“If there are vents, they’re definitely buried,” Wes agrees. “Let me help you—”
The bell above the front door chimes as it’s thrown open and Amber peers outside, a huge grin on her face. “How’s the shoveling going, guys? Need any help?”
She steps out of the front door in jeans, boots, and a winter jacket, but Wes holds up his hand.
“Stop right there,” he calls, dropping the shovel and rushing toward her. “You’re staying inside where it’s warm. I don’t want you catching a cold.”
“Fine.” She grins. “Thanks for fixing the heat, by the way. What was wrong with it?”
Chapter Five
Julian
“We haven’t fixed the heat yet, Bean.” I frown at her.
It’s not like Amber to make passive-aggressive digs at how long we’re taking—not like a certain witch I grew up with. But she can’t possibly be serious, not when it’s freezing inside the cafe.
“Do you have a fever?” Wes places a hand on Amber’s forehead and frowns. “You feel warm.”
“That’s because it’s boiling in there.” Amber rolls her eyes. “What did you set the heat to? A hundred?”
My frown deepens.
I thought her shifting into Wes—and whatever other cold-resistant, growly creature she’d picked—had warmed her up in time… and kept her from getting sick. Apparently, I was wrong.
Bean’s cheeks are stained pink, but even sick with what must be a pretty high fever, she looks absolutely gorgeous. Snowflakes land on her hair, which frames her face in soft, golden waves, and my eyes drift down to her lips.
“Let’s get you into bed,” I say. I mean it in a completely platonic, I’ll tuck you in and bring you soup, kind of way. But my mind is clearly in the gutter—has been since Wes started peeling Amber’s clothes off in the bathroom earlier. The scene depicted in graphic detail on my Cozy Cocoa was proof enough. So, of course, my voice comes out all gruff, breathless, and filled with need.
Amber’s cheeks flush. “We don’t have time for—”
She squeals as Wes scoops her up in his arms and proceeds to carry her into the cafe.
“Wes! We have to shovel the street and—”
“It really is hot in here,” Wes grumbles from inside the cafe just before the door bangs closed behind him, the chime echoing in the cold silence the two of them leave behind.
Chase and I exchange a confused look. A second passes, and we both drop our shovels and rush inside after them.
The moment we step inside, I realize that Wes is absolutely right. So is Amber. The cafe is almost as hot as the scene on my Cozy Cocoa.
“It’s like a sauna in here,” Chase complains, unzipping his jacket. Wes and I follow suit.
“Told you so.” Amber slides the zipper of her jacket down to reveal the tight, pink sweater she’s got on underneath. I long to strip it off her and—
“Maybe whatever buttons we pressed did the trick? It probably just took some time to kick in,” Chase suggests. My gaze is locked on Amber, and it takes me a few seconds to realize he’s talking about the buttons on the thermostat.
“Well, we need to turn it way down.” Amber leads the way to the back room and heads for the thermostat. “Unless we want to turn the Mid-Winter party into a bikini party.”
“I wouldn’t say no to that,” Wes teases, giving her a once-over.
Personally? I wouldn’t say no to it either.
The mention of bikinis, coupled with the barely tolerable heat in Jewels Cafe, takes me back to summer days lounging by the pool with Bean. I’d be trying not to melt in my swim trunks, while she’d be wearing a giant t-shirt over her bikini, self-conscious about her weight even though she was always the most gorgeous girl I knew.
Even then, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Couldn’t help trying to picture what was hidden under that shirt. I’d cannonball into the pool, making sure to splash her, too. Tease her until she’d join me in the water. All so I could get that t-shirt of hers to hug all her curves.
The thought of Bean in a wet t-shirt makes me instantly hard. I cup my jacket in front of my crotch as I picture her riding me on a poolside lounger. The exact scene on my Cozy Cocoa, drawn in foam, revealing my need for my mate. I’m sure it’s written all over my face, too, but the others aren’t paying me any attention.
“That’s odd…” Amber taps a button on the thermostat. “It shouldn’t be this hot at seventy-five.”
“It definitely feels more like ninety,” Wes agrees.
“Maybe lower it to sixty for now and raise it back up if it gets cold?” Chase frowns.
“Works for me.” Amber lowers the heat while I fight the urge to push her up against that wall and take her right then and there. I want to. Have wanted to since I woke up and realized she wasn’t in bed next to me. I wish I had time to carry her upstairs now, but with the party starting soon, there’s so much to do.
“I’m going to keep trying to clear up the snow.” I throw on my jacket and rush outside before I can give in to temptation. Hopefully shoveling out in the cold will snap me out of this need to strip Amber naked.
I’m barely out of the cafe when the door chimes behind me, signaling that someone else followed me out.
“We should dig out the vents first,” Chase says. “Just to be safe.”
“Sure. Vents.” I grab the already snow-covered shovel and attack the nearest pile of snow.
“You alright there, Juli?” Chase raises an eyebrow.
“Fine.” I shovel more snow, ignoring his curious glances.
Soon, my face and hands are freezing, my muscles are burning, and we’ve barely even made a dent in the snow. It’s piled high against the side of the cafe, and with new snow falling every second, it’ll take ages for us to get through it all.
Meanwhile, Wes and Amber are inside the cafe, doing who knows what. I glance through the window, just as Amber grabs the hem of her sweater and pulls it over her head.
Jealousy rears its ugly head. I may have come to terms with sharing my mate. I may like Chase and Wes being part of the equation. But I do not like being out here, freezing my ass off as I work, while Wes fucks Amber on the kitchen counter.
My cock grows hard at the thought of joining them, and I groan. By the time I’m done shoveling, which is starting to seem less and less likely at this point, the guests will probably get here. If I don’t shovel and join Amber and Wes, we won’t be ready in time for the party. It’s one or the other, unless…
I look around. I practiced casting my Cozy Cocoa spell right here in front of the cafe. Did it hundreds of times, and nothing went wrong.
I know I promised to be careful with magic, but a tiny snow-clearing spell wouldn’t hurt. That, and my need to be with Amber before the party overwhelms me. It feels like every part of me is on fire, burning for her. I need to do this. I have no choice.
I throw my hands up in the air and summon my magic. Pull it, shape it, tell it to grab on to every flake of snow in sight.
“What the hell?” Chase shouts as all the snow around us rises off the ground.