Whispers on the Ice (16 page)

Jordan squirmed beneath him, her body taking control from her mind and pushing her ever toward the promises of abandonment and fulfillment that Aleksei offered with his loving heart and powerful body. Somehow her snow pants disappeared and Aleksei replaced them with his surging strength, filling her and sending her screaming over the edge of fulfillment immediately, waves of rapture lifting her ever higher only to momentarily slow her climb and then surge her speedily toward new heights. Aleksei clenched his teeth and sought control as she shattered around him, her muscles clenching him hotly, devouring him, threatening to pull him from the paradise he had found. The paradise he could see, and smell and fell pulsing around him; a place he never wanted to leave. Slowly he traced her beloved face; his jaws clenched tightly as he struggled to remain embedded within the paradise that was Jordan. Tremors still vibrated through her, aftershocks, and she struggled to open her eyes. Aleksei’s shining black eyes gazed intently into her own of dark forest green, glazed in passion and astonishment, searching for answers to unknown questions. Somewhere, Jordan found the strength to lift her hands and sift them through the dark, curling hair only inches above her face, holding tightly. Their eyes met and held as she pulled his mouth forward to meet hers. Their kiss was sweet, tender, promising the world and giving more. Aleksei’s body surged deeper, Jordan’s answered and accepted, as he gave up his struggle to control the emotions racing through him and exploded into her body, his eyes still holding hers as he gave himself into her loving care. Jordan watched him careen over the edge into oblivion, followed him as he touched her deeper than ever before and held on blindly, ferociously, as their souls melted together to become one.

* * * * *

Soft strains of romantic music drifted on the gentle breeze which rustled pine boughs and sent loose snowflakes dancing through the air, the sun turning the particles of ice into sparkling diamonds, showering down on the two people who skated soundlessly across the frozen surface of the lake.

The sound of laughter and screams of delight drifted on the breeze, catching the attention of two others as a man gathered wood from a woodpile and his wife, armed with her ever-present video camera, took home movies of grandpa to send to their grandkids. The man smiled at the woman a few feet away from him, his blue eyes shining knowingly as he listened to the sounds on the wind that circled them teasingly. “Betcha I know what they’re up to!” he stated with a wink, grabbing one final log and trudging toward his house.

“William, you’ve got a one-track mind,” the woman scolded lightly, shooing him away playfully when he started to come too close. After forty-seven years of marriage, they still teased and laughed and loved as they had in the beginning.

“Let’s go see if I’m right,” he whispered conspiratorially, putting his hand up to block her viewfinder and growling, “Turn that damn thing off,” and grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the towering trees that separated their home from the lake.

“What if you’re right and we stumble on to something embarrassing?” the woman worried, following her husband’s lead through the ankle-deep snow.

William looked at his wife, love clearly shone from his sky-blue eyes. He still believed she was the loveliest woman on the planet. “Well, then, I guess we’ll be embarrassed together. Besides, only wild kids would be stupid enough to fool around in the snow. Can you just imagine trying to explain to a doctor why your private parts were frost-nipped? It’s probably just some kids whooping around on the ice,” he suggested, pulling his wife the few remaining steps through the pines to stand on a ledge overlooking the frozen lake, his arm slipping easily around her waist to hold her close.

“Oh, William,” she whispered, looking at the beauty of winter’s influence on the rugged terrain as it spread before her. The lake was a seamless sheet of glass, twinkling with glitter in the sun, the towering pines bowing beneath the weight of their snow-laden limbs. No matter how many times she saw it, it would always surprise and humble her to see how Mother Nature transformed her already beautiful mountain range to something even more glorious wearing winter white.

“Look,” William offered, directing her gaze toward the end of the lake right below them. The music began again, easily recognizable now that they were so close,
Romeo and Juliet
, one of his wife’s favorites. The two skaters began to move soundlessly across their open-aired rink, oblivious to everything but the music and each other. “You might want to make use of that stupid thing you’re carrying,” he suggested and smiled when she raised it to her shoulder, fidgeting with the adjustment controls and pushing the start button.

Silently William and Nora watched the pair below them, William moving to stand behind his wife and wrap his arms around her waist, her head resting beneath his chin, using his wide stance to lean against to steady her picture. Their breaths slowed, holding when they watched the man throw his small partner across the ice, releasing when she landed safely and glided back toward him. The music built, leading toward the final heart-breaking strains and they watched the skaters collapse to the ice, wrapped in each other’s arms. The music ended and the male skater helped his partner to her feet, kissing her hungrily and then picking her up and spinning her in circles until she laughingly begged for mercy. Only then did he put her down lightly, kissing her again before he released her, then holding her hand as they skated toward the side of the lake.

“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” Nora asked, turning off the camera and brushing tears from her cheeks.

“Only you, my love,” William answered, kissing away a tear she had missed.

“You’re crazy, William Morris,” Nora stated, smiling in spite of herself.

“Crazy about you,” He agreed, releasing her waist and taking her hand to start their walk back to their home.

“Who do you think they are?” Nora asked, casting a final glance toward the couple now sitting on a blanket-draped fallen log.

“Certainly no one from around here. Those two have to be professionals or I’m a pickled herring,” William answered, visions of the beauty and perfection he and Nora witnessed running through his mind. He doubted he’d ever see anything as amazing and beautiful again in his life.

“That’s what I’ve been smelling—I was wondering about that,” Nora teased, laughing at William’s playful swat on her bottom. “My guess is they’re going to the Olympics and came here to practice in peace,” Nora imagined.

“You read too many of those mushy romances, Nora Morris. I swear, they’re turning your mind into mashed potatoes.”

“My mind’s just fine, thank you very much. I just happen to believe that those two are the best skaters I’ve seen in a long time and only the best go to the Olympics. Is that such a difficult concept to accept.”

No ma’am—and I have to agree with you—they’re the best I’ve seen in a while. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to the Olympics. Maybe they’re just a couple of kids that have been practicing up a storm and look better than they actually are. It isn’t like we keep up with skating on a daily basis.”

“William Morris, that has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth. I’m going on the Internet and see if I can’t find out who they might be and which one of us is right. Though, as far as I’m concerned, it’s nothing more than a waste of time, since you don’t have the sense God gave a brick.”

“How can you say that? I watch skating with you every time you call me in. Do I ever complain about watching that stuff with you?”

“You’re only interested in their little outfits and how much of their bottoms show. You don’t know a lift from a throw,” Nora stated laughingly.

William scowled, his eyes bright with humor despite his expression. “Why do I need to know about the technical aspect of the sport? I watch it for the entertainment value. I know what I like and what I don’t like. That’s all that matters, as far as I’m concerned!”

“And what we just saw? Did you like them?”

“I couldn’t see much of her bottom…” he began, only to grunt when her elbow made contact with his stomach.

“William!” Nora warned softly.

“Nora, my sweet, you’re too easy a target,” William teased, squeezing her hand lovingly. “Those two back there damn near made me cry, and you know I don’t like to cry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so—I don’t know—magical, enchanting, entrancing. It’s hard to explain. Something about them seems to reach out and enfold you, capture you, share with you, a feeling of a place that we all search for but few of us find. I think we saw something very special back there and I’ll thank God everyday of my life for having had you to share it with me,” he ended quietly, his voice husky with emotion.

Nora gently caressed her husband’s cheek, placing a soft kiss to his lips and smiling into his eyes. “William, you are such a soft touch despite this grizzly bear front you put on. What ever will I do with you?”

With a lecherous smile and a wiggle of his bushy eyebrows he answered, “I have an idea or two.”

Nora shook her head in exasperation, chuckling softly and cast a challenging glance to her husband. “I’ll race you to the house,” and took off like a shot despite her advanced years.

“You cheat!” William called, following his wife at a purposely-slower pace. After forty-seven years of marriage he’d learned it paid to let your wife win the race every now and then.

Besides, in the end, everyone was a winner.

CHAPTER 12  

Three days later, Aleksei and Jordan awoke to bright blue, sunny skies, and snow flurries that defied the weatherman’s logic.

“Aleksei, how can it be sunny and snowing at the same time?” Jordan pondered as she watched the sparkling snowflakes float through air that looked like it belonged to a summer vacation from a window.“I tell you, it pays to be a weatherman. That’s got to be the only job that you can be wrong all the time, make big bucks and never worry about getting canned. What a racket,” she complained, casting a final glance out the window, a sudden feeling of foreboding rushing through her causing her to shiver and cross her arms across her chest.

“Cold?” Aleksei asked, crossing the room and wrapping her in his arms, his cheek resting on the top of her head.

“No, just a shiver,” Jordan answered softly, snuggling closer to Aleksei’s heat.

“You’re never cold. “

“I didn’t say I was cold. I said it was a shiver.”

“Maybe someone walked across your grave,” Aleksei teased, frowning when she pulled from his arms, her eyes darkening in fear.

“Aleksei, don’t say such things, even teasingly. You’re tempting fate and it’s more powerful than both of us!” Jordan demanded, her voice, and body, shaking with fear, her nails digging into his forearms. “Take it back. Take back your comment now!” She demanded.

“Jordan, take it easy…”

“Take it back, Aleksei. NOW!”

“Okay, okay. I didn’t mean it,” Aleksei relented shaking his head in puzzlement as he viewed for the first time how superstitious his partner was. Funny how you could know someone for so long and still discover new, and sometimes unusual, things about a person. “Do you think that will satisfy the fates?” he asked, semi-seriously.

“We can only hope it will. Time should tell us pretty soon,” Jordan whispered, wishing and praying the feeling of foreboding that still chilled her would vanish.

“You don’t really believe in all that mumbo-jumbo do you?” Aleksei asked, her expression giving him her answer immediately. “Obviously you do,” he concluded.

“How can you not?” Jordan questioned sharply.

“Easy,” Aleksei stated firmly. “You make your own fate. Show me where everything is written in stone and I’ll believe we have no actual control over our destinies. Can you? Is there such a place? Of course not, because we aren’t totally powerless to some greater force. The only thing we’re powerless against are our own weaknesses and believe me, when I say, nothing—NOTHING—will come between you and I. We’re partners—on and off the ice—and nothing can, or will, change that. Got it?” Aleksei demanded, pulling her into his crushing embrace.

Jordan could feel his strength seeping into her chilled body, warming her, tempting her to believe that perhaps his beliefs weren’t so far fetched. Maybe together they could determine their own fate. Perhaps he was more powerful than the demons that haunted her. Maybe her nightmare had been just that, nothing more than a bad dream and not a brief glimpse into the future. Snuggling deeper into his embrace, she nodded, agreeing. “Got it.”

“Good!” Aleksei breathed in relief, kissing her forehead and tucking her head back under his chin. “Then suppose we go find our way into town, grab breakfast, and see if we can’t buy something special to remind us of our brief escape from Whittaker,” He suggested.

“Sounds good to me. I’ll be ready in less than ten minutes,” Jordan stated.

“Is that ten minutes Earth time?” Aleksei called to Jordan’s retreating form, appreciating the view of her southern exposure.

“Funny, Rocmanov,” she called back.

The day it takes her ten minutes to get ready is the day the world comes to an end
, Aleksei jokingly mumbled to himself, filling his pockets with his car keys and wallet, then shivering as a chill ran through his body. Casting a quick glance about him, he quickly took his comment back, maybe it wasn’t good to tempt fate too often. When Jordan returned five minutes later, another chill surged through Aleksei.

“See, I told you, less than ten minutes!” Jordan quipped, placing a quick kiss to his cheek and then slipping into the jacket he held. His odd expression stopped her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I’m just surprised you were ready so fast. Typically, you’re at least ten minutes longer than you say you’ll be.”

“Well, I guess today isn’t a typical day,” Jordan quipped.

“If it isn’t going to be a typical day, then what kind of day is it going to be?” Aleksei pondered.

Jordan smiled over her shoulder at him, her eyes so full of love it made his heart overflow with emotion and race at the same time. “A day more special than yesterday was but not as special as our day together will be. A day, I know, I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Aleksei’s smile was boyishly charming and wickedly sensual at once, a bright flame burning brightly in the center of his deep ebony eyes. “Talk about performance anxiety. How can I be expected to make this day one you’ll remember your entire life?” he asked mysteriously.

“That’s your problem, not mine, Rocmanov,” Jordan replied flippantly.

“Gee, thanks. Nothing like making things easy for me. I suppose I’ll just have to be my usual wonderful self,” Aleksei replied arrogantly. “No sweat.”

Jordan laughed at his egotistical antics. “Tell me, Rocmanov. How does that very large ego of yours fit into that semi-large body of yours?”

“Semi-large?” Aleksei gasped in feigned horror, pulling her into his arms and ravaging her neck with nipping bites and heated kisses, his hips pressing wantonly against her own, his rising passion obvious.

Jordan’s laughter turned to whimpers of pleasure, her mouth seeking his, finding, sipping, and devouring, until they pulled apart to catch their breaths. “What was the question?” Jordan asked dreamily.

“Semi-large,” Aleksei offered.

“Oh yes. I suppose, depending on ones interpretation of size, your body could be considered on the large size,” she offered, gasping when he pushed against her hips, his passion for her blatantly obvious. “Definitely large!” she decided, her sharp nails digging into his jeans when she grasped his hips and pulled him back to her, moving against the source of his passionate heat.

“Jordan…” he moaned, his mouth capturing hers in one final devouring kiss before he pushed away from her. “We were on our way out, remember?”

“What? …Oh, right,” Jordan mumbled breathlessly, struggling back to sanity and grabbing her purse off the small table by the door, her mind still dizzy from Aleksei’s siege upon her senses.

“Got everything?” Aleksei asked a final time, zipping up his jacket and checking his pockets for his gloves, there as expected.

“As far as I can tell. Anything I’m missing and can’t live without, I’ll just have to buy,” Jordan answered lightly, smiling at Aleksei’s show of gallantry as he held the door for her.

“Then we’re out of here!” he stated, ushering her out and closing the door behind them.

The cellular phone lay on the counter; forgotten, a faint shadow in the shifting light that streamed through the windows of the cottage, it’s shape becoming ominous as the sky darkened to a deeper gray.

* * * * *

“Do you think the storm’s going to be as bad as they’re predicting?” Jordan asked worriedly, watching yet another weather update flash across the TV screen in the small diner they had chosen to have a late lunch in, frowning when their county’s name was shown as one directly in the path of the heaviest snow.

“What are they forecasting now?” Aleksei asked, between bites of an obscenely large bacon-cheeseburger oozing catsup and relish.

Jordan’s frown deepened, “According to their latest Doppler radar reports, and all their wonderful computerized information, a.k.a. ‘best guess’, twenty to thirty inches by morning, with drifts of four feet or more. You’d think with all their million-dollar equipment, they could give a more educated guess than
between twenty and thirty inches
.You know,” Jordan plucked a few French-fries from Aleksei’s plate and emphasized her point with one before sliding it into her mouth.“I think the weather guys just have a dart board with weather pictures and temperatures on it and right this minute they’re throwing sharp objects at it to give us
up-to-the-minute
weather reports. Like they know what they’re talking about,” she ended in disgust.

“Whether they know what they’re talking about or not, we need to make a decision, Jordan,” Aleksei stated, hating the idea of cutting their time together short but knowing they couldn’t risk being snowed in for a week no matter how much they would enjoy it.

“Don’t say it, Aleksei. I can’t stand the idea of leaving early,” Jordan moaned, already knowing they had no choice. With the weather forecast so ominous, they had to get out while they could. Regardless of the fact they had Dee’s Jeep, even a four-wheel drive vehicle couldn’t assure they could make it through drifts that high.

“Some things we have control over, Jordan, other things we don’t,” Aleksei stated, signaling to the waitress for their check. “Do you really want to risk being stuck up here and being disqualified from Nationals?”

“Maybe they’d give us a bye—it happens under special circumstances,” Jordan suggested hopefully.

“I hardly think they’d give us one because we refused to cut our vacation short and leave when we should have.”

“You have to pick now to be sensible?” Jordan asked in frustration, pushing the remnants of her salad around her plate.

“Don’t blame me—it’s your fault. Being around you, the sensible one, all the time, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Aleksei stated, taking the check and leaving more than enough to cover it on the table. Rising to his feet he rounded the table, pulling her chair out as she stood. “We’ll come back,” he promised, helping her into her jacket.

“Soon!” Jordan stated urgently, shrugging into her jacket and pulling the mittens from her pockets. “Real soon!”

“Sounds good to me,” Aleksei agreed, kissing her lightly and urging her toward the exit.

The door opened just before they reached it, the freezing wind ushering in swirling snow and two hurrying forms. “Damn, it’s cold out there” a gruff voice stated, pulling a snow-covered cap from his head and shoving it into his jacket pocket.

“William, watch your language. Everyone with half a brain knows it’s cold outside, the snow gives it away,” a petite woman beside him scolded lightly, shaking the snow from her scarf-covered curls before letting it drape over her shoulders. “Excuse my husband. He likes to state the obvious,” Nora explained in a teasing whisper to Jordan and Aleksei. “That way, he’s never wrong.”

“Don’t start, Nora. I was wrong—once.” William allowed, helping his wife slip out of her coat and hanging it on the rack beside the door.

“I love a man who’s willing to admit he was wrong—even if it was only ‘once’,” Nora laughed, her laughter bright and child-like, her eyes glowing brightly.

Jordan smiled at the pair, looking up at Aleksei, her smile widening at Aleksei’s wink and knowing smile back. “How long did you have to wait for his admission?” Jordan asked.

“Forty-seven years!” Nora stated matter-of-factly, accepting William’s kiss on the cheek as he returned to her side. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. It just takes a little patience and a great big stick!” Nora explained, her hand reaching for her husband’s, their fingers lacing together.

“See, there’s still hope for you yet, Rocmanov,” Jordan offered over her shoulder where Aleksei stood behind her.

William looked Aleksei up and down, shaking his head in consternation. “I think you’re going to need a bigger stick than Nora did to keep this buck in line!” he suggested, his eyes suddenly squinting as if trying to remember something he should know. “Nora, why does this young buck look so familiar?”

Nora looked Aleksei up and down, her gaze shifting to Jordan and then back to Aleksei. “You’re right, William. They do look familiar, sort of, like we should know them. Damn, maybe I do need some of that Ginkoba vitamin to help me remember things.”

“Now who needs to watch their language?” William teased, readily side-stepping his wife’s half-hearted attempt to jab his ribs with her elbow. “See,after forty-seven years with the same woman, I can finally tell when she’s out to crack my ribs!” he commented with a knowing look.

“Is it worth it?” Aleksei asked, grunting at Jordan’s well-aimed shot to his ribs with her elbow and pulling her tight against the front of his body.

“The bruised ribs or the forty-seven years?” William asked, watching the way Aleksei and Jordan interacted.

“Both,” Aleksei answered simply.

“There’s not a day I would trade or make different. Nora, here, has made every single one of those days more special than the one before it. I can’t image not having her in my life and would sell my soul, to the very devil, if I had to, to keep her with me. She’s my life, and without her, I wouldn’t want to live,” William quietly offered, his hand gently squeezing his wife’s.

“William, you talk too much,” Nora sniffed, embarrassed as she wiped away threatening tears.