The Tyrant's Wife

269 Ice dancing

Song recommendation: Still falling for you-Ellie Goulding.

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When Liam mentioned an amusement park date, Ximena thought he was joking. She had never thought of him as the type to want to go to such a place, so it was a surprise when he actually pulled up into the amusement park parking lot.

“Are you ready for this?” He stepped out of the car and opened the door for her.

She looked up at him and held back a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” He frowned at her.

“This is funny. You opening the car door for a woman and that woman being me?” She wiggled a finger between the two of them.

“What do you know? Love makes you do things that are so unlike you.” He grinned, but her face paled.

Love?

.....

Liam was in love with her?

She chose not to ruin the date by dwelling on the matter. Instead, she placed her palm into his. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Of course not. I’m more used to bickering with you.” He chuckled and hooked her arm around his.

The amusement park was bustling with activity, with kids laughing and playing and screams emanating from the roller coaster and falling tower.

“Do you want to try the carousel?” He nudged her arm.

“What do you think I am, a ten year old?” She rolled her eyes.

He laughed, looking down at her. “You may not be a ten year old, but I feel like we missed a huge chunk of our lives.”

“What are you talking about?” She slowed down.

“That year if you didn’t run away and we became friends, we would go on a carousel ride together.” He leaned down to persuade her. “Come on. Humor me.”

“Just this once.” She preferred more exciting rides and knowing him, he might have suggested the carousel just to get a rise out of her.

To avoid waiting in line to buy tickets at every ride, he bought a pair of all-inclusive tickets and gave one to her. “Next stop, bumper cars.”

“No way.” She showed her ticket to the attendant and ignored him, mounting onto her horse. A bell signalled the start of the ride and soon, they were drowned in the voices of cheering and giggling.

When it was over, she couldn’t help wondering if the all-inclusive ticket could earn her another ride on the carousel. It was more fun than she had expected, not that she would ever admit it to him.

“I am not going to the bumper cars.” She insisted before he could suggest it.

He smiled. “Forget the bumper cars. I know just how to make a woman scream.”

Her jaw dropped, and the lady near them blushed and scurried away with her hands blocking her son’s ears.

Their next stop was the haunted villa, which in Liam’s words, was meant to ‘liven up the atmosphere’. By the time they made it to the exit, her voice was hoarse from screaming and her legs trembling in horror. The ghosts were props and disguised employees but they were scarier than the horror movies she had watched. She had nearly screamed her lungs off when she stepped on what looked like a moving bloody hand.

Meanwhile, Liam must have enjoyed it more than her, what was with her jumping onto him every time a scare popped up.

She wiped thin sweat off her forehead. “Now I know where to bring Zaria for her birthday.”

Liam tipped his head back in laughter. “Are you really her friend?”

She ignored his remark and grabbed his hand. “Come on! The roller coaster won’t ride itself.”

One terrifying roller coaster ride later, they finally settled for the highlight of the day-the ferris wheel.

Being confined with him in an enclosed space had never crossed her mind but now that they were together, watching the beautiful city when the ride got higher, she couldn’t help placing her hand in his. He was taken aback by her move but he didn’t remark, grasping her hand with a content smile. A million thoughts blasted his brain, of things they could do in this little enclosed space.

He used his free hand to tip her jaw upwards so she would look at him. When their gazes collided, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It was a gentle kiss but her heart quickened its pace. She inched to the edge of her seat and pressed her lips agaisnt his, returning his kiss with a deeper one. His hand circled her body to pull her closer to him.

“If you keep doing that, I will not be able to stop myself.” He warned subtly.

“What am I doing?” She blinked innocently, but her hands were telling a different story. She ran a hand down his chest until she reached his belt, which she tugged playfully. “Have you ever made out on a ferris wheel?”

His lips crashed onto hers and stopped her from teasing him any further. He had meant for it to be a quick kiss but when she moaned, his resolve flew out through the window, leaving behind uncontrollable hunger.

Alas, the ride ended before he could take things further.

“You knew it would end soon, you little minx.” His voice was hoarse as he accused her.

Her laughter proved that he was right. He looked down at himself with a frown. “I’m not going to flash innocent kids with my boner. So you, the culprit, will act as a shield.”

As soon as they got off the ride, he carried her, his arms supporting her knees and her back as he used her body as a shield. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

___

After the amusement park date, she was prepared for whatever surprise he had in store for her. Even so, her jaw dropped when she finally saw it.

“An ice skating rink?”

“Do you like it?” He tilted his head to gauge her reaction, smiling when he saw how excited she was.

“How come no one else is here?” She asked the question and immediately slapped her forehead. “What am I asking? Of course you own the damn rink, Liam-fucking moneybags-Preston.”

“Is it such a bad thing?” He chortled at her reaction.

“Not if I get to skate to my heart’s content.” She was looking forward to it, but her expression dimmed.

“Let’s get changed.” He led her towards the changing rooms.

Judging by his confidence, she guessed that he had brought her a change of clothes and ice skates. She was right. He led her to the women’s changing room and gave her a bag.

When she left the changing room in her skates and a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt, she looked down at herself then at him.

“These are my clothes and skates.”

A grin lit up his face. “I may have sought a little help from Zaria.”

She thought back to Zaria’s surprised face when she mentioned the date and shook her head. “The Oscars owe her an award for her impeccable acting.”

“Come on. Let’s slide along.” He let her lead the way to the rink.

Zaria had mentioned to him that Ximena loved ice skating, but that didn’t prepare him for the show he got to enjoy. He didn’t expect that after a few laps, Ximena would be gliding all over the rink, dancing to ‘Still falling for you’ like a professional ice dancer. He was suddenly glad he had reserved the rink for the two of them for an hour. At first, he had done it thinking she would prefer privacy. But watching her dance, he was certain he didn’t want anyone getting to witness that. Especially not men.

When the song ended, she did a set of spins he had only imagined possible with at least a decade of practice and threw herself into his arms.

He caught her by instinct and steadied her.

“That’s...wow. I didn’t think...”

“That it would be so fun? Come. Let me teach you.” She pulled him back onto the rink. He already knew how to ice skate, so it was easy to teach him a few moves. He had never seen her so happy before. If only it were possible, he would freeze time so they would live this moment forever.

After racing to their hearts’ content, they glided off the rink and she dashed to the bathroom.

She was starting to feel cold now that she was no longer dancing. She rubbed her hands together after washing them. When a young woman exited the bathroom stall next to the one she had been in, she smiled at her. “Hey, do you know where the coffeehouse is?”

“It’s down the hall.” Answered the young woman, but her gaze was on Ximena’s lips. When she thanked her, the young woman returned her smile. “Your lipstick is so pretty. Do you mind telling me what brand it is?”

“Morel Beauty.” Ximena couldn’t help a smile. Her brand was skyrocketing in fame but she still felt proud of her hard work when women couldn’t help asking what lipstick, liner or eyeshadow she was wearing.

The young woman checked it out excitedly on her phone. “I’ll get one! My boyfriend will never be able to stop himself from kissing me.”

“Well, good luck.” She left the bathroom and went out in search of the coffee house. She got two cups of hot chocolate, one for Liam, and returned to the rink to find him.

Alas, before she got to the rink, her eyes caught sight of the young woman from the bathroom, holding Liam’s arm and whining about something. The cups in her hand dropped, spilling coffee all over the floor.

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