Driven Snow by Tara Lain Page B

you might like.” He set the food down and made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Your feast, my lovely.”
    What could he say? Snow got up and walked to his now-defined spot on the rug, where he sank down cross-legged.
    Riley flopped down opposite him. “See, I knew you’d look comfortable somewhere.” He folded his legs, and even though they were very long legs, he still managed to look graceful.
    Snow peered at the boxes. “What did you guess I’d like?”
    Riley opened a container and poured liquid into two bowls. Whew, glad I bought the bowls. “I thought you’d like egg flower soup, since it’s warm and nourishing, and full of sunshine, just like you.”
    Was it possible his heart stopped beating entirely?
    Riley opened a carton and removed two crisp-looking cylinders. “And spring rolls, since I bet that is your favorite season.”
    “It… it is.”
    “Then I got some cashew chicken and prayed you weren’t a vegetarian. But it’s my favorite.”
    Snow squinched his lips. “I can eat chicken, but not with the cashews. I’m allergic to nuts.”
    “I’ll remember that in future. Meanwhile, it’s a good thing I got some moo shu vegetables too.” Riley carefully laid out plum sauce on thin pancakes and loaded them up with veggies, placing two on Snow’s plate and one on his own. “That will help make up for the chicken.” Funny. He didn’t take any of the cashew chicken for himself either.
    Snow shook his head. “I really don’t eat that much.”
    “We need to keep you fed. You’re only as big as a bird.”
    Yeah, a turkey.
    Riley raised his wineglass and held it out. “To physics.”
    Snow picked up his wine and stared at the almost clear liquid. “To physics.”
    “And the laws of affinity and attraction.”
    He swallowed. “The laws of affinity were replaced by the laws of quantum chemistry and chemical thermodynamics some time back.”
    “Oh?” Riley handed Snow a bowl of soup and a spoon. “You’ll have to explain that to me in detail sometime.”
    He tried to chew the moo shu without getting plum sauce on his khakis. “Are you planning on taking more physics next semester?”
    “No.” Riley sipped a little soup. “But I’m very interested in chemistry.” He grinned until his dimples looked like tiny craters in a satin surface.
    Dear God. Snow grabbed his spoon and scooped. The too-hot soup hit his tongue. Ow! He dropped the spoon and coughed, spewing chicken broth and bits of egg a foot in front of him, including on Riley’s knee. Ow. Ow.
    Smooth move, lover boy.
    Riley grasped his arm. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry. I heated it in the microwave. I should have warned you it was so hot.”
    “So sorry.”
    “Did you burn your tongue? Let me see.” He came up on his knees and pulled Snow to kneeling in front of him.
    Snow stuck out his tongue.
    Riley leaned in. “It’s kind of red. But not too bad. Maybe I should kiss it and make it better.”
    “Wh-what?” His tongue popped back in his mouth.
    “Definitely think I should—if you wouldn’t mind.” Riley’s big hand traveled from Snow’s arm to his neck. “But I have to see it if I’m going to administer first aid.”
    Snow just stared at the gold eyes getting closer and closer to him.
    “Come on. Let me see the wound.”
    In a year he couldn’t show Riley Prince all his wounds. Slowly he slid out his tongue.
    Riley stared at the throbbing tongue, his breath warming Snow’s nose. Then, gently, ever so gently, he took the tip between his lips and sucked.
    Oh my God, what’s happening?
    If you don’t know, idiot, you don’t deserve it.
    Like the answer to a prayer, Riley pulled Snow’s tongue deeper into his own mouth and sucked harder.
    Every function in Snow’s being shut down—except sound. That was definitely a moan pouring out of his chest. No, wait. A similar sound came from Riley as he wrapped his arms around Snow and pulled him closer. Wow. He’d never even dared to dream this