Page 65 of His to Own

All the basic ballet I learned when I was a child that’s tucked away deep inside of me.

For a moment, I get lost in it all. Completely and utterly free.

And then the song ends and I finish, taking a bow. The way Lana would always take a bow after a performance.

When I stand back up and see the light in Maxim’s eyes, it makes my tears come and I land on my knees, sobbing out everything inside of me.

Chapter Nine

Elena

Maxim’s footsteps get louder the closer they get to me. With my head bowed, all I can see are his shoes. The expensive leather. The power they exude.

He brings his fingers to my chin and tilts my head up. “That was beautiful, Elena. So why are you crying?”

“I’ve never felt this way before,” I say through my tears.

“Which way is that?”

“Free. For just a moment, I felt free.”

“Why did you stop dancing?”

“Because my father always said I wasn’t good enough. It made more sense for Lana to continue it than me.”

Maxim frowns. “Your sister is three years older than you. She had more years of experience in dance than you did and yet, your father compared the two of you together?”

“Yes. I’ve never been good enough. I don’t know why. I’m just… not good enough.”

“Your father really messed with your mind, didn’t he?” Maxim pushes a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Well, I’m here to help you. I don’t want you to think so badly of yourself. You’re a beautiful dancer, even if it has been years. You didn’t need to give it up.”

“It’s too late now. I don’t want to be a dancer.”

“What do you want to be?”

“A writer,” I say for the first time. “I want to be a writer. I’ve always dreamed of being one.”

“Then you can be a writer. Why haven’t you told me before?”

I shrug. His fingers are still under my chin, not letting me move. Never letting me forget who’s in control. “I was embarrassed. I didn’t want you judging me the way my father does.”

“Your father is an asshole. Plain and simple. Don’t let his words bother you anymore. You don’t live in that house. You live with me now.”

I suck in a large breath. Maxim’s words are ones that I’ve wanted to hear my entire life but no one has ever said them to me before. “I want that. I want to put my father’s words behind me. But it’s hard. I don’t know how to do it.”

“I can help you. Tell me, Elena. How are you feeling now?”

My tears have stopped. I feel drained and tired but also… more awake than I have been in my entire life. “It’s so much. I don’t understand it. Not all of it.”

“Are you aroused?”

The moment he asks the question, I feel the heat between my legs. My mind is broken but my body knows what it wants. It wants Maxim to touch me again. But I can’t ask him that. To make myself vulnerable is to make myself weak. It’s how my father was able to hurt me for so much of my life.

My lips part but no words come out.

“Tell me,” he murmurs, stroking his thumb against my cheek. I lean into his touch before I can think about it.

“Maybe,” I admit.