Page 30 of Soar

Salem huffed and slumped in his seat. “You’re not as smooth as you think you are.”

Challenge accepted.He was more than happy to show Salem exactly how smooth he could be.

He parked the car in an open spot within view of the pond and turned off the engine. Just as he’d hoped, the small park was completely empty. Some lamps were lit, illuminating a scattering of picnic tables covered in snow and playground equipment with small footprints around it from children who’d ventured out during the day.

He glanced over to see Salem pulling the knit hat lower on his ears and then resettling his scarf around his neck before tugging on a pair of gloves. “Are you sure that’s going to be enough to keep you warm?”

“Of course. I’m used to these winters.” Salem smirked and leaned in close to him, taunting laughter glittering in his eyes. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to be out in the cold after so many years in Brazil?”

Gregori shifted in his seat so his face was only a handspan from Salem’s. “The cold doesn’t bother ice dragons. We’re built for it.” He swooped in and planted a quick kiss on the tip of Salem’s nose before the man could jerk away.

“Ah!” Salem cried out and Gregori laughed as he climbed out of the car. He strolled around to Salem’s side and waited for his date to finish bundling up so he could get out.

Together, they crossed the field, which had only a decimeter of snow covering the ground. The last storm hadn’t dumped a lot of the white stuff. Just enough to make the scenery pretty and the roads annoying.

As they reached the pond, Gregori took hold of Salem’s elbow, stopping him from getting too close. There was a layer of ice on the pond, but even from a glance he could tell it wasn’t nearly thick enough to hold their weight. “Stay here for a minute. Let me fix the ice.”

“Work your magic,” Salem urged, motioning toward the pond.

With one last look at Salem to reassure himself he wasn’t going to do anything rash, Gregori edged the last few feet to the pond and knelt. He pressed his fingers to the thin coating of ice and called on his magic, sending it racing across the pond, adding several decimeters of thickness to what was already there. When he was done, the ice on the small pond was thick enough to hold a full-size dragon, let alone two men.

Satisfied his mate was going to be safe, Gregori straightened and walked out onto the ice. He turned toward Salem and held out his hand. “It’s okay now. Join me.”

“You know, it might have been smarter if we’d bothered to get some actual ice skates,” Salem observed even as he shuffled to the edge of the pond and took Gregori’s hand. His fingers instantly tightened on Gregori’s, clasping him in a death grip. He lifted one foot to step on the ice and stopped. “You’re sure this is thick enough to hold both of us?”

Gregori lifted both of his brows at Salem. “Do you really think I’d put your life in danger?”

“Good point,” Salem muttered as he stepped onto the ice.

With an evil chuckle, Gregori pulled Salem into his arms, squeezing a startled yelp out of him as he slid easily across the ice. Salem’s free hand was twisted in the front of Gregori’s coatwhile his face was smashed into his chest. His entire body was tense as if he was just waiting for the icy water to close over his slender frame.

Not a fucking chance.

“See? You’re safe. The ice isn’t going to crack. I won’t even let you fall. Just hold on to me,” Gregori murmured in Salem’s ear.

Was there a better way to spend the evening than having his mate wrapped in his arms as they glided around the ice?

Slowly, Salem lifted his head and looked around as Gregori slid on the ice in another lazy circle. Gregori was holding nearly all of Salem’s weight with ease.

“You can do this without skates?” Salem’s grip on his coat eased slightly and he relaxed, leaning on Gregori.

“Of course. I’ve been sliding around on the ice for centuries without ice skates, chasing around my clanmates and playing games.”

“But how—” Salem’s question died off as he snapped his head up, eyes wide. “You don’t mean in Brazil, do you? Sam mentioned your clan is originally from Russia.”

Gregori nodded. “We could do this in Brazil if we wanted. We can freeze entire lakes if we’re in the mood. But most of the time, we lounge on the warm sand, soaking up all the sun.”

Salem chuckled. “Like the giant iguanas you are.”

“Oh, I think you find me far more attractive than a giant iguana.”

A low huff escaped Salem, and even in the low light, Gregori could make out the blush starting to spread across the apples of his cheeks. The man could deny it all he wanted, but he still recalled the pictures Salem had taken when he was in his dragon form with the kids. The surgeon had been impressed, which had pleased his dragon to no end. The silly beast had preened and purred at the knowledge that Salem had watched it for so long.

“Whatever. Do you miss Russia?”

Gregori slowed his sliding around the pond and shifted Salem so his back was pressed to Gregori’s front while he wrapped one stabilizing arm around his waist. This way Salem could see where they were going without awkwardly craning his neck.

“No, not really. We’ve lived in Brazil for so long, it feels like home. We love the sun and warm weather. So many of us have become surfers over the years. The tropical colors are nice, and the local food is delicious. Even if I had a craving for the fare I grew up on, there’s plenty of dragons living within the clan who can make it exactly as they did when we lived there.”

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