Page 49 of Scrooged for the Holidays
“I told you I wouldn’t let you fall.”
I drop my shoulders down. “This is harder than it looks.”
“Why don’t we start a bit slower? Hold on to my forearms, and I’ll help you skate.”
“Seriously?”
He nods. “You’ll be skating on your own in no time, but get your legs under you first.”
“Skating like that is for children,” I argue.
He grips my body tighter to his, and I shiver as I look into his green eyes.
“There’s no shame in leaning on someone. We all need it from time to time, even adults.”
His words swell like a rising tide in my chest, but I push whatever emotion his words drummed up down. I don’t like leaning on others—it’s not like there’s been anyone in my life to lean on.
“It’s only ice skating, love,” he adds.
I blink at him. It’s like he’s in my mind. “So you say. But did you need to lean on someone when you learned how to skate?”
Remi doesn’t strike me as someone who asks for or needs help, especially for something like this. If spying on him and his lovers last night showed me anything, it’s that he’s a man who demands and dominates. He doesn’t hold on for dear life.
His smile softens. “When I learned, yes. There’s no shame in it.”
Our eyes remain locked until the intensity of his makes me want inappropriate things. The image of Sam watching us through the window pops into my mind, and I pull back slightly.
“Okay.” I release the air I had trapped in my lungs. “I’ll take the help.” The words feel foreign on my tongue, but I can’t deny my body feels lighter after I say them. Something to unpack at a later date.
Remi beams, lips curved slyly. “Good girl.”
Arousal shoots through my body and warms me to my toes. Before I can rethink my decision, we get into position, and I clutch his forearms while he grips mine.
“Are you ready to try again?”
“Take two,” I nod.
Chapter fifteen
Samael
IfNephilimcouldlosetheir minds like humans do, I’d say Malachi and Remiel have lost theirs. They’ve gone against my wishes with Greer, and I truly think they’re falling for her in a way I never could have expected—especially since they just met her and she’s our job. A job who has very serious lessons to learn, given she’s a Scrooge.
Greer Mallory is not ours to have or play with. She’s here for two more nights, and then she’ll be gone. My guardian lovers, however, are not acting as if that’s the case.
Despite the sour note Kai ended on with Greer last night in her past, he returned from his work with a reverent smile on his face and the desire to go back to her. He spoke nonstop of their time together, more than just our normal debrief, and I could tell by the lust pouring out through his aura that the kiss Greer had planted on his lips only made him hungry for more.
Then there’s Remiel, who’s acting like a lovesick fool.
My dark gaze narrows as I watch the scene before me from my hiding spot. I’m off to the side of the rink between two vendors, a pine tree in front of me that I can peer through. Remi grips Greer’s waist, and her head tips back in laughter. They’ve been skating for nearly an hour now, and this has got to be the twentieth time she’s almost fallen.
Every time she starts to wobble or slip or her ankle turns in, I want to clobber my longtime friend and lover over the head. I don’t like watching her nearly break something or concuss herself. We’re supposed to be helping her, not hurting her.
Remi’s boisterous laugh hits me square in the chest, and I give my focus to him. His smile is joyful and eyes sparkling as he attempts to let go of Greer and have her skate by herself. They’re on the opposite side of the rink, but with my Nephilim hearing, their voices are loud and clear.
“Okay, okay, let me go!” Greer cries with a sharp tone, though there’s a playful edge to it.
Remi counts down from five before he removes his hands from her hips, skating back a couple of feet. The air in my lungs ceases as Greer wobbles like a newborn foal finding its legs. But after she gets her balance, she skates forward.
