Watching Bek practice with such dedication and tenderness, the Canadian couldn't help but sigh like a teenager head over heels in love; after all, there was nothing—and no one—who could make him change his mind.
"Jake... we have to go..." Although he felt embarrassed, he didn't hesitate to take his hand timidly. He felt nervous; he had never done something like this with anyone. With Zinov, it had only happened once, and it was the worst mistake of his life.
Back then, when the Russian had reached out his hand at the end, the reaction Bek expected never came; he was practically thrown to the ground and insulted with stinging words: "You filthy piece of shit! Don't you ever touch me like that again in your life!" After that autumn sunset, Bek had become distant, especially with Zinov. Now, his greatest fear returned with Jake. He had taken his hand almost unconsciously, and upon realizing it, he nearly died of panic. However, feeling the Canadian's gaze—bright and deep—something shifted: Jake didn't look at him with disdain, but with a pure, honest feeling that made Bek end up blushing deeply.
"Let's go get breakfast, Bek," Jake proposed, refusing to let go. He reinforced his grip, and they slid out of the rink; he wouldn't let him escape, especially now that the Kazakh had taken the initiative.
Aibek was lost, scared, thinking he would be hurt for having taken his hand. But he was wrong; Jake wasn't that kind of man. Instead of letting go, he circled his arm around Bek's waist, sending nerves fluttering through him.
"On lonely nights, I always searched for you... and I found you. The more I look at you, the more I fall in love... you are my addiction," Jake whispered sweetly into the Kazakh's ear. Bek blushed even more, but he didn't run away; he was finally experiencing what he had always wanted.
As they skated toward the exit, they turned gracefully as if in a new choreography. After all, the Canadian was a singer and knew how to whisper verses into the ear of his sweet love.
"Ja... Jake..." Bek called out, blushing until they cleared the ice. Everything felt so different that Bek could only think about the perfection of the moment and the sensations Jake provoked in him.
"Come on, we're going to be late," Jake commented sweetly, smiling with pure happiness at seeing the younger man so nervous. He helped him put on his blade guards and guided him toward their bags. Jake thought Bek might enjoy a shower. "Do you want to shower?" he asked, hugging him around the waist.
"That sounds good... do you?" Bek replied. Both headed to the establishment's showers; it was perfect to wash away the sweat from the practice.
In the showers, the silence wasn't awkward, though the nervousness was palpable. It was their first time showering together. Bek took off his clothes slowly under the gaze of the Canadian, who was already flushing red at seeing him look so enchanting.
"Are you going to shower?" the long-haired youth asked in a soft voice.
"Huh? Yes! Yes, I'm going to shower," Jake reaffirmed as he undressed, unable to stop looking at the younger man. He looked so sexy and delicate that Jake wanted to touch him, but he had to be respectful so as not to scare him.
Water ran behind a door. The showers were divided only by a small glass panel that reached the waist, revealing just enough. The voyeuristic Canadian observed those firm, soft glutes he longed to caress, but he kept himself in check.
"Bek..." Jake called, stepping closer. When the younger man turned, their gazes met, and without a second thought, he grabbed him by the neck and kissed him passionately. Their tongues played mischievously, sharing a kiss that stole their breath and sent the temperature soaring.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Jake apologized immediately.
"Jake... calm down... I... I liked it," the noble Kazakh replied, blushing and looking at the floor.
"You liked it?" Jake asked, hugging him happily while they both stood naked.
"Jake..." the younger man murmured, trying to pull away due to the shyness of skin-to-skin contact.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Jake apologized, giving him space.
After a unique and enchanting moment, they finished showering and covered themselves in robes to keep from the cold. Before leaving, Jake stopped in front of Aibek and gave him a kiss on the forehead—a kiss overflowing with feelings of love, protection, and desire. Bek, smiling softly, took Jake's hands and guided him toward the lockers to get dressed.
"Jake is very tender," Bek commented. Jake, blushing and head over heels in love, followed him without complaint, holding his hand as they walked together.
Once dressed, the atmosphere in the locker room felt lighter, almost as if the weight of the competition had vanished for a moment. As they walked toward the exit, Jake noticed Aibek stopping in front of a mirror, adjusting his jacket with an expression of peace rarely seen on him.
"You know?" Jake said, stopping beside him.
"Whatever happens at the banquet, I want you to know that I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be by your side. It doesn't matter who is there, or how many glares they throw our way. You and I are the only thing that matters today."
Aibek nodded, feeling his heart beat with renewed strength. He knew the banquet would be difficult terrain, especially with the presence of other competitors and the shadow of Zinov, but with Jake's hand in his, he felt he could face any storm.
"Promise me something, Jake," Aibek said, looking him straight in the eyes. "Promise me we won't let anyone break this calm we've found today."
"I promise, my little bear," Jake replied, sealing the promise with a quick kiss on the tip of his nose. "Now, let's go get something really good to eat. You need the energy, because after the envelope I have prepared for you... your day is going to become even more special than you imagine."
They walked toward the car with a renewed sense of complicity, ready to face the world, feeling that, at last, the winter of their souls was coming to an end to make way for a shared spring.