Kert pulled me towards the rink set up in front of the tree. “Ice-skating. We have to go.” He squeezed my tentacle.
“Absolutely not. I don’t know how to skate. It’s not the most popular sport in Greece.” And yet, I followed him through the remnants of snow on the ground.
“I’ll hold your hand.” He looked up at me with eyes like tar that were the most beautiful I’d ever seen. “Listen, they’re playing Frank Sinatra. Come on.”
Once again, my love for music from the sixties and seventies got me in trouble.“Fine.” I sighed. “But once my dignity is bruised enough, we’re leaving.”
Kert clapped his hands and skipped to the shelter on the side. We waited in line at a counter where a middle-aged seal shifter with a white mustache and a bored expression rented skates. “Size nine for me please, and thirteen for my friend.” Kert looked over his shoulder at me. “Do I remember correctly?”
“Yup.” I accepted the skates with dread in my gut and headed for a nearby bench.
We tied our skates and stood up.
“This was a mistake.” I wobbled and grabbed Kert’s hand with mine. He was too damn adorable to say no to, and I was a sucker for his smile.
“Go slowly and you’ll be okay.” He led me to the rink’s entrance.
Nodding like the Elvis figurine on my dresser, I let go of him and held onto the barrier.
Kert stepped onto the ice and skated backwards in a small circle, then stopped in front of me with the grace of a figure skater.
“Show off.” I glared at him.
His mischievous grin warmed my chest. “I learned when I was a kid and dad let me skate on grandma’s frozen pond.”
“That sounds dangero—” I gritted my teeth as I took a big step onto the ice and my foot kept going while my other leg remained behind.
“Take small steps, and hold onto my hand.” Kert reached out for me, but it was too late.
I grappled for the railing, flailed my tentacles like a fish in a net, then flopped on my ass with a graceless thud.
Kert extended his hand, biting his lip, his gaze full of amusement.
“Don’t laugh.” I pointed a finger at him, then grabbed his forearm.
Kert snorted. “I’m not. You’re just so strong and graceful all the time, it’s fun to see you so clumsy.”
“Shut up and help me figure this out, you little devil.” I used my tentacles to prop myself up, and kept them an inch above the ice in case I slipped again.
Which I did. My wobbliness never went away, but holding Kert’s hand and slowly skating in a circle filled me with excitement. His icy fingers grew warmer in my grip, reminding me how I used to hold him during cold nights until he’d fallen asleep in my bed.
How could we be so close now, holding hands, and yet so far apart?
Within the hour, I got the hang of the skating thing, even if my ass was bruised and my tentacles a little worse for wear from catching on ice or someone stepping on them with the tip of their blade.
With a sliver of confidence, I pushed off the ice to go faster, still holding onto Kert. I miscalculated, and my legs went forward faster than the rest of my body, as if I were a cartoon character stepping on a banana peel.
I went flying onto my back, taking Kert with me, cushioning his fall by pulling him on top of me. We gasped and burst into afit of deranged giggles. My tentacles wrapped themselves around him, and I didn’t stop them, watching Kert’s face filled with joy above me.
He flicked his forked tongue over the hoop in his bottom lip and met my gaze. Fire coiled inside me every time he did that.
I cupped his cheek, then slid my hand to his nape, pulling him down.
He released a ragged breath and let me kiss him. The gentle touch of our lips sent a zing of electrified elation through me. All too soon, Kert pulled away.
“Marin,mein Schatz.” Kert swallowed. “I’m used to you being comfortable with me, but don’t push yourself to do what you don’t want to for my sake, okay?” He cupped my cheek with his cold hand.
“What?” I processed what he’d said. “I want to kiss you, Kert. I’ve dreamed of it.”
