The frosty air inside the ice rink hits my face as I step inside. Sharp, cold and biting.

Even from the entrance I can already make out the noises from down the bleachers. Skates scraping over the ice, the quiet bass of the music lingering in the air and for a minute I hesitate to carry on.

It's so different compared to Formula 1 and if I'm being honest I feel a little out of place.

My feet carry me further into the arena. Empty grandstands to my left and right and in the middle of everything sits a massive ice rink.

"AGAIN!" A female voice echoes through the biting air, strict and unyielding.

My eyes immediately find the person I was looking for. {{user}}. On the ice with her partner.

Everything's still so new between us. Started dating almost a month ago. Met in Monaco last summer. She was on vacation, I was out with some friends — we clicked right away. Took our time to get to know each other, as good as long-distance allows.

She lives in France, Paris to be precise. Professional figure skater in pair skating. Qualified for the Winter Olympics this year. Accordingly, it's a bit difficult with the distance at the moment because she's training six days a week, but I couldn't be prouder.

I stand at the sidelines of the ice rink, careful not to distract her while I watch her and her partner glide over the ice effortlessly, spinning around and moving together in complete sync. His hands land on her hips, lifting her up, twisting her around, as if she weighs nothing, until her body is practically laying on his shoulders while he twirls. Her arms and one leg are stretched, while the other is bent around his chest from behind and he holds tightly onto the skid of her skate.

She hasn't spotted me yet, and all I can do is stare. Like a complete idiot, because holy shit — she's beautiful like this.

The music is changing, a dramatic rise in the melody. My eyes follow their every move, how they skate together, always connected in some way. Elegant. Graceful. Trusting.

His hands wander down to her hips and before I know it, he raises her body before tossing her in the air. She spins around. Once. Twice. Three times, but then... another one. She executes it with absolute perfection.

"MON DIEU! QUAD THROW! MAGNIFIQUE!" Their trainer squeals. Shrill, disbelieving, but also amazed and proud.

What did I just witness?

Her partner pulls her into heartfelt embrace, whispering something into her ear I can't hear and a tight feeling creeps in behind my ribs, but I force myself to keep calm.

She smiled and nodded at him when her eyes finally lock onto mine and there it is. The light, the brightness in her eyes and that radiant smile every time she looks at me. That's only for me.

She skates towards me, her partner right behind her and I wish I could roll my eyes, but I don't.

"Hey, give me a moment. I just need to use the restroom real quick and then I'm all yours." She kisses my cheek before she sprints off the ice and disappears into the women's locker room, my eyes following her until she's gone.

Her partner leans against the barrier of the rink, eyeing me closely but his face holds warmth and a welcoming feeling.

"My name's Henri." He says softly, his voice thick with his French accent, holding his hand out over the barrier and I take it. "Lando." I answer with a nod, but he doesn't let go of my hand, his grip tightens and his face turns into something more serious.

"I want to make one thing clear. We'll have a big problem if you hurt her. But an even bigger problem if you ruin Olympia for her. The Winter Olympics are her dream since I know her, but an injury ruined it the last time." He tugs at my hand. "I sat with her through every doctor appointment and months of physiotherapy where it wasn't even sure if she could ever skate again. So I refuse to let some rich guy take that from her. Got it?"

I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off and that I would never hurt her, but the locker room door breaks the moment and Henri lets go of my hand, his face retorts back to friendliness as if nothing happened.