Page 19 of Dancing With Desire

“Fuck,” I mutter, running my hand through my hair.

TORI

Iclose the front door, resting my body against it. My heart is pounding in my chest. How can one man infuriate me so much but still bring me to my knees with a simple touch? One look and I’m like putty in his hands. I mentally scold myself for being so weak.Hormones . . . it has to be hormones.

Marshall stands in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest and his jaw clenched. I await his barrage of fury, but he chooses to do that annoying thing where he just stares at me in disappointment. I sigh, pushing myself off from the door while rolling my eyes.

“Save it, Marshall,” I snap, shoving past him and knocking my shoulder into his.

“Why do you always have to be so fucking irresponsible?” he asks. He follows as I make my way into the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.

“I’m not in the mood for your overbearing big brother act.”

He bites his lip, and his eyes burn with anger. I’ve hit a nerve, but right now, I don’t give a shit. mister tall dark and fucking handsome has gotten under my skinagain, and I can’t think straight.

“Grow the fuck up, Tori. You’re always wanting everyone to treat you like you’re not damn crazy, yet you’re constantly pulling shit like this. I’m here to keep you safe, to stop you from getting killed, and you act like a petulant teenager.”

I march up to him, prodding a finger to his chest. “I wouldn’t be in this fucked-up situation if you’d listened to me over his little cumslut,” I remind him. His frame towers over me, but he doesn’t intimidate me. I know he wouldn’t harm me. “And I’ll have you know that I was fucking crazy when Dmitry met me, and if I remember right, that’s why he was attracted to me. He loved the crazy. He loved not knowing what I was going to do next,” I snap right as Phoebe walks into the room.

“You can be so goddamn selfish sometimes, Tori. It’s not just you that you’re putting in danger now, but the baby too.”

My head drops at the reminder, and I feel the tears prick my eyes, so I turn and walk out, taking myself to my room.

I’m sick of people thinking they know what’s best for me all the time, trying to control my life. Yes, it’s time I got my shit together—after all, I’m about to be a mother—but I’ll be damned if I allow those bastards to fuck up my child’s life, like they’ve done with mine in such a short period of time.

I lie on the bed, placing the palm of my hand over my stomach to caress the non-existent bump. I allow more tears to fall, letting them slide along my cheeks and land on the pillow tosoak the cotton, remembering how incredible Dmitry’s touch felt in that same spot.

“I’ll always protect you,” I whisper.

The door opens slightly, and Phoebe pokes her head in. “Safe to enter?” she asks with a smile.

I let out a little laugh as I sit up and swipe away the tears. “Come in. Sorry, all I seem to do is cry and argue with people at the moment.”

The bed dips beside me as she takes a seat, placing her hand over mine on my stomach. “They’re only trying to keep you safe, Tori.”

“I know.” I sigh. “My head is such a mess at the moment. Every time Dmitry is near, I can’t think straight and I feel like my heart will explode. I crave his touch, but my head can’t handle the chaos that comes with it.”

She wipes the pads of her thumbs over my cheeks to dry the tears. “He loves you,” she whispers, which makes me feel worse.

“It’s for the best,” I say with confidence. “We won’t work, and as much as I think I need him, we just aren’t meant to be together.”

“And the baby?”

“Right now, I’m angry. I just need some space to think straight. I need to focus on getting my life back on track, and that means getting another job so I can get my own place. I need my independence.”

She looks at me sceptically. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she questions.

It’s much easier to confide in Phoebe now she knows about my past and everything that’s happened. And I feel more grounded having someone I can trust to talk to. Trust has been hard to come by over the last couple months. “Like you said, I can’t stay locked-up here forever. I need to take control and show them I can do it. I’ve lived my whole life with someonetaking control, telling me how to live, calling me crazy, like Marshall just did out there.” I flop back on the bed before continuing. “Growing up, I was always told nobody would believe me, and Marcus was right because they didn’t. And then Dmitry didn’t either. He couldn’t see what was right in front of him. I thought he was different, but turns out, he was the same as my parents and all the others who didn’t listen.” I sit up straighter. “I need to do this. It’s time to just be me. If you all love me, you’ll accept me as I am and you won’t try to change me. It doesn’t mean I won’t get shit wrong, or at times act erratic.” I smile, and she returns it, shaking her head.

“I’ll support you no matter what. Just don’t get yourself killed.” She laughs, and I hit her on the arm playfully.

“Too soon, Phoebs.”

I lookat Marshall through the rearview mirror. He tried his best to talk me out of getting a job, which I’m sure was at Dmitry’s request, but I won’t live off his money. I want my independence back. I want to show them all that I have my shit together.

I’ve spent the last week applying for jobs and I’ve finally nailed an interview today at a high-end shoe store. Marshall was less than impressed, but he had no choice but to escort me when he realised I was going with or without him.

I run my sweaty palms over my pencil skirt. I’m so nervous. My last job didn’t end too well, and this industry is all about references.

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