Page 18 of An Undisputed Christmas
"Your game is pretty impressive already," I admitted, then squeaked as he lifted me slightly, my feet leaving the ice entirely for a moment.
"Relax," he laughed, setting me down gently. "I've got you. Always."
The sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at me like I was the only person on the rink despite all the attention we were getting, made my heart do little flips.
After a bit more skating, my ankles were beginning to protest.
“Ready for a break?" Jax asked, his breath warm against my ear despite the cold air. "I think you've earned some hot chocolate after our performance."
He guided me off the ice with ease, one arm still secure around my waist as we made our way to the warming hut beside the rink.
The scent of cinnamon and peppermint drifted from the small wooden building, where Christmas lights twinkled in the windows and the promise of warmth beckoned.
"Stay put, beautiful," Jax murmured, pressing a quick kiss to my temple. "We'll be right back with sustenance."
Connor and Adrian appeared beside him, both looking amused and slightly windswept from their own skating adventures.
"Don't move," Connor growled quietly to Sierra, who he’d placed beside me on the bench.
"Wouldn't dream of it," she replied breathlessly.
"Back in five minutes," Adrian called to Isla, who was walking on the floor in her blades just to show off. "Try not to put on too much of a show without us."
The moment the guys disappeared into the warming hut, we girls immediately huddled together on the bench like conspirators.
"Okay," I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one could overhear. "So our ice skating plan was a complete bust."
"Total disaster," Sierra agreed, unwinding her scarf with a rueful laugh. "They're all secretly hockey players. How is that fair?"
“We need to up our game," I declared, my mind already racing. "Something that'll catch them completely off guard."
Isla's eyes lit up with mischief as she absently fingered the white ribbon tied around her neck. "I'm thinking... less clothing. Lots of ribbon. Something that'll drive them wild."
The suggestion was loaded with promise and delicious possibility.
"Oh, that's evil," Sierra breathed, her cheeks flushing. "I love it."
"Something that makes them lose control completely," I sighed dreamily, already imagining the look on Jax's face.
We dissolved into giggles, the kind of conspiratorial laughter that spoke of trouble brewing.
"Speaking of fun,” Isla said, straightening up with renewed purpose, "I could actually teach you two some real moves. You know, so you're not completely helpless out there."
"Yes!" Sierra perked up immediately. "I felt like such a fraud letting Connor drag me around the ice."
"Same," I admitted. "Though, being completely at their mercy isn’t a new thing.”
"Come on then," Isla grinned, standing up and beckoning for us. "Let's get you two skating like proper Christmas girls.”
We followed her back onto the ice, gripping the banisters, feeling emboldened by our secret plotting and determined to prove we could handle ourselves.
What we didn't fully realize was just how much the guys had been supporting us during our earlier attempts—guidance, strategic positioning, basically being human guardrails while making it look effortless.
Isla took Sierra's hand first, demonstrating a basic glide that looked simple enough. "Just push off with your right foot and let momentum carry you."
Sierra tried it, wobbled dramatically, but managed to stay upright. "I'm doing it!" she called out triumphantly.
Isla, so kindly, had tried to guide both Sierra and me at the same time, but without the guys' steady strength to help balance us, we were like newborn deer on ice.
