Page 26 of A Sinner's Virtue
“Thank you,” I say, pulling Zoe’s body next to mine while my arm wraps around her waist.
“Okay, first up, we’re going to learn the foxtrot, and then we will go from there. Have either of you danced before?” Travis explains as he performs a few steps with his feet.
“No,” I lie. I’ve taken lessons before. Knowing how to conduct one’s self in proper company was a requirement that comes with my last name. We were forced to attend a lot of galas. And do you know what they do at those things? Dance.
“No, I haven’t,” Zoe says, her voice a lot quieter than usual.
“Never fear. We’ll have you both whipping around the room with the best of them before long. Shall we begin?” Travis asks.
“Yes, thank you,” I answer for us. Then I guide Zoe to stand in front of me, pick up her hand, and place it on top of my shoulder before gripping her other palm in mine.
“I thought you said you haven’t done this before,” she whispers.
“I’ve seen movies.” I smirk.
Half an hour into the lesson, my feet are throbbing after being impaled by Zoe’s heels multiple times, but the last thing I am is a quitter. I know she’ll get the hang of it eventually. Until then, I can handle a little pain in my toes.
Then something shifts. I can instantly tell that something isn’t right. Zoe’s body goes stiff and cold. Her skin is so cold. I look down at her face and notice that vacant look I’ve seen before. This isn’t Zoe. She’s not here. She’s trapped in whatever nightmare she’s escaped.
I step back, knowing she needs space. I don’t ever want to be the reason she’s forced to endure one of these attacks from her past. “Zoe? It’s okay,” I tell her. The instructor pauses the music. I glance in his direction. “Can you give us a minute?”
Travis nods his head and disappears.
I watch as Zoe’s body starts slipping to the floor and catch her right before her knees hit the hardwood. Lowering her down, I sit in front of her. “Zoe, it’s okay. It’s just us, babe. Me and you. No one else.”
She doesn’t respond. She’s staring right through me. “No. Stop. Don’t,” she cries out, her voice soft and broken.
I have no idea what to fucking do. I need to help her, but this is so far out of my element. Fuck.
“Zoe, please look at me. You’re safe here,” I tell her. “No one is going to hurt you.” Anyone who wants to try to touch her will have to go through me, and I’m not fucking easy to get through.
Zoe’s eyes blink rapidly and I can see her coming back. It’s slow, but eventually she looks at me with recognition. “Marcel? What happened?” she asks while her eyes bounce around the room. “Oh god. I didn’t… I… I’m so sorry.” She turns back to me. “I didn’t mean to… I don’t know…”
“Zoe, stop. It’s fine. You’re okay. We are okay.” I cup her cheeks in my hands and wipe the stray tears away. “It’s okay.”
“I’ve embarrassed you. I’m sorry. You did all this. You planned all this and I couldn’t do it,” she says, keeping her gaze on the floor.
I tilt her face upwards. “No, you didn’t embarrass me. And you did do it. We were dancing just fine, Zoe. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re not mad?”
My brows draw down. “That I just got to dance with the hottest chick in Melbourne for half an hour? What do I have to be mad about?”
“I ruined it,” she whispers. “I didn’t mean to ruin it.”
“You haven’t ruined anything, babe. Besides, this is just the start of our date. You didn’t think I would take you out and not feed you, did you?” Before she has a chance to answer me, I add, “Come on, what do you say we get out of here? I have a picnic blanket and a basket full of food with our names on it.”
“A picnic?” Zoe’s lips finally curl into the makings of a smile. Not quite there yet. But I’ll take it.
“A picnic, in the park.” I nod.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more sure of anything in my life.” I push to my feet and hold out a hand, pulling her up when she accepts it.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her what happened, to find out what triggered her. I don’t though. I feel like bringing attention to her panic attack is the last thing she needs right now. So I’ll do what I’m good at. I’ll mask my feelings, hide the fact that I want to fucking kill whatever bastard hurt her, and I’ll give her the best damn date she’s ever experienced.
Chapter Twelve
