Chapter 27
lukas
I wasn’t entirely sure Aimee was going to be on board with my plans today.
It had been a few days since the sledding date, and I’d been busy.
We stole moments—quiet corners in the library kissing, late nights in front of a crackling fire, sharing hot chocolates, and talking.
I wanted more of her all of the time, but Petyr—my coach—was pissed at me.
I could admit that I’d been slacking, and wasn't as focused as I should be with a race so close. So, I’d spent the last couple of days making it up to him by practicing runs and doing every ski exercise and workout he insisted upon.
I hated leaving her, but Petyr had borderline evil genius ways of making me hate my life, which I’d never resented more in life than right now—but he was also a huge part of why I was so good.
And he was right—the race was right around the corner, and he knew that I could beat my PR if I only tried harder. Tough love and all that shit.
I wanted to tell him that my cumulative scores up to this point pretty much meant I could wash and still be good, but he’d roll his eyes and tell me to get back to work.
The time I had with her was so limited, I didn’t want to waste a single minute—not that I had any intentions of ending things and the end of this trip.
But here, accessibility was on our side and I wanted to make the most of it.
I’d stood by, leaning against the edge of the rink and watching her watch Zara skate the other day.
Occasionally, she’d make comments or give pointers, and I could tell that she missed it.
She was terrified to try again. The longing in her eyes was hard to miss—even when she was trying to hide it.
She’d been a little quieter than usual since then, and I wasn’t sure if her ghosts were haunting her again, or if she was thinking about her future.
“Mr. Fraiser, the rink is ready for you.”
I smiled at Marianne—one of the head event coordinators here. “Thank you so much.”
She smiled before she walked down the hall.
I resisted the urge to wipe my hands down the front of my pants.
I hadn’t expected to be nervous. I planned a picnic dinner, hot chocolate, twinkle lights, and no prying eyes.
I’d even spoken to her parents before making any plans to see if they thought it would be a good idea.
It had been Orion who’d said to do it. Like me, he’d seen his sister with Zara.
Her mother had looked about ready to cry when I told her what I wanted to do.
I wasn’t about to force Aimee to do anything. If we sat on the blanket eating food and drinking hot chocolate under the twinkling lights and stars all night, then it would be perfect. Either way, I wanted to give her the option.
“Lukas?”
I turned around and sucked in a sharp breath.
She was so beautiful.
Her hair was down in soft waves that framed her face.
She’d told me how she and Eloise impulsively dyed it more orange, and while I missed the lighter color, I had to admit that the fiery color she rocked now suited her.
Her eyes were bright and questioning. A flush colored her cheeks and a shy smile teased her lips. Her hands were clasped in front of her.
“You’re staring,” she said quietly.
I walked over to her, closing the distance between us in a few strides and put my hands on either side of her face. I kissed her, drawing her face up to mine. I felt her rise onto her tiptoes as her hands moved to my waist to balance herself.
“You’re so beautiful,” I breathed against her mouth before kissing her again.
When she pulled away, the flush was a little deeper, a little brighter, but the grin was out in full.
“You said you had plans for us tonight,” she said.
I nodded and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the doors that would take us to the courtyard. It would be a short walk to the rink encircled by tall evergreen bushes wrapped in twinkle lights—separating us from the rest of the world.
I glanced at her outfit.
She was wearing dark leggings, and a heavy sweater plus her jacket.
I had the staff move one of the standing heaters over to where I’d set up the picnic, so she should be warm enough. I’d also brought out an extra blanket. I wanted to spend as much time out under the stars as possible.
“I do, and I hope you like it.”
I pulled her hand up to my mouth, kissing the back of it.
She pressed herself against my side.
“Do you have plans planned for after?” she whispered.
Fuck me.
My cock jumped at the implication. I would love nothing more than to fuck her under the stars, but I wasn’t sure if exhibitionism was truly on her list of things to try, or things she was okay with.
Also, I think that activity might be more fun on a beach in a warmer climate than in the middle of winter.
I leaned in close. “Do you want plans, Aimee? Because maybe I’ll pull you off onto a secluded path and get on my knees and fucking feast on your pussy,” I whispered.
Aimee sucked in a sharp breath.
“Maybe I’ll press you against a wall and bury my cock in between your legs and fuck you until you can’t stand.”
Her grip on my hand tightened, and she didn’t dare look at me as her face grew rosy and her breaths quickened.
I let go of her hand and moved mine until it was tangled in the hair at her neck, and I gripped it, drawing her to a stop.
I angled her head—her face to look at me and I said in a whisper soft voice.
“Maybe I’ll put you on your knees and have you suck on my cock like you did in the shower, but I control you with this grip,” I gently yanked on her head and the whimper that came out of her had me gritting my own teeth.
I cursed myself.
Teasing Aimee had just as much effect on me as it did to her.
Want and need glazed her eyes and I was sure I looked just as gone.
Reality was I had no real plans for those kinds of plans tonight.
I wanted this to be sweet, but Aimee had a habit of taking my mind to far dirtier places.
A few days ago Eloise had given me some recommendations for books that Aimee had read and loved, and while I hadn’t read them in full, I had a good enough idea of the kind of stuff my girl had been reading.
Some of it had me fisting my own cock and finding some kind of a release—though that had been happening a lot since that morning in the shower.
“Come on, the hot coco’s getting cold.”
“You have hot chocolate waiting?” she asked, picking up speed as we walked towards the rink.
“Yep, and food.”
“You know, I already want you, you don’t have to convince me,” she teased.
“Oh I know, I just need you to be fed and happy so you never want to leave.”
Aimee laughed loudly.
It was the best sound I’d ever heard, but I felt my insides freeze when the sound cut off abruptly.
She stopped walking and nervousness filled me.
“Lukas.”
“Before you freak out or say no, or drop kick me for any reason, just hear me out.”
She stared at me, and I could see the wall going up brick by brick.
“No expectations. I have a picnic, I have hot chocolate, a heater, and a blanket. I want to spend a few hours under the stars and the twinkling lights with you.”
She still looked unsure, and I was afraid that maybe this was it.