Livia snapped awake to Silvanus whispering, “Cor, Cor—”

He stood in front of the couch and gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, I need Corvin urgently, or I wouldn’t have bothered you—”

Livia turned her head and found that Corvin was still snoozing behind her. “Corvin,” Livia said at normal volume.

He snapped awake.

Silvanus chuckled. “Figures he’d respond to your voice.”

Corvin blinked a few times, confusion evident on his face. “What’s going on?”

“Silvanus needs you,” Livia said.

He ran his hand slowly up Livia’s arm and back down as if processing this. “Silvanus, what is it?”

“You need to come to the den,” Silvanus said, tension in his voice.

Corvin frowned. “Can this wait?”

“Best not to….” Silvanus’ eyes darted toward Livia and then away.

She wondered if they needed to have a discussion about her. Corvin patted Livia’s shoulder. “Let me up, Liv.”

Livia sat up. Corvin escaped and followed Silvanus around the corner and disappeared. Livia went to check on her pies. They were cool to the touch and still smelled delicious. Livia wandered upstairs and found that the older girls were chatting in the attic. Livia approached them and sat, listening to their lighthearted banter.

Thirty minutes later, Corvin and Silvanus, with Prudence and Verity in tow, announced that everyone would be going sledding. After a quick snack, everyone, except the older adults, geared up to go sledding. Livia had a strange feeling that the entire outing was a distraction.

Livia cornered Corvin in the garage before they left. “Is something going on?”

Corvin hesitated. “My dad is taking care of some business, and we want it to remain private for now—”

“On Christmas?” Livia asked. “Is everything alright?”

Corvin gave a bitter smile. “It is bad timing. But we’ll work it out, Hun.”

They marched out in their snow gear to a good-looking hill and started pairing off to share sleds. Corvin went down the first few times with his sister Prudence while Livia went with Alia. Then partners switched up somehow, and Livia ended up wrapped in Corvin’s arms on a sled.

Corvin pushed them off. Livia didn’t know if the sudden swoop in her belly was from rocketing down the hill or how Corvin’s arms tightened around her. A delighted laugh escaped her. Corvin let out a whoop.

When they slid to a stop at the bottom, Corvin loosened his arms and asked, “Wanna go again?”

Livia untangled herself from his limbs and then gave him a grin. “I’ll race you to the top!”

He laughed and jumped to his feet, charging up the hill behind her. Livia laughed when she reached the top. She had to push hard to outpace his long stride. Having a competition was fun.

“I win!” she cried.

Corvin took a moment to gasp for breath. “You got a head start. No fair. Let’s go down again and start at the same time.”

Thus began several rounds of stomach-fluttering sled rides followed by races to reach the top of the hill. They were laughing and breathless as they prepared for a fourth run down the slope. Verity and Mel slid into their path as they rocketed down the hill.

“Corvin!” Livia cried and dug her heel into the snow to slow them down. Instead of slowing them down, it only made them spin out of control. Corvin kicked out with his leg, too, and they flew off the sled and tumbled into the snow. Corvin pulled Livia tight into his chest and took the brunt of the impact.

Livia was furious. “Corvin, you idiot. Don’t protect me! I’m stronger than you! You’re going to break a bone.” Her tone turned worried. “You didn’t break a bone, right?”

Corvin laughed. “I’m fine, Liv. Are you okay?”

Livia hesitated. She didn’t feel any pain, but she wouldn’t. Not unless Corvin grounded her. “I’m not sure. I need—” Livia stopped.

Corvin pinched the finger of his glove between his teeth and tore it off. He reached a hand up and touched her face. “You okay?” he asked.

Livia closed her eyes and exhaled. There wasn’t any pain, but Corvin’s touch made her aware of the energy flowing through her muscles. She felt alive, light, and full of energy. His warm hand on her cheek sent happy tingles racing through her. She inhaled and opened her eyes, looking at Corvin with all the warmth pinging around inside her.

“I’m good,” she said.

His eyebrows rose, and he spoke in a low murmur. “Really good, apparently.”

“Did you know you can feel happiness in your muscles?” Livia asked, closing her eyes again and savoring the feeling.

Corvin laughed. “Yeah, Liv, I know.”

“It’s nice,” she said.

His thumb rubbed back and forth across her cheek. “I’ll bet.”

“Maybe the cold?” she asked.

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“Just be happy,” Corvin said. “Don’t think about it.”

Livia opened her eyes again.

“You guys alright?” Epiphany yelled down.

“We’re good!” Corvin yelled back. “How are Mel and Ver?”

“They’re fine!” Epiphany yelled.

That broke some of the spell, and Livia jumped to her feet. “Race you!”

Corvin was putting his glove back on. “Wait!”

Livia ignored him and started charging up the hill. When she got to the top, Epiphany told her. “We’re all going down once more and then will head inside. We’re done.”

“Okay, sounds good,” she said.

Corvin came huffing up behind her. “Cheater!”

Livia laughed. “This is the last run.”

“Sure,” Corvin said.

Livia and Corvin waited to go last, careful not to get in a situation like they had last time. When they got to the bottom, Livia untangled herself from Corvin. Before she could even issue the challenge to race him and stand upright, he grabbed her boot and yanked on it.

“No cheating,” he barked.

Livia laughed and fell back against him.

“We’ll count to three, so it’s fair,” Corvin said.

Livia waited for Corvin to count to three, but he took off running after he said the number two. Before thinking, she threw herself at him and tackled him to the snow. “You said no cheating!”

He was laughing but managed an offended look anyway. “You tackled me!”

“You tricked me!” she cried.

“Cause it’s the only way I’d get a fair start,” he said, still laughing.

“Well, your legs give you an unfair advantage—”

“Oh, and you being Taurus doesn’t?” he demanded, still smiling.

“Right,” Livia said. “I can’t help that.”

“Oh, like I can help my legs being long?” Corvin asked.

Livia didn’t know how he did it, but he shifted, and suddenly she was rolled over his hip and pinned under him.

“What—” Livia barely had time to gasp before his lips landed on her neck.

Livia was flooded with those happy body signals when his skin touched hers. That prevented her from completely panicking and attacking him. That didn’t stop her from being confused, though. Then Corvin blew air out of his lips, creating an impolite sound.

Her confusion turned to disbelief in an instant, and a laugh bubbled up from deep in her throat. That laugh where all your fears suddenly transform into hysterical laughter. Corvin was playing with her! He lifted his lips, gasped in a dramatic gulp of air, and attacked the opposite side of her neck.

Livia giggled too hard to fight him off. “Corvin!”

His only answer was to take another dramatic gulp of air. Livia knew what was coming this time and had enough presence of mind to ward him off. She rolled them both over in the snow. “I’m going to get you back.”

She expected some resistance, but Corvin didn’t fight her. She rolled them over and over again until they came to a stop with her on top. She slipped her hand under the back of his head. The plan was to lean over, lick his cheek, and then run away, but somehow, maybe because she was dizzy or Corvin shifted, her lips brushed against his.

She gasped, shocked. “That wasn’t the plan.”

Corvin didn’t speak, but his hands pressed into her back, pulling her closer to him, and his head lifted off her palm, seeking another kiss.

A voice called down from the top of the hill. “See you two back at the house!”

Startled, Livia jerked away. Her eyes lifted to the top of the hill. Corvin’s family was marching out in a line.

“Hey,” Corvin whispered. “Do that again.”

Livia looked down at his face. The sound of footsteps crunching in the snow faded in the distance. A hush fell. The only thing she could hear was Corvin’s breathing. She eyed his lips and lifted her gaze to study his eyes.

Corvin’s hands rustled on her back. A glove tumbled over Livia’s shoulder and fell in the snow next to Corvin’s head. He ignored it and brought his bare fingers to her face. His touch was light, almost timid. He traced her jawline with a single finger, then her nose, and continued straight down, trailing his finger over her lips, parting them. The side of his knuckle tucked under her chin, and he urged her forward until her lips were a mere whisper away from his.

Oh, curse him! Curse those quicksilver hazel eyes. Curse her own weakness. She lowered her lips to his. She lied to herself and said it would be quick, but it wasn’t. She lingered over his lips, tasting them over and over. He kissed back gently, pliantly, letting her kiss him as she pleased. Curse him for that too!

Corvin made a noise of pleasure and pressed his hands into her hair, knocking her hat into the snow. Livia found she didn’t mind in the least and followed his example. She tugged her hands from her gloves and pressed them into his hair too.

After a torrent of luxurious kisses, Corvin stopped them. He gave her a last kiss and said, “We need to get back inside, Liv. It’s too cold to stay out much longer.”

Livia rolled off him and gathered her gloves, and put them back on. Her fingers were stiff. Corvin rubbed his hands together and blew on them before he tugged his gloves on. He grabbed the line to the sled with one hand and her hand in the other, leading them back home.

There was something achingly beautiful in the empty white land surrounding them, a fullness in the stillness and a deep peace in Corvin’s companionship. Livia was disappointed when they reached the house, and the moment had to end. They fumbled out of their snow clothes, clumsy from the cold and their twitterpation. Livia laughed more than once as she almost fell over. Shivering, Corvin rushed them out of the freezing garage after they’d put their snow things away.

Corvin wrapped them up in a blanket together in front of the fire. Livia rested her cheek against his chest and let herself thaw in his arms. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and whispered. “Stay with me always, Liv?”

The tone of pleading in his voice startled her. She looked up to see that his eyes were shiny with tears. Surprised that he was so emotional, Livia searched his face. Then answered honestly, “For as long as you’ll have me, Corvin.”

Corvin pressed his forehead to hers, “Forever, then?”

The sweet words caused an ache in Livia’s chest. “I hope.”

“So,” he asked in a hopeful whisper. “You’d marry me?”

Livia gasped. How did she answer that question? The last two days were everything she’d dreamed of for a home, a family. Before that, she’d wanted to be alone and walk away from Corvin. It was confusing. However, she’d decided at Cornelia, when she could trust herself, that being alone was intolerable. She didn’t want to choose an adulthood of isolation, but not choosing that meant choosing this—choosing Corvin. It was a terrifying and intimidating prospect. But she was willing to take a risk.

“When?” she whispered.

Corvin startled eyes searched her face. “When?” he repeated.

Livia’s cheeks heated. She hadn’t answered the right way. She looked down.

“Does that mean yes?” Corvin asked.

Livia lifted her gaze to his, nodding tentatively. “Yes.”

He laughed. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips over hers. Then he pulled away— “When,” he repeated, amused.

Livia laughed. “I’m sorry. Just…I love you. I want to be with you. But how is this going to work out?”

Corvin’s amusement faded. He pushed her hair back from her face and said, “I’m smart. You’re stubborn. We’ll figure it out, Fabulous.”

Livia took a deep breath. There was an avalanche of things to talk about. “Tomorrow? Right? It’s still Christmas.”

Corvin nodded. “Tomorrow, we’ll talk about all the things. Should we tell my family?”

Livia shook her head. “Not until…we figure out if we can make things work.”

Corvin looked like he wanted to argue, but he stopped himself. However, he didn’t seem angry or frustrated. Instead, his eyes burned with curiosity. Livia could sense him restraining his questions.

Dinner on Christmas day was the leftovers from Christmas Eve and the pies Livia had baked earlier that morning. Corvin claimed one for his present and didn’t allow anyone else to touch it. His family didn’t let him get away with it without some teasing but respected his claim to the pie.

Everyone was in good spirits except Aurelia looked more worried than usual. After dinner, Lars and Aurelia insisted on an early bedtime for everyone, and Livia didn’t blame them. Prudence and Verity were cranky despite naps, and even Alia and Mel looked grumpy. Livia helped clean up in the kitchen and then got ready for bed like everyone else. As she settled under her covers, she decided it was the most perfect Christmas day she’d ever had.