The Complete Memories Series (41 page)

“
You could have let me get changed first,” I grumble, tucking my scarf over my chin and nose. The wind is biting cold, and I just know I’ll end up looking like some deformed Rudolph by the end of the night. I shiver, and wrap my arms around myself. A series of beeps tells me he’s locked the car.

Arms wrap around my shoulders from behind, and I feel warm breath on my cheek.
“Cold, gorgeous?” Bing asks.

“
No, I thought I might get my bikini out. You know, all these tropical temperatures.” I look dubiously up at the sky and the tiny flakes falling from it.

“
As much as I wouldn’t object to you walking around in a bikini, I don’t think it’s compatible with ice skating.” He chuckles slightly and moves to my side, pulling me into his body and directing me towards the Winter Wonderland entrance.

Hyde Park is magical at Christmas, and we
’re catching the tail end of Winter Wonderland. In fact, it’s the last night. The trees are still standing high, lights are twinkling everywhere, and the horrible snow adds a certain magic to it.

If it wasn
’t so cold, I’d probably like to live somewhere like this. Maybe Germany. But, it’s cold, and we all know how much I
love
the cold.

I rub my gloved hands together, and Bing shakes his head.

“Jen, we’re not in the North Pole.”

I pout slightly.
“It’s cold!”

We stop at a vendor
and he orders two hot chocolates, winking at me. I beam at him as he hands me the take-out mug. The heat seeps through my gloves, warming my hands. I sigh happily.

“
Better?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.

I nod.
“Much. Thank you.” I turn my face to kiss his cheek but my mouth finds his. He sweeps his tongue along my top lip, the warmth a stark contrast to the coldness of his lips.

I pull back and raise my cup to my mouth. He grins knowingly
, and squeezes my shoulders. “Come on,” he says. “Let’s go and find Alec and Lexy.”

Oh, thank God.

We push through the crowds, dodging to avoid excited children shouting and screaming at their parents. I still don’t get the excitement over snow. It’s cold. And wet. And
cold
.

“
Isn’t that them over there?” I nod to the ice skating rink where I can see a couple snuggled in.

Bing squints slightly.
“I think so. That’s where they’re supposed to be.”

“
Let’s go then,” I move, pulling him with me. He slips a little on some compacted ice, and I giggle. He looks down at me, smirking. “What?” I ask.

“
Have you ever ice skated before?”

“
No. Should I have?”

A broad grin stretches out on his face.
“Oh, man. This is gonna be fun.” He takes his arm from around my waist, strolling over to Lexy and Alec.

“
What? It can’t be that hard!” I look at the rink with the Victorian bandstand in the centre, jogging after him. “If little kids can do it, I can!”

Lexy smiles.
“It’s harder than it looks.”

Alec looks at the rink and back at me dubiously.
“Can we not skate? Really? There’s loads for us to do here so…”

I slap his arm.
“Don’t be a chicken shit, Alec! We can do this. It’ll be just like rollerskating.”

Bing snorts.
“Yeah… But with ice and blades.”

I raise an eyebrow at him.
“I can think of a good place for those blades right now.”

He half-grins at me.
“Not in public, babe.”

I purse my lips.
“You’re dirty.”

He steps towards me, lowering his mouth next to my ear. 
“Have you ever complained?”

“
No.”

“
Well then.”

I elbow him gently.

“They’re cute. In an annoying kind of way,” Lexy muses.

“
Uh, sure?” Alec frowns at her.

“
Don’t you see it? Even though they’re in a – sorry, not in – a relationship, they still bicker like they always have.” She turns, swinging their clasped hands. “And it’s annoying, but it’s cute because they’re so into each other.”

“
What made you the resident love guru?” I yell after her.

“
She’s right,” Bing mutters, pulling me after them.

“
That we bicker? I know that, Samuel.”

“
No.” I look up at him, and he’s smiling. “I am “into you,” as she put it. In fact, I’ve been all the way into you.”

I sigh, shaking my head.
“And there was me thinking you were going to say something romantic.”

“
What, the flowers aren’t enough?”

“
I never said that. But a few swoony, oh-my-gosh-turn-my-legs-to-jelly comments wouldn’t go amiss. I’m just sayin’.”

“
Fine. I’ll work on that.”

I nod my head once, grinning up at him. He pays the fee for the skating, and
we collect two pairs of skates. I put my empty take-out cup in the bin, holding onto Bing’s arm to steady myself.

Wow, okay. These aren
’t great for the old balance. I hold onto my ear.

“
What are you doing?” he asks, looking down at me amused.

“
I’m keeping my balance. Ears help that shit, you know.” I watch as Lexy guides Alec on the ice. He slips almost straight away, and she laughs, struggling to hold him up. “Alec should try it.”

Bing turns his face towards the rink just as Alec falls backwards. Lexy falls with him, laughing loudly.

“So you’re trying to stop that?” Bing looks back at me.

“
No, it’s obviously my goal to fall flat on my ass. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“
That might not be such a bad thing.”

“
Of course it would be bad. We’re not just talking any ass here. We’re talking
my
ass.”

“
And it’s a very nice ass.”

“
Thank you.”

“
One that I’d have no issues with rubbing better should you fall on it.” He grins wolfishly.

I sigh, holding onto the side of the rink as I pull myself onto the ice.
“I should have guessed that was coming.”

Bing gets onto the ice, skating round me.
“It’s one of my special qualities.”

“
The ability to make anything x-rated?”

“
No.” He shakes his head, and skates forward. He takes my hands from the side. I squeak. “Just the ability to make anything about you x-rated.”

“
I want to hold the side. Let me hold the side.” I squeeze my eyes shut as he pulls me slowly across the ice. “And enough with the x-rated. You’re supposed to be romancing me, not seducing me.”

I squeal loudly as he pulls me into him. I wobble a little on the skates, holding his hands tighter. He chuckles quietly, and my face presses into his chest.

“Jen,” he whispers, lowering our arms. “I can’t help it if my thoughts are x-rated about you. It’s not my fault if every single part of me is attracted to you. I can’t help wanting to be inside you in every way – in your body and in your heart. And I can’t help it if I’m falling into you with every smile and sarcastic comment. I can’t help that I’ve been falling a little more every day since I met you again.”

My heart misses a few beats, like a drunken leprechaun doing a tap dance, and I slowly raise my head up. My eyes me
et his, and they’re full of sincerity.

“
See, you can be romantic.” I tilt my head to the side, a smile playing with my mouth.

“
I’m trying,” he whispers, his lips twitching. “But it’s you. You make me romantic, Jen, because I want to be everything you deserve and more.”

My lips part a little, and I lean up, pressing them against his in a kiss that
’s so short, but so long at the same time. It may only last for a few seconds, but time is irrelevant when your heart is the one in control.

Because in that moment, with our hearts in control of our feelings, they could have been as old as time itself.

~

I grin at Jen as she leans against the side of the rink, both her and Alec gripping onto it for dear life.

“I refuse to skate anymore,” she cries. “My ass has taken more of a beating than a whore with a penchant for spanking!”

Lexy bends over, her hands on her knees, laughing. Alec grins.

“‘A whore with a penchant for spanking?’” I repeat.

“
Mhmm.” She raises her eyebrows. “You wait. I bet it’ll be black and blue. Let’s face it, guys, Alec and I can’t ice skate any more than a nun can have sex. Let’s save ourselves the trouble-”

“
And the sore asses,” Alec mutters.

“
And the sore asses…” I wink at him. “…And go and do something else. Please?”

“
You’ve barely tried it,” my sister implores through her laughter.

“
Yes, Princess, because your laughter is oh so encouraging,” Alec says dryly. “It’s really making me want to go back out there and skate.”

“
I’m with you, Al, I’m with you.” Jen holds her hand up to him, and he smacks it in a high five.

“
What were you thinking of?” I sigh, taking off my hat and running my fingers through my hair.

“
I want to go to the market,” Lexy says, looking longingly in that direction.

“
Ooooh!” Jen claps her hands, slips, and grabs the side again. “Damn skates.”

“
Of course,” Alec mutters. “Why wouldn’t they? I mean, the definition of their existence is to shop. What are the chances we’d leave here without having to go to the Christmas Market? Wishful thinking right there.”

I nod in agreement, slapping his shoulder.
“I’m with you, mate.”

“
Everyone seems to be with me tonight.”

“
That’s ‘cause you’re the only one speaking sense.” I crook my thumb over my shoulder. “Those two? Shopping?”

Alec pulls himself along the ice on the side.
“Anywhere we can go for a beer?”

“
Not a chance.” Lexy glides past us smoothly. “We’re shopping, then beer.”

“
Really?” I look at her.

“
Well. It depends who’s driving.” She shrugs.

Alec and I look at each other, resigned.
“Shopping and no beer. Excellent.”

“
Poor baby,” Jen coos, reaching over and grabbing my cheek.

I grab her arm and pull her away from the side. She shrieks, holding onto me for dear life. I laugh, amused by the shock on her face.

“Where’s the tough sarcasm now, babe?” I chuckle into her ear.

“
It’s building up ready to kick your ass later,” she replies, smiling sweetly at me.

“
I can’t wait.” I kiss her, taking her soft lips with mine.

There
’s something about kissing her. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like I could live quite happily if all I ever got to do was kiss her. I could do it all day, every day, and never get bored of the feeling of her lips moving against mine the way they do.

Lights flash, music blares, and bodies grind. We’re back in Red
– and i
t’s also the stalking ground for the girls with boobs bigger than their brains.

“
Relax.” Lexy says in my ear. “Have you even seen where he’s looking?”

My eyes trawl across the club and meet his like they
’re a beacon calling out for me. He hides from the harsh glare of the lights, and his eyes are almost black, the iris meeting his pupil. They blend together, and I don’t have a clue if I’m looking at Bing or fucking Dracula.

“
On you,” Lexy continues. “All night. He’s turned away three blondes, four brunettes, a redhead, and some chick with more piercings than skin.”

“
Ack.” I shiver. “You’ve counted?”

“
Yeah.” She raises her eyebrows. “I’m keeping my beady little eyes on my bro tonight.”

“
You don’t have to-”

“
No, I don’t. But I will. Because I want you to know he does care. I know him, and I’ve never seen him this way before.”

Bing raises his eyebrows as Lexy tr
ails off. I smile at him, shyly almost. He smiles back.

“
You. Me. Tonight?” he mouths the words, and desire rolls through me at the meaning of them. Holy shit, I’m a walking bag of horny and it’s all his fault!

“Maybe,”
I mouth back.

He hides his grin behind his pint as a blonde approaches him. Barbie number five. She flicks her hair, puts a hand on her jutted out hip
, and sticks her chest out at him.

I know my face is hard, like granite, and anger and possession ripple through me more fiercely than anything I
’ve ever encountered.

“
Uh oh,” Lexy says.

“
What?” I glance at her then the blonde. “Who is that?”

“It
’s Heidi. His ex.”