Eventually, I feel like I’m doing it. And it’sfun.It’s a rush unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I’m still slow, to be fair, but I’m getting more comfortable leaning into the turns, and I don’t feel like I’m going to lose control of my speed.
Jett has been a constant, steady presence the entire time. Making sure I don’t fall, watching me from below and giving me pointers. He never makes me feel dumb, or silly. And when he praises me for doing something well? The warmththat skitters down my spine is enough to heat my entire body, even with the wind chill up here.
“You can go and do a black diamond run if you want,” I suggest, as I approach him at the bottom of the hill.
We’ve been up and down this bunny hill almost a dozen times already this morning, and I’m positive he’s getting bored, though there’s no evidence of it on his face. “You know, if you’re getting tired of going so slow all the time.”
“I’m good right here,” he says, placing a firm hand on the small of my back and guiding me toward the conveyor belt he calls the magic carpet that’s been taking us back up to the top.
The sensation of his hand sends a ripple through my core, that settles at the apex of my thighs. I squeeze them together, unsure of what to do about the feeling.
“I like teaching you, wife.”
Heat blooms across my face, and I hope my expression doesn’t give away my thoughts. Because I can’t help but think about all the other things Jett could teach me, too.
We ride the rest of the magic carpet in silence, and I’m finally comfortable enough out here to look up and take in my surroundings.
The sky is a clear blue, no clouds in sight, and the way the sun hits the trees makes the snow-covered boughs shimmer and sparkle.
“Are you ready to level up?” Jett asks, and my heart lurches. I’ve only just gotten comfortable on the bunny hill. “I think you’re ready.”
“You have a lot more faith in me than you should,” I chuckle, but the sound that comes out must give away my nerves.
“Not anything crazy, just one level up,” he explains, and it puts me at ease, but only slightly. “It’s called a green run, and I know of one at the peak that’s still fairly easy.”
My mouth twists as I consider, and I glance over to where people are lined up to get on the chairlift.
“I have to get on that thing?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“You’ll be fine,” Jett reassures me, and then as if he knows exactly what I need to hear he says, “I’ve got you.”
I decide to trust him, because so far he hasn’t steered me wrong, and he’s my husband after all. I should trust my husband at least a little. You have to give trust to get it, right?
It doesn’t go horribly, though he has to grip me by the waist to make sure I’m close enough to him to get on the seat. I can’t say whether it’s adrenaline or the nearness of him that’s making my heart flutter.
My feet lift off the ground, the sway and bob of the chair makes my stomach lurch, and my body tenses as we rise up and up, above the treetops. All the other skiers on the run are but tiny, colourful specs, weaving their way down the hill.
Jett puts the safety bar down around us, and I relax a little.
“Are you good?” He asks.
All I can offer in response is a nod and tight squeak. “Mhmm.”
“I know it can be nerve wracking the first time, but look.”
Jett twists in his seat to look behind us and I follow suit, careful not to get too close to the edge of the tiny bench seat.
We’re high enough now that from this vantage point, wecan see miles and miles of mountain range, until it fades out of sight.
White, snow-covered peaks rise up in between low hanging clouds, and the sun is starting to set, highlighting everything in pastel purples and pinks.
“It’s so beautiful,” I breathe.
When I glance back at Jett, he’s already looking at me, his dark brown eyes roaming over my face as I take it all in.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“This is my favourite part,” he says, and all I can do is nod.
