Page 67 of Darkest Sin

“Let me look at you.” He kneels before me and inspects my legs. It’s a surreal sight, watching my strong husband kneel in front of me. “Are you hurt?”

“I banged my legs onto the floor. They’ll be bruised but I’ve had a lot of bruises in my life. Dance is not gentle on the body. I can handle it. It’s not the first time I’ve fallen.”

“You weren’t supposed to fall. Cillian pushed you until you got hurt. That fucker.”

“Hey.” I cup his cheek and he looks up at me with so much intensity, I almost lose my breath. “I’m all right. I survived it. I didn’t break any bones. My feet and ankles and legs are strong. I’m fine. Don’t let this ruin your working relationship with him. I want my sisters safe and any way you can do that, do that. If working with Cillian gets you closer to helping my sisters, then I’ll let him boss me around until the end of time.”

“No. I won’t allow it. I won’t allow him to come into our home and tell you what to do. You’re not his wife. He doesn’t have any claim to you. He had no right to do that.”

“I agree. But you need him, Mikhail. You need the help right now. You have to worry about Nico on one side and my uncle on the other. You need help.”

“There are other men I can turn to. I don’t need Cillian.”

“Isn’t he the head of the Irish mob? He’s a good ally to have. Don’t give up on him just because of what happened tonight.”

“He made a fool out of you. He purposely made you dance over and over so you were tired. He made you fall.”

“Then he’s no different from the dance instructors I’ve had all my life. A lot of them were hard on me. I had one teacher whomade me dance until my toes bled. I hated her for it but she strengthened me. The way Cillian acted is nothing I’m not used to. The dance world is a brutal place. It’s strict. You think I grew up in some sheltered castle all my life but I know what it’s like to be pushed. I think it’s why I can handle what you throw at me.”

His lips quirk up a little. “You are a lot stronger than I give you credit for. And for that, I’m sorry. I just hated the way Cillian spoke to you. Like he thought he had the right.”

“He was just getting under your skin. Maybe he was trying to test you. See how far you’d go.”

“Then I either impressed him by not killing him right then and there in our living room or I disappointed him because I didn’t try to kill him.”

“You’re a man who takes what he wants. If you want Cillian to respect you, then take it.”

“You’re right.”

“You sound surprised,” I say. “Is it completely unbelievable that I could offer you advice? I have knowledge to, you know.”

“I’m starting to see that. I thought you would be a more docile woman. I like that you’re naturally submissive to me but… I also like that you have your own mind.”

Before I can stop myself, I lean down and press my lips to his. We haven’t kissed all that often despite how much Mikhail has pushed my body. He doesn’t kiss much. Maybe it’s too intimate for him. Maybe it’s too tame. Either way, kissing him now makes me realize just how much more of it I need.

Mikhail grabs the back of my head and pulls me deeper into the kiss. I could sink into his touch forever if I let it happen. I know Mikhail wouldn’t complain.

I still haven’t given him my virginity yet and I’m not sure when. I’m not holding onto it for any special reason. Mikhail and I are already married. I stuck to the promise I made my father: that I would wait for marriage to have sex.

So what’s stopping me?

I pull back, catching my breath.

Mikhail’s smirk makes me blush. “What was that for?”

“For listening to me. I’m not a fragile flower, Mikhail. Not when I’ve trained so hard at ballet.”

“I get that. So, you’ll be all right?” He nods towards my legs.

I cross my feet together at the ankles. “I will be. I promise.”

For some reason, my promise feels deeper than just a promise about my legs. It feels like a promise about our future.

A promise that will bind us together forever.

Chapter Twelve

Mikhail