It was cute how nervous he seemed, that blush remaining as he slipped guards over the blades and got his own skates on. When we were both ready, he helped me hobble to the ice.
At the entrance to the rink, I glanced across the smooth expanse, and tried not to let my nerves get the better of me. Shifters had near perfect coordination, but this was still a frozen bed of water. It felt unnatural to try to traverse it on skinny metal blades.
I’d already accepted that I’d be on my ass more often than not today, but this was important to Finley, which made it important to me. I’d fall a hundred times, as long as he was there to help me up again.
“Are you nervous, Em?” he asked when I hesitated. “You’re the ice queen, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be any good, but I’m willing to try,” I told him.
He helped me remove my guards, and he stepped out first, gliding so effortlessly that it was exactly like magic, as I’d saidbefore. I eyed the ice, my adversary for the day, and took one last fortifying breath.
The first step wasn’t too bad, but as I brought my other foot down and pushed forward, I misjudged the slipperiness and started to wobble. My arms went out for balance, but there was nothing to grab on to. A little shriek escaped as I started to go down, but Finley caught me long before I hit the deck.
He hauled me closer, low chuckles rumbling his chest. “I’d never let you fall, darlin’,” he said patting my back. “Not ever.”
My heart hammered from the close call, or maybe it was being in his arms like this, but either way… Ice skating might be for me after all.
CHAPTER 56
EMME
Finley was a bear of his word, keeping me from landing on the ice as he patiently taught me the basics of skating. My wolf didn’t want any part of it to start with, but once she realized we’d have our mate’s hands on us constantly as he kept us from killing ourselves, she was a much bigger fan.
But like… same.
By the end of the session, I made it all the way around the rink without needing to be caught. When he guided me off the ice, I was all pumped up on adrenaline. “We need to do this again soon.”
Finley’s grip firmed across my hips. “We can come here whenever you want. This is all of my fucking fantasies come to life… minus one.”
The heat in his voice, and the way his gaze locked onto me, had me feeling a little hot under the collar myself. “What fantasy is that?” I had to ask. Which got only a smug grin from him, and I fought down a needy sigh. “Okay, well, if you won’t tell me that, then what’s your third tattoo say?”
Finley’s laughter was a nice reminder that it was okay if I was annoying and pushy. He wasn’t going to turn on me. “I think I’llkeep both of those a secret for a little while longer. I quite like being on your mind.”
I grumbled under my breath. “You’re never far from mind.” Which only had him smiling harder.
He kept his hand on me as we headed for the lockers, and I said, “I still don’t know how you managed to tattoo yourself. Especially words. That must be so hard.”
“It took a long time, and a lot of practicing in a mirror to get all the details right,” he admitted. “The guys helped as well. Hunter is actually pretty good with the gun, as he is with most things he tries. Annoying fucker.” His indulgent smile lessened the harshness of that statement—we all knew he loved his brothers.
“Would you tattoo me?” I asked, and for the first time since we’d put skates on our feet he stumbled.
“You want a tattoo?” he asked.
As if there was any question when faced with how stunning his work was. “Yeah, I’d love one. I’ve been playing with this idea, but without an ounce of artistic ability, I can’t do more than sketch a few stick figures and hope for the best.”
Finley got us moving toward the lockers again. “I can draw up anything you want, and I’d love to get my ink on your virgin skin. But… it’s fairly painful. The ink is infused with magic, which cuts through your natural healing abilities. The pain can last for a few weeks to months, depending on the size and location, until eventually it’s an oddly numb spot.”
Without even having to ask, he’d given me the answer to a question I’d had for a while. It annoyed me to know magic was involved—witches were officially on my shit list—but I couldn’t say I was surprised. “I think I can handle it,” I said, hoping that wasn’t a lie. “I mean, not now when we have all this shit going on and have to head to Europe, but soon.”
Finley looked pleased. “I can’t wait to get my hands on you, Emmeline Anders. I have so many ideas.” The way his gaze caressed down my body had my pulse speeding, and my scent filling the damn locker room as we entered. No way he was only referring to tattoos in that statement.
Whatever had shifted between us early this morning, with his lovelyflowers,was still in full effect, and neither of us were backtracking. We were diving headfirst into it.
Finley helped me out of my skates, and goddess be damned, it felt so good to take them off. I could finally wiggle my toes, and when he used his talented fingers to rub out a few spots on my feet that he somehow knew were aching, I barely suppressed my groan. “Skates take some getting used to,” he said with a chuckle. “I think I’ve permanently changed the shape of my foot by now.”
I laughed with him. “I have no doubt with the amount of time you’re on the ice.”
My boots felt so good when I slipped them back on, and I was one happy shifter as I followed him from the stadium and hopped into the truck. After closing my door, Finley crossed to the driver’s side, and I swore the desire between us was its own beating heart, thudding in the air.
