Page 20 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
Not too far away, Mom and Eloise were chatting to another pair of ladies who were showing them what they bought at the market. When I was younger, it was always fun to try to lose the escorts of whatever Omega I was dating, and that same urge was coursing through me now.
“Have a seat and I’ll put your skates on.” When she opened her mouth to protest, I shook my head. “Let me do it. You haven’t skated in years, and I’ll be able to do it much faster, so your feet won’t get cold.”
Mariska paused for a few seconds and then sighed. “Okay.”
As she sat down, I knelt in front of her. I deftly untied her boots and slipped the first one off. She wore blue socks with prints of a dog that looked a lot like Artemis. There was color and whimsy underneath her black clothed exterior, and I was eager to peel it back to see what else was there.
“The blades on the skates are much thinner than I remember.” She worried her lower lip between her teeth, and I messed up a knot as I focused on her mouth for too long.
“Nah, they’re the same. You just don’t have little kid feet anymore. You have big ones, a ladies’ six.” I teased and securely tied both her skates with double-knots.
“Shut up, Mr. Fourteen. Six is the average size for an adult Omega, thank you very much.” Mariska picked up her boots andtucked the laces inside of them as I sat next to her to put on my skates. “Fourteen is like a Bigfoot size.”
“Bigfoot only wishes he was as big as I was.” I purred the words, not meaning my feet at all, and she blushed crimson, hiding herself behind her scarf again. I finished tying my skates and took our boots to put them into a cubby before returning and offering her my hands. “Time to skate, gorgeous.”
Mariska took my hands and I eased her to her feet. Her legs only wobbled slightly until she gained her balance. “I don’t know about this. I don’t want to fall and break something.”
“I won’t let you fall.”
She raised her gaze to meet mine. Her gold eyes shone with vulnerability. “Promise?”
“I promise.” I held a hand over my heart as I said it. She might be afraid of slipping, but I’d already fallen hard for her. I would protect her from everything, even gravity.
With her nod, I led her onto the ice and hooked her arm through mine. Her holding onto me like a lifeline stroked my inner Alpha. I wanted to shout, declare to the world that she was mine.
Mariska stumbled a few times, but she swiftly got used to being on skates again. She held my hand most of the time, and by the end, we were racing each other across the rink. The rosiness in her cheeks was from fun and laughter rather than timidity. And fuck, when she got a good belly laugh going, it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
Over an hour later, we left the rink and went in search of food. Our chaperons had moved on inside the tent and waved at us as they sipped mulled wine while browsing various crafts. There were several drink booths, and it pleased me that Mariska was a hot chocolate girl. I got mine with an extra squirt of vanilla because I was so thoroughly wrapped up in her scent. We shared a bag of roasted nuts and a chimney cake.
Afterward, Mariska stared at the several rows of vendors with a resigned look. “I guess I should look for some gifts now.”
“Not a shopper?” I raised my brows.
“Not really, but especially not this type of shopping.” The cheerful mood I’d cultivated all day was fast fading.
“Well, if you’re looking for something for Eloise, a bottle of that wine they’re drinking would be a good bet.” I nudged her and grinned. That won me a smile.
“I’ve already got a present for her, and for Lyla and Emberlee, but I think I will pick up some wine for a Christmas Eve surprise gift.”
“I’m more of a hard cider man myself, in case you’re wondering.” Yes! Another small smile. “Who do you need to buy for?”
“My parents and sister.” She heaved a sigh and stepped toward the first booth filled with ornaments which were painted so they looked like they were covered in frost, but they depicted different winter scenes.
My jaw twitched at the way she said it. Family was incredibly important to me, and I wanted it to be for her too. “Will you be spending Christmas with them?”
Mariska shrugged and moved on past the ornaments to a vendor with various animal themed hats and mittens. “I’ll go over in the afternoon to see them and have dinner, but then I’ll come back to Primrose House.”
“That’s a short visit.” My family would be over on Christmas Eve and spend the night. Mom and Justine would cook the meals, and us guys would tire out the kids. Or, as it was starting to be as my nephews got older, they tired us out. I couldn’t imagine the holidays without them.
“It will seem like ages when I’m there.” Mariska drifted past the next few booths and shook her head. “I don’t know what to get.”
“How do you not know? They’re your parents, your sister.”
“I don’t know them, not really.” She glanced back at me and I huffed. It couldn’t be true. She stopped and folded her arms. “What? I don’t. They sent me away when I was twelve. I’m an Omega from a family of Betas. They don’t understand me and they don’t want to. They’re happier without me.”
“Whoa. Hey, now.” I wasn’t going to hear any of that bullshit. Everyone’s life would be immensely better with Mariska in it. “That’s not true.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know them.” Her gaze hardened. “You don’t know me.”
