Page 25 of A Sinner's Virtue
“A date. Seriously? Why?” she asks as I open the passenger side door to my car.
“Because I like you and you like me, so we’re dating. It’s the natural progression of things, babe.” As I round the hood, I can feel Zoe’s eyes on me. I jump in and glance over at her. “What?”
“What makes you so sure that I like you?” she asks with a huge grin spread out on her face.
“Well, it was only just last night that you were screaming my name and clinging to me like a lifeline.” I smirk.
“That was sex. I like sex with you, sure. But that has nothing to do with me liking you as a person.”
My hand slaps on my own chest. “Are you telling me you’re using me for my body and not my personality?”
“Well, I’ve gotten to know your body pretty well. Your personality? That’s still a stranger to me.” Zoe shrugs.
I start the ignition and pull out onto the street. “That’s the whole point of dating, Zoe. You get to know each other.”
“I guess,” she says.
Reaching over the console, I pick up her hand, tangling my fingers with hers before resting our joined palms on my thigh. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“Nothing,” she says while biting the corner of her lower lip. I can feel her hand begin to tremble in mine.
“Don’t bullshit me, Zoe. You don’t have to. What’s wrong?”
“I just don’t think I’m dating material. Maybe we should just keep doing what we’ve been doing,” she suggests.
“What makes you think you’re not dating material?” I pivot in my seat to look at her when I pull up at a red light.
“I’ve tried it before. I wasn’t… It’s just not a good idea.”
“You didn’t try it with the right person,” I tell her. The thought of her dating anyone else drives an irrational surge of jealousy through me.
Zoe doesn’t say anything. Instead, she looks out the window. Away from me. The light turns green and I continue driving. I know she has a lot of insecurities. I’m not an idiot. I also know she’s been hurt and is suffering from post-traumatic stress after whatever the fuck happened to her. I haven’t asked her what that thing was. Truth is, I’m hoping that with time, she’ll feel comfortable opening up to me. I can be patient. I can wait. It’s not like I’m walking away from her. It seems I’m incapable of doing that.
I park the car, and Zoe finally turns her face back to me. “Where are we?”
“We’re taking dancing classes.” I smile at her before jumping out of the car. Her jaw is still hanging open when I reach her door and open it.
“What do you mean dancing classes?” She takes my offered hand.
“We’re going to learn ballroom dancing.”
“Why?”
“A couple of reasons. One, it’s one of the few date ideas I could think of that lets me keep your body pressed up against mine for as long as possible. Two, it’ll save us time when we eventually get hitched. My brother and his fiancée are getting married in a few days, and El has Gio practicing their first dance all over the damn house.”
“That’s… insane. We’re not getting married. We’re barely even dating, Marcel.”
“Yet. We’re not getting married yet, Zoe. Besides, you never know what the future holds. A lot of marriages started with a couple just like you and me dating.”
“Okay, let’s learn how to dance. But if I break your toes—because that’s a real possibility—don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She smiles.
I guide Zoe into the studio I booked out before we enter a room full of mirrors. Every wall reflecting an image of us at a different angle. I can’t help but imagine just how good it’d be to fuck Zoe in the middle of this room. No matter where I looked, I’d be greeted by the sight of her.
“Are you using dancing as a euphemism for sex, Marcel?” Zoe asks. The twinkle in her eye tells me she’s hoping I am.
“No.” I laugh, but before I can say more, the door opens and the instructor walks in.
“Mr De Bellis, welcome. And this must be the beautiful Zoe. Welcome, welcome. I’m Travis, your instructor.” He waves his arms theatrically.
