Page 30 of Darkest Sin

“You never answered my question. If you gave me a direct order and I said no, what would you do?”

“I would spank you.” He says it like it’s as natural as breathing.

I can’t help but blanch. “Spank me?”

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. You might even enjoy it. Pain mixed with pleasure. If you don’t listen to me when I think something is right for you, I will spank you.”

“Then I don’t have a voice.”

“You do. If you truly believe something else is better for you, you can always tell me.”

“You’ll just spank me first.” My body tenses. I want to get off his lap but Mikhail tightens his hold on my waist.

“I might have to spank you now for having sass.”

I flush. “Please don’t. This is all so new for me.”

He looks to Robert and Cecillia, who are just standing there, waiting for Mikhail to tell them what to do next. “I have an idea. Natalya, why don’t you dance for us?”

The sudden question startles me so much, it takes me a moment to process his words. “What?”

“Dance for us. You love to perform. Well, we can be your audience for the night.” He takes my chin and makes me look him right in the eye. “Dance for us. For me.”

It’s a command.

And I hate to admit it but it makes me want to do as he says. I want to please him.

He loosens his grip on my waist and I stand up on shaky legs. He steadies me for a moment. “A dance has to be grounded.”

How can I tell him that my entire world has been rocked in one night?

I stand near the door. Cecillia and Robert sit down, both of them fully naked.

“I can’t do this,” I say. “Not when they’re naked. It’s too… strange.”

“Put your clothes on,” he tells the couple and they comply. Once their dressed, he turns back to me. “Better?”

“Yes.”

“Then dance.”

Mikhail leans back in his chair, spreading his legs wide. It’s a power position. A reminder that he’s in charge here and he wants me to dance.

“I haven’t danced since my dad…” Tears prick my eyes and to my embarrassment, they fall down right in front of everybody.

“Its ok, baby. Just dance. Get lost in it.”

The sound of classical music starts and it makes me look up with a gasp. Mikhail has a remote in his hands. A stereo is on a table across the room.

“Dance,” he demands.

Slowly, I begin to move, like someone else is pulling the strings. I’m not in control of my body. I let the music wash over me and I focus on Mikhail’s eyes, leading me to this moment, and I dance.

I dance with ease. The movements are like second nature in my body. I don’t have to think about any of it.

And the longer I dance, the more I realize the pain of my father lessens. It’s still there but just for this moment, I don’t have to feel it. I can just get lost in the here and now.

I finish my dance with a curtsey and stand back up. None of them speak. I watch them all, playing with the hem of my dress.