“She was just doing her job,” she mumbles with a blush as she looks away.
In moments like this, I feel an urge burning deep inside me to figure out how to convince her that she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, both inside and out. Which isn’t even an exaggeration stemming from my feelings for her, it’s just the plain truth. How can she not see that her sweet smile and kind heart attract people to her like a magnet? How does she not realize how incredible she is?
So I weave my hand into her hair at the nape of her neck and run my nose along the long line of her neck. She shivers beneath my ministrations but automatically leans into my touch. “She wasn’t just doing her job, Hailey, she was mesmerized by you,” I whisper against her skin. “She wanted you, just like everyone in this restaurant wanted you when we walked in. You’re breathtaking, baby girl. It’s about time you believe it.”
She blushes even harder but forces herself to look into my eyes instead of hiding against my chest the way she obviously wants to.Good girl.
We don't speak for the next few minutes, just share the hookah and watch the belly dancer as she makes her way through the restaurant. But I'm only half-watching her, because even more of my attention is focused on the girl tucked under my arm who has no idea how powerful her beauty really is. Who has been locked away for so long that her wings are cramped and believed to be broken.
So when the dancer comes back around, looking just as eager to be in Hailey's orbit as she was on her first pass, I jump on an idea as soon as it pops into my head.
"Can you show her how to dance?" I ask the girl when her sultry gaze lands on Hailey again.
She nods eagerly, even as Hailey's mouth drops open in shock.
"What?Jax, no, I can't!"
I wink and nudge her toward the dancer, who's already reaching for her. "Sure you can. You're already a dancer, just think of it as learning a new style."
She bites her lip and glances at the girl, looking nervous but also like she wants to try it. I tug on her hand to bring her attention back to me. “You never have to do anything you don’t want to, Hailes. Especially not because of me. But if you want to try it, you should take a chance. Carpe noctem, remember?"
That seems to do the trick because she takes the dancer's hand and stands to her feet. She's led around our table to the aisle running through the restaurant, where the dancer immediately puts her hands on Hailey's hips and begins murmuring instructions on how to move her body.
Hailey shoots me a nervous glance, but I just smile and nod my encouragement. She turns back to the girl, a determined glint in her eyes, and begins rocking her hips the way she's being instructed to do.I settle back in my seat to stretch my arms over the top of the lounge and get comfortable.
It doesn't take long for her to get the hang of it. The dancer glances up at Hailey with surprised glee as soon as she starts to move without guidance. She watches her for a minute before taking her hands off Hailey's hips so she can untie the sash from around her own waist. The gold coins on the sash clink beautifully once they're around Hailey's waist.
Hailey glances at me with surprised wonder when she starts to move her hips again.
I feel an ache hit my heart while I watch her. I watch the joy on her face grow just from dancing, from being made to feel talented and sexy.Exactly what she is.
So I lean forward to rest my arms on my thighs and show her just how much of my attention she has. I return her look with one that I hope she can read as,You're incredible, baby girl. Show me how sexy you are.
I think she understands because her entire body relaxes and she shoots me a smile that is equal amounts grateful and pleased.
I know you want to embrace it. Show me, baby girl. I want you to see how enamored I am with you.
Lust flares in her gaze. She turns back to the belly dancer, who takes her hands and lifts them up so they can stay connected while Hailey mimics her moves. Together, they dance in the aisle, sometimes twirling in place, sometimes shifting in a circle, always moving together in a way that has the entire restaurant spellbound.
And when the belly dancer drops Hailey's hands so she can grip the edges of Hailey's top and give her a look silently asking for her consent, the charge in the air multiplies tenfold. After a moment's hesitation, Hailey nods her answer and lets her top be tugged up just high enough so her stomach is on display.
My own breath catches in my fucking lungs. I was enraptured even just watching her dance, but now, with her taut stomach and porcelain skin on display, I'm more focused on the sight in front of me than I've ever been on anything in my life.
I'm hypnotized by the sight of Hailey taking back her power.
She knows everyone in the room is looking at her. Appreciating her. I can see it in the confident, pleased expression on her face as she continues to move her hips to the music. She knows she's the center of attention, and she's embracing it.
Reveling in it.
She's not looking to me for permission, she's just harnessing the power that comes from her femininity and telling the world,You’re welcome for this.
I just watch, awestruck, as the girl who was made to feel worthless finally understands the lie and takes back her power with the truth.
I think I'm still staring, open-mouthed, when the song finally ends and cheers erupt around the restaurant. Hailey's smile is slightly shy when she hears the applause and when she reaches for the sash around her waist. She hands it back to the dancer, who immediately pulls her in for a hug. I see her whisper something into Hailey's ear—and whatever she says makes a blush flame across her cheeks, though there's also a pleased smile.
She pulls away from Hailey and takes one of her hands so she can show her off to the restaurant, turning them in every direction and fully absorbing the applause. I watch in awe as Hailey keeps her chin tipped up in pride. And when she's finally led back to our table, she stays tall when she takes her seat next to me, instead of curling into my side for security or assurance.
But that doesn't mean I can resist pulling her into my side the second her ass hits the cushion. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and bury my face in her hair, trying to inhale her very essence into my soul.