Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
My feet moved of their own accord, ripping off price tags from the designer apparel. Ignoring how much they cost. Standing behind the portable room divider in the corner, I changed into the most beautiful, elegant, soft attire I’d ever worn. Grabbing my tattered, worn-in, pointe shoes, and lacing them up my ankles. I went right to work, not wasting another minute. Dancing around the room like I never had before. Thriving in the emotions of finally feeling like I was home. Every turn, every step, every pose was an extension of the only happiness I’d ever known. I danced until I couldn’t dance anymore.
It was late into the night by the time I was so exhausted I couldn’t push through any longer. Sweat glistened over every inch of me, and I could barely stand on my own two feet. But it didn’t matter because I knew when I woke up the next morning, I could do it again. That alone gave me some peace of mind. I slipped off my pointe shoes, taking in the damage I had inflicted upon my poor toes. Welcoming the pain and blisters. Placing the shoes exactly where I found them. I stretched my limbs on the barre one last time, loving the way my sore muscles ached from a job well done.
I took one last look at the room, before turning off the lights and closing the door behind me. Leaning my back against the solid mahogany surface, smiling, thinking about Martinez, and what he had done to his space. How much I appreciated him at that moment, for absolutely everything he had done for me in the last few months. Behind his dark, cold demeanor, I could tell the man had a heart. Even though he would deny it. I got the sudden urge to talk to him, hug him, and tell him thank you a million times over.
I pushed off the door, walking back to my bedroom, when I heard the front door slam shut. Rattling, echoing down the expansive hall. I didn’t give it a second thought, I dashed through the penthouse to see if he was home. I felt him before I saw him, his masculine scent lingering all around me.
“Hey,” I rasped, out of breath as soon as I got to him, hunching over. Placing my hands on my knees for support. My body shaking from the excitement that he was there, in front of me.
We could finally talk.
I could express how much the room transformation meant to me. How much he meant to me.
He stopped dead in his tracks, surprised by my behavior. Instantly eyeing me cautiously. Not saying a word. Something about the way he was looking at me revealed pain in his usual dark, cold, soulless eyes. I had never seen him appear so internally conflicted, nor did I understand why. He was fighting some sort of internal battle when it came to me. Avoiding me at all costs, not wanting to admit I had an affect on him too. He stood there with his hands in his slacks, just staring with no expression. I wanted to stay lost in his eyes at that moment, savoring the way he was looking at me. The way he pulled every sentiment from my body as if it belonged to him. Especially the way I was making him feel.
I never wanted it to end.
It was as if we were the only two people in the world.
“Alejandro,” I coaxed still out of breath, overwhelmed by my emotions. “I can’t believe—”
“Don’t,” he interrupted in a frayed tone.
I stood upright, stepping toward him. “I just want—” He put his hand out, gesturing for me to stop.
“Don’t,” he repeated in a stern voice. Forcefully accentuating the word.
I reached out, placing my shaking hand on his chest and he let me.
“All I want is—” He shoved away, causing me to stumble back. Catching myself before I fell, as he brushed past, walking away from me. Not allowing me to finish what I so desperately wanted to say to him. I grimaced, hurt. “What the hell?” I whispered to myself. Wavering for a few minutes as I watched him stride toward his office, like he did every time he came home.
Dismissing me. Again.
I took a deep, calming breath, before following after him. The man was like Jekyll and Hyde, doing something so meaningful and loving for me, then shoving me away, when all I wanted to do was thank him. His office door slammed shut before I could catch up to him. I stood in front of the wooden space for a few seconds, flexing my fists at my sides, fuming. He needed to step down off his damn high horse and treat me with some respect. I knew in the back of my mind this wasn’t going to end well. But I didn’t give a shit. Nothing was going to stop me from barging into his office, a replay of a failed attempt all those years ago.