Lock down on Ice

Chapter 3

Vanessa didn't know what had just happened, why did she shout at her celebrity in their first proper session? She looked at her charge, his handsome face looked crestfallen. Just moments ago she was scared, he had picked her up without warning. She was used to men lifting her so why did he frighten her? No, fear wasn't the right emotion. She looked at him again, he was truly beautiful, his big brown eyes were so soulful that it seemed like a 100 year old man lived behind them. His flawless skin glowed and matched whatever colour outfit he wore, just like now, his light grey hoodie perfectly set off the caramel colour of his face. He even smelled amazing, she found that she couldn't let him go after a hug, she wanted to breathe in his lovely scent forever. So being picked up by him and held so tight her lungs couldn't take in air was the last straw, she didn't need to be reminded of his strength too. She needed this relationship to be strictly platonic, for her sanity as well as their safety.

"It's ok, I just want to make sure we are safe at all times, that's all." She reassured. "Come on, let's start again." She tried to soften her voice and show him she wasn't angry anymore. He didn't say anything, or even look at her, he just slowly lowered himself to the floor and pulled on his skates. She knelt by his feet and tied his laces. Now she really did feel like a mother or a teacher. When they were both secured, she heard a small voice say thank you. She couldn't believe such a big man could make such a tiny sound. She held out her hand to help him up but he didn't take it, he got up himself and headed towards the ice. Was it pride or annoyance? Had she ruined the skating relationship before it had even started? She felt her eyes burn at the thought of him requesting another partner. In a panic she caught up to him and reached for his hand. Perri stopped in his tracks and looked down at her.

"I'm really sorry." She said, as clearly as she could with her voice breaking. Perri picked up on her distress and squeezed her hand.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault" he said "I was stupid" he finished, looking back at the floor.

"How about we agree to forget about it and get on the ice before it melts" She replied, she hoped she could lighten the mood. She was relieved when she saw him smile.

"I might stay upright if it was just water." He joked.

"Idiot!" she replied lightly and led him on to the ice.

After only five minutes Vanessa knew she had a potential champion. He was only a little unsteady on his skates but even after 15 minutes she could see an improvement, and now he could jump, he could stop, he could skate in an arc and he was picking up speed. She was almost breathless with excitement. I can't believe how quickly you are picking this up Perri.

"Really?" He asked incredulously, his eyebrows shot up and he pulled his mouth into a scowl. "I'm rubbish!" he scoffed. Vanessa skated over to him and put her hands on her hips again sternly.

"Perri Kiely, you are so far from rubbish it's ridiculous" She shouted. Perri flinched, he clearly wasn't used to being told off so much. She took his arm and pulled him to one end of the rink. "I want to see how fast you can skate. Do you remember the stopping move I showed you?" he nodded "Good, when I say go, race me to the end and stop." She looked at him to make sure he understood, she saw him nod again and hunker down prepared to skate off. "GO!" she screamed. He launched off just as quickly as she did, but then to her shock he overtook her and screeched to a stop just before he hit the boards, she came in a second later. She stared at him while she caught her breath. "H...How?"

"I skated like you asked." Perri replied, confused. Vanessa shook herself out of her shock and smacked him on the arm. Perri jumped and looked at her while he rubbed his arm "Ow!" he said pointedly.

"I mean how did you skate so fast?" she clarified, then she narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to move away from her in case she slapped him again. "Have you had figure skating training before?" She demanded. It was Perri's turn to look shocked.

"What makes you say that?" he couldn't hide his astonishment.

Vanessa looked up at him, her mind wondered back to his smooth skin, she wanted to see if it was as soft and as silky as it looked. Her admiration of him turned to irritation at herself for this blip. "Never mind!" She huffed. "You're clearly not a beginner." She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the rink edge. "Let's try a more advanced move." She maneuvered him into position then let and go of his arm. She fought hard to push back thoughts of how cute he looked as she pushed and pulled at him, his doe eyes looking at her inquisitively. "Now, I'm going to skate a move and I want you to copy me, OK?"

"Ok" Perri said in a small voice. She smiled instinctively when she heard it and bit her lip to stop herself throwing her arms around him.

Vanessa pushed off and skated in a wide circle, raising her leg when she had built up enough momentum and curled into spin with her arms outstretched to her sides then used her toe pick to come to a sudden stop.

"You...want me to do ...that?" Perri asked, his eyes wide.

"Yes" She gave him a defiant stare. Perri just stood there. She put her hands on her hips again and gave him her fiercest glare yet.

"No way!" he said firmly and returned her defiance. She skated up to him and straight into him expecting her movement to start his but he had planted himself like a tree so she just bounced off him. He put his arms around her waist to make sure she didn't fall and she found herself struggling to remove herself from his hold a second time. He didn't keep her for long and let go as soon as it was clear she was steady. She wasn't going to get anywhere with him being so stubborn, so she changed tactic.

"Look, I don't want to force you." She cooed after a pause as she took both his hands in hers. "How about we do the first one together?" Her softly, softly tactic was cracking the wall he had built around himself and he allowed her to pull him to her. She placed one of them around her waist, he splayed his fingers and she watched as his hand almost covered her entire stomach. "And..." She stretched her arm out and pulled his other hand to her side and pushed off with her foot. She was delighted that he caught on immediately and matched her feet movements. He had copied the entire move, it felt so nice skating with him, it didn't feel like he was a beginner at all. She saw that he was growing more confident, so she let go of him. "Now, do it on your own." She urged.

Perri followed the move perfectly, there was no sign of a wobble. Vanessa couldn't stop herself from smiling at him. He came to a solid stop and beamed at her. The normally professional professional skater rushed over to him and threw her arms around whatever they could reach which was only his upper arms.

"I knew you could do it!" she squealed.