Chapter 7

“Excuse me, Marlene,” he crooned with that honeyed voice before he led me away.

I feigned embarrassment as he led me away whimpering gently and tucking my face in his side. His arm was wrapped securely around me, and I stole a glance up at him.

His firm and supple face came into view. His normally clean-shaven face had a bit of a five-o-clock shadow on it. I was sure that it would tickle my skin if he brushed it across me.

A strange feeling blossomed within me like a thousand birds taking flight. Their wings flapped against my ribcage as if they were trying to escape the prison of my body. I swallowed harshly ripping my gaze away from that handsome face as we stepped outside into the night air.

A few bodyguards that I had not even see were with us materialized holding their positions to ensure we were safe as we made our way to a bench in the garden we had entered.

I would have to be even more careful in the future if I wanted to do things in the open. I was always being watched, and it would do me well to remember that. I shivered slightly and he pulled me tighter to him.

Something about his fierce protection of me stirred my soul. I did not want to think of what those feelings could mean. Sure I wanted to sleep with the man, and yes, I wanted more than anything to ensure that the man would not steal my inheritance from me, but these feelings were different, new.

I could not, would not think of a feeling stronger than lust creeping its way up my veins and grabbing ahold of my heart with a vengeance before it was disbursed to my arteries to fill every limb with the sensation.

A feeling stronger than lust was confusing the matter entirely causing me guilt and condemnation for the things I did regularly without shame.

Leon lifted a slender golden ankle onto his thigh once we were seated on the bench. With a gentleness that belied his appearance, he undid the strap on my thin heels.

I broke the silence first. “I’m sorry, Leon. I tripped. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” I felt some tears prick my eyes realizing for the first time my sincerity even if the first part was a lie.

“Yes, you must take care from now on and learn your dances. The world is not kind to us when we do not measure up to the invisible standards it has set.”

He slipped my shoe off my foot.

He tsked softly. “Myra,” he rubbed my ankle and toes. “Your shoes are much too tight. You need a bigger size. No wonder you stumbled.”

I stared at him quietly as he continued to inspect my feet. A few strands of those raven curls slipped free from the long, graceful ponytail he was wearing begging me to coil it around my finger.

The sudden urge to jump in his lap, grip that smooth little suit jacket he wore, and beg him to let me be his lover threatened to overtake me, but I held it in check. I was his daughter, and that was a weird thing for a daughter to say to her father even if he was her stepfather.

“Myra, I want you being careful.” His words were emphatic, and by the frown marring his brows I knew he was scolding me, but I could not care because I could actually hear the concern and dare I say affection in his voice.

“I will have new shoes sent for you tomorrow and a tutor for you to practice you dancing steps.” His hat hand gripped my ankle firmly. He then slid it up to my calf before releasing me and using only his fingertips to trail back down.

His fingers left my skin after he set my foot on the bench. I still sizzled from his touch and shivered at its absence. He made to leave and my throat clogged with emotion.

“Dad….” I trailed off not even understanding why I had spoken.

“Yes, Bella?” He murmured going to stroke my hair, but I dodged not allowing him to disturb my curls.

I licked my lips swiftly to gain my courage, but I saw his eyes follow the movement. I knew I couldn’t just yell out, “I like you too much, and I know I’m literally falling in love with you, but I don’t trust you,” so I opted for, “You said after my mother’s funeral that you would not marry another woman again and put me through torture. You will not marry Marlene, right?”

“I said unless it is extremely necessary, but no, I do not have my eyes set on Marlene.” He spoke with grace and sincerity. I knew he was being honest with me.

“Is it necessary that you marry at all?”

He stared at me with those piercingly striking deep brown eyes. “No.”

“Okay. Sorry I even asked. It’s not my business anyway. You’re a grown man who can do as he pleases.”

“Who said that?” his inquiry was immediate.

“Huh? That it isn’t my business? Well, no one, but it is not.”

He leaned forward, so close that I could see soft silver that was making an appearance in the stubble on his jaws. His thumb slid across my bottom lip prying my mouth open and smudging what little lipstick that remained.

“You could make it your business.