Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone equally inexperienced slipping and sliding onto the floor. The girl grabs for the wall while her friends encourage her, much like Tyler does for me. Daisy is saying something to Tyler as I watch the girl slowly approach us. I’ve made it about three feet along the barrier and have no intention of moving just yet.
“So, where are the Hales tonight?” Tyler asks. “No boyfriend tonight?”
Daisy shoves him. “Shut up, Ty.”
“Right,” he says slowly. “None of my business.”
“He’s busy,” I say, mostly to myself.
At this point, the other group has caught up to us and are waiting for us to move along. Tyler and Daisy don’t seem to notice or else they would have scooted over for them to move past. I stare openly at one of the girls who has the audacity to make a shooing motion, her face scrunched rudely.
“Can’t you see we’re talking here?” I snap.
My friends turn to see who I’m talking to and realize we’re in the way. “Oh, we can—”
“No,” I quickly interrupt. “They can skate on out of our way.”
When the group is stunned to silence, I mimic the hand gesture I was given. When they all turn around to go the other way, I face my friends again with a satisfied smile.
“Calla, are you okay?” Daisy asks, reaching out to touch my arm.
“Fine,” I say, hoisting myself up when my feet begin to slide again. “Why?”
“Is it because,”—she glances at Tyler—“we’ll talk about it later.”
“I can give you guys some space,” Tyler says.
“No, no,” Daisy quickly says, “I’m going to go stretch my legs. You guys okay here?”
Tyler reaches out and pries one of my hands away from the wall. “Yeah, we got it.”
“No, no, no, Tyler, don’t.” I push my butt back, trying to stop him from moving forward. “Put me back.”
Tyler hoists me against his side and wraps an arm around my waist, securing me to him. “I got you, Calla, I won’t let you fall.”
My spine is rigid as Tyler slowly pulls us away from the wall to allow others to use it. The arm not stuck between our bodies is gripping onto Tyler’s forearm wrapped around me. “I swear, Tyler, if—”
“If what?” he asks around a laugh. “God forbid you learn something new and have a little fun doing it.”
Professionals are swerving around us with ease as I struggle to keep up with Tyler’s smooth glides. I focus on my feet, knowing Tyler won’t let us crash, and before I know it, we’ve made our first lap around the floor. As we continue our circle around the edge of the floor, I start to feel more confident. My feet even begin to move in sync with Tyler’s rather than staying frozen beneath me.
Tyler nudges my shoulder. “See? I told you you’d be great.”
After a rough couple of days, mostly filled with my annoyance at Luke’s permanently irritated attitude, my smile feels just as easy as the one Tyler always wears. “But don’t let me go yet, okay?”
“Never,” Tyler says. “Not until you’re ready. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
The sarcasm in Tyler’s tone doesn’t go unnoticed. Luke said those words to me many times and I know both of them mean it.
And in two more circles, I feel ready to at least have him let go of my waist. Like a showoff, Tyler skates backwards so I can hold onto his hands and try moving my feet by myself.
“You got it, you got it,” he chants. “Look at me, not your feet.”
I struggle to follow his suggestion, but eventually I do and realize immediately he was right. Looking down made me so focused on not falling, I wasn’t making sure nothing was in front of me. Tyler’s blue eyes make me feel secure and confident my feet won’t let me down.
So secure, I forget what I’m doing and lean forward, and the rubber break at the front of the skates catches on the floor and I launch forward. Panic flares in Tyler’s eyes as he opens his arms to catch me. He slides backward as my arms wrap around his waist, my feet dragging as Tyler holds onto my upper body to keep it from joining my shins on the floor.
Tyler’s back slams into the barrier. I let go of him and fall into a puddle on the floor. I roll over and sit up against the wall, crisscrossing my legs underneath me so they aren’t run over. Tyler and I begin to laugh through the pain, and I have a hard time standing up when he reaches down to help me.
When I finally crawl my way up the wall and to my feet, I reach out to touch Tyler. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to do that.”
He barks out a laugh. “I’m okay, are you?”
I check my body for any lingering pain but there is none. “Yeah.”
“I’m just glad—never mind.” I follow his gaze to see Freddie doubled over laughing and I realize we must have been quite the spectacle.
A shiver runs down my spine.
“Hey, man,” Tyler says over my shoulder and takes a small step away from me.
“Thanks for saving Calla from that fall,” Luke’s voice floats past me.
“It was nothing.” Tyler points over his shoulder. “I’ll just…”
“Thanks, Ty,” I say.
He gives me a small smile and waves.
Luke stands on the other side of the wall in a simple black t-shirt with his hands in his jean pockets.
“I went by your place,” he says.
“What for?”
Luke leans over the barrier, picks me up around the waist, hoists me over the wall, and drops me in front of him. He keeps his hands on me until I can find my footing once more. Even when I’m steady enough to hold myself up, he doesn’t let go.
“I wanted to see you.”
“What for?” I repeat.
The words are simple, but I know they hit him when he glances away. “You’re upset.”
I sigh. “I’m not.”
He leans into me, his whisper dancing over my cheek. “Then why did you look happier falling to the floor than you do seeing me?”
I want him to pull away so I can have a moment to breathe but he doesn’t retreat. When I don’t respond, his lips graze my cheek and leave a familiar tingle in their wake. My eyes flutter and when my sigh hits his ear, he shivers.
“I am happy to see you,” I say.
My neck tilts on its own and he presses his lips there. “Tell me.”
I pull away and take his chin in my hand, hold him in place like he’s done to me so many times. “I’m always happy when you’re around.”
“Why?” he asks, using my own words against me.
Because I don’t have to feel guilty around you. But I don’t tell him that.
Instead, I lean forward and rest my head against his chest. He tugs on my waist and my feet slide forward into his embrace, his arms immediately wrapping around my frame. “I know you’re upset about dinner, and I’d like to redo that for you,” he says.
There’s no point in lying and I tell him so.
He grabs my chin and tilts it upward. “Come on, amour, let’s go.”
I want to say yes, but someone whizzes by us and reminds me where we are. My group of friends watch us cautiously from the other side of the rink. “I can’t. We’re having fun.”
He follows my gaze and nods. “Okay, amour, let’s have fun.”
My eyes go wide when he begins pulling me toward the front of the building.
Luke expertly maneuvers me through the crowd, and I watch in amusement when he actually asks for a pair of skates in his size. He sits at the table closest to me to swap out shoes.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask when he ties up his laces. “You aren’t busy?”
He looks up at me from his seated position. “I’m always busy.”
Luke stands up and takes my hand in his. I wait for him to struggle, at least a little, but he moves around with ease. His hold on me is sturdy, and he makes sure I don’t falter. Looking around the floor, he locates my group of friends chatting and brings us to them, pushing his way th
rough.
Daisy spots us and seems just as surprised to see us approach. “I thought you guys would have left.”
Luke puts his arm around my waist to keep me upright. “Calla says this is supposed to be a fun night out, so here I am.”
“So here you are,” Becca says with a large smile. “Been a while.”
Luke hums in acknowledgment.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I’ll show Calla a move or two before she falls into someone else’s arms again.”
It’s supposed to be a joke, but Tyler’s smile is hesitant.
“Yeah, yeah, go,” Daisy says, “don’t let us hold you guys back.”
Luke takes a firm hold of my hand. “Ready, amour?”
I look up at the dark eyes. “Always.” I swear Daisy sighs.
He winks at me and takes off, pulling me behind him.
Unlike skating around with Tyler, I forget that anyone else is here. The hordes of children and their parents are long gone; only Luke and I are present.
Thanks to Tyler’s patience and skills—not that I’d ever tell Luke that—I feel confident enough to keep a steady pace around the rink. Like everything Luke does, his movements are effortless, as if he’s done this a hundred times before and I’ll be spending the rest of my life trying to keep up with him.
With a sharp twist, Luke forces me into a spin, placing a kiss on my lips before spinning me back out and by his side. I laugh, both at the movement and kiss being over too quick. Eventually, Luke’s grip on my hand loosens along with the tension in his body.
I can’t even begin to image what he’s been doing and I don’t pretend to understand. Seeing him relax for the first time in days stops me from asking him about it.
“This is fun,” he tells me as we pass my friends once more.
“Yeah?” I ask, with my eyes glued to my moving feet. “I’m glad.”
“I want to do more fun things with you,” he says. “Worthy memories for the both of us.”
‘Worthy’ is an odd word choice but serves as a sharp reminder of the multitude of experiences he has on me.
“I would like that.”
Abruptly, Luke ushers us to the nearest wall and cages me against it.
There’s a spark in his eyes when he gazes down at me, one I thought had been snuffed out. I reach out and place my arms around his neck, taking the time to drag them slowly down his body. His chest is hard beneath the simple t-shirt, and when I rest my hands over his heart, I barely feel a beat.
He must notice my hesitation because he places his hand over mine and gives me a reassuring smile. I want to ask him if he’s…okay…but it seems like a dumb question. How can someone in his situation ever be just okay? What does that even mean? How many times have I been asked the same question and lied because I couldn’t come up with a more accurate description?
“It’s there,” he says.
My laugh is choppy, embarrassed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Maybe to me.” He smirks. “But I can hear yours beating faster.”
I pull my head back. “You can hear it? What else can you do?”
“You really want to know?” he asks mischievously.
“Tell me,” I say.
“I guess you can say that I’m overall exceptional”—I roll my eyes—“at everything I do. My senses are stronger than you could ever imagine as a human.”
“Senses?” I ask. “So, like seeing and smelling?”
He clucks his tongue. “Yes, seeing and smelling.”
I make a mental note to never sweat in front of him. “And what exactly do I smell like?”
Luke closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath, leaning in to press his nose into the crook of my neck. I’m frozen beneath him, a familiar tingle spreading through my body. He leans back just enough for me to see his eyes, slowly spreading with a dark amber color. His voice is deep, husky, when he whispers onto my lips, “Intoxicating.”
My lips part and I breathe into him. I want to devour him. I want to possess him as much as he does me. He’s made me feel more than I ever thought possible. He makes me feel… ravenous.
My fingers make their way into his thick hair and I take a hold of the strands, pressing his mouth firmly against mine. I open my eyes to say something when a familiar figure catches my attention over his broad shoulder.
I whip my head to the side to get a better look, my eyes narrowing immediately.
“What?” Luke asks when I pull away from him. “What is it?”
He follows my eyes and groans when he sees Valak standing off to the side of the rink with my friends, chatting vigorously with Daisy. Luke runs a frustrated hand through his hair and growls out his friend’s name.
I’m already on the move, leaving Luke behind as I stumble and slide my way across the rink back to my friends. Daisy’s eyes light up when she sees me approach. “Calla, you never told me Officer Valencia here is Luke’s cousin.”
I’m dumbstruck by his audacity, leaving Luke the responsibility to respond. “Cousins, huh?”
Valak’s expression is believable, so much so he might even believe his own lie. “I’d say that at this point we’re basically family, wouldn’t you, Luke?”
Luke stares at his associate with a blank expression. “Not really.”
“You’re funny.” Valak turns to the rest of the group. “We’re not exactly related, but we’ve been in each other’s lives since the beginning of time.”
“Now who’s being funny?” I ask when I find my voice.
Valak’s black eyes finally turn to acknowledge me. “Great to see you again, Calla.”
I sneer at my name on his lips, as does Luke. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same.”
Daisy butts into the conversation, her smile no longer on her face. “Oh, yeah, didn’t you try to arrest her for murder?”
Becca crosses her arms over her chest, waiting for his response.
“To be fair,” he starts off, “she really was a suspect in a murder investigation. And the fact that Luke’s father wanted me to check up on his son’s new girlfriend to make sure she isn’t some gold digger was just perfect timing.”
Luke tenses besides me and blows out a sharp breath. “So, you have spoken to my father.”
Valak raises a mocking brow. “I often speak to him, unlike his own son.”
Luke takes a menacing step toward him and I wouldn’t doubt they’d turn this whole place into a war zone, people be damned. I reach my arm out to stop him. “What is it that you want, Vala—Officer Valencia?”
He turns his attention back to Luke. “I’m just here to give Luke a gentle reminder that there’s business to attend to.”
“It can’t always be all work and no play, can it?” Becca asks, fishing for insight.
“I’m afraid so,” he responds.
“And what is it you do?” Daisy asks. “In the business.”
“I hold many titles,” Valak begins, “but I guess you can say I’m a closer.”
Daisy, forgetting he once tried to ruin my life, sways toward him. “What does that mean?”
“It means”—he leans into her—“that I have a knack for sensing the weakness in people and striking to get what I want.”
While Daisy looks like she might start drooling, Freddie scratches his head. “But I thought you were a cop?”
Obviously irritated, Valak leans away from my enchanted friend. “A day job.”
Tyler snorts. “Your day job is being a cop? And your weekend job is…what? A private investigator for Luke’s dad?”
I’ve never been prouder to have this group of friends than I am now.
We’re all saved from the awkward silence when a voice comes over the speaker. “This one is for all of the couples in attendance. Sorry kids, but this one is for your parents.”
The awws from the children echo throughout the small rink and one by one everyone under sixteen leaves the floor.
I take the opportunity to leave the conversation. “Skate with
me?”
Luke relaxes his shoulders when he looks down at me.
Freddie and Becca already took off to join the other couples taking a spin around the less crowded floor. Before we can follow, Daisy turns to Valak and says, “Looks like we’re both without a partner.”
When Valak winks at my friend, I physically sicken watching them go off. “Is she going to be okay?”
Luke takes a proper hold of me so we can join the crowd. “Normally, I would say no, but I’ve spoken to him about it.”
“About what?” I ask, wondering what that conversation sounded like.
We’re moving in a good flow now, in tune with the rest of the crowd, my legs no longer feeling as if they’ll collapse. I feel confident in my own movements, and I know Luke would never let me fall. I want to enjoy the moment, spending what should be quality time with Luke, but my attention is focused on Daisy.
“I’ve already told him that these humans are off limits. We already have enough going on, the last thing I need is to have you upset with me.”
There are two major things wrong with that statement, but I don’t comment on either of them to him.
“Would he hurt her?” I ask quietly.
Luke’s foot misses a beat, but he quickly gathers himself before giving me a concerned look. “He’s a demon. And if there’s anything Valak is known for, it’s ravaging pretty souls.”
I stop midstride, almost knocking over someone. “Luke—”
“It’s okay, amour,” he says easily, “I already told him your humans are off limits. Valak knows his place.”
Looking over at the way he and Daisy are circling through the crowd and how happy she seems, I don’t know if I believe him.
“I’m serious, Luke, she’s one of my only friends.”
“I always keep my word, Calla.”
I want to put my trust into him, but every time they fly by us, and the look in Valak’s eyes is more predatory than amused, I begin to realize that them being demons is the least of my concerns. Not only do I have to worry about my friends’ physical safety, but even their souls.
Luke tugs on my hand, snapping me out of my head. “If you want me to kill him, just say it. But in the meantime, let’s have a good night. I could really use it.”
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