Devilish secretary - Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Chapter 328 Date with ray (2)
The sky was still painted in soft pastels, pale sunlight reflecting off the snowy roads as Lilith drove them through the quiet town. Her hands were on the wheel.

The heater hummed softly, warming the car as Ray continued to chat beside her.

She just smiled, letting him talk, nodding at all the right moments. She liked listening to him.

They eventually pulled into a clearing surrounded by pine trees, where the ground had been smoothed into a large outdoor skating area. A few people were already there, gliding effortlessly across the frozen surface with laughter echoing through the cold morning air. Tiny snowflakes drifted lazily down, catching the sunlight like glitter.

Ray’s eyes widened the second he saw it.

“This is where we’re going?!” he said, practically bouncing in his seat as she turned off the car.

Lilith smiled, reaching into the backseat for the pair of skates she had rented.

He looked at the ice with childlike wonder, then back at her. “Do I look like someone who knows how to skate?”

Lilith smirked as she opened her door. “That’s the point. You’re going to learn.”

Ray groaned dramatically, but followed her out of the car anyway, his breath turning to white mist in the cold air. They sat at the edge of the rink, pulling on their skates while he continued to mutter about cracked bones and bruised egos.

“You’ll be fine,” she said, patting his shoulder as she tightened her own skates with easy familiarity. “I only know a bit, but I can keep you upright.”

“That’s not very reassuring,” he grumbled, wobbling as he stood, clinging to the railing like a newborn deer. “This ice looks slippery.”

Lilith burst into a laugh. “That’s because it is slippery.”

She stepped onto the ice first, her balance smooth, graceful. Her movements weren’t perfect, but they were confident enough. She extended her hand to him with a raised brow.

Ray stared at it like it might bite him.

“Come on,” she teased. “Trust me.”

With a deep breath and a theatrical prayer in Spanish he grabbed her hand.

The moment he stepped onto the ice, his legs shot out from under him.

Lilith caught him with both hands, laughing as he clung to her like a lifeline. “Okay, okay! One foot at a time!”

“You’re enjoying this too much,” he grumbled, cheeks red from both cold and embarrassment.

“Maybe,” she said with a grin, “but you look adorable.”

Ray gave her a betrayed look. “Adorable is not what I’m going for! I wanted mysterious Spanish lover vibes!”

“Right now you’re giving floppy penguin.”

Ray groaned again but didn’t let go of her. His hands clutched her waist as she guided him slowly onto the rink, their feet moving in careful, awkward unison. Every time he slipped, she was there encouraging, smiling, teasing.

And slowly, very slowly, he stopped clinging.

After a few minutes of cautious skating, Ray began to get the hang of it. His legs were still wobbly, and his balance wasn’t perfect, but he was standing on his own, now moving slowly, arms outstretched like a tightrope walker.

Lilith skated a few feet ahead, turning to check on him with a proud little smile on her lips. “See? You’re doing it.”

Ray puffed out his chest dramatically. “Told you I’m a fast learner.” He gave her a wink and added, “Natural talent.”

She raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. “Oh really?”

Now feeling bold, he decided to show off. He waved at her with one hand, pushing off with the other, trying to glide toward her like one of the smooth skaters he had watched earlier.

“Watch this!” he called out, full of confidence.

But just as he picked up speed, his footing betrayed him.

One skate tilted too far, his arms flailed wildly and then, in the most dramatic fall imaginable, he hit the ice with a loud thud, limbs splaying out in every direction.

“Ray!” Lilith gasped, her heart lurching as she skated toward him without a second thought.

She dropped to her knees beside him, her hand immediately cupping his face. “Are you okay?”

Ray groaned, eyes half-closed, clearly stunned. “Did I look cool?”

She stared at him for a second, then burst into laughter, relieved he wasn’t hurt.

“You looked like a falling star,” she said between giggles. “Bright, dramatic… and then boom.”

He winced but smiled through it. “Worth it, if you were watching.”

Lilith sighed, brushing snowflakes from his hair. “You idiot…”

But her voice was soft, her hand still resting on his cheek as their eyes met, her smile lingering just a bit longer than it should have.

Lilith helped him sit up first, then stood and offered both her hands with a small smile.

“Come on, drama prince,” she said softly, “on your feet.”

Ray grinned up at her, still a little dazed, but the twinkle in his eyes hadn’t faded. He took her hands, and with her steady pull, he rose shakily to his feet.

They wobbled for a moment, both giggling as he found his balance again.

Then without letting go, she laced her fingers through his.

Ray looked down at their joined hands, then up at her, surprise flickering into something warmer, gentler. “You’re holding my hand.”

“I don’t want you falling again,” she said, but the way her fingers curled tighter around his gave her away.

Their skates glided across the ice slowly, carefully his pace matching hers now. The morning sun spilled across the frozen surface, casting their joined shadows over the ice. The world around them was quiet, the cold air biting at their cheeks, but they didn’t seem to feel it.

They moved in gentle circles, her laughter floating softly in the air when he nearly slipped again and clung to her like a lifeline.

“Why does this feel like a scene from one of those cheesy romance movies?” Ray whispered as they skated together, close enough for their arms to brush.

“Because it is,” Lilith murmured, stealing a quick glance at him. “You’re the comedic lead who falls a lot. I’m the mysterious woman with good balance.”

Ray chuckled, his thumb brushing over hers. “And what happens next in those movies?”

Lilith looked ahead, smiling. “I guess we skate into the sunset. Or until you fall again.”

“Deal,” he said.

And they kept skating hand in hand.