Snow falls outside the cabin window while ell woods keeps her naked by the fireplace. Firelight licks across her skin the same way her tongue licks across her lower lip in ell woods. She drizzles warm honey across her breasts, letting it trail downward before chasing every drop with eager fingers in ell woods. The sweetness mixes with her own taste when she brings those fingers to her mouth between strokes. Flames roar louder as she nears the edge in ell woods; her final cry is swallowed by crackling wood. Spent, she lies on the bearskin rug, honey and satisfaction glistening—ell woods is winter’s hottest contradiction.