“We’ve got supplies if it does. Hope it waits until this coffee is brewed, though,” he added with a wry smile. He warmed the insulated carafe with hot water so it would hold the heat of the coffee better when he filled it. If the power went out, he’d at least have a carafe of coffee that would stay warm for a few hours.
The lights flickered again and they both held their breath for a moment. When nothing more happened, they exchanged smiles of relief. Connor plucked a banana from a bunch hanging from a stainless steel holder on the counter and began to peel it.
“At least the temperature is supposed to rise above freezing tomorrow afternoon,” he commented. “The ice shouldn’t last long. Doubt that schools will be open tomorrow, though, because the morning commute’s going to be bad.”
“As long as the power stays on…”
“Maybe it will.” Finishing the banana in three big bites, he tossed the peel into the garbage. “Want some coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He filled cups for both of them, then poured the rest into the carafe. He had just turned to hand Mia her coffee when the lights flickered again, and then the room was pitched into darkness.
It was just after 5 p.m., but between the short winter day and the heavily clouded skies, it might as well have been midnight. Not a glimmer of light came through the curtained windows. A faint glow from the direction of the living room came from the fire, but that light didn’t penetrate into where they stood.
He heard Mia inhale on a hiss. “What’s wrong?”
“I spilled coffee on my hand. Stupid.”
Fumbling to set his own cup on the counter, he reached carefully for hers. “Give me your cup. How bad is the burn?”
“Not too bad. Just stings.”
He was sure it did. The coffee was still very hot.
Together, they managed to set down her cup. Groping in the darkness, Connor turned on the cold water at the sink and instructed Mia to give him her scalded hand. With his arm around her shoulders, he guided her hand into the flow to make sure all the hot coffee was washed off.
“Does that feel better?” he asked, wishing he could see the extent of the damage. He’d set out a couple of electric lanterns in case they needed them, but of course they were out of reach, he thought with an exasperated shake of his head. One sat in the living room, the other on the table near his books.
“I’m fine, Connor,” she assured him. “It was just a few drops. Probably no more than a couple of red dots on my skin. I hardly even feel them now.”
He turned off the water and groped for a paper towel so they could dry off. He dabbed at her hand, himself, his head close to hers in the shadows. “Just stand here while I make my way to the electric lantern,” he instructed. “No need for us both to go stumbling around in the dark.”
She laughed quietly, her breath brushing his cheek. “There’s never a flashlight within reach in these situations, is there?”
“There’s a flashlight in the drawer by the stove. I meant to set it out on the counter, but I forgot. I can probably get to the lantern before I can find the flashlight.”
“Okay. I’ll wait unti
l you get it and then we’ll pull out the flashlight and light some candles and…um.”
Maybe she’d just become aware of how closely they stood. His head bent over hers, his hands still holding hers, their breath intermingling. Without the hum of electrical appliances, it was so quiet in the room that he could almost hear his own heart beating, the rate quickening.
“Connor—”
It was easier than he might have expected to find her mouth in the darkness. His lips closed over hers with accuracy and after a fraction of a second of hesitation, hers parted in welcome. She made a little sound at the back of her throat. Before he could decide if it was protest or pleasure, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him more deeply into the kiss.
He slid his hands down her slender back, stopping at the curve of her hips to settle her against him. There was no hiding his response to her; he didn’t even try. It seemed the more he tried to fight his reactions to her, the stronger they became.
If she didn’t know by now that his feelings for her had been undergoing a change during the past few months, then she simply hadn’t been paying close enough attention.
He plunged his tongue into her mouth, savoring the taste of her. She murmured again and tightened her fingers around his neck, her fingertips buried in his hair. Unbidden, his mind filled with thoughts of those soft hands on his bare back, gripping his shoulders, sliding down to his hips. The images swirled in his head until he’d lost any semblance of coherency. Lights flashed behind his eyelids, but they weren’t generated by the power company, rather by the heat building between him and Mia.
She drew in a shuddering breath when he released her mouth, his forehead resting against hers. “We weren’t going to do that again.”
His own voice was gravelly. “I didn’t plan on it.”
“I know.” She unlocked her clasp around his neck, but didn’t move away from him. Instead, her hands slid down to grip the front of his shirt as he continued to hold her. “I don’t know how to handle this.”