The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

absolutely irresistible? Why did her mind keep replaying lying in the snow, his warm body against hers? Maybe because it had been her first kiss. Watching him turn to look at her again, she wondered if it really had been as amazing as she remembered.
    Only one way to find out. Closing the distance between them, she bent her neck to look up at him. “Will you kiss me again?”
    “If you’ll let me.” She reached up, slid his sh ades from his face, and dropped them to the snowy ground. He rested his hands against her shoulders and looked as though he was at war with himself before he pulled her toward him, bending his head until his mouth was close to hers. “Remember, you asked,” he whispered, right before he settled his lips against hers.
    Just like before, his taste was the same as his scent—sweet, tart, and spicy, like mulled wine, spiced cider, hot tea—everything warm and wonderful.
    But this kiss wasn’t like the first. Not sweet. Not gentle.
    Maybe he wasn’t the boy next door, maybe he wasn’t even a real boy, but holy smokes, did he know how to kiss. This wasn’t his first rodeo. His hands slid into her hair to hold her head, angling her so he could deepen the kiss. His lips were so warm— almost hot. She stepped into him, her arms sliding beneath his jacket, around his back to cling to his red sweater.
    “I never knew kissing could be this incredible,” she murmured against his mouth. The first one was perfect, but there’d been no open mouths, he’d not been so close that she could feel his chest rise and fall against her.
    “It’s you, Sasha. You’re incredible.”
    Her body took on a will of its own, pushing against him, aligning with his, trembling. Beneath her palms, the muscles in his back stretched and moved when he lowered his hands from her head and wrapped her up in his arms. He broke the kiss and pressed her head to his shoulder, resting his cheek against her hair. “I don’t know why you asked, but I’m glad you did.” She sighed, standing there next to him, inhaling his scent, and admitted she’d hoped it wouldn’t be good, that kissing him wouldn’t be amazing, that she had thought s o only because it had been her first time. Instead, she didn’t want this to end. “Tell me who you are,
    Jax.” “Are you afraid?” He had the strangest eyes she’ d ever seen, he could heal with the touch of his hands, and he could make people forget things, but not once since she’d met him at the top of the lift did she feel afraid. The opposite really. Being with him the past few hours had made her feel everything in her life wasn’t so depressing.
    “You’re not answering. Does that mean you are afraid?” “No. Should I be?” He kissed the crown of her h ead. “Never, Sasha. Never, ever be afraid of me.” “Has this ever happened before? Someone not forgetting?” “You’re the first. But really, ho nestly, it isn’t something I do very often. I fixed your leg so you wouldn’t have to start school in a cast. I kissed you because I wanted to, and I took off my shades so I could see your eyes better. I don’t know why I couldn’t make you forget, but I swear I’ll never try it again.”
    She wanted to believe him. “I should let go of you and walk away.”
    His lips traveled across her face, kissing her forehead, her 100 nose, her temples. “Yes, you should.” She didn’t.
    They stood together, arms wrapped tightly, listening to the wind through the pines while snow fell softly all around. This was one of those moments in life she knew she’d never forget.
    He moved his head so that his lips were close to her ear. “Run, Sasha. If you can do it, run like hell and don’t look back.”
    Her breath came in short little gasps. “I don’t want to run.”
    He kissed her again, holding her so closely, her heels lifted from the ground. She felt his desperation, knew that whatever was happening wasn’t a simple guy and girl thing. It scared her, but she felt so alive