Page 28 of A Winter Awakening
“I should go,” Orteo said.
“But you’ll be back, right? I’ll see you again,” Gael said, slightly panicked.
“Of course.” Orteo tried to smile. “But not today. You’ve got everything you need here. I’ll come back tomorrow.” He paused. “I really do value your friendship, Gael. Very much. I just need a little time.” Because even if Gael had rejected him, Orteo still wanted to be friends.
Gael stared at his hands. Orteo could practically hear Gael’s troubled thoughts turning in his mind.
But he couldn’t deal with that right now. He couldn’t comfort Gael. He ached too much.
“I’ll get going, then,” Orteo said and left.
ChapterSixteen
Orteo kissed me! Orteo kissed me!
Gael limped as fast as he could through the snow with his crutch.
Orteo kissed me!
Gael hadn’t expected it. He’d woken content and warm in Orteo’s arms, a sense of safety and security enveloping him. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy. Or so close to anyone. Everything had been idyllic. Perfect.
Then Orteo had kissed him.
Orteo had kissed him!
And it had thrown every thought in his mind into violent, thrashing confusion.
People in the village gave Gael looks as he passed. But he kept walking. He had no desire to introduce himself or chat with anyone. He needed to talk, and he needed advice. Now!
Gael didn’t know where Edwin and Sinoe lived, but he remembered Ori pointing out the pottery studio the day he’d arrived in Ores. He and Wareth lived there. So Gael was going to talk to them. Try to work out what he felt. Or how he should feel. Because he did not know.
Disordered chaos swirled inside him. It reminded him of the day he’d realised marrying Alisa meant he’d need to bed her. That knowledge had upended his entire world.
But it was different this time.
Because when Orteo kissed him, it hadn’t disgusted him. Hadn’t horrified him. Hadn’t made him vomit.
In fact, it had felt nice. More than nice. He’d wanted to keep kissing Orteo. But then Gael had realised what that kiss meant, and the uncertainty had poured thickly into his mind.
Gritting his teeth, he continued past cute wooden cottages. He hadn’t walked this far before. And never alone. But he couldn’t wait around in his cabin. He needed to talk to Ori and Wareth.
Did Gael want more than friendship with Orteo?
He adored Orteo. Gael admired him and thought Orteo the most wonderful person, or oread, he’d ever met. But what did that mean?
Orteo was handsome, and Gael liked to stare at him. But he was so pleasing to look at that surely everyone wanted to look at him. But did that mean Gael wanted Orteo to kiss him? Did he want to be Orteo’s lover?
He flushed at the thought, body heating from his toes to his cheeks.
Truth was, he’d never thought about being anyone’s lover. He’d been engaged to Alisa. They’d planned to marry and have children. He’d never thought of bedding anyone. Not any man or woman. Why would he when he was engaged? And he hadn’t even thought of bedding his intended until a week before his wedding.
He approached the front of the pottery studio. Smoke rose from the chimney, and snow blanketed the roof. He couldn’t see any light in the windows. A crow sat on the roof, watching him approach.
He raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door. He waited. No answer.
He knocked again. Still no answer.
Stepping back, he looked over the studio. It was a large cabin. Maybe they were home but just couldn’t hear him.
