‘’Look, I’m here all night,’’ the security guard cut in with a friendly smile, ‘’And the only reason we close the rink is to stop all those crazy ice hockey players from having parties in here. If you want to come and practice on your own, then be my guest. But don’t tell anyone, ok?’’ he winked.
‘’ Thank you so much!’’ said Laurel grinning and hugging him. She had hoped her sob story would work. But it was all completely true so she didn’t think it was wrong to use it to her advantage and appeal to the goodwill of this sweet old man.
‘’I won’t whisper a thing to anyone!’’ she promised as she hurried happily into the arena with her friend, and brushed her negative thoughts away. She would just have to prove everyone, wouldn’t she? Especially that brutish excuse for a human being. She imagined his face scowling at her success and giggled to herself. Then wondered why on earth she was thinking about him, and why something stirred deep inside of her at the thought of his mocking but beautifully sculptured face. She glanced at her friend guiltily, as if Jennifer could read her thoughts, but she was unaware, gazing at the multitude of screens and audio visual equipment hooked up everywhere around the rink.
‘’Wow, this place is epic’’ she exclaimed looking around.
Laurel quickly tied up her skates, hopped onto the ice and started making figure of eight patterns, starting wide and getting gradually tighter and faster as her confidence grew. She finished with a small jump and a spin, her left leg held high above her head, the picture of elegance.
‘’Woo hoo!!’’ yelled Jennifer from the side. ‘’That was awesome!’’
Laurel soared over to her friend, beaming. ‘’That felt awesome!’’ she agreed. ‘’But listen, I think I just want to stay here a bit longer and practice some more. Do you mind if I take a rain check on meeting the others?’’
‘’’Course not’’ replied Jennifer with a grin, ‘’I’ll tell them you said hi. You owe me a milkshake though, don’t forget!’’
‘’Ha, as if you would let me!’’ Laurel winked as she glided off effortlessly, ‘’Thanks for this sweetie. I owe you more than a milkshake for getting me back on the ice!’’
***
After another hour of drills, routines, and practicing a few easy jumps and spins, Laurel took a deserved break and laid out like a star on the ice. The coolness beneath her was a welcome relief to her tired and aching body. She enjoyed the silence of the huge space and watched her breath escape from her mouth in steamy puffs. As she gazed at the hundreds of seats surrounding her she wondered what it would be like if they were all filled, everyone looking down, the spotlight on her.
She jumped up with renewed energy and performed her practiced audition routine to perfection, even ending with a triple jump, which she rarely managed to pull off. She laughed and bowed deeply, enjoying the moment. In her head the crowds were roaring deeply, cameras were flashing, people were calling her name, ‘’Way to go Pompoms!!’’ Wait a minute… She swung round to see the brute standing there laughing at her, hands moving slowly in an exaggerated clapping motion.
Fuck, she thought to herself. What was he doing here?
‘’The training session for untalented cheerleader wannabes is over honey. Off the ice now and go and play with your silly friends. That’s a good girl.’’
Tears stung her eyes as his mean comment went straight to her heart and she realized he’d just confirmed that all her insecurities were true. She fled the ice, speechless, pulled off her boots and grabbed her bag. He appeared behind her and grabbed her hand, pulling her close to face him and then gently wiped away her tears. ‘’Look, sorry Pompoms, maybe that was too harsh.’’ He looked down at her sincerely and she felt herself melt. She held his gaze but then looked away, bemused. This was enemy no.1 and he had humiliated her yet again.
She tore her hand away and strode angrily towards the door. But her heart was still beating hard from their brief close encounter and the glimpse of something good and true in those dark eyes of his.
‘’I thought you cheerleader types were made of sterner stuff, or maybe more delusional stuff anyway. You all think you’re going to be the next big star or something don’t you. Even though all you do wear cute outfits and do a few stupid jumps’’ he sneered, returning to his usual cocky self.
He followed Laurel to the door and continued, ‘’The building’s off limits after 9pm ok? Only real athletes allowed, more specifically only ice hockey players. Understood?’’ He looking at her, eyebrows raised, waiting for her response.
‘’But I thought…’’ started Laurel and she glimpsed at the security guard, confused.
‘’No buts. See that name on the sign there. That’s my Dad. He built this arena. He owns it. So if I say you can’t be here, you can’t be here. Ok?’’
‘’You can’t do this,’’ she muttered, but she left, scowling at him and then remembering to smile sweetly at the security guard. Something was amiss she thought, and it wasn’t just the feelings she got inside of her whenever he was near or in her thoughts. She was going to find out what he was up to.
‘’Look, I just have to pop back inside,’’ Laurel pleaded to the friendly guard. She had mulled over her problem for a good half an hour over a coffee before deciding that she needed to go back and confront him. If she had to apologize, beg, humiliate herself in front of him, she didn’t care. She needed to be able to use the rink. Obviously she was also curious as to what he was up to seeing as the security guard said no ice hockey players were allowed in. And a tiny part of her wanted to see what he was like on the ice. Was he as fast and furious as everyone said he was?
‘’Miss, I don’t mind you using the rink, really I don’t. But what Mr. Jackson says goes. His Dad built the place you know. He’s an important young lad around these parts.’’
‘’I’m not going to use the rink, I promise,’’ Laurel said earnestly, ‘’I just want to go to the girls’ locker room. I think I must have left my cell phone there.’’
‘’Well, ok then, but come straight out again, won’t you?’’ the kind old man agreed eventually.
Laurel nodded, entered the building, walked straight past the locker rooms and crept quietly up to a darkened seat in the huge arena. She waited patiently in the shadows and again watched her breathy puffs appear short and fast due to the rapid beating of her heart.
At first he was nowhere to be seen and Laurel was beginning to think she was wasting her time. But finally he glided onto the ice. He was as graceful as an eagle soaring through the sky. But he had ruggedness on the ice that left his performance as masculine as much as elegant. She marveled at the incredible power he used to propel himself faster and faster around the rink. He was indeed fast and furious but she had no idea that he could dance as well as he could smack pucks into a net. He plummeted from spin to jump to triple jump to spin to backwards jump to backwards spin.
Laurel was mesmerized. He was by far the most talented figure skater she had ever had the privilege of seeing in real life. As he ended with a magnificent final leap into the air she completely forgot where she was and who he was and let out a loud wolf-whistle and started clapping wildly.
‘’Oh my, that was amazing’’ she gushed as she ran down the stairs to the ice. ‘’Who trained you?’’
She stopped suddenly as she saw his face, a moment ago serene and determined, was now a shade of red, his eyes ablaze.
‘’You dirty little spy. I thought I kicked you out!’’ he shouted angrily. ‘’That dumb security guard, I knew I should have fired him ages ago.’’
‘’Don’t blame him’’ cried Laurel, suddenly worried that her actions could have caused someone their job. ‘’He’s just a sweet old man, and I lied to him to get in. It’s my fault. Don’t fire him, please!’’
‘’You can’t tell anyone what you saw tonight’’ he threatened, ‘’Do you know what my dad would say if he knew I was still doing this? And the guys from the team? Fuck!’’
He rubbed
his head with his hands and looked so vulnerable and anxious that she almost wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be ok.
‘’I swear I’ll destroy your life if a word of this ever gets out,’’ he hissed in her direction. Ok so maybe a hug was out of the question but her head was suddenly whirring with possibilities.
‘’But you’re so talented’’ she hardly dared to whisper, ‘’I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. So much power. So much speed.’’
His face softened slightly and he walked towards her. ‘’Well, well, Pompoms. If I knew if it was that easy to get your knickers wet, I would’ve brought you here before.’’
Laurel scowled with disgust. ‘’You’re not doing much to convince me to keep my mouth shut you know!’’ she shot back.
He sighed. ‘’What, you want money do you? Will that keep your loose little cheerleader mouth quiet? How much do you want?’’
‘’What on earth do you have against cheerleaders? You started this ridiculous feud with your discrimination against all cheerleaders and pretty much women in general’’ she suddenly yelled. ‘’And no, I don’t want your money. I want… you!’’
‘’Baby, why didn’t you just say?’’ he jumped off the ice, pulled off his boots and sauntered towards her, cornering her against the wall.
‘’No, no, that’s not what I meant,’’ Laurel protested but he was towering above her, looking down at her with those dark mysterious eyes, forehead still glistening with sweat from his vigorous routine. His lips, so close, and so soft, for someone so rough and chiseled, captivated her. His skin was smooth, his eyebrows heavy, and his jaw strong. She admired his Greek-god like features and before she knew it his lips had landed on hers.
I’m an idiot. I’m gonna get hurt. I can’t start liking him. He’s an arrogant, self-centered, pig of a man. She kept telling herself these things and kept telling herself to pull away but as his lips continued to encase hers, his tongue gently exploring, his arms holding her strong and close, all reason in her head became smothered by lust and adrenaline and desire.
Their steamy embrace came to an end and he grinned down at her. ‘’There we go’’ he said, ‘’We’re square now, right?’’
‘’You self-obsessed idiot’’ she said, coming back to her senses, ‘’If I found a penny on the street I wouldn’t trade it for a kiss with you!’’
But she had seen something in his eyes. The kiss was real. He had felt it too. She just knew he had.
‘’The information I have is worth far more than a penny on the street’’ she continued, ‘’and with it I will get much more than a kiss with an egocentric sport’s moron!’’
‘’How much?’’ he repeated aggressively.
‘’Well you see, it’s more a case of how many…?’’ she answered slyly.
He looked puzzled.
‘’I mean, you’ve seen me perform, right? How many hours of training would be needed to take me to the final of the state championships?’’
His eyes widened. ‘’What are you suggesting?’’ He paused. ‘’Are you mad?’’
She crossed her arms and looked at him defiantly.
‘’Yeah I guess I can arrange something…’’
‘’No!’’ said Laurel, ‘’It has to be you. I want you to train me. I want to dance like you.’’
‘’No way!’’ he yelled, but the look in his eyes spelled defeat and she smiled triumphantly.
***
Laurel woke up smiling. Her dream of being a top class figure skater finally seemed within reach. She took an old photograph from under her pillow and gazed at it lovingly. ‘’This is for you Granny,’’ she whispered.
She remembered watching her grandmother skating when she was a child. Despite her age and fragility, her grandmother could still skate incredibly well and she had seen photos and videos of her amazing performances that had taken place before Laurel was born. When the cancer had finally rendered her sweet grandmother bed-ridden and with only a few days left of life left inside her, she had given young Laurel a message that would stay with her forever. ‘’Do something that makes you happy,’’ she had told Laurel, ‘’Don’t be tempted by riches or fame. Their allure will quickly fade. Do something you love, dedicate yourself to it, and do it the best you possibly can!’’
From that moment Laurel had made a promise to herself that she would become a world-class figure skater, just like her grandmother. She kissed the picture gently before returning it to its place.
Her alarm brought her back to reality and she jumped out of bed quickly. She had a full day of classes ahead of her though and even though skating was her passion, she was beginning to enjoy law more and more, especially with Paul to help explain the stuff she didn’t get.
Her and Paul were pretty much inseparable during busy school days and on this day like many others they popped to their usual diner to re-fuel.
‘’Hamburger with fries and a peanut milkshake please!’’ she grinned at the waitress.
‘’Oh sorry honey, we’re all out of peanut butter. That guy just bought the last one,’’ and she waved her hand towards a guy slurping noisily at the table next to them.
He turned round and grinned. It was Ben. Of course, she thought. Typical. ‘’You snooze, you lose, sucker.’’ He sneered. ‘’Want some?’’ he waved the huge tumbler in front of her and she tried to grab it without luck. He then drained the last of its contents, slammed it down on the table, and walked off without looking back.
‘’Are we still on for tonight?’’ she yelled after him, but he was already halfway out the door. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought he was a little bit jealous.
‘’You’re not meeting up with that guy, seriously?’’ asked Paul, concerned. ‘’He’s such an idiot. All brawn and no brain,’’ he smirked.
‘’I… erm… yeah I know,’’ said Laurel, ‘’but we have a kind of arrangement. I’ll tell you about it another time. It’s nothing though, really. It’s not like I’ve got the hots for him or anything!’’ she lied.
Back at home later Jennifer was giving her a hard time about her continued nighttime escapades at the rink.
‘’Seriously, you’re not coming out again?’’ Jennifer complained, tugging at one of her dark curls. ‘’You’re getting so lame! And you look tired. I think you’re training too much.’’
‘’Tell Minds and Amy I’m sorry ok, and I will definitely, definitely be out Friday night ok, promise! I’m doing this for my grandmother, remember.’’ Laurel apologized as she rushed off for another session at the rink.
She heard Jennifer sigh as she closed the door and she felt bad. But there was nothing that could keep her away from the rink. Or away from Ben for that matter, but she still hadn’t entirely admitted this to herself.
Their sessions had started with resentment and an icy face on his part but after a couple of evenings’ work she could tell he was starting to enjoy himself. And she was learning fast too. Her awkward axel landings were a thing of the past and she could spin faster than ever before. She couldn’t wait to see where their training would lead.
‘’Hey Mr. Grimsby,’’ she yelled to the security guard as she swung through the doors. He had forgiven her for sneaking in and they were now firm friends.
Ben was already on the ice, making circles, and she ran down the steps towards him. ‘’Private Pompoms you’re late! Get on the ice right this second and give me 20!’’
He liked to pretend she was his soldier, and him the sergeant major of course.
She grinned, ‘’Sorry Sir, right away’’ and she laced up her boots, jumped on the rink and did 20 push-ups, no problem. She could feel his eyes running over her body while she was pumping up and down and it thrilled her no end.
But as she jumped up again his face was all seriousness and they started the session without further ado.
‘’Are you going to that party next Saturday?’’ she ventured as they were on their way out, ‘’You
know, it’s meant to be like, the party of the year. Everyone is going.’’
‘’I’ll probably be there,’’ he said non-committedly and shrugged his shoulders, ‘’I dunno. It’s a long way off. But yeah I guess you’re right. One night off from training is a good plan. From now on we won’t work on weekends. Friday and Saturday nights are all yours.’’
‘’But I didn’t mean…’’
‘’No it’s fine. See you tomorrow, same time. Don’t be late.’’
He seemed preoccupied. ‘’And remember,’’ he turned round, ‘’Careless talk costs lives.’’
Nice, she thought. But on reflection she supposed that she was blackmailing him. She thought about their banter while training, their brief snippets of conversation on the walk out, and the moments when their eyes caught each other’s and lingered for a moment longer than they should have done.
Was it all part of the act? She realized that despite his thuggish ways and lewd remarks, she was falling for this guy. She shook her head in disbelief. He was the epitome of everything she hated in a man. It was what she saw in his eyes that told her there was more to him. And the sexual tension between them was undeniable, well at least it was for her. She wondered if she appeared as frequently in his dreams as he did in hers.
***
‘’Private Pompoms! Nice of you to join us! 30 now! No buts!’’
She was running late again thanks to another lecture from Jennifer, this time because she was behind in one of her classes. ‘’Paul told me you’re not concentrating in class and you’re handing in your assignments late!’’ she scolded. Laurel felt miserable and exhausted.
As she slumped down and half-heartedly started her punishment push-ups she suddenly started to sob.
‘’Hey, hey, whoa, stop!’’ Ben said gently as he sat down beside her. He put his arm around her and pulled her next to him on the ice. ‘’Sorry, maybe I pushed you too hard. It was just meant to be fun y’know. Besides, if you ever want to get into pairs figure skating, you’ll need to strengthen these puny arms of yours,’’ he joked, and he gave her arm a squeeze.
Romance: Abducted for love ( Bad Boy BBW BWWM Romance) Page 7
