Page 38 of A Devious Arrangement

I drop my forehead to hers, taking a deep breath, then place a gentle kiss between her brows. I desperately want to keep going, keep pushing her past the edge, but I’ll wait. Just a little longer. Until she’s the one begging for it.

“See, if you’re good, you get rewarded.”

“Fuck you.” She spits the words out.

“I plan on it.” I wink before walking out the door.

Leaving her like that is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Chapter 18

Anastasia

Clap. “Position one.”

The tutu-clad girls move in unison, their heels pressed together and their toes pointed out. I clap again, guiding them into the next position. I was up all last night, trying to decide if I’m insane or a genius. On one hand, I don’t believe for a second that Bash just wants someone to pretend to be his girlfriend. As much as I hate to admit it, he definitely doesn’t have to blackmail someone for that. Which means he’s not telling me what he really wants.

On the other hand, his offer is too good to turn down. Until last night, I was hopeless to figure out how to get that tiara. It’s not the first time I’ve thought Bash would be the perfect strategy. I just wish I knew what I was risking to get his help.

There’s something about the way he looks at me. There’s an intensity in his gaze as he studies my every reaction. I’ve been successfully hiding myself for years, but he sees through me like it’s easy. I build my mask brick by brick until all the world sees is a blank wall. One that says I’m the perfect little princess, with no other motive. Even my love of ballet helps build that image. The one that says I strive to fit into this society. It’s only been my brother’s protection that’s kept the vultures off me. My ownfather would have sold me to the wolves if he’d managed to care about anything other than his grief.

Just another reason why I refuse to give in and marry whoever my grandmother chooses. I’ve subtly fought against that my entire life, careful with my every move to make it seem like I’m innocent.

Bash is entirely too perceptive, able to see through my carefully crafted persona. He wears a deep-seated satisfaction with each morsel he figures out. The question that keeps playing in my mind is, why me? What about me has the notorious bachelor so interested?

“Miss Ana. You missed position three,” Charlotte says from her spot, hand still resting on the bar. Her head is tilted, and I can see a similar confusion written on all the girls’ faces. It’s not like me to space out during their lessons. Not when this is the one thing I keep for myself.

I plaster a warm smile on my face and snap myself out of it. “Good catch, Charlotte. I was just testing you.”

She pinches her brows together, not quite old enough to spot the lie. Thank God.

I clap my hands, and they move into the next position, their muscle memory taking over, and forget about my mistake.

The last thirty minutes of class feel like they drag on forever, each minute ticking down painfully until it’s finally over. I hate that I feel this way, like I can’t give them my all. Once this is all over, I promise I’ll be better.

Unknown: Do you miss me yet?

Unknown: Thought you’d learn it’s useless to ignore me.

Instantly knowing who it’s from, I silence my phone.

Charlotte smiles at me, dimples on full display. “Who’s that?”

“Someone annoying,” I mutter under my breath.

She’s as curious as all children are, but I’m saved by her mother coming in to take her home. She runs to her, arms wide, and her mom catches her in a hug. I hide the pain behind my smile.

The rest of the parents filter in at the end of class, picking up their smiling children, and I wave politely as they disappear out the door. “See you next week.”

I lock it behind the last one, needing to make sure no one walks in. I need a few minutes to get my act together before heading home. I sit on the chair by my desk and untie my laces. They’re expertly wrapped around my ankles and finished with a bow. There was a time I had to replace them every week, back when I danced competitively. Not because I wanted to win but because it helped me forget. There’s freedom in ballet; the technical skill makes it impossible to think about anything. My mom’s vacant eyes or the way my father never hugged me again. All of it disappeared as I moved onstage. Which is why the accident where I tore my ACL and required surgery was devastating. I’ve never been good enough to compete at that level again. It was these young dancers that saved me, gave me something new to fill that empty spot in my life.

Once the distraction of finding the tiara is over and everything goes back to normal, I’ll depend on them once again. They thank me like I’m the one doing a favor, but it’s really them.

No matter what I do, my mind keeps turning to last night. Memories of Bash’s mouth on mine and the way I wanted to get lost in him. How it felt to have his leg pressed into my core and his wide shoulders under my palm. My hand rises to my neck. His stubble scraped the sensitive skin as he left love bites in his wake. I had to cover the entire section with makeup to avoid suspicion.

My phone vibrates, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Nikolai: How’s it going?

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