ON THE ICE WITH THE DEVIL

SALOME

Stepping onto the smooth, glassy sheet of ice, the freezing air hit my face instantly, but the warmth of Williams’s hand held tight in mine kept the chill away.

Williams started so softly with me. He completely understood that I was a complete beginner, so he didn't rush me at all. Instead, he patiently introduced the tools first, showing me how to grip the wooden hockey stick properly, how to balance my weight on the thin blades of the skates, and explaining the basic rules of the game in his calm, deep voice.

I actually did surprisingly well, gliding across the slippery surface with a natural balance I didn't know I possessed. But as he stood close behind me, guiding my arms and adjusting my hips, silly me couldn't keep my focus entirely on the game. My eyes kept darting down toward the outline of his massive penis beneath his fitted athletic pants, and my mind drifted right back to the wild passion we had shared in the shower. I caught myself biting my lip, my core aching with a familiar, sweet heat.

I shook my head, trying hard to clear the scandalous thoughts and concentrate on his instructions. Focus, Salome, I told myself. You have the long night ahead to get your pussy completely taken and smacked by him again. Right now, learn the game.

Williams smiled warmly at my progress, wrapping his arm around my waist to help me practice a smooth turn. For thirty wonderful minutes, everything was perfect.

Then, the heavy double doors at the edge of the rink creaked open.

Miriam glided onto the ice in her professional skates, carrying her own stick, a fake, sweet smile plastered across her face.

"Williams," she called out, her voice echoing through the cold arena. "You have an urgent call from the league board in the manager's office. Why don't you let me take over? I would love to teach little Salome how to really play."

"Hell no!" I blurted out instantly, my voice sharp with alarm as I gripped Williams’s arm tighter.

I expected Williams to back me up, but to my utter shock, his eyes lit up with genuine relief.

"That's very nice of you, Miriam! Thank you," Williams said, smiling at her like she had just offered him a gold medal. He turned to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Salome, Miriam has been playing for years. Listen to her and do exactly as she says, alright? I'll be back as soon as I finish this call."

Panic surged through my chest. "Williams, please don't leave me with her," I pleaded under my breath, tugging at his jacket. "She doesn't have good intentions! She hates me!"

"Don't be silly, Salome," Williams said with a light chuckle, completely blind to the danger. "It's just a quick lesson. Be a good student."

Before I could say another word, he turned around and skated off the ice, disappearing into the dark corridor toward the offices.

The moment the heavy door clicked shut behind him, the sweet expression on Miriam’s face vanished completely. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits of pure venom.

"So, the little maid wants to play on the ice now?" she sneered, gliding close to me until her cold breath fanned over my cheeks. "Do you honestly think wearing warm clothes makes you belong here?"

"Williams asked you to teach me," I said, holding my chin up, refusing to let her see my fear. "So teach me, or get out of my way."

"Oh, I'll teach you," she whispered dangerously.

For the next ten minutes, Miriam was unbelievably rude. She barked confusing orders, deliberately telling me the exact opposite of what Williams had just carefully taught me. When I gripped the stick the way Williams showed me, she snatched it roughly from my hands.

"Hold it higher, you idiot!" she snapped loudly.

"That's not what Williams said!" I argued back, trying to reclaim my grip. "He said lower for better balance!"

"Williams!" Miriam suddenly yelled at the top of her lungs toward the empty stands, pretending to be exasperated. "She's refusing to listen to me! She's disobeying every instruction!"

"I am not!" I shouted, my temper flaring.

"Shut up!" Miriam hissed softly, her face twisting into something terrifying.

Without any warning, she raised her heavy wooden hockey stick high into the air and swung it violently. The thick wood slammed directly into the side of my neck with a brutal, sickening crack.

A sharp, blinding agony shot through my throat and spine. "Ahhh!" I gasped, dropping my stick as the sheer pain made my vision go black at the edges.

"You don't belong here," Miriam whispered savagely.

She raised the stick again and brought it down hard against my collarbone and neck, striking me several times in rapid succession. I tried to lift my arms to protect myself, but my balance on the slippery ice failed. The last thing I felt was one final, crushing blow directly to the base of my neck.

The world went completely dark, and I passed out.

When my eyes slowly fluttered open, the cold smell of the ice rink was gone, replaced by the faint scent of lavender and disinfectant. My head was throbbing violently, and every small breath I took sent a agonizing, burning pain shooting through my neck.

I was lying in a soft bed inside a guest room. Sitting right on the edge of the mattress, looking down at me with a soft, concerned expression, was Miriam.

I gasped, pulling the blanket up to my chin as horror washed over me. "Get away from me..." I rasped out, my voice broken and barely audible because of my swollen throat. "You... you hit me..."

Before I could say another word or scream for help, the bedroom door swung open.

Alpha Williams walked into the room, holding a glass of ice water. The moment he saw me awake, a relieved sigh escaped his lips, but what he said next completely shattered my heart into a thousand pieces.

"Salome, thank the Goddess you're awake!" he said, rushing over to the bed. He set the glass down and turned to Miriam, his eyes filled with immense warmth and gratitude. "Miriam, you are truly an angel. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to help her when she fell."

My jaw dropped, a cold shock paralyzing my entire body. What?!

"It was nothing, Williams," Miriam said softly, putting on a humble, delicate smile as she patted my leg through the blanket. "You know how clumsy beginners can be on the ice. She lost her balance, fell so awkwardly, and hit her neck against the wooden barrier. I stayed by her side the entire time, holding ice to her bruise until you brought her here."

"You are so caring," Williams praised her, literally gazing at his ex-wife with admiration. "Thank you for taking such good care of my Luna."

"Williams... no!" I choked out, tears of pure frustration and physical agony springing to my eyes as I tried to sit up. "She's lying! She didn't help me! She hit me with her stick—"

"Salome, please stop," Williams interrupted softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder to keep me lying down. "You took a very nasty bump to the head. You're confused and disoriented right now. Miriam was only trying to help you."

"I am not confused!" I cried out, my swollen throat burning with every word. "She did this to me!"

Williams rubbed his temples, looking tired and slightly annoyed by what he clearly thought was senseless dramatic jealousy. He turned back to Miriam with a soft smile.

"Miriam, would you mind staying here with her for the night?" Williams asked casually, making a suggestion that felt like a death sentence. "I have an emergency late-night hockey board meeting downtown that I cannot reschedule. I would feel much better knowing she's in your capable care tonight."

"Of course, Williams," Miriam replied smoothly, her dark eyes flashing with a hidden, victorious gleam as she looked at me. "I'll make sure she gets plenty of rest."

"Thank you," Williams said, leaning down to place a quick, absentminded kiss on my forehead. "Rest well, Salome. I'll see you in the morning."

"Williams! Don't leave me with her! Williams!" I screamed as loudly as my bruised neck would allow, but he just gave me a reassuring wave, turned around, and walked straight out the door, leaving me completely locked in the room with the very woman who had just tried to break my neck.