the fireball, so I made another one and rolled it in my hands for a while. On a whim, I tossed it toward him. It startled him, but he still managed to catch it. The ball fizzled and disappeared in his grasp with a puff of smoke.

"Did that hurt?" I asked more out of curiosity than worry. He'd managed to quell my fiery rage, so I was pretty sure he could take the heat of a small blazing ball.

"Not at all," he replied. He formed a snowball and lobbed it to me.

I caught it easily, but it soon melted and dripped through my fingers.

"Throw me another." I increased the heat in my hands so that, when I caught it this time, it puffed directly into steam with a satisfying hiss.

His grin broadened. "I don't think I've had this much fun with my gift before."

"Me either," I admitted. "I mean, Goben's fireproof, and sometimes I'll toss a few at him—"

"He's fireproof?"

I smiled. "Yes. It's kind of perfect, right? I never have to worry about burning him."

"But he could never retaliate."

"Oh, he has. I'm not immune to rocks and pinecones, you know."

Jastin laughed, and I enjoyed the sound.

"What else can you do?" I asked, curious if he was limited to snowballs.

With a lopsided smile and a gleam in his eye, he steepled his fingers together to form a triangle with his thumbs. I watched him concentrate, and then stared at the perfect ice pyramid he set in front of me. I examined the sculpture without touching it so it wouldn't melt. Then he set another transparent shape next to it. A cube. The proportions were perfectly symmetrical. A flawless sphere appeared next.

"These are beautiful," I said as I lowered my head to get a better look at them. "I don't want to ruin them by touching them." The reflection of the campfire danced upon their shiny surfaces, and I scooted around to look at them from all angles. "I definitely can't do anything like this."

"Show me your favorite trick."

It sounded like a challenge. My personal favorite used to be the individual flames on my fingers. It had taken so long to develop that kind of precise control that I was quite proud when I'd mastered it. Unfortunately, it rarely impressed anyone.

I did have a new favorite, however.

"Are you sure you're ready for that?" I lifted an eyebrow, meeting his challenging tone.

"Bring it on." He leaned back onto his elbows.

I stood up and backed away a few steps, exhaling slowly. Closing my eyes, I gathered my breath, building the glow within my gut. The glow spread through my limbs, to my fingers and toes, to the top of my head. When I released it all at once with an internal snap, Jastin recoiled from the sudden burst of flames.

With my entire body engulfed in fire, everything around me glowed orange. A kind of euphoria swept over me at the release.

Jastin stared at me, entranced. I saw my fiery form reflected in his eyes as they traveled over me. "How is it that your clothes don't burn?"

"Why? Are you disappointed you don't get to see me naked?" I stuck a hand on my hip for added effect, and it suddenly occurred to me that I'd never flirted with anyone like this in my life. It felt strange. And a little exhilarating.

Wait, what was I doing? I was not supposed to be flirting!

Jastin's cheeks flushed deep red, and his eyes involuntarily raked across my body, sending shivers through me that had nothing to do with the cold around us.

He stood up, and I snuffed the flames that covered my body. His intense eyes never left mine as he strode to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. I was unprepared for his sudden proximity, and my breathing stopped.

"You are breathtaking," he said.

Ironic, since I was the one having trouble breathing.

His head descended toward me, eyelids heavy.

"Jastin."

He stopped, eyes questioning.

He was so close. I could smell the piney scent that seemed to linger in his hair.

I steeled myself against it, trying to remind myself why this was unwise. I would be endangering him if I lost myself.

His deliciously frosty hands slid up to my face, and my mind reeled with memories of his glacial body pressed against mine.

"What is it, Sember?" His soft voice caressed my ear.

"Um." I couldn't remember what I wanted to say. "Never mind," I mumbled and closed the gap between our lips.

It began as a sweet softness, which intensified into a hungry dance of lips and tongues. He was so cold, like a flesh-and-blood snowman, and yet I still liked it.

Really liked it.

A different kind of flame lit within me. His icy hands left an unexpected trail of fire across my skin.

Fire.

I broke off the kiss and pushed him to arm's length. What was I doing? This was not maintaining control.

A small furrow appeared between his brows. "What's wrong?"

"I . . . " I could barely think past my thumping heart and ragged breathing. "I shouldn't."

"Why not?"

I looked at the palm of my hand, expecting to see it glowing. It wasn't, though heat radiated from it. I brought my pained eyes up to his. "I'll burn you."

The corner of his lips lifted. "You can try."

Why didn't he believe me? "Jastin, I'm dangerous."

"Not to me."

I gazed into his blue eyes, still dark with desire. He wasn't afraid of me. Not in the slightest. A thrill zinged through my belly at the realization, but I couldn't take that risk. I liked him too much.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and took a step back.

"Sember, you don't have to be afraid. You won't burn me."

"Maybe not, but I could still blow you up. I've never—" The path of my intimate thoughts embarrassed me and I looked away. I had no idea how my gift would react to...

My heart began galloping again. If just kissing him lit my blood on fire, what would happen if we went beyond kissing? Like, way beyond?

I clenched my hands against the impulse to touch him again.

Maintain control.

It was the only way.

"I'm sorry." I took a step back and avoided his eyes. I didn't want to see the disappointment in them.

"Sember."

His voice sounded so gentle, I couldn't help looking at him.

"I understand," he said.

I shook my head. "I don't think anyone can. Let's pretend this never happened."

"Impossible."

I couldn't stop the smile that crept onto my lips, warmed by the idea that he had enjoyed the kiss as much as I had. "You have a point." My smile slid away. "But it can't happen again."

He hid his reaction behind a careful mask, but I still noticed his shoulders droop a little. It crushed me.

"As you wish," he said, and turned away to prepare his bedroll.

Sweet, sizzling fire! Why'd she stop?? Maybe so you have some time to vote? ;)