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“You are going to survive.” He rolls his baby blues at me. “Don’t exaggerate. After all, you have the best teacher there is in this region.”

“So modest. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Well.” His face gets this serious expression. With the tip of his pointer finger, he’s tapping his chin, deep in thoughts. “It’s quite hard, to be honest. But I’m doing my best.”

He grins, and I can’t help myself but do the same. When he’s like this, he’s too cute for his own good. Not that I think he would appreciate my compliment, or maybe he would but I don’t want to risk him growing an even bigger ego than he already has.

“Now, less talking and more skating.”

Cool fingers wrap around mine in a tight grip.

Derek’s already standing on the ice, in front of the entrance waiting for me to put my foot, or better said skate, on the ice surface.

My eyes look down at the slippery, white ice, uncertainty surrounding me. “I’m going to fall,” I whisper looking at him.

“Do you seriously think I’ll let you fall?”

I shake my head no. Because I don’t.

No matter what, Derek has always been there to catch me.

My fingers wrap harder around his and slowly, I put one foot on the ice. I feel my balance wobble instantly. “Don’t let me fall,” I beg him silently, but the only thing he does is smile.

“I’m here.”

The other foot follows soon, and I hold my breath in anticipation of a fall.

“You are so damn cute.” Derek laughs. “Now, hold on tight. I’ll give you a round or two so that you get a feel for ice, and then you can try it by yourself.”

“I don’t think...” I start, but he starts skating backwards, surprising me completely so the only thing left from my voice is a high pitched shriek.

Derek moves so effortlessly, even with me in tow. We glide over the clean, white surface in silence.

It’s early morning, and Derek just finished with his workout in the gym. And since coach didn’t want us to stay after practice at night, he let Derek and me use the ice before the school.

Derek went as far as putting his gear on, minus the helmet and stick. When I asked him why, he laughed and said it’s better if he stayed this way because if I decide to fall down, at least I’ll have a soft landing. I had to agree with him so I didn’t say anything else on the subject.

Dressed like this he appears even bigger than before. Almost bigger than life. Here, he’s at home, that much is clear to me.

“You see? You are not doing half bad.”

His words bring me out of my mind. It’s so easy for me to get lost in his blue eyes. I could watch him forever and never get bored.

I look at the floor and find my legs moving from side to side. It’s a small movement, but I’m moving!

“Soon I’ll be able to teach you how to play hockey,” he teases.

“Ohh no.” Even the idea of it makes me nauseous. “I don’t think so.”

I jerk in surprise, and the sudden movement makes me trip over my own feet. My body starts to fall forward, but I don’t fall far because Derek’s hands are there to hold me.

“I’ve got you,” he reassures me yet again, his fingers softly moving the loose strand of hair that got in my face behind my ear.

His icy fingers brush against my cheek, and I lean into his touch.

“I like to see you on the ice in my jersey, little one.” He leans into me and whispers. His hot breath touches my skin and makes me shiver.

Derek always does that, he says he likes to see me unnerved. My opinion is, he just likes to torment me. But I’ll take this kind of torment any day of the week if it means I get to feel his lips on mine.

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