During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 55: Desire

"Your curves are like questions I long to answer." - Pablo Neruda (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair)

Translator: Wuxia Studio, Editor: M.H Lovecraft (Enochian_)

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Lin Yiyang, despite his well-fitting clothes, remained fully clothed. Yin Guo lay beneath the quilt, their physical connection limited to him holding her close while murmuring softly. She couldn't see much from her position, the anticipation building with each passing moment.

His hand drifted down, searching for the familiar warmth of her shorts. A single copper button yielded to his touch, and he hesitated at the entrance. A flicker of confusion passed through Yin Guo's eyes, a subconscious resistance stirring within her. Lin Yiyang, instead of the anticipated kiss, simply watched her, gauging her reaction. The lingering promise of a kiss, now seemingly postponed indefinitely, gnawed at her nerves.

The memory of him cupping the pristine snow on the mountaintop earlier that day flashed through her mind. Images of his strong fingers digging into the white expanse, then suddenly going limp, replaced the present scene.

It was as if a switch had been flipped  a momentary chaos of swirling black shadows and blinding white light, a jumbled sequence of white then black, or black then white? The details were lost, erased like a corrupted file. All that remained was a profound tiredness that seeped into her bones, a complete relaxation spreading from her fingertips to her toes.

Her muscles, seemingly screaming in unison, echoed a single plea, exhaustion.

"How are you feeling?" Lin Yiyang's voice finally broke the silence.

Yin Guo managed a soft hum, "Strange... but incredibly comfortable."

A few minutes later. .

Yin Guo burrowed deeper into Lin Yiyang's embrace, clinging to him like a sleepy koala. For a blissful half-minute, her mind was a quiet blank. The only movement was the gentle rasp of her nose nuzzling against his collarbone. Her dazed eyes, still clouded with sleep and aftereffects, made him think she might not even fully comprehend what had just transpired.

Exhaustion finally claimed her. Turning over seemed an impossible feat, and a raw, burning sensation filled her throat. It wasn't thirst, but a deeper ache, the echo of her body's intense response. Nestled in his arms, she mumbled against his chest, her voice hoarse, "Just ten minutes... let me sleep for ten minutes."

Those were her last coherent words before succumbing to sleep.

Lin Yiyang watched her drift off, he gently slipped two circular bands, resembling rubber loops, onto her wrists and ankles. She stirred slightly, frowning as the bands secured themselves snugly. There was no resistance, no attempt to loosen the gentle pressure. These were the last conscious motions before sleep fully embraced her.

"Mosquito repellents," Lin Yiyang murmured softly, his voice barely a whisper. "They're for kids, but I thought they might be cute. Just try them, okay?"

These were the last words that reached her ears before sleep swept her away.

***

A rustle and a faint scent of citronella roused Yin Guo from sleep. Disoriented, she blinked at the darkness within the cabin. Through the thin walls, she felt cool, slick hands against her own. Lin Yiyang. He was muttering under his breath, a hushed apology punctuated by the hiss of a lotion bottle.