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Until we come together.
Leo grabs both of my hands, crossing his feet as he digs one toe pick into the ice while he begins to spin me around him. My body straightens out and I'm parallel with the cool surface, almost lying against it as he spins me around over and over. I trust him completely. He uses his strength to hold me, to support me, and, most importantly, to make sure he doesn't let go of me.
This was one of the movements we added to our routine after we talked about changing things up. One thing he and his old partner Delaney didn't have. One thing we have together.
We spin for four rotations before standing upright again. Breaking apart, we begin to skate side by side again, falling into a series of other moves. Spinning to skate backward, we move together around the bend before we both begin to soar into the air. The blades of our skates leave the ice at the same time and Leo and I spin in synchrony for three rotations before we land. It all happens within seconds and neither of us miss a beat as we land on the same skate at the same moment in time.
It's a flawless performance.
Leo and I continue to move, not breaking up our routine at all as we transition from one move to the next, the exact way we practiced and anticipated for the competition. I skate backward with him and Leo’s hands find my hips. “I love you,” he breathes softly, his voice barely audible, but just loud enough so I can hear him.
A smile lifts the corners of my lips, just as we both begin to squat. Leo’s hands grip my hips and he lifts me into the air before he straightens his own body and tosses me upward. Keeping my legs straight, my ankles are crossed and I tuck my arms against my chest as I begin to twirl. My body begins its descent toward the ice and I land the jump perfectly as I meet with Leo and we skate together again.
We go through the rest of our routine, moving with the melody of the music. Our final move is a throw triple Axel. Leo's hands find my hips once again as we skate backward. This time, he lifts me into the air, throwing me upward as my body starts to spin. I'm in perfect form moving above him as he skates to stay with me. Gravity pulls me back to the ground and the air leaves my lungs in a rush as I fall into Leo's arms.
He catches me, just like he has every other time. It's effortless. Exactly how it should be.
His smile is breathtaking as he sets me down on the ice while we continue moving. I don't miss a beat, falling back into rhythm with him again as our movements and the music begin to slow. The emotion hangs heavily in the air between us, our bodies moving together in exaggerated, sweeping motions.
We circle each other around the center of the ice. Then the music slows to a stop as he reaches for me, pulling me to him. He starts to fold into me, both of us collapsing into one another as the music fades and the lights cut out. Except, he doesn't let me melt into him. Leo holds me upright as both of his hands cup my cheeks.
"Leo," I breathe his name softly, as my eyes adjust to the dark. It's just light enough that I can make out his facial features and expression.
"Aria," he murmurs, his voice just as breathless as mine. His fingers stroke my temples.
The people filling the stands begin to clap, but it's all background noise. Everything around us has faded and all I see is him. All I've really ever seen was him… I was just too ignorant and blind to see it until now. The lights flicker on and I'm still holding on to his arms while he holds my face.
I'm inevitably lost in him and he's the only one who can ever find me.
His mouth captures mine, his lips sweeping across my own in a rush as he steals the air from my lungs. My fingers dig into his arms as I cling to him, and I part my lips as his tongue traces the seam. We're caught up in each other, his tongue dancing with mine as he kisses me deeply.
Things had been a little weird the past few weeks. It felt like we were sneaking around, like he was keeping me a secret and no one was supposed to know about us. I wanted to ask him about it, but every time I started to say anything, it just felt wrong. I didn't want him to think I was questioning his intentions, because I didn't truly believe he wanted this to stay hidden.
I didn't have to ask.
He chases my fears away with his lips on mine in front of everyone in the stands. Everyone watching the competition on national television. Everyone in the world…
Leo slowly pulls away from me, leaving me breathless as I hold on to him for support. My knees feel like they could buckle and he drops his hands down to my hips. The sound of someone clapping slowly has my lips pulling upward. My brother is the type of asshole who would do something like that. And the rest of the crowd blindly follows him as they all start to clap again.
"What was that for?" I ask him, my voice quiet as he stares down at me with his soft eyes. Heat blossoms across my cheeks.
"I figured it was time that everyone knows."
I tilt my head to the side. "That everyone knows what?"
"That you're mine," he says with simplicity. There's nothing but admiration and love pouring from his gaze. "I don't want this to just be a fling. I don't want this to just be what we do. I want you to feel appreciated and valued. I want you to know your worth and know I will pay the price—whatever it is—just to be graced by your presence. You are exactly who and what I want and I never want you to question that, Aria."
His words penetrate my soul, sending a burst of warmth billowing through my body. "I'm in love with you, Leo. So stupidly fucking gone for you."
"I know, love," he says as his smile lights up his entire face and a soft laugh escapes him. "I've known it for a while. I was just waiting for you to realize it too." He pauses, his eyes searching mine. "Tell me your mine, Aria."
"I'm yours, Leo. I’ve always been yours," I assure him as I momentarily get lost in his eyes. The clapping around us eventually tapers off and I remember that we're still standing in the middle of the rink. I pull away from Leo and duck my head. "Come on," I whisper-yell at him as I grab his hand. "We have to get off the ice."
A chuckle rumbles in his chest and we turn to face each side of the arena, Leo bowing and me curtseying before we finally take our leave from the rink. We are the last pair for the day and we lingered out here a lot longer than we were supposed to.
"Well, that was quite the performance," my brother muses as he and Brynn stand with the rest of the team waiting for us. He looks at Leo and lets out a soft laugh as he shakes his head. It’s the only comment anyone makes about our kiss, but I’m sure it won’t be the end of hearing about it from my brother. There's no way he's going to let us live down this moment.
"You guys were absolutely amazing," Brynn exclaims as she pulls me away from Leo and wraps her arms around me. "I need you to tell me everything," she whispers in my ear for only me to hear. She releases me and Leo and I are pulled in opposite directions as everyone from our team takes turns congratulating us.
