Christmas Captive - Isabella Starling Page 0,30

the guilt of her death hanging above me. Some days, I wished I’d died instead of her. It was certainly what I deserved.

My thoughts were swimming with Margaret and her demise as Grayson and I made our way to the Opera House. He could tell I was distracted, but didn’t bother me, allowing me to be alone with my thoughts.

But as soon as the performance started, I was hooked, forgetting about my problems if only for an hour or two.

The performance of the Nutcracker had me mesmerized. Grayson had given me a pair of opera glasses, and I watched the production in detail from our balcony seats. We had a private area reserved solely for us, and we had a wonderful view of both dancers and the audience.

I was grateful that Grayson allowed me to watch the ballet without interruption. Sometime in the middle of the ballet, his hand snuck to my knee, gently parting the satin of my dress, and holding onto my leg with firm fingers. His touch sent shivers down my spine, making me even more excited for what was to come. I wanted him to touch me more. I was eager to keep playing with him, but Grayson didn't make a move to continue our game from earlier. I kept my eyes focused on the stage, watching the ballerinas twirl.

Once it was time for the intermission, Grayson gave me a curious look, asking, "You love the ballet, don't you?"

"I do," I admitted, glancing at him with a small smile playing on my lips. "I've always wanted to be a dancer."

"A ballerina."

"Yes."

"So why not do it?"

I laughed bitterly. It was all so easy for him. If he wanted something, all he had to do was pay for it. "I never had the money. I learned by myself and went to many, many auditions. But they never gave me a role."

His brows furrowed as he stared at me. "I want you to dance for me tonight."

"The way I did at Le Cabaret?" I muttered.

"No," he shook his head firmly. "The way you want to dance. The way you love to dance."

My eyes lit up as I looked up at him. He'd just made me happier than he could possibly know. "Thank you, Sir."

"That's quite alright, Kitty. It will be enjoyable for me. Now, would you like a drink or a snack?"

I nodded, and he led me out of our private seating area and ordered a bottle of champagne for us. My eyes glittered as he presented me with a flute of bubbly, and I filled my belly with the sparkling drink. Grayson had some too, also getting me a heart-shaped box of chocolate pralines before we returned to our seats.

"This isn't part of my diet," I teased him as he presented me with the box.

"I like spoiling you," he shrugged with a mischievous look. "It won't hurt. And you'll dance for me when we get home, so I'm sure you’ll work it off.”

While we'd been in the main area of the Opera, I'd noticed people staring at us. There were some eyes on me, but mostly, it was Grayson who held everyone's attention. I was quickly coming to realize just how important and influential he was. These people respected him, and what was more, it seemed every person in the building knew his name. I was impressed.

For the rest of the ballet, Grayson's hand snuck back up my knee, this time inching closer and closer to the spot between my legs that was so very eager for his touch. But he never touched it, not even brushing his fingers against it once.

Finally, when the performance was over, I clapped louder than anyone else in that room. I stood up with a bright smile, impressed by the wonderful performance. I was deeply grateful to Grayson for bringing me there, and once we left the room in the company of an employee, my hand snuck into his, and I intertwined my fingers with his, squeezing his palm gently. Our eyes met. I didn't have to say a word—he knew I was grateful, and his smile told me he was proud of me.

In the lobby of the opera, people milled in small groups. Grayson held everyone's attention. I noticed men and women alike watching us closely, and it filled me with a strange sense of pride.

I thought I saw a familiar face in the crowd, and I had to do a double take to make sure. But there was no doubt