25. Kai

Chapter twenty-five

Kai

M y chest feels heavy as we make our way home, but as we pass the rink, I make a split-second decision.

I cut a U-turn, heading back there as Lea straightens in her seat. “Kai, what are you doing?”

“Going skating,” I tell her because for as long as I can remember, being on the ice is the only thing that’s managed to consistently improve my mood.

She says nothing as I park in the spot closest to the doors, not wanting her out in the snow with just those tights to cover her legs.

She grasps my hand as we stand at the door, her body curling into me for warmth. “Kai, how do you know the code to get in here?” she hisses at me when the light on the lock turns green, signaling we’re free to go inside.

I chuckle beside her. “Don’t worry about it.”

She shoots daggers at me, suspicion running rampant. I flip the switch for the lights that illuminate the ice, leaving the rest of the rink in darkness.

“Consider it a Christmas miracle,” I joke, ignoring her scowl.

We each head toward the locker rooms to find our skates and meet back out on the ice.

Lea looks adorable in her little red dress, her pearlescent waves flowing around her face as she takes over the ice in her bulky black skates.

They’re certainly not the pretty white ones the ice skaters wear, but I think these suit her better anyway.

She waves me over to her, and when I’m close enough, she takes off past me, leaving a spray of ice in her wake.

I shake my head, laughter flowing through me as I watch her in amazement.

She has this way of always bringing me out of my head, of allowing me to feel every one of the emotions warring inside me. Even when I was busy pretending I didn’t like her, she never made me feel like I was less than for having such strong feelings.

Her smile is wistful as she dances circles around me in the center of the ice, and my breath gets stuck in my throat.

My lips part, and I work on a swallow as my knees feel weak.

This gorgeous, incredible woman has been just within reach my whole life, and had I even stopped to let myself realize how amazing she is, maybe I could’ve avoided wasting so many years spent without her by my side.

Because, Lea? She’s the kind of woman who’ll have you on your knees for her, in more than one way, begging for even a morsel of her attention. And somehow, I’m lucky enough to have her eyes fully on me.

I pump my legs, carrying my body across the ice and over to her. My arms wrap around her, spinning us in small circles as she tosses her head back, laughter ringing through the rink.

With Lea in my arms, it feels like I’m hyperaware of every cell in my body. Each and every one of them completely drawn to her, honed in on her responses.

She grips my cheeks in her cold hands, staring into my eyes with a small smile before her lips connect with mine.

We have never kissed.

We’ve done all sorts of things with and to each other, but never have my lips been on hers.

Just as I’d expect, they’re soft and pliant under mine, and a low moan rumbles through my chest in response to the tiny gasp she releases. I swipe my tongue along the seam of her lips, pleading for entrance, and when she opens, my tongue dives in.

That sugar cookie scent of hers surrounds me, filling my lungs, and the same sweetness hits my tongue when hers connects with mine. It’s like a shock to my system as I come to realize that Lea, through all her imperfections, is somehow still perfect. To me anyway.

And I fully intend to show her that tonight, and every night from here on out.