I sigh, shaking my head. “And there was me thinking you were going to say something romantic.”
“What, the flowers aren’t enough?”
“I never said that. But a few swoony, oh-my-gosh-turn-my-legs-to-jelly comments wouldn’t go amiss. I’m just sayin’.”
“Fine. I’ll work on that.”
I nod my head once, grinning up at him. He pays the fee for the skating, and we collect two pairs of skates. I put my empty take-out cup in the bin, holding onto Bing’s arm to steady myself.
Wow, okay. These aren’t great for the old balance. I hold onto my ear.
“What are you doing?” he asks, looking down at me amused.
“I’m keeping my balance. Ears help that shit, you know.” I watch as Lexy guides Alec on the ice. He slips almost straight away, and she laughs, struggling to hold him up. “Alec should try it.”
Bing turns his face towards the rink just as Alec falls backwards. Lexy falls with him, laughing loudly.
“So you’re trying to stop that?” Bing looks back at me.
“No, it’s obviously my goal to fall flat on my ass. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“That might not be such a bad thing.”
“Of course it would be bad. We’re not just talking any ass here. We’re talking my ass.”
“And it’s a very nice ass.”
“Thank you.”
“One that I’d have no issues with rubbing better should you fall on it.” He grins wolfishly.
I sigh, holding onto the side of the rink as I pull myself onto the ice. “I should have guessed that was coming.”
Bing gets onto the ice, skating round me. “It’s one of my special qualities.”
“The ability to make anything x-rated?”
“No.” He shakes his head, and skates forward. He takes my hands from the side. I squeak. “Just the ability to make anything about you x-rated.”
“I want to hold the side. Let me hold the side.” I squeeze my eyes shut as he pulls me slowly across the ice. “And enough with the x-rated. You’re supposed to be romancing me, not seducing me.”
I squeal loudly as he pulls me into him. I wobble a little on the skates, holding his hands tighter. He chuckles quietly, and my face presses into his chest.
“Jen,” he whispers, lowering our arms. “I can’t help it if my thoughts are x-rated about you. It’s not my fault if every single part of me is attracted to you. I can’t help wanting to be inside you in every way – in your body and in your heart. And I can’t help it if I’m falling into you with every smile and sarcastic comment. I can’t help that I’ve been falling a little more every day since I met you again.”
My heart misses a few beats, like a drunken leprechaun doing a tap dance, and I slowly raise my head up. My eyes meet his, and they’re full of sincerity.
“See, you can be romantic.” I tilt my head to the side, a smile playing with my mouth.
“I’m trying,” he whispers, his lips twitching. “But it’s you. You make me romantic, Jen, because I want to be everything you deserve and more.”
My lips part a little, and I lean up, pressing them against his in a kiss that’s so short, but so long at the same time. It may only last for a few seconds, but time is irrelevant when your heart is the one in control.
Because in that moment, with our hearts in control of our feelings, they could have been as old as time itself.
~
BING
I grin at Jen as she leans against the side of the rink, both her and Alec gripping onto it for dear life.
“I refuse to skate anymore,” she cries. “My ass has taken more of a beating than a whore with a penchant for spanking!”
Lexy bends over, her hands on her knees, laughing. Alec grins.
“‘A whore with a penchant for spanking?’” I repeat.
“Mhmm.” She raises her eyebrows. “You wait. I bet it’ll be black and blue. Let’s face it, guys, Alec and I can’t ice skate any more than a nun can have sex. Let’s save ourselves the trouble-”
“And the sore asses,” Alec mutters.
“And the sore asses…” I wink at him. “…And go and do something else. Please?”
“You’ve barely tried it,” my sister implores through her laughter.
“Yes, Princess, because your laughter is oh so encouraging,” Alec says dryly. “It’s really making me want to go back out there and skate.”
“I’m with you, Al, I’m with you.” Jen holds her hand up to him, and he smacks it in a high five.
“What were you thinking of?” I sigh, taking off my hat and running my fingers through my hair.
“I want to go to the market,” Lexy says, looking longingly in that direction.
“Ooooh!” Jen claps her hands, slips, and grabs the side again. “Damn skates.”
“Of course,” Alec mutters. “Why wouldn’t they? I mean, the definition of their existence is to shop. What are the chances we’d leave here without having to go to the Christmas Market? Wishful thinking right there.”
I nod in agreement, slapping his shoulder. “I’m with you, mate.”
“Everyone seems to be with me tonight.”
“That’s ‘cause you’re the only one speaking sense.” I crook my thumb over my shoulder. “Those two? Shopping?”
Alec pulls himself along the ice on the side. “Anywhere we can go for a beer?”
“Not a chance.” Lexy glides past us smoothly. “We’re shopping, then beer.”
“Really?” I look at her.
“Well. It depends who’s driving.” She shrugs.
Alec and I look at each other, resigned. “Shopping and no beer. Excellent.”
“Poor baby,” Jen coos, reaching over and grabbing my cheek.
I grab her arm and pull her away from the side. She shrieks, holding onto me for dear life. I laugh, amused by the shock on her face.
“Where’s the tough sarcasm now, babe?” I chuckle into her ear.
“It’s building up ready to kick your ass later,” she replies, smiling sweetly at me.
“I can’t wait.” I kiss her, taking her soft lips with mine.
There’s something about kissing her. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like I could live quite happily if all I ever got to do was kiss her. I could do it all day, every day, and never get bored of the feeling of her lips moving against mine the way they do.