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Giselle remained stony toward me, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to the cameras in the house or if she was still angry. Finally, she collected the remote controls for the living room television, then curled up on the cream-colored Victorian couch. She looked at me for the first time since we’d arrived, but her lips were pursed into a tight line. Whatever was going on in that beautiful head had her twisted up. It had me fucked up as well.
Applause reached my ears, and I turned to the TV. It took me a minute to realize that it was Giselle, on stage, dancing. Completely mesmerized by her ability, I remained still, my attention trained on the performance. She was magical, the emotion that she portrayed while she moved breathtaking. I glanced at her and realized that she was watching me. I cleared my throat and returned to the dance. She radiated light as she moved across the stage, and even if it was only for a few minutes, it was clear that she was happy and born to dance.
I wanted more of that woman. I wanted to be the reason that she laughed and danced again.Shit!I was losing it. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to show her how special she was.
The video paused and Giselle rose from her seat, tossing the navy blanket on the cushion. She ignored me as she left. I followed her, hoping she was heading to the studio where there were no cameras, or so we thought. If I didn’t see any, then I would scan the area for any listening devices. I’d planned on it the first day, but Giselle had had other ideas and stormed off to her room. At least we were on somewhat better terms now.
Giselle strolled into the studio, and the automatic lights turned on. Once I joined her, she closed the door. Apparently, she had the same thought as me because she joined me in searching for cameras. Unless they were planted near a mirror or in the ceiling, there weren’t many places to hide them.
We remained quiet, then I removed a small device from my front pocket. Scanning the area, I released a soft sigh of relief when I was finished. For whatever reason, there weren’t any type of recording or listening devices in Giselle’s studio.
“It’s clear.” I pocketed the scanner and faced her. “Are there other rooms in the house that don’t have security?”
“The bedrooms, bathrooms, and Donovan’s office. It's Donovan's way of pretending I have privacy. There are cameras in the hall, so he knows when I have my door closed to my room, but the dance studio can’t be seen.”
We stood speechless for a moment, the air thickening around us.
“It’s hard to watch my performances because I miss dancing more than anyone will ever know. It’s in my blood—my DNA. It was the air I breathed, my sanity.” She rubbed her arms as though she were warding off a chill.
“What happened?”
She closed the gap between us and peered up at me. My pulse jumped as her golden eyes captured mine. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss her, but my arms remained at my side, waiting for her to speak. It wasn’t the right time.
“Are you positive we’re not being watched or listened to?” she whispered.
“Yeah. At least, not in here.”
Giselle backed away, fear flashing across her face. She opened a door, revealing a closet and sound system. “Helium” by Sia began playing from the in-ceiling speakers. Giselle slipped off her sandals, then pirouetted across the floor to me. A smile graced her full lips, and my cock sprang to life as I watched her. Jesus, she was even more beautiful when she danced. It was the first time she’d dropped her walls and willingly allowed me to see behind the fortress she presented to the world.
For the first time in my life, I wished like hell I knew just a few steps, so that I could dance with her. Meet her on her terms.
As if reading my mind, she took my hand and raised my arm, twirling beneath me. Flashes of helping Claire practice her lifts raced through my mind. Although Vaughn was the professional, Ihadlearned a few things from them.
I released her and trailed my fingertips down her sides, then gripped her waist.
She glanced up, falling into step. “Hold and lift me.”
I walked forward and did as she said. Suddenly, she leaped, perfecting a split mid-air. She turned into me and covered my hands with hers as her upper body arched backward. Her beautiful lips parted, and all I wanted was to taste them.
I was so immersed in her, I hadn't realized that “Helium” was on repeat. The lyrics finally began to break through my trance. Giselle looked captivated as she moved, like she was using the music and the tragic lyrics to try to make me understand her a little better.
The music pulsed through the room as I listened to the words of a woman that needed to escape hell and the love of another giving her hope.Was I that for her?If I wasn’t, I wanted to be.
My jaw tensed, and I focused on her as she stood still. The air around us crackled with her tension and fear, then tears welled in her eyes. I stepped in and pulled her against me.
Giselle's gaze softened as I ran my thumb over her lips, then widened when she felt my erection pressing against her. The most beautiful expression of trust graced her features, setting my soul on fire. I tucked a stray hair behind her ear, never taking my attention off her. Giselle took my hand and placed it against her cheek.
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t sure what she was thanking me for, but I did know one thing. Giselle Lambert had just walked away with my fucking heart. And I didn’t want it back.
25
Giselle
Over the years, as I lost the ability to speak without consequences, I learned that music could talk for me. At first, I played the song “Helium” so I could dance. But when the lyrics started, and I moved across the floor, briefly allowing my heart to open, I realized that I’d selected this song for another reason—to let Zayne know how I had grown to feel about him.
Even though I had been upset with Zayne when he saw the burn on my back, there wasn’t any doubt in my mind that he cared about me. The following day, I would ask him for help, but there was one more thing I had to do first.
