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NINA

Emma groans as we walk out of class the next day. “I can’t believe Madame Le Croix has set us another assignment when she knows we’re rehearsing for the Winter showcase. When does she think we’ll have time to practice?”

I nod. “I knew the IOD would be hard, but this is…”

I can’t find the words I’m that exhausted, and not just from dance. I lay awake all night listening to the sound of Anton’s breathing as my guilt slowly started gnawing at my insides. But thankfully, all my friends are working just as hard, so my dark circles blend right in.

“I’m regretting all my life choices. Why couldn’t I have a creative talent that involves sitting on my ass? Screw you, Mom, for wanting to live your dream through me. I was happy until you stuck me in a tutu…”

Emma continues her rant as we follow the stream of students heading outside. It’s a rare sunny day for October, and we both sling our heavy coats over our arms as our skin is still slick with sweat after our class.

Yakov falls into step behind us, his towering form casting a shadow over me as we walk toward the parking lot.

I glance around to try and spot Beatrice’s red hair in the crowd. “Are we meeting Allie and Bea?”

“Allie has to go straight to work, and I think Bea is staying behind to work on her choreography for her solo.”

I nod, chewing on my lower lip. The thought of going back to the house and running into Anton is making me anxious.

I’ve proven time and time again that I can’t be trusted around him. The moment I see his beautiful dark eyes and that dimple appears in his cheek, I forget all reason, and the next thing I know, I’m naked and on my back when I should be sitting him down and telling him the truth.

I turn to face Emma. I shouldn’t use my friend as a buffer, but desperate times call for desperate measures. “Why don’t you come over, and we can practice tonight?”

“Oh, my god, that would be amazing ! Will Anton be okay with that?”

“It’s like he said, you’re welcome any time.”

“He really is a gem.” Emma sighs. “Why couldn’t I have been the one to fall into his lap? Then I could be living in a mansion right now.”

“I’m not living there.”

Emma rolls her eyes.

“When was the last time you spent a night in your own bed?”

I frown, trying to rack my brain.

“Exactly. He’s got you wifed up, my friend.” She laughs, linking her arm through mine.

I try to laugh, but it comes out as more of a hysterical squeak, but Emma doesn’t seem to notice.

She chats away about various classmates and gossip she’s overheard as Yakov drives us out to Anton’s estate.

I’m grateful that she doesn’t mind my less than enthusiastic responses as I’m focusing more on the sound of her voice rather than the words themselves to keep me from spiraling into my own dark thoughts.

As we approach the house, Yakov drives us around the back, and Emma and I gather our things before heading through the kitchen door.

“Hi, Danika. Is Anton home?”

“He’s in his office.” Danika switches the basket of laundry to her other hip. “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

“Ooh, I’d love—” Emma chimes in, but I elbow her in the ribs.

“We’re fine, thank you, Danika.”

She smiles before disappearing into the laundry room.

“What was that for?” Emma scolds. “I’m starving.”

“We can make our own food, Emma.”

“Yes, but we don’t have to, that’s my point. Let me enjoy the perks of my bestie having a sugar daddy.”

I roll my eyes and walk over to the fridge to start pulling out containers of fresh veggies as well as some hummus.

“We could rehearse outside if you wanted?” I grab two glasses and fill them with water. “It’s still warm, and the patio is flat enough.”

“Sounds good,” Emma says with a mouthful of carrot. “That way we won’t get too sweaty.”

We carry our supplies back through the kitchen door and around the back of the house.

It’s almost four, so the sun is still high overhead, and there’s barely a cloud in the sky.

I set down the tray of snacks on the outdoor table and take a moment to look around.

I’ve not had much of a chance to explore the sprawling grounds, which are just breathtaking in the early fall.

At the edge of the patio is a set of steps that leads down to an enormous pool which has its own external pool house on the left that’s bigger than most people’s houses. A seating area with heaters and a fire pit is on the right, ideal for curling up with a book and a glass of wine on a warm summer night.

Emma grabs my arm. “Screw practice! Let’s take a dip in the pool. I bet it’s heated. Unless you and Anton have done the nasty in there, in which case, I’ll pass.”

“Ew, Emma. No, we haven’t had sex in the pool.”

“Why the hell not?”.

“Hang on, you just said it was gross?”

“I said it was gross for someone else to swim in water that’s filled with all your bodily fluids, not that I wouldn’t be up for fucking a hot man in the pool.”

“Oh, my god,” I groan, my cheeks burning.

“Now you’re thinking about it, aren’t you.” Emma laughs, slapping me on the arm. “You’re very welcome.”

“Can we please just rehearse?”

Once I have the music playing through the speakers on my phone and Emma and I change into our pointe shoes, we start working through the routine.

After an hour, we’ve both stripped down to our sports bras and leggings, our bodies still slick with sweat despite being outside in the middle of October.

The air is starting to chill, and I sigh with relief as it cools my skin.

“I keep messing this part up,” Emma grumbles as I pause the music at the same part for the fifth time. “It’s like I suddenly lose the ability to count the beats in my head.”

“You’re overthinking it, Emma. Just stand with your eyes closed and listen to the music. Your body knows what to do.”

Emma does as I say, and I rewind the music before pressing play.

I watch Emma’s face start to relax as the music filters through the speakers, and my own fingers twitch as I count along in time to the music in my head.

When it gets to the part that she messes up, a frown appears between her eyebrows, and I watch her shoulders stiffen.

“You’ve got it in your head that you can’t do this part.” I pause the music once more. “Your entire body tensed up.”

“I know.” Emma shakes out her arms. “I don’t know what to do.”

“We just need to recondition your mind.”

“You say that like it’s easy.”

I chuckle. “Let’s work through it without the music first until you’re confident in the steps. Then we’ll add the music back in.”

I count Emma in, and she works through the steps, her balance still faltering at the same part, and she lets out a groan.

“Stand still and visualize the movements.”

I count her in again, and I see her mouth along the timings.

Her brow stays relaxed, and I smile. “And again.”

We do that a few more times before adding in the movement.

By the time I turn the music back on, Emma’s moving through the routine flawlessly, and I grin as I watch her.

Once the music finishes, Emma lets out a cheer before high-fiving me.

“You did it!” I clap my hands together.

“Why can’t you be our teacher?” Emma laughs. “You’re way better than Madame Le Croix.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. Let’s do it one more time just to make sure…”

But Emma isn’t paying any attention to me, she is looking to whatever is just over my right shoulder.

“We have company,” Emma whispers, jerking her chin, and I whirl around to find Anton walking toward us.

The moment his eyes lock with mine, all the air leaves my lungs. It seems no matter how much time I spend with Anton, I still can’t get used to how gorgeous he is.

I can’t stop my eyes from roaming over his powerful body, my pulse quickening as I remember the feeling of his weight on top of me.

His eyes darken, and I know he’s imagining the same thing as he takes in the sight of me in my sports bra and leggings.

My nipples pebble through my bra, and his tongue darts out to wet his lower lip.

“Hey, Anton.” Emma’s voice snaps us both back to the present.

“Nice to see you again, Emma. Sorry to interrupt, but can I borrow Nina for a minute?” His voice is smooth like velvet.

“Sure thing.” She flashes me a wink.

Anton holds out his hand for me to take and leads me across the patio.

“See that pool house over there?”

I turn to follow his gaze. “Yeah…”

“I never use it.”

I frown. “That’s a shame. It’s got a beautiful view.”

“That’s what I was thinking.” Anton places his warm hands on the tops of my arms, rubbing them. “How would you feel about turning it into a studio?”

“A studio? For what?”

“For you to dance in.”

“I’m sorry, what ?”

Anton chuckles and turns me around to face him.

“Say the word, and I’ll have someone convert it into a ballet studio for you.”

“Anton, that’s… Wow, I mean, that would be amazing, but…” I glance over my shoulder at the pool house, and my chest tightens. “How long do you expect me to be here?”

“That’s entirely up to you.” He runs his thumb over my lower lip. “But if I had my way, you would never leave.”

My eyes widen as his words sink in.

“Are you asking me to move in?”

“Would you say yes if I did?” he murmurs, bending down to brush his lips over my cheek.

“Uhh…”

My brain seems to be short-circuiting, and I can’t think of any words, let alone a cohesive response.

“I’m on my way out to meet Mikhail. So, think about my proposal, and we’ll talk later, okay?”

“O-ok.”

He smiles, his entire face lighting up as he gazes at me.

He taps the tip of my nose and winks before walking away, leaving me frozen in shock, the lingering feeling of his lips still on my cheek.

It takes Emma slapping me on the arm to jerk me out of my trance.

“Ow!” I cry

Emma grips my arm as she bounces up and down. “What the fuck! Did he seriously just offer to build you a studio?”

“Yeah…” I whisper.

“He is so perfect. You need to lock him down fast, Nina, before someone else does.”

“It’s only been a few weeks. It would be crazy to even consider moving in. Right?”

Emma shrugs. “People have done crazier things.”

“I want to say yes.” I wrap my arms around myself.

“What’s stopping you?”

My own cowardice.

“I’m scared.”

“That’s understandable. It’s a big step, but you’ll know in your gut if it’s the right one.” Emma smiles. “And if it turns out it’s not, I’ll burn the place to the ground.”

“I thought you were going to chop off his dick?”

“Oh, I’ll do that too, don’t you worry.”

I huff a laugh as I gaze at the pool house.

“He wants to build me my own ballet studio…” I press a hand to my heart.

I want nothing more than to say yes. The thought of this place being my home, with Anton at my side, has my eyes stinging with tears.

It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and it’s at my fingertips.

The only thing standing in my way is the truth, and it’s going to hurt like hell when it finally comes out.