Tripping (Iced #2) - Kristine Allen Page 0,22

good graces.

Well, until today.

He had no clue what he was asking of me. Did he not remember how we met?

“Cam,” I began again, but he lifted one leg, popped off my boot, and began putting the first skate on. “This is a colossally bad idea.”

“It’s going to be fun. Trust me.” The way his lips moved when he spoke had me wanting to lean closer. Again, I was falling under the spell of a man who was destined to hurt me. Emotionally.

“I don’t think—” I began as he laced up the second skate and set both legs to the hard rubber floor.

Once more, he delved into the giant body bag. He triumphantly pulled out a pile of items. First, he pulled tags off, then he plopped a beanie on my head and pulled it down over my ears.

Next came a matching pair of gloves and a scarf. When I looked down in a worried daze, I realized they were for his team, the Austin Amurs. Inside, I was torn between being touched that he’d bought me a gift and terrified that he really thought I was going to get out on that ice.

He pulled a black beanie with the team’s logo on it down over his brows. When he stood on the blades of his skates, it was as if they were merely an extension of his legs. Looking up at him, I wondered if the flutter of my heart was fear or because he looked about ten feet tall and beautifully godlike. He reached a hand out to me, and I foolishly placed mine inside it. The heat of his hand seeped through the knit fabric of my glove.

When I rose to my feet, I wobbled, and he deftly caught me. “This isn’t safe,” I tried to argue again.

He chuckled. “You’ll be fine. I’ve got you.”

Lost in his eyes and putting a lot of meaning into his words, I chastised myself for my thoughts and behavior. He took my hand in his and led me to the icy death trap. As I unsteadily followed him toward the opening onto the ice, my heart beat so hard I was afraid it was bruising my ribs.

“Take my hands,” he said, and I looked down to see he was holding out his free hand to me. A frightened whimper escaped as he eased me onto the ice. He instructed me, but I was so busy worrying about falling and breaking a limb that I only caught half the words.

He gracefully skated backwards as he slowly pulled me across the ice. I was surprised at how bumpy the surface felt despite it looking like frosted glass. He carefully brought us around the edge of the rink a couple of times.

“You’re doing great,” he encouraged. “Now look up at me.”

A nervous exhilaration flooded me as I raised my eyes from the ice below to his stunning face. Cheeks slightly pink from the cold, eyes brilliant and sparkling, dark scruff on his strong jaw, he mesmerized me. For a few moments, I completely forgot I didn’t know how to skate.

We picked up speed, and I sucked in a startled breath. “Cam!”

“Easy, relax. I’ve got you,” he soothed as I gripped his fingers tightly. “Want to try it on your own?”

“God, no!” I shrieked, and his deep laughter echoed across the ice.

“Wait here and watch me. Pay attention to how I move,” he said as he let go of my hands. Panic shot through me at the thought of being stranded in the center of the frozen freaking puddle.

Despite my fear, seeing the way he moved on the ice was incredible. When he went behind me, I tried to look over my shoulder, but I started to wobble. Panting, I stood on shaking legs.

The scrape of his skates circled around, and he slid to a stop next to me with a spray of snowy ice. “Ready to try on your own?”

“No!”

“I’ll be right next to you. I’ll have you every step of the way,” he promised.

“Cameron, no. I’m scared.”

He skated up in front of me and framed my face with his big, cold hands. “I won’t let you fall,” he said softly with a kind smile. The problem was, I was afraid it was too late. He’d found a way to sneak into my head, and I was already falling.

“I’ve got you,” he reiterated. Though I believed him, I was terrified. Finally, I nodded.

Over and over I tried to get the hang of it, but he