Page 62 of Nodus Tollens
We tasted, nipped, and fell even further. It lasted for about a minute longer before he pulled away and dropped his forehead onto mine.
“I was dying to do that when I first saw you.” He chuckled sweetly.
A rare smile formed as I ran my hand up and down his chest until it landed on his beating heart.
“Then why didn’t you?” I questioned. Peering up into his eyes, I searched for an answer.
“I promised myself I was going to be good and kiss you at the end of our date like a gentleman.”
My heart soared.
“And what happened?” I chuckled.
“You happened, Blue. It’s nearly impossible not to kiss you.” He groaned while staring down at my mouth like it was some sacred place to him. “But I can promise you for the rest of our date, I will be a complete and total gentleman. No more kissing.”
Pulling his forehead from mine, he also took a step backward, causing a feeling of emptiness to flood me.
“No more kissing, huh? You think you can keep your hands to yourself?” I lifted a brow.
“Hey now, I said I wouldn’t kiss you, but I didn’t say anything about not touching you.” Then snatching up my hand, he brought it to his mouth, where he danced his lips across my skin and smiled. “I still get to hold your hand.”
Sighing, an onslaught of emotions flooded me as I stared adoringly at him.
“Good.” I whispered. “Now, where are you taking me?”
His eyes now more energized, he grinned mischievously.
“Ready to test them clumsy legs out on the ice, Blue?”
No.
Absolutely not.
No way.
No.
* * *
“How do they feel now?” Hayes peered up at me from my feet, where he was currently kneeling and tightening the laces on my skates.
“Tight.” I answered, not knowing how they were supposed to feel. Laughing, he shook his head while tying them off and switching over to the next foot.
“I may not know how to skate, but I think I can tie the laces on a pair of skates.” I grunted while crossing my arms across my chest. Briefly looking up at me, my heart fluttered at the sight of him at my feet.
“I told you I was going to be a gentleman, and gentlemen tie the laces on their girls’ skates even if they don’t want them to.” He grabs my sock-clad ankle and gently places my foot into the skate.
Why did he have to be so sweet?
“Afraid I’ll do it wrong?”
“Nah, just want to make sure you don’t get hurt.” He brushes a finger up my leg before returning to the skate on my foot.
“Then why take me here if you’re afraid I’ll get hurt?” I ask while watching him intently as he works to get the laces tightened.
I loved how he concentrated on what he was doing. His brows would dip every now and then, and I saw his tongue dart out a couple of times.
“The ice is like a second home to me, Blue. When you’re out there with me, you’ll be the safest person in the world. I won’t let you fall or get hurt. Ever.” Even though his eyes weren’t on mine, I felt like he had doused me in words that meant way more to me than him. I’ve felt vulnerable for so long. I never had anyone else besides my parents or the doctors tell me they were going to do everything in their power to keep me safe. And to have someone like Hayes say something like that made my heart swelter.
