“Do you like it?” I asked, following her gaze as she glowered at a piano and an elderly man playing ‘Hungarian Rhapsody’. Her spine locked as the classical piece spread like perfume through the foyer, infiltrating every corner and shadow. The common fear whenever she heard music shone in her eyes. She swallowed and visibly shook herself free from the melody’s hold.
“Yes, it’s lovely.” She smiled distractedly, unable to tear her eyes away from the man’s fingers flying over the black and ivory keys.
I hated to see her so torn. I adored everything to do with music, and it upset me not to share that. I didn’t want tonight to be stolen thanks to her conditioning toward classical songs.
I’d tried to break those chains with my cello. Obviously, I needed to force her to play more often. To sit her between my legs while my fingers kept hers trapped on the strings. To hold her close while I kissed the back of her neck and dragged my bow to create wonderful sounds.
I’d find an instrument she connected with and make her play and play until she was the maestro and no one else.
“It’s only notes and rhythm, Pim,” I murmured as tears glittered in her gaze as the melody reached its crescendo. Moving closer, my shoulder kissed hers. “I won’t let it hurt you.”
Her eyes met mine. She gave me a watery smile, growing firmer the longer she stared. “I know. It’s not as bad as before, but it will take time.”
Time we had now she no longer demanded her freedom. Time we didn’t have now I’d started the downward slide into hell.
One night could so easily turn into two, then three, then fifty. She would never be free of me.
Run, Pim…while you have the chance.
Selix returned, holding a key. “Diamond suite Charles Garnier. Two bedrooms. Almost as nice as the Diamond suite Winston Churchill but that’s not available due to renovations.”
I cocked my eyebrow at the two-bedroom remark. As far as I was concerned, one was all we needed. Pim had entered this hotel knowing full well what we would attempt tonight. She stood beside me willingly instead of screaming for help. She hadn’t grabbed the concierge or begged for the police. However, if she decided she didn’t want this to happen, then it would be wise to have two rooms.
Somewhere she could run to and slam a door in my face.
Somewhere I could go and beat up the fucking furniture in frustration.
“Thank you, Selix.” I took the key with a quick fist. “I’ll call if we need you.”
Selix frowned. “You don’t want me to follow you to dinner…just in case?”
I shook my head. “Not tonight. Just us.”
A fleeting fear of the Chinmoku extracting their revenge came and went. Then again, it had been years and they hadn’t found me. Tonight wouldn’t be their night.
It’s ours.
Pim glanced back and forth between us, her thoughts guarded. I’d give anything to know what she thought. How much she wanted this. How much she was terrified.
“Ready?” Holding out my hand, I gave her yet another chance to accept or deny.
I didn’t know which one I wanted her to do anymore.
She swayed back, still expecting a slap or worse, but just as quickly, she half-smiled, looked into my eyes, and bravely placed her hand in mine. “Ready.”
My heart leapt. Then sank like a pirate ship.
Nodding goodbye to Selix, I escorted her to the elevators. We didn’t say a word as the doors opened, we entered, and then were trapped, ascending to our room. The heat of her body, the closeness of her proximity, the knowledge of what we were about to do caused adrenaline to pump through my veins instead of blood.
The doors opened silently, depositing us onto our floor. I led her down the wide French Rivera inspired corridor and inserted the key into a white-painted door.
Opening it, I bowed for her to go first.
With a respectful nod, she drifted forward, a small gasp falling from her lips as she took in the room. “Oh, wow. This…it’s stunning.”
I had to admit, it was beautiful.
The main bedroom was dressed in duck egg blue with a cream four poster bed and heavy ruffles. The windows were double story, taking in the congested harbour, flash of skin from holiday-makers, palm trees, fountains, and cherry reds and canary yellows of Ferraris and Porsches below.
The lounge held turn of the century French baroque chairs with a chaise by the window and large off-white coffee table. Everything was creams or blues or deep rich greys, manipulating my mood from tense to relaxed.
Pim headed toward the master bedroom, ignoring the second, just as nice suite, off the lounge. She sat hesitantly on the high mattress, jumping a little to sit. Her legs dangled while her fingers dug into the expensive linen.