Page 128 of The Blackened Blade

I probably should have put two and two together being in a roller rink and all, but I had never even putona pair of rollerblades before, let alonemovedin them.

They must notice my hesitation as we make our way over to a bench to put on our skates.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never skated before?” Grins Annex as he throws on his red and white rollerblades with ease. Great, something for the crazy asshole to poke at.

Ezra drops to his knees in front of me, a softer smile on his face as he holds up the rollerblades. “Don’t worry, Micai. If you haven’t, it's not a problem. I can always teach you.” He leans in closer, his voice a little lower, “And I would never let you fall or be hurt. I promise.” The look he gives me seems so serious and resolute, with a slightly sharper expression like he could never allow such a thing to happen. It has a small grin pulling at my cheeks, and with that, his expression softens again.

But I give the skates he's holding another weary look. Would I be even able to stand properly in those things?

He raises a brow, a small grin tilting his lips as he shakes the skates. “I didn’t take you for the type that gives up easily though, little sea star.”

“Nah, definitely not.” Grins Annex, as laces his skates. “Hurry up Red. I wanna see how you look when you fall on that perfectly plump ass.”

I could see what they were doing; trying to call to my stubborn and competitive nature, or trying to use reverse psychology on me to get me to push past whatever block I had.

And as much as I hate to admit it–with Annex’s smug grin and Ezra’s eyes full of challenge–it was working.

I also didn’t want to give up without even trying.And who knows I could even be good at it?

I throw on the skates and take my school blazer off, chucking it on top of the bench.

Annex is already on the rink, with Ezra waiting for me by the rink’s entrance.

I take a deep breath. I could do this. It was just one foot after the other right? It couldn’t be that hard.

I was wrong.

Ezra’s hands wrap around me, catching me as I fall forward, my legs wanting to each go in opposite directions.

Annex comes speeding toward me from the opposite side of the rink like some seasoned professional, his chuckle echoing throughout the rink.

“Didn’t know I was watching a rerun of Bambi.” His laugh grows louder with whatever annoyed expression he sees on my face.

“It's her first time, dickhead.” Calls Ezra, as he steadies me.

He turns me around, placing himself behind me with his hands gently gripping my hips. “Take your time. I’ll move when you're ready, and we’ll go slow.”

His breath brushes across my neck, the deep rich tones of his voice ringing in my ear as he leans in closer. I feel a slight blush creep into my cheeks as his hands shift on my hips, with a strange heat spreading wherever his fingertips graze.

My chest feels strange; my heart drumming a new rhythm of its own the longer we stand here together. Was Ezra always this tall? Were his hands always this big and steady?

“Micai?” He calls, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah? Right…” I shake my head, trying to push the strange thoughts away, “So what do I do?”

“Push one foot forward at a time and just take it slow. Move your hips slightly as you move and don’t worry…” He gives my hips a small squeeze, and the smouldering heat from earlier flares up, sliding lower down my back before unfurling in my lower abdomen. “I’m right here with you.”

His voice only adds to the heat twisting and curling within me as he leans in closer, his scent instantly hitting me and wrapping itself around me; like lavender and sweet honey. I lean back toward him, his scent pulling me closer and wanting to feel more, wanting a small taste…until Annex races by, breaking me out of whatever strange trance I was falling into.

I feel my cheeks flame and my breath catch as I try to rationalise what was happening to me. What was all this?

Why was I behaving like this around Ezra? We were just friends, right? And we hadn’t even known each other for that long either…What was happening here?

I wasn’t naive or stupid. I knew how my body was reacting, what it wanted…but from Ezra?

I mean,clearlyEzra was attractive. Was that all this was?

Then what about Annex?

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