Saving Me

They got out of the shower, drying each other off, teasing and laughing. Eva squealed when Gabriel swooped her up in his arms bride style and carried her back to bed. He sat down and pulled her over him like a blanket. Eva crossed her arms over his chest and looked down at him. He wore a smug satisfied grin as he put his arms behind his head and returned her perusal. “ Adrian wants us both to compete in singles as well as pairs. Are you up for that?” His eyes narrowed and he wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know. Today at the Oasis I realized that we’re going to be minor celebs in this town. Eva scowled playfully. “Who you callin’ Minor?” She punctuated that wtth a poke to his pectoral. Then shook her hand like she’d hurt it on his unyielding muscle.

He laughed and caught her hand, taking the ‘injured’ finer into his mouth. “Never you. But really, all these people know you and you’re used to that. I’m not sure if I want a spotlight on me.” Eva nodded. “All the shops will close so they can watch the competition; they’ll fawn over you when they see you afterwards. Shower you with praise no matter if you won or not. They’re proud of their people. It was strange at first, but it’s like having a huge family of people cheering for you, gasping in shared pain if you fall, screaming like psych ward patients if you win.”

Gabriel processed for a minute and shrugged self-consciously. Eva scoffed. “Come on like you don’t know what it feels like to have women fawning over you already?” He smiled slowly. “You noticed that huh?” Eva shut her mouth with a snap and scowled at him. “Don’t get your feathers up sweetheart.” She wrinkled her nose at him and tossed her hair over her shoulder. Regal as a Queen. The Red Queen of Hearts. That’s what he thought she was. “ Adrian will make us practice separately on our singles long program. Basically we’ll have to create four programs. You don’t have to but I’m just warning you he’s going to ask.” Gabriel twined his finger around a lock of her hair. “This is my first time competing at this level, for now let’s keep it simple. I’ll skate with you and you can do both.” He shifted his head a little, and Eva could see him thinking. “Do you like competing?” He asked her thoughtfully. Eva nodded. “I really do, well not the behind the scenes cutthroat version. But being on the ice, creating a story that all those people come to see; knowing that thousands more people are watching on TV. It’s a rush.”

Gabriel saw the passion she had, the joy on her face when she talked about it. “Why do you like it so much?” Eva sighed and thought hard for the right words. “When I stepped on the ice for the first time, it was weird. It was like I was transported into some fairy tale, a princess set free in her ice palace.” She smiled at him, and his breath caught. “Whatever frustrations I had with my family, Martin…all of it fell away as soon as my feet touched the rink. I was free; I could be anything I imagined. I love the grace and the strength it takes to be a skater. I love knowing that somewhere a little girl,” She winked at him. “Or a boy can watch me on TV and be touched by it. Inspired like I was. Some kids turn to music and art to express themselves. I chose skating and dance I guess.” She shook her head and laughed. “What about you, why’d you go from hockey to Figure Skating?” “Less pain.” He said seriously. Eva waited patiently lifting an arched brow. “Alright, I was obsessed with this girl in high school who loved figure skating and I thought I’d impress her with my talent.”

Eva nodded. “Did you?” Gabriel laughed. “No, she was convinced I was gay.” Eva gasped in horror. “No!” He grinned ruefully. “Yes, and so did the rest of the school. But I found I really liked it, and all the muscle that came with it. My mom was beside herself, my father like everyone else thought I was gay. But then one girl realized I was now the strongest most handsome guy there was and my questionable sexuality was confirmed as hetero. Bless the girl. Mary Munro.” There was a wistful look on his face, and then he checked to see if she was jealous, and sighed when he found her listening raptly. “My coach retired last year and I’d been looking around for another when I got this call from him saying he had the perfect slot for me.” His hand brushed her hair away from her face affectionately. “Damned off the mark if I do say so.”

Eva eyes sparkled evilly and wriggled until she found what she wanted. “I’ll show you off the mark you rat.” His hands caught her hips and stopped her. “We shouldn’t, you’ll be to sore in the morning to skate.” Her brows lifted and she leaned down to nip his shoulder, grinning when he hissed. “Will I?” She took his hands and put them to better use on her breasts as she sat up and impaled herself on him. She let her head fall back, her long hair brushing his thighs. “Jesus Christ!” Gabriel reared up and arched his hips into her. She sobbed out a breath when he pulled her legs around him, driving himself deeper as she rocked them to oblivion.



They woke together the next morning, with sleepy smiles on their faces. Eva kissed his chest and threw back the covers with a sudden burst of energy. Gabriel let out a shout as the chilly morning air touched his nice warm body. “Eva! Get your arse back in here.” She was in her closet pulling on clothes. “Nope, we have to go. Practice, practice, practice. And we start our dance classes today. Come on.” She ran across the room like a pixie and jumped on him with a wild smile. “But I’m not done with you yet.” Gabriel said grabbing her and rolling her under him. “Well I’m not done with you either. But we still have to go.” She smacked his naked backside and he jumped back in shock. “Up! I think I have an extra toothbrush somewhere.” She kissed him lightly and bopped back into her closet. Grumbling he picked his scattered clothes off the floor and put them on. His gym bag had appeared on a chair, waiting for him. “Eva, when did you go out and get my stuff?” “Last night while you were sleeping.” He smiled and found his deodorant. “Thank you.” He called out, thanking god for the fresh change of clothes. “No, no thank you. Here catch.”

Gabriel turned and caught the still packaged toothbrush she threw at him. He swallowed when she came out of her closet. She was wearing loose black pants and a t-shirt knotted under her breasts. Blazoned it in red letters, the shirt proclaimed her a ‘Goddess.’ She was in the process of pulling her hair back into a pony tail, her stomach muscles rippled from the movement and he really, really wanted to pull her back to bed.