“No, you ass.” I smacked away the hand he dropped to my thigh. “Skating.”
He threw back his head with a guttural laugh. “So, you’re willing to forego a blow job to fall on your ass?”
I stuck out my tongue at him and opened the door. Given the warmth in the car, the cold air knocked the breath from my lungs for a moment. Rayden came around and circled my waist.
We were ready to step onto the ice when he turned to me, his gaze dropping to my hands. “Where are your mitts, babe?”
“You didn’t exactly tell me how to dress,” I huffed, glad I had the sense to change my dress for jeans and a warmer jacket.
He pulled off one of his gloves. “Put this on.” He took my hand and slipped the thick mitt over.
“Really.” I laughed. “We’re going to wear one each. What about our other hand?”
“Simple.” Linking his bare fingers with mine, he slipped our locked hands into his coat pocket. “This way, I can keep you close.” He rubbed his nose against mine and kissed me. The warmth of his mouth a delicious contrast to his cold lips. “Come on.” He guided me onto the ice.
I wobbled like an inflated balloon man for the next fifteen minutes, making Rayden laugh and me annoyed. Eventually, I crouched, refusing to get up, and he dragged me behind him by the hand until a little girl around six or seven, pointed to us and giggled. When I stuck my tongue out at her, she skated to us.
“Give me your hand.” She held out a hand.
Surprised, I shrugged at Rayden. He pulled me to my feet. The girl took my free hand, cloaking me between her and him.
“This is how my dad taught me to skate. He and mommy used to hold me in between them.”
“Aren’t you a clever girl?” Rayden complimented. She blushed at him.
“You have an admirer,” I teased, and he laughed.
Surprisingly, between the two of them, I managed to stay upright and only slipped once. After ten minutes of actual skating, my little friend let go of my hand but stayed at my side. We stopped several minutes later.
“Can I get you, two lovely ladies, a hot chocolate?” Rayden offered.
I glanced down at the girl, her smile, although broad, her flushed cheeks told me she was shy. “It’s okay,” I said, and she nodded. “Would you like a donut as well?”
“Yes, please.”
When Rayden left, I gestured for her to sit with me. “I’m Sianna. What’s your name?”
“Elenora.”
“What a pretty name.” I smiled. “How old are you, Elenora?”
“I’m eight today.”
“Oh, happy birthday, sweetheart.” She smiled. “Where are your parents?” I glanced around to see if anyone was looking for her.
“They’re not here.” She looked up as Rayden approached and accepted the cup of hot chocolate he handed her.
I frowned. “Where are they?”
“Up there.” She gestured with her chin, taking a sip of her drink.
“You’re alone here?” I asked. Rayden dropped to the bench seat next to her.
“No.” She bit into her donut. “My aunt is.” She glanced away, then pointed to a pretty woman on the rink with two other ladies. The woman looked up at that moment and waved. Elenora waved back. “We come here every year to celebrate my birthday.”
“Without your parents?” I was curious.
“They can’t come.” She took another bite, chewed then looked at me. “My mommy and daddy died on my sixth birthday.” I gasped. “They brought me here that day, but we had a car accident. I hurt my leg and hand,” she rushed on between bites. “My aunt brings me here to celebrate because my mommy asked her to before she died in hospital.” She put her donut on the table, stood, and leaned forward to rub my cheek. “Why are you crying?”
