Page 62 of The Ice Queen
Chapter Thirty-Eight
At the ice pond, Julian found a rope and tied Midas to a nearby tree, much to the dog’s growls of protest. Once Midas realized Caroline was not going to come and untie him, he plopped down on a piece of stone path that was being warmed by the sun and simply watched.
Julian made short work of Caroline’s ice skates. When the boots were secure, he offered her his hand and helped her to stand on the ice.
“Now I know you say you never fall, but I just want to be close enough to catch you if you do. Trust me, Caroline, I shall always be there to catch you,” he said.
Caroline did not protest. She would normally have boasted about her many times on the ice, and the fact that she was an accomplished skater, but something held her back. She was in no hurry to let go of Julian’s hand. She was enjoying the soft fluttering in her stomach which came from touching him.
She pushed out, still holding on, and began to skate around him. Julian turned on the spot as she glided around in a large circle. A soft laugh came to her lips. The freedom of the ice, and being able to move on it, sparked joy in her heart.
“I could go a little faster if you like?” she said.
He screwed up his face. “I don’t know if I will be able to stay on my feet if you do.”
Caroline slowed. When she stopped, she was standing closer than she knew she should. It was a bold move, testing his reaction. He towered over her.
She rose up on her skates and looked him in the eye. “Let go. I promise to come back.”
As she skated away from him, Julian held onto Caroline’s hands until only their fingertips touched. She heard his soft sigh when the connection finally broke.
Free from his hold, she skated to the far side of the pond, did a half twirl, and then stopped. She looked over her shoulder at him. He was smiling, but she could tell he was not comfortable with having her so far away from him.
With a hard push off, she raced across the ice. Just before she reached him, Caroline darted to the right and made a half loop behind Julian.
He applauded her skillful move. “Very clever, Miss Saunders. But don’t get carried away.”
With a whoop, she raced over to the far side of the pond. This time, when she turned and came back to Julian, it was at even greater speed. The smile disappeared from his face as she bore down on him. Once more, she circled behind him and came out the other side.
Midas barked loudly from the side of the pond, protesting this strange sight. But Caroline still had one trick or two she intended to show his master.
In the middle of the pond, she stopped briefly to check the distance from the center to the side. It was enough; she would risk it.
Skating to the edge of the ice, she skirted the outside for a few yards before leaping toward the middle and throwing herself into a tight spin. Round and round she went, faster and faster. Holding her back straight and her head up, she crossed her arms as she spun on one foot.
At the end of the fast spin, she threw her arms out to the side and brought herself slowly to a standstill.
On the other side of the pond, Julian held out his hand. “Magnificent! In my entire life, I have never seen anyone so accomplished on the ice as you, Caroline,” he said with a smile.
She looked at him, and all the bravado that had filled her moments before suddenly fled. With her head lowered, she slid across the ice to him.
She shyly took his offered hand. As she looked into his eyes, Caroline was struck by an overwhelming sense of need. To hold his hand and never let go.
“Are you alright? Did you spin too fast in that last one?” he asked.
“No. I . . . Never mind.”
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Tell me,” he murmured.
She lifted a hand to his cheek, tenderly brushing her fingers on his chilled skin. Julian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You are not like other men. Well, not the way other men are with me. I feel that you actually see me, if that makes sense.”
His hand slipped around her waist and drew her close to him, after which he stilled. She could read him. He was waiting. Seeking her permission to move the moment forward.
As he bent his head, she whispered, “Yes.”
Warm, soft lips touched hers, then drew back. She smiled. He was going to tease every moment out of their first kiss.
She reached up and wrapped her fingers around the bottom of his cravat. A murmur of a chuckle came from deep in his throat as she pulled him back to her.
