A matter of trust.

“No, no. I’m fine right here. You go ahead and have fun; I’ll just sit here and watch,” Ethan announced with a wicked leer in Rupert’s direction.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re scared?” Ripper grinned, he’d never found anything that Ethan wasn’t game for and his lover’s refusal to come out on the ice was intriguing.

“I never mentioned anything about being scared,” Ethan countered indignantly.

“Well, what’s the problem then?”

“I can’t bloody skate, alright. You satisfied?” Ethan pouted.

Rupert’s face softened, the challenging leer melting into a softer, more genuine smile. “Come on,” he requested gently. “Trust me.”