Winter Fire: A Red Hot Winter Story by Jess Dee

leaving Jackson empty and hollow. And so fucking aroused he ached.
    For several moments he remained where he was, rooted to the spot. Waiting desperately for his erection to subside. The freezing air helped, forcing blood away from his dick and to his heart in an effort to keep warm. His hands were blocks of ice and his toes almost too cold to wiggle.
    His mobile phone buzzed in his back pocket, and he fumbled taking it out, his frozen fingers barely able to hold the phone, let alone press the necessary buttons.
    A text message? At this time of night?
    And then he saw the sender’s name. And the message.
    “I’m going after her. Tonight. Coming?”

Chapter Six
    It was past midnight when the knock came, loud enough that had she been sleeping it would have woken her.
    But she wasn’t sleeping, she was curled in a ball on the couch in front of the fire, desperately trying to get rid of the chill. Rain had begun to fall outside, the drops pelting the roof, dropping the temperature even lower. Wind howled around the windows.
    Her silk pajamas gave her no protection from the cold. Funny that she needed the warmth of the flames, because inside she burned. Heat flowed through her, a persistent reminder of the arousal that would not quit. Of the lust she felt for Garreth and the love she felt for Jackson.
    Yet on the outside she shivered. Her skin was covered in prickles. She simply could not shrug off the cold. No, it wasn’t physical. It was an emotional chill. One that told her all her hard work, all her efforts to get over Jackson had come to naught.
    God help her, she still loved him. So much it hurt just to breathe around him. So much that had he been anyone else’s brother she would have thrown caution to the wind and gone after him. Chased him until she wore down his defenses and made him hers.
    But he wasn’t anyone else’s brother. He was Jenna’s, and Jackson would never hurt his sister. No matter how much he might love Rachel, his first duty would always be to Jenna. Yes, he’d slipped more than once, even slept with her. But he’d rectified that mistake. They both had.
    Garreth had said something earlier in the evening that left Rachel with food for thought.
    You may be Jenna’s best friend, but you’re not the stupid kid who fucked up her life, and it’s not fair to assign that responsibility to you.
    Never had truer words been spoken. Rachel wasn’t that kid. But she was Jenna’s friend, and somehow, because she and Jackson were involved, Rachel now had the potential to become that kid. The person with the power to hurt Jenna. Which was of course nonsense, since Jenna was the last person in the world Rachel would ever hurt.
    Not for the first time, Rachel wondered how Jenna would react if she just came out and told her the truth. If she just confessed her love for Jackson. She’d be upset, no question about it. But would the hurt and disappointment persist? Would Jenna be able to overcome that initial burst of panic? Would she believe that no matter what happened, Rachel would always be her friend? Could she trust Rachel and Jackson enough to know they had no intention of hurting her, that they simply wanted to be together?
    It was a useless debate to have with herself. Jackson would never allow her to speak openly to Jenna.
    The knock came again.
    Rachel knew who it was. And she knew she was going to open the door.
    When she did, Garreth raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t sure you’d answer.”
    Good grief, he was gorgeous. “I’ll always answer when you knock. I’m just not sure I’ll let you in.” Rain fell steadily behind him, and the wind cut a path into the chalet, chilling her to the bone.
    “Let me in, sweet thing. You know you want to.”
    Shit, he was right. She did. She wanted to haul him inside, rip off his clothes and fuck him mercilessly. She also wanted to get the damned door closed so she could trap the heat inside and the cold out. “You sure you want to come in? Knowing I love