She whimpered beneath me and I held her close, feeling like I was the one holding her together. Maybe she would have fallen apart without me, but maybe this would make her stronger. I was hoping for the latter, though I had to admit there was something delicious about it when she let go of herself completely.
We lay together under the stars and I waited for her breathing to slow down, the panic to leak out of her pores and for my girl to be returned to my arms.
As I looked deep into her eyes, I felt, for the very first time since I’d had her, that she truly belonged to me. She had accepted her fate willingly, falling into my waiting embrace and forgoing any other dreams that she may have had.
I watched those beautiful eyes turn upwards to the sky, watching the stars dazzle and dance across the moonlit night. She stared up with her eyes wide open and wondering, but for me, there was nothing to look for in the sky. My whole universe was lying right next to me, and she was the only thing I wanted to see.
My fingers touched her skin, gently exploring her collarbone, dipping into her dress and searching her for the marks I’d left on her.
She got up a second later, putting her weight on her elbow and staring at me with hope in her gaze. I knew she had something to say, and a few moments later, she spoke up, just like I’d known she would.
I knew there would be some doubts about her decision, but I didn’t expect her to shatter me as fiercely as she did in the next few minutes.
“There’s something I want,” she admitted, and I looked up into her dazzling blue eyes.
“What is it?” I asked her gently.
“I… There’s one last thing I want to do before I stop… being able to dance,” she managed to get out, nervously chewing on her bottom lip as she gave me a frightened look. “If that’s okay.”
“What might that be?” I asked, but right away, my guard was up.
I wasn’t sure what she would ask for, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t fucking like it. I was a selfish bastard, intent on keeping her close to me always, and I didn’t want her requesting something I wasn’t willing to give her. It would only end up hurting her in the end when I had to turn her down.
“I’ve always wanted to…” she started, her words drifting off to nothing as she bit her lip, and I comforted her by stroking her hand. “I want to dance as Odette and Odile, in Swan Lake.”
“Oh?” I said, my eyebrows going up as I waited for her to clarify.
“The ballet by Tchaikovsky,” she said, and I hated the apologetic tone in her voice.
“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you, and I’ll listen until you explain. Okay?”
“Okay,” she nodded gratefully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Sitting in the moonlight, she looked fucking breathtaking. Her hair was so light it looked silver and gold under the stars, and her eyes shone just like the moon. She was a beauty alright, and a savage, selfish need to call her my own took over me. I didn’t want anyone else touching her. I could barely bear the thought of another man seeing what I saw, knowing how fucking fast I fell for her and how damn easy it would be for someone else to do the same.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” she finally went on. “My mom… She took me to see Swan Lake when I was a little girl. And it’s always been a dream to dance in the role of Odette and Odile. It’s a double role – the white swan and the black swan. It’s one of the hardest routines and takes a big toll on the dancer, but… I really want to do it.”
“Before…” I started, but she didn’t let me finish, motioning for me to stop with her hand.
“I will go through with it,” she whispered. “For you.”
“You don’t have to,” I reminded her, and we stared at one another with fire in our eyes.
She didn’t have to say a word. I had given her a choice indeed, do it, or leave me, but it wasn’t really a choice. She wouldn’t leave me willingly… or would she?
I knew deep down that even if she tried, I would capture her again and keep her for myself.
“I wanted to ask,” she said, swallowing thickly and showing me how hard this was for her. “If it would be possible… Before I go through with it…”
“Yes?” I asked encouragingly.
“To train harder,” she asked. “To be at my peak when I go out. To dance one last time, only for you if that’s what you choose. But I want to dance as Odette and Odile. One last time. For your eyes only.”