Forbidden Christmas

CHAPTER 14: Ice and Intimacy

Maya's Pov

I barely slept after the kitchen conversation. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Derek's hand on my face, heard his voice saying "tomorrow." When my alarm went off at eight, I'd maybe gotten two hours of actual sleep.

Sophie burst into my room at eight thirty, already dressed for skiing.

"Come on, lazy! We're hitting the slopes. Dad even said he'd come with us today instead of hiding in his workshop."

My stomach flipped. Derek. On the slopes. Teaching me again with his hands on my waist.

After last night, after what we'd agreed to, everything felt different.

"I don't know if I'm up for skiing today," I said.

"What? No! You're getting so good. And Dad specifically said he wanted to work with you on turning technique." Sophie threw ski clothes at me. "Get dressed. No excuses."

Twenty minutes later, I was in the SUV sandwiched between Melissa and Jason in the back seat. Derek drove, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. Just a glance, but it sent heat through my entire body.

"So Maya," Melissa said, examining her nails. "You and Derek have been spending a lot of time together. Ski lessons. Decorating. Kitchen chats at weird hours."

I froze. "What?"

"I got up for water last night. Heard voices in the kitchen. Sounded pretty intense."

"We couldn't sleep. We were just talking."

"About what?"

"Nothing important. Just couldn't sleep."

Melissa's eyes were sharp. Calculating. "Right. Nothing important."

Sophie turned around from the front seat. "Wait, you guys were up talking? Why didn't you invite me? I love late-night chats."

"It wasn't planned," Derek said, his voice carefully neutral. "We both just happened to be awake."

"Well, next time invite me. I feel left out."

The guilt hit hard. Sophie felt left out because we were literally excluding her from the most important thing happening. The thing that would devastate her if she knew.

At the mountain, Sophie and Jason headed straight for the black diamond slopes. Melissa declared the cold was ruining her skin and went to the lodge. Which left Derek and me alone, standing at the base of the green run.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah."

We took the lift up in silence. The mountain was beautiful this morning, fresh snow covering everything. Other skiers carved down the slopes, their bright jackets flashing against the white.

"About last night," Derek said quietly once we were alone on the lift.

"Are you changing your mind?"

"No. But we need to be more careful. Melissa's suspicious."

"I noticed."

"If she figures it out…"

"I know. She'll tell Sophie."

We reached the top. Derek helped me off the lift with a steadying hand on my elbow. Professional. Appropriate. But his hand lingered just a second too long.

"Okay," he said. "Today we're working on linking turns. You've got the pizza stop down. Now we need to make your turns smooth."

"Okay."

"I'll show you first. Watch my weight shift."

Derek took off down the slope, carving elegant turns that looked effortless. He made it look easy, natural. When he stopped halfway down and looked back up at me, waiting, my heart did something complicated in my chest.

I pushed off. Tried to remember everything he taught me. Lean forward. Shift weight. Small movements. The skis responded, cutting through the snow. I wobbled but stayed up.

Derek was beside me suddenly, skiing backward so he faced me. "Good! Now turn. Shift your weight left."

I tried. The turn was messy but I did it.

"Again. Other direction."

Another turn. Better this time.

"You're getting it!" He reached out, his hand on my waist to steady me. "Feel how your body moves with the skis?"

All I could feel was his hand. Even through the thick jacket, I felt the heat of it.

"Maya, focus."

"I'm focused."

"You're staring at me."

"You're in front of me."

His lips twitched. Almost a smile. "Fair point. Okay, let's try without me. I'll ski beside you. You've got this."

We made it down the run with me only falling once. When I got back up, Derek was right there, helping me brush snow off.

"Your reflexes are getting better," he said. "You're not tensing up before falls anymore."

"I'm learning to trust the process."

"Are you?" His eyes held mine. We weren't talking about skiing anymore.

"I'm trying."

We did three more runs. Each time, I got a little better. And each time, Derek's hands on me felt more deliberate. A touch here to adjust my position. A steadying grip there when I wobbled. All appropriate. All necessary for teaching.

All driving me completely insane.

On the lift for our fourth run, Derek said, "We should probably meet the others for lunch soon."

"Probably."

"Sophie will wonder where we are."

"Yeah."

Neither of us moved to get off at the lodge. We stayed on the lift, going back up.

"One more run?" Derek asked.

"One more."

At the top, instead of the green run, Derek pointed to a blue run slightly steeper.

"Think you're ready?" he asked.

"For that? No way."

"I think you are. And I'll be right beside you the whole time."

"You promise?"

"Promise."

We stood at the top of the blue run. It looked terrifying. Steeper, longer, more people.

Derek moved behind me, his hands on my waist. "You can do this. I know you can. And I won't let you fall."

His breath was warm against my ear. My whole body was aware of him pressed close behind me.

"Okay," I whispered. "I trust you."

"Good."

We pushed off together. The slope was definitely steeper, faster. My heart pounded. But Derek's voice was steady in my ear, guiding me through each turn. And his hands never left my waist, holding me steady.

Halfway down, I started to panic. Going too fast. Losing control.

"I've got you," Derek said. His hands tightened, pulling me back against his chest. We skied together like that, his body controlling both of us, until my speed evened out.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah."

His hands loosened but didn't leave. We finished the run pressed together, moving as one. When we finally stopped at the bottom, both breathing hard, I turned in his arms.

We were too close. Too connected. Anyone watching would see this wasn't just a ski lesson.

Derek seemed to realize it at the same time. He stepped back, creating space.

"That was amazing," I said. "Thank you."

"You did all the work."

"No. You did. You kept me safe."

"Always." The word came out rough. Heavy with meaning.

My phone buzzed. Sophie.

"Where are you guys? We're at the lodge. Jason wants to leave soon."

"We should go," I said.

"Yeah."

Neither of us moved.

"Tonight," Derek said quietly. "Still on?"

"Yes."

"The construction site. Nine o'clock. Park on the side street."

"Okay."

"Maya." He reached out like he wanted to touch me again, then stopped himself. "This is really happening."

"I know."

"Are you scared?"

"Terrified."

"Me too."

We stared at each other for a long moment. Everything unspoken hanging between us.

Then Derek's phone rang. Sophie.

"Hey sweetheart. Yeah, we're heading to the lodge now. Be there in five."

Reality crashed back in. We skied to the lodge where Sophie was waiting with hot chocolate and a huge smile.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

"Good," I said. "I did a blue run."

"What? That's amazing! Dad, you're a miracle worker."

Derek smiled at his daughter. "She's a natural. Just needed confidence."

We sat with everyone, drinking hot chocolate, Sophie chattering about her runs. Normal. Fine. Except under the table, Derek's leg pressed against mine. Just slightly. Just enough that I knew it was deliberate.

Tonight. Everything would change tonight.

I just had to survive until then without Sophie figuring out that I was falling in love with her father.