Page 90 of Sinful Betrayal

“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.

21

ANTON

The lookon Nina’s face when I offered to build her a ballet studio will be burned into my memory forever. I might as well have offered her the moon from how shocked she was.

I was standing at the window of my bedroom, watching her and Emma dance when the idea came to me.

I have the funds to convert the space, and it’s not like it's being used. I’d be more than happy to give it to Nina to use as a studio.

Perhaps she sees it as nothing more than a gesture of good faith seeing as she’s staying with me for her own protection, but I want it to mean more than that.

She deserves everything, and I want nothing more than the chance to give that to her.

Somewhere along the way, my fear of growing close to someone has faded.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen Nina with my mother, and it eased some of the anxiety that I had.

I always thought I would have to keep those two parts of my life separate, but Nina’s shown me that it’s possible to bring them together. I’m spending just as much time with Mama, if not more, and still spending hours every night worshiping Nina. It’s a win-win situation, for me at least.

I’m convinced that the universe made Nina Balakin fall into my lap all those weeks ago because I was being too stubborn to admit to myself that I was lonely. That I missed having someone to share a meal with or warm my bed.

Perhaps I just needed a little helping hand, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

She’s filled my life with light, and I want to show her just how grateful I am.

If Emma wasn’t currently keeping Nina company, I would have thrown her over my shoulder and carried her into the pool house under the guise of showing her just how serious I was. But I have business with Mikhail that can’t be pushed, so I try to forget how delicious she looked in her tight leggings and bra with her skin slightly flushed.

Thankfully, my hard on calms down by the time I pick up Mikhail from his townhouse half an hour later, and I turn my focus to the task at hand.

“You’re ready to do this?”