Kiss of Frost

New York.'

Logan's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny any of it. We both knew he had a reputation as a man-whore, whether or not it was actually true.

'What was I doing? I was trying to have somefun,' I snapped. 'That's what we're all here for this weekend, remember? To get totally drunk, wasted, and hook up with random kids from the other academy. According to Daphne, it's a yearly tradition. Besides, what do you care? You came here with Savannah tonight-not me.'

Logan stared at me, emotions flickering in his bright blue gaze. 'I do-I do care,' he finally said, running his hand through his dark hair and melting the flakes of snow that had gathered there. 'More than I should. Way more than I should.'

These were the words I'd wanted him to say to me for weeks now, ever since I'd asked him out back in the fall. Even now, they made my whole body quiver with happiness. But I was so angry at him for coming between Preston and me-for butting in when he shouldn't have and ruining the moment. Who I talked to was none of his damn business. Ditto for who I made out with.

The happiness and anger battled for control in my chest like a pair of ancient Greco-Roman wrestlers. It didn't take long for the anger to put the happiness in a headlock.

'You care? Really? It sure doesn't seem like it to me, since every time I turn around, you're sticking your tongue down Savannah Warren's throat-right in front of me.'

Logan grimaced. 'You don't understand. I like Savannah just fine, but you're-you're different, Gypsy girl. Special. You always have been, ever since that first day when you ran into me out on the quad and gave me a piece of your mind.'

I arched an eyebrow. 'Different? Special? Really? If I'm sospecial,if I matter somuchto you, then why did you turn me down when I wanted to go out? Huh, Logan? Why would you do that if you weresointo me?'

He didn't answer, but I could see the anguish flickering in his eyes. The hurt in his face made me want to reach out, to comfort him somehow, but I pushed away the feeling and made my heart as cold as the snow falling around us. I had to be ruthless right now, just like he'd been when he told me that we couldn't be together, that we couldn't even go out on one simple date.

'Let me guess. You're still keeping that big, big secret from me. The one you think I can't handle. The one that will make me not like you anymore.' I rolled my eyes. 'Whatever. I don't want to understand you and your stupid, twisted logic anyway. Just leave me alone, Spartan, and I'll do the same to you.'

I whirled around and stalked away, heading toward the hotel.

'Gwen. Stop. Please.'

He called me by my name, which meant he was serious. That was the only time he used my name, instead of jokingly referring to me as 'Gypsy girl,' the nickname he'd given me the first day we'd met. For once, I was too pissed to care. I kept walking.

But Logan had other ideas. I hadn't taken three steps before he grabbed my arms and turned me around. Stupid Spartan reflexes. He was so much quicker than I was. It just wasn't fair, and his grip was too strong for me to easily break. Before I knew it, Logan had backed me up against the corner of the building. We stood in the shadows, out of sight of the windows and the bright glow of lights spilling out of the coffee shop.

Logan's face was close to mine-so close that his hot breath caressed my cheek. So close that I could see the silvery flecks in his ice blue eyes. So close that I could smell his faint, spicy scent. So close that I could feel the strength of him pressing against me, making me ache for something I knew would be scary and wonderful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Something that made me long to be alone in the dark with him, touching him skin to skin-with no secrets of any kind between us. Just feelings-all these feelings.

The flakes of snow kept pouring down, and clouds of frost filled the air between us, our breaths kissing back and forth. Looking at us from a distance, you would have probably thought we were a couple who'd snuck out of the party early to have a little quiet time together. But we weren't a couple, we weren't those happy people at all, and that realization made me miserable.

Because even now, I wanted him to kiss me-wanted him to want me just as much as I did him.

'Look, I'm sorry,' Logan said in a low voice. 'I just didn't like seeing you with that other guy. I saw the two of you talking through the window, and when you got up, I knew you were leaving with him.'

'You're such a damnhypocrite. You had no right to come out here and get between us,' I whispered in a fierce voice. 'No right at all. Not while you're with Savannah.'

'I know.'

He didn't say anything else, and the snow continued to drift down, a curtain shutting out the rest of the world. Even the noise of the party seemed dim and distant now. Or maybe that was because Logan was filling up my senses until there wasn't room for anything else.

The seconds stretched out and turned into a minute, then two. Still, he didn't say anything-he just kept looking at me with his blue, blue gaze.

'Kiss me or let me go,' I finally said in a miserable voice, hot tears stinging my eyes. 'I don't care anymore.'

Logan's face softened. 'I never meant to hurt you. That's the last thing I would ever want to do. I care about you too much for that, Gwen.'

Gwen. I closed my eyes at the sound of him saying my name. At the faint rumble of his deep, sexy voice. I couldn't bear to look at him. Maybe it was dark and twisted of me, but right now, for this one second, I wanted to pretend that wewerea couple. That we really were out here in the dark — alone-together.

'Gwen,' Logan repeated, a faint, pleading note in his voice.

I still didn't open my eyes. Silence. Then-

'Gwen.' A husky whisper, full of all the longing I felt.