Bursted

The Next Morning.

Sofia woke to the full ache of overused muscles. Her thighs, calves and lower back burned like someone had taken a hammer to it. She lay in bed for a long while savoring the memory of the previous night. Being on the rink yesterday, dancing to the sound of the breeze, finally doing the one thing she loves in a long while felt refreshing.

She'd danced and danced until her feet became numb and her aching muscles drowned out her heartache.

It had been three weeks since she'd been on ice. Three weeks since she was her true self—a figure skater. She'd been too focused on saving Sean's career, and now playing a perfect fake girlfriend for her brother's bitter rival. Until the previous night, she'd forgotten what being her truly felt like.

Last night, she skated until her legs gave out, unable to support her body weight any longer, she'd collapsed on the ice, chest heaving, tears flowing down her cheeks and freezing on the ice.

And then she'd limped home and gotten into bed, too exhausted to even lift a finger.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand and she stretched out a hand, picking it up with a groan.

“Meet me at the arena. 4PM. Don't be late.” She stared at the message, with a mix of anger and frustration rising within her. She didn't know why he wanted to see her, she didn't care. She had planned to skate by then. She quickly typed a reply, telling him it wasn't possible but almost immediately she received a video of her impersonating Sean as a response.

She wanted to be back on that rink. Badly. But she knew better than to disobey Kael.

4PM IN THE AFTERNOON 

The hours went by quickly till it was almost time to meet up with Kael. Sofia stood before her modest wardrobe, scanning through her clothes before settling for a fitted blue denim jean and ripped, loose longsleeved crop top. She held her hair up in a messy bun and applied lipgloss and eyeliner before slipping on a pair of boots and stepping out of her room. Shutting her room door behind her, she silently made her way to the living room door and thankfully Sean or her parents were no where in sight.

Her ride was already waiting when she got out, and she just slipped into the passenger seat relaxing with her headphones plugged in as the Uber driver pulled out of her hood.

The arena was empty when she arrived. The air was cold and still, the faint smell of sweat mingled with frost still hung in the air.

Kael was already there, still in his hockey practice gear—black compression shirt, hockey pants, skates unlaced and hanging loose from the players’ bench he sat on. 

“How many times a day does this guy even practice?” She wondered. Silently wishing Sean was half as dedicated as this. She wouldn't have been in his grasp if he was. Too bad her twin only relies on his talent.

He was staring like she was some interesting animal he'll love to adopt as a pet.

“You're late.” He said.

“It's 3:56.”

I expect you at a location twenty minutes before time. Do you understand?" 

Sofia rolled her eyes and stepped on the ice wincing as the ache in her muscles flared. She'd pushed herself too hard last night. She could barely walk, or stand.

“What did you do yesterday?" Kael asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Nothing.” She lied through her teeth. Grateful that he couldn't see her facial expression.

“You’re limping." He said rising to his feet. 

“I’m fine.” She lied once more.

He stepped on the ice and glided towards her with effortless power that made her stomach flip.

“Tell me Sofia," he glared at her when he was close enough. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“No. I just…." She stopped. She couldn't risk him knowing about the rink. She was scared of what he might do if he found out.

“Tell me.” 

She shivered at the sudden coldness of his voice. She knew this was an order—one she couldn't go against.

“I went skating last night." She admitted, head bowed like a child caught stealing candy. “I needed to remember what it felt like,” she shrugged.

“By yourself?" Kael asked. Something like worry flashing through his eyes for a fleeting second.

“Was I supposed to go with a date?” She rolled her eyes.

“I don't know? Friends?”

“I don't have friends." 

“What!” Kael found her words unbelievable. A girl as pretty as her had no friends?. But he could tell she wasn't lying from her facial expression.

“He gripped her shoulder tightly. “You shouldn't have been out there alone in the middle of the night. A lot could go wrong Sofia. A whole lot." 

“But I was fine." She protested.”

“Do you even think about yourself at all? You could have fallen through and no one would find you. I forbid you from going back there again." The finality in his tone made Sofia finally snap.

“I’m sorry but you do not get to threaten me every second of my life and decide whether I get to skate or not!" 

His haw tightened. His grip on her shoulders didn't loosen. 

“Let go!” She snapped, trying to break free. But her efforts were futile. Kael was way stronger.

“Get your hands off me!” She stepped back, trying to shake off his grip.

“Why do you care?” It's not like I'm going to try out for the viper girls anymore. I lost that chance because of you. You're the one who blackmailed me into this. Stop trying to act like a saint when you're a monster!" 

His eyes flashed. 

“Stop." 

Sofia didn't care anymore. In her eyes Kael was the reason she lost a chance at pursuing her passion.

“Is the truth too bitter for you huh? You're a monster like it or not, and everyone around you would be safe only when you disappear!" She pushed against his chest.

Kael's expression darkened into something raw and dangerous and then he moved.

He pushed her against the boards. Not hard enough to hurt—surprisingly, hard enough to shut her up.

“Say that again,” he said, his voice low and rough.

“Say I'm a monster.”

“Kael…”

His hands slammed down on either side of her head, caging her in. His body pressed against her from chest to thigh. His breath was hot against her cheek and his eyes were blazing with rage. But despite his fury she couldn't deny how she liked his sweaty smell, and how his body on hers made her feel something she wasn't supposed to feel.

Her breath caught in her throat. His weight was pressing her against the boards like a wall of muscle and heat. She could feel every hard inch of him—the planes of his chest, the ridges of his abdomen, the strength of his thighs bracketing hers. All these sent her thoughts in directions she wasn't supposed to think of in the first place.

“Now you listen to me little girl,” he sneered in a low tone. “You’re just a prop, a tool, a fake girlfriend I'm using to clean up my image, so act like it and don't ever raise your voice at me again," he leaned in closer

like he was controlled by an external force, his nose brushing against hers.

And then the door slammed open.