Abi had no clue what was happening, but trying to stop this river of emotion and passion would’ve been like a twig trying to stop Niagara Falls. Stone’s lips were the ideal match for hers, and they moved in a synchronized dance of desire, yet their long-standing friendship and respect for each other was there too. Abi loved him. She loved him so much she couldn’t contain it as she gave as much as she took from his kiss.

Stone’s hands were warm and strong against her back. He didn’t push any boundaries, but she could feel how much he wanted her by the urgency of his hands pulling her in tight against him and the hunger he poured into his kiss. Abi’s head was in a happy fog. She gently pulled back, and though she couldn’t see him, she could hear his quick breath, smell his musky scent, and picture those grayish-blue eyes. She wished she could see them. Would they finally be warm and expressive?

“Oh, Stone,” she whispered, in shock with what had just transpired between them. Where would this lead them? She was so happy she could float out of the cave and down the mountainside. “We need to talk about this.”

He laughed softly and brought one hand back up to cradle her face. “Abi. You talk too much.” He kissed her again, and for maybe the first time in her life, she agreed that talking was highly overrated. Abi gave herself completely to the kiss. They didn’t have much room to move, and all their snow clothes kept them from getting too close, but that was probably for the best. The fire his kiss brought to her could easily consume them both.

After what might have been minutes or hours, Stone pulled back and simply held her close. He said nothing, and she really wanted to know what was happening with them, what he was thinking, feeling. She enjoyed just being in his arms for a few minutes before asking, “What are you thinking?”

Stone chuckled. She didn’t know that she’d ever heard him laugh this much. “I don’t think there is any thinking going on here.”

She could agree with that. They’d just blown past boundaries that had been set since middle school. Yet Stone had ignored all the boundaries with Virginia. Could Abi ever compare to her? Could the love of her life ever feel the love for Abi that he had felt for Virginia? A rush of guilt and jealousy hit her simultaneously. Virginia was gone, and Abi wanted her friend’s man. Oh, how she wanted him.

Her cheek was up against Stone’s neck. His smooth skin smelled and felt wonderful. How many times had she daydreamed about being in this spot, and it was happening and was better than anything her imagination could conjure up. She couldn’t resist turning her face up and placing a lingering kiss on his smooth jaw. A low growl came from Stone’s throat as he tilted her chin up and captured her lips with his again. Abi had always known her calm, level-headed, non-emotional friend had this kind of passion inside of him—passion that was heating her up and bringing her so much joy. An irrational and complete happiness enveloped her just as strongly as Stone’s arms.

The kiss went on, and Abi had no complaints about any of it. When Stone ushered her cheek back to his chest and whispered, “Try to sleep,” she thought he had gone completely insane.

“Sleep?” She jerked up, but sadly, couldn’t see him in the dark. Were his eyes a true blue and warm, laughing at her, or were they solemn and regretting the amazing time they’d just spent? Fear wrapped around her, chillier than the snowstorm. Stone couldn’t have gone cold on her again, could he? “How could I possibly sleep after those kisses?”

Stone didn’t answer.

“Come on, throw me something here.” She’d take a baseball to the head over him retreating from her again.

He stayed silent.

“Stone.” She wrapped her hands around his shoulders and tried to shake him. “Please don’t do this to me.”

“Do what?” He grunted out.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be? Kiss me for hours, and then you don’t want to talk about it?” Her voice was rising with panic, and her chest was tight.

“Abi.” His voice was calm and reasonable, and it made her even madder.

“Don’t ‘Abi’ me. Don’t do it, Stone.” Tears were coming, and she didn’t want him to know how much she loved him, how he would break her heart if he turned his back on this like he did on everything else. Please no. Was it possible she was jumping to conclusions? Maybe everything was fine. Stone wouldn’t have kissed her like that if he didn’t feel the same way she was feeling. He was too good of a man. He couldn’t do that to her.

“Calm down. It’s all right.” Stone pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You know I struggle talking about stuff, but it’ll be all right. Can we just enjoy this?” His arms tightened around her. “And talk about everything else when we get back home?”

“You promise?” She didn’t like him putting her off, but she didn’t want to be the irrational, dramatic woman. She did fit that stereotype sometimes, and though it seemed to amuse Stone, maybe that was why he hadn’t ever crossed these intimate lines with her like he had with Virginia. Virginia had been sweet, kind, and proper. Basically Abi’s opposite.

Stone nodded against her forehead. “Yes. Let’s try to get some rest and get home safe. Then we can … talk.”

He said talk like it was a poisonous scorpion, and Abi was far from reassured, but she was willing to be put off and enjoy being close to him physically if there was hope of figuring things out emotionally between them at some near point in the future. She wanted so much from him, and she knew she had to be patient. If only patience didn’t bite the big one.

* * *

Stone kept a hold of Abi even though he knew he should push her away, sprint out into the storm, forge their way home, immediately break off their friendship, and live with the loneliness of no Abi in his life. Talk? He couldn’t talk. He’d promised Virginia he’d never reveal the truth of who her baby’s father was, and he lived in constant fear of Abi drawing it out of him. How could he have a relationship with Abi without breaking his word and telling her the truth about everything, including the day Virginia had died and how miserable she’d been with him? How he’d basically driven her off that cliff?

He had no clue what time it was, but the long hike, building the snow cave, feeling that emotional junk, and then losing his head completely and kissing Abi like the sun wasn’t going to rise again had taken a lot out of him. He was tired. They’d probably kissed for hours, and luckily, he’d stayed in control. The feelings Abi inspired in him were insanely strong. He’d never felt like this about Virginia. He’d known it would be like this with Abi, had known and avoided it for years. What had he done now? If he was lucky, they’d both sleep for a bit. The storm would pass, and he could get her home and never deal with the mess he’d just created by giving in to his need for her. But this was Abi. He was going to be far from lucky, and he knew it.

He cradled her close and enjoyed what time he had left with her in his arms. Her breath evened out, and he savored her sweet-spicy scent and the pressure of her soft but strong body. This would never happen again, so he planned to make the most of it.