Page 51 of Dancing with My Elf
“Pretty much. Try to stay in the track.” I pointed to the flat part at the top. “Why don’t you put the tube down and sit. Then I’ll sit in front of you.” That appeared to be the best way for the two of us to share the sled, and at least, I’d be able to see what’s ahead and help steer us. Yes, it was part of my control freak nature, but since he had zero experience in doing so, it was also the most sensible plan.
Lucas’s eyes twinkled. “That sounds like aterrificidea.” He sat on the sled and spread his legs wide. “Come sit.”
Oh, my. I broke eye contact. My cheeks tingled with warmth despite the coolness of the day. The sudden intimate nature of how we’d be positioned with our bodies touching made by breath catch.
“Okay.” I wasn’t a prude. It was just sledding. A dozen people were doing the same thing.
I climbed in and leaned back against Lucas. Awareness of how his body pressed against mine from behind took hold as I grasped the handles on the snow tube as if they could provide solid ground.
“Looks like I need to hold on to you,” he said.
“Yes.” No way was I letting go of the handles.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I swallowed. Oh, potent potions, this was intense, much more than I anticipated. How could I ignore the sensual aspects in how our bodies touched? His body pressed against mine and his breath tickled the back of my ear. How could such an innocent winter activity feel so sensual?
Because it was with Lucas.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready.”
He nudged the sled forward. “Here we go!”
We inched downhill slowly but picked up momentum. The wind whipped through my hair.
As we approached the bump, I braced myself. “Hold on.”
Lucas tightened his hold around me. We hit the bump and went airborne. I squealed with nervous laughter, and Lucas shouted “Whoa!”
A heartbeat later, we landed back on the snow, accelerating down the track. As we descended, the ground leveled out, and we slowed, eventually coming to a stop.
“You okay, Zoe?” Lucas asked.
“Yeah. That was fun,” I admitted. A smile lingered on my face. I climbed out of the tube and then offered him my hand to help him up.
“That was faster than I expected.” His cheeks were pink and eyes bright.
“Did you like it?” I asked.
“Hell yeah. Let’s go again.”
We shuffled back over to the path where others walked up the hill. Lucas dragged the tube up. I plodded behind him this time. At least, I could explain my quickened breath and heartbeat to the ascent and not my reaction to this captivating shifter before me. It wouldn’t be a lie.
Still, I couldn’t deny how incredible it felt to be in his arms.
“Let’s try that one this time.” He pointed to another track that people had been sledding down.
Once he put the tube down and sat, I climbed on, settling against him. Or more like melting against his hard body. Sledding had never felt quite like this.
“Let’s go,” I said.
“I like your spirit, Zoe.” His voice was a low velvety rumble in my ear.
No one had ever noted that aspect about me in the past. It was more likeZoe, you work too much. You’re too serious. You need to lighten up.Lucas had a way of bringing out a more relaxed side of me.
Maybe he had that effect on everyone. I had to stop thinking that there was anything special about me. Lucas chased a good time, and I was just the challenge of the moment. Once the novelty was over, he’d move on to the next pleasurable diversion. I shouldn’t read anything into this beyond spending one enjoyable day together.
So just enjoy yourself and don’t worry about tomorrow for once.
