Free Whispers on the Ice by Elizabeth Moynihan Page A

more his tone than his request that snapped her mind from its mindless floating.
    “What?” she gasped, her mind trying to catch up with the blood that now raced madly through her body. Did she really hear him correctly or had she merely wished the request in her dreams and somehow confused the two?
    Aleksei cursed himself for even thinking let alone voicing aloud his desire. How had this slip of a girl, who infuriated him at every turn, suddenly have him on his knees and begging for a kiss? He’d never had to beg for sexual favors in the past. In fact, more often than not, he was turning women away. A fact he was not always proud of, but still, a part of his past and something that had kept his name in print. After all, even bad publicity was good, as long as your name was on everyone’s tongue you wouldn’t be forgotten. It was only when they forgot about you your career was over. And Aleksei had made sure his name was never forgotten. Now, with Jordan, he wanted to move on and start a new chapter of his life and career and amazingly enough, it was going to happen because of a slip of a sixteen year old girl. A sixteen year old girl who was wiser than time itself and infinitely more mature than he was himself.
    “I said… show me, Jordan,” He stuttered, holding his breath as he hoped she hadn’t heard his original request.
    Jordan shook her head slightly, confusion evident in her deep green eyes as they searched Aleksei’s dark, shining ones. “Show you what?”
    “Show me how to be a pair. Show me how to skate with you,” He requested huskily.
    Jordan raised one eyebrow, her expression expectant.
    “Please,” Aleksei growled sardonically.
    Jordan’s face lit up, a broad smile gracing her beautiful face and laughing eyes. “Now was that so hard?” she inquired sweetly.
    That wasn’t but I could show you something that is! Aleksei thought silently, shifting his position to try to relieve the building pressure against his Speedo trunks. “Don’t push it, Jamison. I only grovel so many times a year and this year’s quota is almost up,” He stated darkly.
    “I’m sorry. I’ll try to curtail my enthusiasm at your groveling to a minimum. I’ve just never had anyone ask me to be their partner before. In the past, I was always the one asking and making the concessions. This is something new for me too.”
    “Great, we’ll learn together then. If it’s okay with you?” Aleksei asked, cautiously pushing to his feet and starting for the stairs. “Nobody leaves, right?”
    “Right,” Jordan agreed. “Done already?” she then asked, walking to Aleksei’s side.
    Standing beside him, the top of her head reached him mid-chest, again reminding him how much his strength could harm her. “I’ll never hurt you, Jordan,” He promised deeply, his words and tone making her raise her eyes to his.
    “Do I look worried about that possibility, Rocmanov?” she asked knowingly, a serene, womanly smile gracing her full lips.
    “I just wanted you to know that I do take your safety into consideration—despite the times I seriously consider murdering you. I just wanted you to know,” Aleksei stated softly, his deep voice full of conviction.
    “Okay, thanks,” She answered quietly. “By the way, how’s the leg?” she asked, nodding toward the leg he favored.
    “Skinny, scaly and weak. But give me a few weeks and it’ll be good as new,” he quipped, a happy smile lighting his eyes as he rubbed his hand down his weak leg and felt his own skin instead of the cast he’d come to hate.
    “If you say so.”
    “I do and the sooner you learn I keep my word the sooner we’ll be standing on a podium collecting gold,” He stated seriously.
    “I’m beginning to realize that,” She responded softly, lifting her chin at his sardonic expression and raised eyebrow, daring him to taunt her. “I’m man enough—woman enough—to admit when I may have misjudged someone.”
    “Is that what you’re doing? Are you