Fox’s fingers threaded through Winter’s hair in a gentle caress that brushed away more of the tension still humming through his body. “You were afraid it was some trick or spell I’d cast.”
“I’ve wanted the voices gone for so long, Fox. Almost two hundred years.” Winter stopped when his voice wobbled. He took a deep breath and focused on Fox’s fingers in his hair, only starting again when he felt steady. “I wanted to be happy. It was a dream come true. But if this was a trick, some way of weakening me so I couldn’t protect my family, I couldn’t allow it. Couldn’t let you do this to me.”
The witch shifted in his arms, and Winter lifted his head to meet his gaze. “I get it. I really do. Sometimes I’m really scared about trusting you, but we have got to remember that we’re in this together, right? I don’t want to die, and you don’t want anything to happen to your family. We work together, and we can keep that from happening.”
An ugly mix of guilt and shame washed through Winter at Fox’s words, leaving him clinging to the slender man in his arms. He didn’t deserve Fox’s trust. Not after scaring him. Not after tying him up when he’d so recently suffered a similar trauma at Damon’s hands. But he was also grateful that it didn’t sound like Fox was willing to give up on him yet.
“You’re right. Thank you. I’m sorry about—”
“Shut up, Big Sexy,” Fox said warmly. He pulled him in for another tight hug. “It’s clear you’ve got major communication and trust issues.”
Winter chuckled softly as he hugged him. “Maybe.”
“So…you can’t see ghosts right now?”
“No.”
Fox’s arms tightened just a little bit. “Does that mean you need me to be wrapped around you like this to get a break from them?”
Winter snorted. Fox was snuggled close enough that he was practically a part of Winter. “No.”
“Don’t worry. I’m happy to stay wrapped around you at all times as your personal ghost force field.”
Winter snickered as he placed his hands on Fox’s waist with the intention of removing the man. Now that he was calmer and thinking clearer, he was becoming aware of the wonderfulness of Fox’s body as it rubbed against his own. It was going to become obvious in a matter of seconds that Winter’s interest was more than just about protecting Fox and the Variks.
Laughter exploded from Fox, and he quickly wiggled away. “Don’t!”
“You’re ticklish?” Winter asked as Fox pushed to the other side of the bed.
“A little, but I’m more interested in other things from you.”
Winter pushed to his feet, feeling a little steadier than he had. “I don’t wish to trouble you. I’m sure you’ll be relieved to know that I only need to be in your general proximity to banish the ghosts.”
Fox wrinkled his nose and flopped back on the pillows. “How close?”
“It looks like I’ve got a distance of a several hundred yards, at least. I made it nearly to the sidewalk before I saw the ghosts outside.”
The young man didn’t at all seem pleased by that announcement, and Winter found himself adding against his better judgment. “But this is just a rough estimate. I’m sure we’d need to conduct many more experiments to nail down the restrictions more clearly. Unless you wouldn’t be comfortable…”
A slow smile spread across Fox’s lips and he sat up. “No, I’d be happy to help. You know, in the name of science.”
Winter couldn’t help the shudder that ran through him. “Really, don’t say that.”
“What?”
“That anything we do is in the name of science.”
Fox looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Why?”
“Bel is a scientist, and it’s his favorite excuse for torturing any of us.” Winter shook his head. “Too often, horrible things follow those famous words.”
Fox cackled, relaxing on the bed. His hair was flame bright against the white pillows, and his green eyes danced with amusement and mischief. The man looked so tempting spread out there, but Winter kept his feet firmly planted. It was far better if he maintained a safe distance between him and Fox, so he didn’t give in to that temptation.
“I promise to not mention anything about experiments to him. I have a feeling that whatever your brother cooks up won’t be nearly as fun as what I have in mind.” Fox waggled his eyebrows at Winter as if he had no doubt in his mind as to the dirty things floating through his brain. But his expression turned serious far too quickly. “Speaking of your family, don’t you need to contact them? Ticking clock and all that.”
Winter groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. That was very true. He could almost guarantee he was going to be summoned to Marcus’s home, but there wasn’t much point until they heard from Zelda or determined where the damn prophecy came from in the first place.