Baby, It's Cold Inside

Chapter Four

I've been around the ice a few times now with Victor and Luke, having graduated from simple gliding to actual skating.

Sort of. It's not pretty and I'm wobbly, but I'm getting by on my own at least.

"Do you want to take a break?" Victor asks.

I nod.

"We'll skate over to the next bench," Luke says. "Let yourself slow down and come to an easy stop when we get close.

I keep my skates on the ice now, just gliding and let myself slow. As the bench gets closer, I turn out my left foot and shift my weight to it to stop.

And fall flat on my butt.

"Oh!"

Luke and Victor rush to my sides, kneeling next to me.

From across the ice I hear, "Baby!"

"Are you okay, Princess?"

I nod again then start to giggle with embarrassment. "I lost my balance."

"No kidding, cupcake." Luke chuckles. "At least you got your first fall out of the way, and it was a lot prettier than North's."

Victor grins, and they each take one of my hands to help me up. "You're adorable even when you fall."

"Ridiculous, isn't it?" Luke smiles as he rolls his eyes at me. "Upsy daisy."

They help me up and my skates start to slide forward out from under me with the motion. I bend forward to compensate, almost kissing the ice.

"Whoops! Hold on!" Luke laughs as he puts a hand in front of me to stop me from falling on my face.

His hand lands squarely on my left breast and we all freeze.

I guess more accurately, my left breast lands squarely in his hand.

All I can think about is the fact his palm and fingers are there, holding... me, and every other thought leaves my poor brain.

Victor rights me up, removing me from the contact. Luke's hand is still outstretched and slightly cupped like it's frozen in time, a far away look on his face.

I turn to Victor, knowing my face is heated.

He has an amused expression. "Come on Princess, I'll take you to the bench."

We turn to leave Luke with whatever thoughts are in his head that I'm sure I don't want to read.

"Are you all right Miss Sorenson?"

Mr. Blackbourne comes to an unsteady, but much better, stop with Gabe next to him.

I smile. "I'm fine, I just leaned too far back I think."

"You'll eventually figure it out." Meanie grins at me.

"We're going to take a break for a bit," Victor tells them.

"That sounds like a good idea," Mr. Blackbourne agrees. His eyes narrow over my head. "What's wrong with Mr. Taylor?"

I look back at Luke who is now coming to join us and has the goofiest smirk on his face.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary." Meanie laughs. "What shit have you gotten yourself into?"

Oh god. I'm not so naive that I don't realize why he looks that way.

Luke masks his face when he sees mine. "Just daydreaming."

Mr. Blackbourne looks from me to Luke but doesn't say more.

We go over to the bench to sit. It's one that looks like it sits at the edge of a forest and a "deer" is nearby. As I step into the snow to get there, I realize how realistic the snow is. Feeling more secure, I scoot down and take off my glove to feel.

It feels like snow!

Victor crouches next to me, making a snowball with it. "Snow machine." He smirks, his eyes lighting up and tossing it at Gabe's back.

"What the hell!" Gabe yells, spinning around, but he's smiling.

I can't imagine how much this all cost him.

He must read the thoughts on my face because he helps me stand and looks at me seriously. "This is something I wanted to do for you." He looks around the place. "And it's something that others are able to enjoy as well for weeks to come." His eyes capture mine once more and I'm warmed by the heat behind them. "It was worth every penny just to see the look on your face when we walked in, and I'd do it a thousand times over."

I melt.

What did I ever do to deserve him in my life?

A small snowball smacks me on my shoulder.

I look in surprise at Gabe's overly innocent face.

Game on.