Exaltation (Insight #11)(30)



His hunter green eyes grew a little wider. “And what did she say?”

“Wasn’t listening. I was too busy running from her. Which means we’re going to make this ridiculously awesome.”

He raised his chin. “She into me?”

“We shall see. I know she’s facing a huge mystery right now—help her with that and you’ll get some one-on-one time.”

“Is it the same juice mystery?”

“Nope. We were ‘talked’ to today.”

“Hurricanes and car wrecks?”

Raven nodded. “You?”

“Yep.”

Raven furrowed her brow. “At the risk of bursting my bliss bubble, I’m going to ask you if I should be the tiniest bit concerned.”

“Grownups are shaken up but I’m good. Even though I was just involuntarily transferred.”

“Pretty sure that has been in the works for a while. Your file was already there.”

He shook his head and skated away. That was his way of saying ‘yeah, right, like your dad couldn’t have manifested that on the spot.’

The last few hours flew by. Raven was warmed up enough and had seen Soren hop on the floor a bit ago to get himself loose.

He had made it a point to skate around her and give her that look. The one that made the girls around them scream like they were at a concert and the lead singer just leapt down into the crowd.

Raven found it hilarious they all thought she and Soren were really having some torrid love affair.

“All right. All right!” the DJ said over the mic. “I don’t know about ya’ll but I’ve been feeling a little sizzle in the air.”

The crowd screamed. Raven’s heart started to pound. She knew the spotlight was seconds away.

“Maybe a little young love, hmmmm?” the DJ prompted. “I’ve been told that someone wants the floor cleared!” The crowd whistled and roared as they started to clear away. “That’s right, clear the floor so this man can hold his woman.” Catcalls were heard from as far as the auditorium.

There were only a few stragglers on the floor so Raven started to pick up her skate. The lights went out which was her cue. She rolled into the center just as the spotlight came on. This part was easy, a few spins and in and outs, but the whistles had already started.

The music they were using was a mix of almost everything. It started out with a slow beat set to a snap and a deep bass that pounded at the perfect moment. Raven knew the second Soren glided on the floor because the girls screamed his name along with ‘marry me.’ Raven glanced back as if surprised he was skating toward her.

He rolled right up to her, her back against his front. He reached his fingertips for her jaw and wistfully outlined her cheek as their bodies waved slowly head to toe. This routine started out sensual and you didn’t get any more sensual than that, two bodies moving in rhythm as one.

“Get her, son!” some idiot yelled out.

They started to move to the beat, and as they passed the crowd they snapped on cue with the music leading the audience to join in. Not long after, the crowd was stomping their feet with the beat, too.

The beat picked up and so did Raven and Soren’s speed. This was the part where Raven played hard to get. They were acting out the story to the lyrics. The boy had wronged the girl and was fighting to get her back. She only meant to give in a little but by the end of this deal it was a happy ending.

Raven skated away from him, backward. A loud guitar came in at this point and that is when he fell to his knees and leaned back enough so he could slide between her legs. Raven turned just in time to see him back on his feet and reaching for her hand. He twirled her across the floor at mach speed.

The crowd was insane by then. Soren stopped Raven’s spin, pulling her back to his front as the beat slowed down to a snap again. Raven tilted her head all the way to the side, and just as he leaned in to act like he was going to kiss her neck she pulled away. But that was an act; a second later she was folded back into his arms and her right leg was hooked back as he spun them. BOOM BOOM.

With every beat part of Raven’s body extended, by the time the spin was over every part of her was off the floor, Soren was only holding onto the back of her knee and her side. He spun her right with the beat and right as the lyrics said the boy pushed her aside, Soren let her go and she flew backward across the floor.

The next part was him chasing her and Raven running in perfect rhythm, forward skating, backward, individual spins, in and outs.

The end was coming; the lyrics were implying forgiveness now. He stopped on one end of the rink and Raven stopped on the other. Slowly they moved toward each other holding one another’s stare. When he reached Raven she pulled her scarf loose. His hands clasped her waist and then he started to spin them. The red scarf had cocooned them so only their shadows could be seen through the thin material. Right on point he clasped Raven’s waist and lifted her in the air. The music slowed, as did their spin.

Raven tilted her head to the side and he looked up. As soon as they were close enough, his lips clasped her top lip. Once she was safe on the ground he leaned her back, acting as if this kiss was a drug to him. He pulled away slowly as the girls screamed. For added effect his lips rested on Raven’s neck right as the lights went out.

“Hot enough for you?” he said into Raven’s ear. All Raven could do was laugh. She was high on adrenaline. She had never done anything that hard before.

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