Chapter 18
Eighteen
S he was going to lose.
Asher had started off wobbly, but he was picking things up fast. His first few trips around the arena, he’d held the railing and hugged the wall, his knuckles white as he tried to coordinate his feet. But his hesitance had been short-lived. A few minutes ago, he’d broken away from the edges and was rapidly figuring out the motion to stay upright and move at a quick clip.
“This isn’t so bad. I don’t know what I was afraid of.”
Esther tossed him a quick smile. “Looking inept in front of a group of strangers?”
He chuckled. “Probably.”
They rounded the short side, and he increased his pace, pulling away from her.
“You might want to slow down,” she yelled. As quickly as he’d picked it up, he wasn’t ready to make a quick turn, and they hadn’t worked much on braking yet.
But he ignored her.
Esther quickened her pace, hoping to catch him before he reached the corner, but his long, powerful legs propelled him forward faster than she could close the gap. She could only watch and pray he didn’t trip over his feet as he leaned into the curve.
For a moment, she thought he’d make it. He slid one foot in front of the other, rounding the bend. But then she realized he hadn’t leaned far enough or moved his feet fast enough to make it. She straightened, letting herself glide as she watched the inevitable.
He let out a short cry of surprise as he drifted off course toward the wall. Luckily, they were padded. At the last second, he twisted, turning his body so he hit on his side and not his face. He bounced off the pads and landed on his butt on the floor.
She glided to a stop beside him. “You okay?”
He looked up, exasperation written all over his face, then broke out into laughter. Leaning forward, he draped his arms over his knees, red-faced as belly laughs rolled free.
An answering chuckle bubbled up from her throat until she was laughing right alongside him.
After a moment, he looked up. Still chuckling, he said, “Maybe I wasn’t quite as ready to beat you as I thought.”
Grinning, she shook her head. “No. Not quite.”
“Give me a hand, would you?” He extended an arm.
Esther grasped his hand to steady him as he got to his feet. His right foot shot out, throwing him off balance again. Her smaller stature—and the fact that she was on skates—was no match for his heavier mass.
With a shriek, she went down, landing with her face buried in his lower abdomen, and her hand in the apex of his right thigh.
A sharp wolf-whistle came from behind them.
“You go, girl!”
Esther glanced up in time to see Liv skate past, a wide smile on her face.
Asher laughed.
“It’s not funny.” She pushed back, her hand brushing his crotch.
His laughter died, and his brown eyes turned molten. Esther paused, ensnared in his gaze.
“You guys need help?”
Esther blinked and looked back. A roller rink employee had skated up to them and now stared down at them with a concerned frown on his pimply face.
She cleared her throat and moved away from Asher, but didn’t get up yet. “No, we’re fine. Just lost our balance.”
The teenager gave her a thumbs up and skated away.
Esther closed her eyes and took a breath, trying to corral her wayward hormones. They wanted to find out more about that bulge she’d inadvertently touched. Now wasn’t the time or place for that. She wasn’t sure there was one, but it sure as hell wasn’t now.
Getting a foot under herself, she pushed to her feet, then spun around and offered Asher a hand. “Don’t pull me down this time.”
He took it, changing the way he situated his feet to give himself a better foundation. “I’ll try not to.”
She tipped her ankles inward, creating a wedge shape to help stabilize them, and held on as he hauled himself up.
Almost upright, his left foot rolled. Esther grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. He put a hand on her hip, steadying them both.
Her nose landed in the crook of his neck and shoulder. She couldn’t help herself and took a deep breath. His spicy male scent filled her senses. Heat suffused her face and pricked her scalp. She bit her lip so she wouldn’t bite the tendon millimeters from her mouth.
His low, strangled growl rumbled through her chest, not helping her situation.
“These things have a mind of their own.”
“They sure do,” she muttered. Her hormones were certainly screaming loudly in her head.
“I’m glad I didn’t get rollerblades like you.”
Esther blinked. Rollerblades? Some of the fog cleared from her mind. He’d been talking about the skates. Not that his hormones had a mind of their own.
More heat flooded her cheeks, but for a different reason this time. What was she thinking? Asher was just trying to learn to skate. He didn’t need her sniffing him and wondering what it would be like to stroke the wicked devil in his pants.
She pushed back, breaking out of his hold. “Me too. I’m not sure we’d ever get you off the floor.” Skating backwards, she beckoned him forward. “Come on. Get your sea legs under you again.” She very much wanted to just skate away, but it wasn’t an option. He’d just follow her. So, she figured it was best to distract them both.
“Teach me how to do that.”
“What? Skate backwards?”
“Yes.”
Smirking, Esther skated further away, executing a quick spin. “I’m not sure you’re ready. You did just crash trying to go around a bend.”
“Because I was going too fast. I can handle slow.” Asher pushed off, coming after her.
The intensity in his dark eyes sent a delicious shiver down her spine.
“And I’ve already proven I’m a quick study.” He put his hands together, his intense gaze morphing into a soulful puppy-dog look. “Teach me, oh masterful one. Please?”
Esther laughed. “Fine.”
Smoothly spinning away again, she moved out to the middle of the rink, distancing them from the crush of skaters. “It’s all about shifting movement and pushing with your feet.” Going slow, she showed him.
It took him a few tries, but soon, he glided backward, though awkwardly.
He sent her a bright smile. “I’m not the most graceful skater, but I’m moving.” Reversing direction, he skated toward her.
Esther spun away, skating a ring around him backward as a devilish smile crossed her face. “No, you’re definitely not.”
“Hey, no fair.” He reached out, trying to snag her arm, but she moved out of his reach.
Her grin widening, she crooked a finger. “Come get me. We still have a bet to settle.”