Page 186 of Nanny and the Beast

The music flows through me like a warm liquor, hypnotizing me with the beat.

I drag my hands up my thighs, over my stomach, and around the curves of my breasts. I lift my hands up and shake my head as I start to feel the music.

The rhythm changes, turning more sultry.

I play with the hem of my dress, dragging it up just a little as I twirl my hips in slow circles. When I start to feel a pulse between my thighs, I pull the fabric down again.

I open my eyes.

I almost stop dancing when I see people watching me. It doesn’t exactly feel uncomfortable, because the energy these men give off is more curious than pervy. But it still doesn’t feel right. Because I only want to dance for one man. However, that’s irrelevant now. He doesn’t care about me.

I remember what Mrs. Hendricks said in the dressing room.

Don’t look at everyone. Focus on one man and keep your eyes on him.

I lock eyes with one of the men. I ignore the fact that he looks a little like Klaus. I dance for him, keeping my eyes locked on his.

He takes that as an invitation to step forward.

This is where I get to choose. I get to choose if I want this man touching me or not.

I nod at him. The rope is opened for him, and he strides toward me. My heart bangs against my ribcage.

“Hi,” I whisper when he’s close enough.

He can’t hear me, of course, but he reads my lips.

“Hey,” he mouths back.

This is the part where I’m supposed to act like I know what I’m doing. I’m supposed to wrap my arms around him, but it doesn’t feel right.

When I remain frozen, he closes the distance between us. He drapes his arm around my waist and tugs me closer so our bodies are flush together.

Everything’s wrong—his scent, the way his body feels against mine, the simple fact that it’s not Klaus.

I thought my heart couldn’t break any more, but it keeps breaking over and over again.

The man who’s holding me leans down to speak in my ear.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” he says. “You’re so beautiful.”

He’s sweet. I rest my hand on his shoulder. When I look up, I find another pair of eyes on me. Eyes that have haunted every nightmare I ever had. His face is covered in shadows, but I recognize him immediately.

Adam.

Before I can react, a large hand grabs my wrist. I glance up to see Klaus tugging me away from the crowd.

For a split second, I let myself feel relief. I’m safe.

But reality comes crashing down on me like a bucket of ice water.

“Let go of me, Klaus,” I say.

His hand tightens around my wrist. His eyes smolder as they stare at me. I’ve never been on the receiving end of his wrath. It should scare me, but it doesn’t.

“Keep moving,” he orders. “Don’t test my patience.”

He takes me down some secret corridor I’ve never noticed before.

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