Chapter Nineteen
Irina rubbed her hands together as she waited near the dressing room. The Christmas performance had gone well except for one major distraction: Malcolm in the audience. She’d told Alison and the others she’d join them later for the company Christmas party without revealing she planned to linger to talk to her ex-lover.
She wasn’t even sure why she was waiting. The violence she’d witnessed in the barn shook her to her core. It was hard to know whether she could trust Malcolm any more than she could Yuri.
At least that’s what she’d been telling herself. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if she’d been wrong. If Malcolm were truly like Yuri, he would have demanded she be with him.
He had contacted her, but only to ask her to call him back. He knew where her hotel room was, but he hadn’t shown up and demanded entry. The words of his last text message floated into her mind.
It’s your choice in the end, but I’ll never regret saving you, no matter what.
The ballerina slumped against the wall and sighed. Save her. That’s exactly what he’d done. If it weren’t for Malcolm, she would have been dragged back to Moscow for more pain and emotional torment at the hands of a man who saw her as nothing more than a trophy for his collection.
Movement caught her attention, and she looked up. Malcolm strode into the hall, rugged and handsome as ever in his suit.
He slowed, watching her with curiosity on his face. She said nothing, and he continued until he was right in front of her.
Malcolm smiled. “Figured I couldn’t miss the Christmas performance.”
Irina laughed in spite of her mood. “Even the most ardent patrons of the ballet won’t see the same performance so many times close together.”
“Well, when you have such a beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy, it’s hard to stay away.”
Her cheeks heated, and she looked away. “I should have called. Not doing so was cruel.”
“It’s not a big deal. I figured you needed time to think through everything. I wish you didn’t have to see what you did, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. That bastard needed to go down so you could be free.”
Irina sighed and returned her gaze to him. “It’s as you say. I don’t want you to think that I’m not grateful. You have saved me when I thought no one could. So what would you ask now?”
Malcolm shrugged. “Only that you think about it. I’m not gonna lie. I fell in love with you.” He chuckled. “I guess you’re too perfect for me, the ultimate woman who I didn’t even know I wanted, but I get it. My life… how freaky it can be to be around someone like me. It’s your choice, and I’m not some clingy bear. If you can’t handle it, if you want to walk away, I won’t stop you. Not saying it won’t hurt like hell, but it’s your decision. Not mine.”
She blinked several times. Love. He’d said it. Before she’d thought her feelings were one-sided, but now he admitted that he loved her, not just lusted for her or found her beautiful. Yuri had never said he loved her. Not once, even when he was showering her with gifts.
“I… don’t know,” Irina whispered.
“Yeah, I get it. The only thing I have to say is that I can’t claim that my life going forward will be free of violence. That’s what it is to be one of my kind, but you’ve talked to me, Caleb, some of the others. You get it, don’t you? We don’t go looking for trouble, but we don’t let trouble make us run, and we protect the people we care for.” Malcolm took a deep breath. “So, what’s it gonna be? Should I walk away and just keep my memories of the wonderful ballerina who spiced up my Christmas season in the desert, or can we go forward together?”
Irina’s crystal blue eyes widened, her lips parted, and her breathing picked up.
Malcolm and Irina stayed that way, staring at each other for a good thirty seconds until the woman leaned forward to plant a deep kiss on his mouth. He let her tongue into his mouth and pulled her close to him. Their tongues twirled and twined, and she pressed her small body against his firm chest.
The ballerina finally pulled away, her face red. “My head says I should give you up, but my heart says I already love you, and I can’t.” She let out a little nervous titter. “Since we’re being honest, I’ve already reached out to some local companies. I might be able to get a position. I’d probably have to work my way back up, but I’m willing to do it for the man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Malcolm kissed her on the forehead. “No matter what, I’ll always cherish and protect you.”
“I know. I know.” She laughed. “And I guess I should get used to no snow in the winter.”
He shrugged. “Maybe next winter we go and visit your parents in Moscow.”
Irina smiled warmly. “I think I’d like that.” She stood on her tiptoes to give him another deep kiss.
Her heart swelled. Some fairy tales did end in happily ever after.