SEAL Protected by Rosa Foxxe

frozen over and I could tell that from the road. I slowed to a stop and grabbed my skates, dragging Tom off to the ice. He stared at the pond and at the skates in his hands like he’d never seen either before.
     
    “Put them on,” I said with a laugh. He shook his head, eyes wide. “Please, for me?”
     
    A sigh passed his lips and obediently he sat down on a log and pulled on his boots. Within the minute we were stepping out onto the ice. I glided across the smooth surface, reveling in the cold bite to the air, the bright sun above, and the smooth surface beneath my feet. I looked to Tom, who was wobbling at the edge of the ice, struggling to keep his balance. He had his arms straight out and he danced back and forth, his eyes wide and staring at his feet. I was growing used to Tom’s wide eyed look. It seemed to be one of Tom’s default expressions. That, and mild disdain. Though I was seeing his soft smiles and warm chuckles more and more when it was the two of us.
     
    I skated over to Tom and brushed a hand over his hair. “Come on,” I said. I took his hands and skated backward across the pond slowly, dragging him with me. Tom stared at his feet the whole time, his hands tight against mine. “Look at me, not your feet. Feel the ice but don’t stare at it,” I said. He nodded, but I could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn’t believe me. “Come on,” I said again. “Don’t think, just feel.”
     
    He snorted at that. “You remind me of my drill sergeants,” he said.
     
    “Training?” I guessed, and he nodded. I shook my head at him. “I should have figured; it makes sense. I suppose you were trained for all sorts of things.”
     
    “Not ice skating,” he said.
     
    I laughed. “Of course, not ice skating. Now, keep up with me and let’s see how you do.” I skated backwards, letting my feet glide across the ice and keeping an eye on Tom. He was looking at me now, instead of at his feet, and the intensity of his gaze sent pinpricks of electricity racing down my arms and legs. He had a knack for that, I’d noticed, and I liked it. I liked that he could make me feel so many things in just a look.
     
    “What are you smiling about?” he asked as I took him around a corner.
     
    “You,” I said. Tom frowned at me and I shook my head, easing him into another turn. “I’m not making fun of you, I swear. Just…,” I shook my head, “I don’t know. You’re a very strange man, Tom. You know all this stuff about the navy and the government and fighting, but you’ve missed out on a lot of fun things.”
     
    “Like skating?” he guessed. I nodded. “I wouldn’t call this the most fun I’ve ever had. But… it’s nice, I suppose.”
     
    “All right. Let’s see how you do without me.” I released his hands and wheeled around, gliding off before he could make a grab for me. “Come on!”
     
    Halfway around the pond again I spun around and cocked an eyebrow at him, a challenge to see if he’d follow. Tom glided forward a few steps, wobbled, and then caught his balance just before he flipped over. I snickered, letting myself stand still on the ice. Inch by inch he came forward, then, just before he was within arms’ reach of me, he slipped and toppled backward.
     
    I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You all right?”
     
    “Yeah,” he said, letting out a breath in a huff. “This is ridiculous.” I skated forward and held out a hand to him with a soft smile.
     
    “Let’s try again, shall we?”
     
    That wasn’t the only time we went skating over the winter, but it was the most memorable. Tom spent half the time falling on the ice and I spent half the time laughing at how cold he was getting. Not the nicest thing, but I enjoyed it.
     
    We skated a few more times, and before long I found it was Christmas Eve and I had managed to convince Tom to spend it with me.
     
    We sat on the couch, curled up together, and I cuddled into his side with a soft sigh. Christmas