Ginny Sahra wrapped her cardigan around her shoulder and took her sunglasses off. She put them on her big floppy hat and looked up at the sky. The sun was hidden by the clouds.

“Some vacation,” grumbled Ginny. She got up and felt the soft white sand between her toes. It was too cold for her liking. Ginny walked barefoot to the pool. Ironically, she was going to use the tropical resort’s pool to stay warm, instead of to keep cool. Ginny slid into the hot tub and looked over the resort.

Nearly every guest at Chez Belle Sylvan was staying inside their rooms. What was the point of visiting an all-inclusive singles’ resort if they were going to stay in their rooms?

Then Ginny remembered what they were probably doing in their rooms and smiled to herself. Maybe the people staying in did have the right idea after all. The resort had a tasty buffet. She’d enjoyed grilled pineapple and roasted chicken, but what she was in the mood for was some hot sausage with a creamy sauce.

“Excuse me,” said a sensual male voice.

Ginny looked up. A waiter had walked over to her. He was cute — but that was the problem. He was cute like a puppy was cute.

“Hey,” said Ginny. “Is the hot pool off-limits today?”

“No, of course not,” said the waiter. “I was wondering if you wanted anything from the bar.”

“Oh,” said Ginny. “Uh…can you make me a spritz?”

“How highly continental of you,” said the waiter. “I’ll be right back.”

Ginny scanned the beach for figures. There wasn’t a single person combing the beach. Then, she heard a splash…at nearly the same time as she felt the splash.

“Ugh,” said Ginny, shaking water off of her face.

“This seat occupied, sweetheart?” asked a voice. Ginny looked. Sitting in the hot tub was a red-headed man with a hairless chest and a black thong-style swimsuit with red and yellow flames. Usually, Ginny liked flames, but this man was not rocking the look.

“No,” said Ginny.

The man moved over to sit next to Ginny.

“That doesn’t mean I want you sitting next to me,” said Ginny, moving away from the man.

“Come on,” said the man, moving closer to Ginny. “Pretty lady like you, all curves, sitting by herself in the hot tub? You’d think she’d want to make some friends. My name’s Paul. I’m here on business. For a conference. What about you? You here on business?”

“No,” said Ginny, moving further away from the man. Ginny wasn’t exactly used to spending a lot of time in the water, so she was moving away from the man more slowly than he was moving toward her. She could tell that Paul was enjoying the chase.

“That must mean you’re here for pleasure,” said Paul with a chuckle, moving again, to put his arm around Ginny.

Instead, Paul got an arm full of a body that was as hard and cold as ice.

A man sat down in the hot tub, in between Paul and Ginny, and that man wrapped his arm around Ginny.

Ginny looked up at the man. Her eyes widened. He had pale white hair, eyes as blue as the sky, and a conspiratorial look in his eyes. He had white hair, but Ginny had no idea how old he was. He had rock-hard abs and broad shoulders. Ginny thought he must be a polar bear shifter or something, but then, she realized he didn’t have a mate mark on his chest. There were reasons a shifter would be able to hide the mark, using magic…but Ginny was sure there was no way that could be the case with the handsome stranger. After all, what were the chances that there was someone else like her at the resort?

“This guy bothering you, honey?” asked the man, looking at Ginny and shooting her a wink. The man looked over the curvy woman. She had thick curves, thick thighs, a thick waist, a thick everything. She was a dollop of luxury in a resort of people who all had the same type of look. She wasn’t just attractive. There was something about her that drew the man to her. Was it animal magnetism, or shifter magnetism? He eyed her body for a mate mark, and, spying none, wondered what the Hell it was about her that had drawn him in because it had to be something special.

“Y-yes, actually, babe,” said Ginny, playing along with whatever game this stranger was playing. “I was just telling him we’re here for pleasure.” Ginny looked at the man who had come to save her from the creepoid named Paul. Ginny snuggled up to the stranger. The stranger took a firmer grip on Ginny’s shoulders. The Ginny realized the stranger’s touch was cold – ice cold. The man felt wet. Maybe he’d just gotten out of an ice bath. Perhaps that was the secret to his good looks and taut body.

“This is a single’s resort,” said Paul lamely. “You can’t be here if you’re a couple!”

“Who said we knew each other before last night?” asked the stranger.

“Then it’s not like you two are really an item,” said Paul.

“Unless you’ve got something bigger than a nine-inch cock, I don’t think I’m interested,” said Ginny, crossing her arms.

“Trust me — I’m very possessive,” said the man. “Especially when I’ve got a new toy.” The man squeezed Ginny’s shoulder. Ginny felt the man’s icy grip. It sent a shiver down her spine.

“Point taken,” said Paul, getting out of the hot tub and wandering off toward the beach. “Fuckin’ bitch.”

“What was that?” asked the stranger, getting out of the hot tub. Paul hadn’t realized the stranger was way taller than he was. The stranger was a full head taller than Paul.

“I, uh, didn’t say anything,” said Paul with a gulp, realizing the man in the hot tub wasn’t just stronger than him, but that he was bigger and taller than him too. “I said nothing.”

“Usually, I’d say that I’d let you go because you seem like a nice guy,” said the stranger. “However, you don’t seem like a nice guy. I’m going to let you go because you seem like a total fuckin’ loser. But, this is your one. You bother my woman one more time, heck, I even hear you breathe around her, and you’ll see what could’ve happened just now. You got it?”

“Y-yes, sir,” said Paul.

“And do you have anything to say to my woman?” asked the stranger.

“I’m sorry, miss,” said Paul.

“This is the part where you start running,” said Ginny.

Paul nodded and took off.

The stranger came back to the pool, but he didn’t get into the hot tub. He got into the regular swimming pool instead.

That was a plot twist that had Ginny confused. Why would a guy come over, defend her honor, and then just, leave? Maybe he was nice…but Ginny was sure there was more to the story. Even if there wasn’t, she had to admit – she saw an excuse to talk to the handsome stranger, and she was going to shoot her shot from the free-throw line and hope like heck that the shot landed.

Ginny swam to the edge of the hot tub, to the side touching the pool. The cool water of the pool splashed against her thick forearms as she leaned over the edge.

“Hey!” shouted Ginny.

“What?” asked the stranger, who was already in the middle of the pool. Ginny and the stranger were the only two people in the pool area, now that Paul was gone.

“Why did you do that for me?” asked Ginny.

“Because I hate jerks ruining my vacation, and I can’t do my laps if I hear some scumbag bothering a woman,” said the stranger.

“Well, it was a really bold move,” said Ginny.

“What’re you gonna do? Go find some guy to do the same thing I just did to that asshole?” asked the stranger, swimming up to Ginny. “If you’re gonna do that, let me know – I love a good cat-fight.”

“You do?” asked Ginny.

“Of course not,” said the man. “Why, you want me to go fight that guy for you?”

“No. I just mean…doing what you did, it took guts, is all,” said Ginny. “Thank you. Can I get you a drink or something?”

“Ice water,” said the stranger.

“Are you serious?” asked Ginny.

“It’s important to stay hydrated,” said the stranger. “Being on vacation is no excuse to slack on health. It would be pretty ironic to get dehydrated at a resort that offers all-inclusive drinks.”

“Okay, well, do you have a name?” asked Ginny. “A name I can give the drink guy?”

“Boreas,” said the man. “But, don’t go ‘giving’ my name away — I don’t think the drink guy needs another name.”

Ginny rolled her eyes. This guy was as corny as he had been protective!

“And?” asked Boreas.

“And what?” asked Ginny.

“Your name,” said Boreas. “Do you have one? Or do I just call you ‘Super Curves’ or something?”

Ginny blushed. “Oh, stop. It’s Ginny.”

“Well, Ginny, when you decide you’re done boiling like a lobster in the hot tub, we can go get that drink,” said Boreas.

“Are you kidding me?” asked Ginny. “You’re the one freezing his ass off in the swimming pool! The hot tub is the perfect temperature. The beach is all windy and cold!”

“The weather’s too warm for me. That’s why I came to the pool,” said Boreas. “Tell you what. How about we both get out of these waters, get those drinks, and stroll on the beach? We’d be equally miserable.”

“You know what? Sure,” said Ginny, getting out of the hot tub. “Every vacation can use a healthy dose of misery — other than the kind provided by Paul.”

“Now, that’s the spirit,” said Boreas, getting out of the pool.

Just as Boreas and Ginny slipped on their flip-flops, the drink waiter came by with a glass of ice water and an aperol spritz.

“Guess he must’ve overheard our drink orders,” said Ginny.

“Hmm, think if I pretend to be Paul, and ask for poison, we can get rid of that little problem?” asked Boreas.

“Oh, stop,” said Ginny. “Talk like that, and I’ll end up thinking you’re a serial killer.”

“Well, I have been known to destroy a bowl of bran flakes,” said Boreas. “Get it? ‘Cereal’ killer?”

“Ugh, are you sure you don’t chow down on ‘corny’ flakes?” asked Ginny.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” said Boreas, slipping on his sunglasses. “So. Why are you here, Ginny?”

“My friend gifted me a vacation to this spot,” said Ginny. “One of my friends had been here before and really liked it. So, she got me a pass. I guess she had a discount code or something. What about you? Are you here on vacation too? Or is this a work trip?”

“Let’s just say it’s a work trip,” said Boreas. “Forced vacation. Some of the people I work with sort of…held a coup.”

“When you say it like that, it sounds like they’re tearing down big bronze statues of you that are standing up in the capital’s main square,” joked Ginny.

“They can’t do that,” said Boreas. “Somebody could get hurt, impaled by a bronze version of my cock.”

“Ha-ha,” said Ginny, rolling her eyes. “I never should’ve insinuated you had a nine-inch cock.”

“No,” agreed Boreas, sipping his ice water. “You shouldn’t have. It’s eleven inches.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” said Ginny sarcastically. “You know…usually, I wouldn’t spend time around a guy that’s so cocky, but somehow, you’re an exception to that rule.”

“Well, I usually wouldn’t tolerate the company of a woman who under-measures my dick, but I guess I’m making an exception too,” said Boreas.

Boreas and Ginny walked from the pool area to the beach after finishing their drinks and leaving them on an empty tray at a nearby table. The hotel owned a series of private beaches, with a sizeable white-sand beach near the pool area. A brisk wind swept grains of sand up around Ginny’s calves, reminding her of home.

“So…you said you’re here for work,” said Ginny, walking on the dry part of the beach.

“Yeah, I am,” admitted Boreas, who was walking with his feet in the path of the incoming surf.

“What exactly is it you do?” asked Ginny.

“I…can’t tell you that yet,” said Boreas lamely.

“Come on,” said Ginny. “I’ll tell you about my job if you tell me about yours.”

“Sorry, but, a man has to maintain some level of mystery, doesn’t he?” asked Boreas. “What do you do?”

“Uh-uh,” said Ginny. “I told you — I’ll tell you about my job if you tell me about yours. ‘If.’ I’ll drop the subject of your job, but, don’t expect to learn anything about my work either.”

“Fair enough,” said Boreas, looking out toward the ocean. He’d studied a map of the resort. He knew that the beach they were on was on the south side of the island. He looked out at the crystal blue waters, so different than the deep navy seas that surrounded his world, his Antarctica, his South Pole. It was hard to believe that the same ocean that encompassed the island was the same ocean that touched parts of Antarctica, but both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans led to The South Pole…just as they both touched The North Pole.

Boreas looked up at the sky, which was covered in a light, wooly layer of gray clouds. The weather was still too warm for his liking. He looked up and wondered about what was happening at The North Pole, about whether he could truly trust Santana Claus, his rival’s wife Befana, Santana’s right-hand-demon Krampus, and all the rest of the folks up North. After all, they were the ones watching over his only son, watching over Jack Frost, the boy he’d never let out of his sight since he’d first made him out of snow and a wish and some magic.

“Hey,” said Ginny. “Boreas?”

“Yeah?” asked Boreas, scanning the skies.

“Are you okay?” asked Ginny, touching Boreas’ shoulder. Ginny’s touch felt as hot as fire to Boreas. He was used to humans feeling warmer than him…but he’d never felt heat like hers before.

Usually, Boreas hated the heat, but he’d gladly melt under the heat of Ginny’s body.

“I’m fine,” said Boreas, turning to touch Ginny’s waist. He saw the curvy girl shudder beneath his touch when he felt her. He’d forgotten his hands were as cold as ice.

“Sorry,” said Boreas, pulling away.

“No,” said Ginny, taking Boreas’ hand and holding it in hers. She put the back of her hand against Boreas’ forehead.

“What are you doing?” asked Boreas, quirking a brow.

“Checking your temperature,” said Ginny. “You’re ice cold, Boreas. You need a jacket. Do you have one back in your room?”

“I’m fine,” insisted Boreas. “If anyone should be worried, it should be you.”

“Me?” asked Ginny, looking down at her body. “Why? Because the waves look wild and I don’t look athletic? Because last time I checked, fat floats, and these curves could sustain me for months lost at sea, buddy.”

“Because you’re burning hot,” said Boreas. He pressed his hand against Ginny’s forehead and felt her heat against his hand.

“I’m fine,” insisted Ginny.

“If you spread your flu to me, you won’t hear the end of it,” said Boreas.

“Well, if you want to complain, you can always call me,” said Ginny. “My number is —”

“Don’t,” said Boreas.

“Oh,” said Ginny softly, sure she’d misread the situation.

“I don’t do phone calls,” said Boreas. “I hate long distance shit. I do enough of that for work. Let’s just make a plan, now.”

“Oh!” said Ginny. “I mean, uh, yeah. Sure. Okay. What do you want to do?”

“Dinner, with you,” said Boreas. “How does tomorrow night sound?”

“Perfect,” said Ginny. “Do you want to eat at the steakhouse, or the Pacific Island cuisine restaurant, or the seafood place?”

“My place,” said Boreas. “We can order in. You’re the only person at this resort I can stand. We’ll have privacy and can talk more.”

“Ah, yes, about everything except your job,” teased Ginny. “What floor are you staying on?”

“I’m staying in the Black Sand Villa,” said Boreas. “It’s the only dwelling on the black sand beach. It’s not far. How does eight sound?”

“Eight works for me,” said Ginny. “Guess I’ll see you then.”

“See you then,” said Boreas. “Now…if you’ll excuse me, I still have some laps to do.”

Ginny expected Boreas to head back to the pool. Instead, he headed out into the waves, his white and blue-gray hair blending into the white foam of the surf. She crossed her arms and shook her head. This guy was weird…but he was hot as Hell — even though his hands were icy cold.

Ginny headed back to the pool to retrieve her things. One of the drink waiters came up to Ginny with an aperol spritz. Ginny decided she could spend another few minutes at the pool. She wrapped herself up in her thin wrap, which didn’t do much to keep her warm, and leaned back on one of the pool loungers, putting her drink down on the small table next to the lounger. She pulled out her phone and called someone who picked up on the second ring.

“Hello?” said a woman’s voice.

“Girl…I can’t believe you sent me to this resort,” said Ginny. “Befana, you won’t believe what just happened.”

“Try me,” said Befana.

“So, there’s this guy who’s super hot, but he’s also super cold,” started Ginny, before recounting the tale of her encounter with Boreas Winter to the woman who had orchestrated their entire Christmas cute meet.