Page 113 of Tendu: Dancing in the Castle

It was with some astonishment that I later found myself interceding on Colin’s behalf. “Whoever hired him to teach here has a responsibility to rehabilitate him,” I told Aleks. “He’s got a very high daft-quotient. He doesn’t seem to realise there’s anything wrong with the way he behaves. Make him watch competent teachers and attend courses on appropriate methods of speaking to and correcting students. Otherwise he’ll go off and do the same things elsewhere.” I had already suggested contacting Edward for assistance in drafting proper bullying and harassment policies, and added, “Colin should have to copy the policies out and learn them by heart.”

“So,” said Aleks at dinner, scrolling through his phone. “Colin is on probation. I have to find another ballet teacher.”

I was deeply relieved that Michelle wasn’t present in the hall. Relief was written on the faces of the other students too along with excitement about what the coming changes might mean. Bekah was particularly thrilled and quick to drop any idea of pressing charges. She whispered celebratory plans that made me laugh at the time.

“I would much rather stay here with you,” I said to Aleks later, at the top of the tower, reluctant to leave him.

“Is good for you,” he replied. “Have fun with your friends, release tension. I will just be sort this.” He waved the timetable as the phone rang again, and another conversation with a prospective teacher began. Catching my name among the Ukrainian, I got ready and made my way down the stairs to meet the others.

Everything was quiet and dark when I tiptoed across my room to the bathroom to give my face and teeth the cleaning of their lives.

“Good time?” Aleks asked from the doorway of the ensuite.

“Not really. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Tell me,” he instructed, standing behind me and circling his arms round my waist.

I told him how Will and I had been really tame and boring compared to Bekah and her classmates. We’d avoided the smoke-scented cottage. We’d almost fallen asleep on a sofa watching a DVD. We’d not wanted any alcohol nor had the energy to dance. Then came Justin’s truth-or-dare game. “He made up the questions as he went along. They were all embarrassingly apt. Will chose the dare, and it was a game of Spin the Bottle.”

“So, you have kissed Will tonight?”

“No. I have never kissed Will. ThatRomeo and Julietthing doesn’t count as I wasn’t myself,” I added, seeing his doubtful face in the bathroom mirror. “But it should have been Will. The bottle pointed at me. And I wanted to. I’ve always wondered what it would be like. Sorry, I know it’s inappropriate to say, but it’s true.”

“Your honesty is let me know is nothing for to be worried,” he said quietly.

“Justin accused Will of cheating with the bottle, then shoved him out of the way and kissed me himself. I pulled back, he followed me, and it was terrible. Like kissing my brother, or something. I ran back here.”

“Justin is still very young. Maybe is confusion in him?”

“More like something from the smokey cottage. I hope he doesn’t remember. Don’t fancy having that discussion.”

“So you have come back to me.”

“Of course.”

I leant back against him. He lowered his face to my neck. I could feel his breath and the tip of his nose and the movement of his mouth as he spoke.

“I have been thinking about this you say last night: the many ways to make love.” My body melted further into him. “Tell me more. How will I love you tonight?”

“I liked it from behind.”

He kissed my neck.

I blurted more. “I liked the way you held me down. And that you bit me.”

His teeth found my earlobe. “You like to be dominated. Sexually only, I am think.”

Our mouths smiled as they met.

“You have stood up for yourself now,” he went on. “Been strong and fearless. Maybe this has freed you to discover other aspects of your nature? I am so happy to be the one to explore this with you. Last night was completely instinctual. After all that has gone on, all that has been in my mind, was like claiming you, to say that you are mine.”

“I am.”

“Hold on tight,” he said, placing my hands on the sides of the sink. “Adventure starts here.”

Chapter 35

Alekssatdownbesideme at the breakfast table the next morning. Bekah looked a bit perturbed, but nobody commented on the situation. There was a strong sense of relief in the air as we all ate our toast, as if life at the castle had entered a new, and infinitely better, phase.

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