by Darcy Rose
Contents
Their Ballerina
1. Payton
2. Cash
3. Payton
4. Kane
5. Payton
6. Cash
7. Payton
8. Kane
9. Payton
10. Cash
11. Payton
12. Kane
13. Payton
14. Cash
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Darcy Rose
Their Ballerina
Ballet is the only thing I’ve ever had, my only reprieve from my sad life after my father died and my mom turned to the streets.
That’s until the night I’m attacked. I tell myself it won’t happen again, but then it does, and this time I make the ultimate mistake. I fight back.
My only option is to call them: Kane and Cash Hale.
From the moment I met the two terrifying, yet gorgeous men, I knew to cross their paths would mean trouble.
I can’t trust the cops and I’m afraid I’ll end up in jail without their help.
Except their help comes with a cost… a cost that involves both my body and my soul.
1
Payton
My gaze ping pongs around the front entrance of the studio as I walk inside. I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid Matthew—the owner of the place. Yes, he’s good looking and sweet most of the time, but his advances toward me are getting to be a bit much.
Every time I walk past him, I can feel his eyes on me, tracking my every move.
Luckily this time I manage to get inside the studio and to the practice rooms without running into him.
I don’t have money for any fancy dance clothes, like most of the girls here have, so my leotard is old and worn, but I don’t let that bother me.
The tension in my muscles melts away as soon as I step out onto the floor. It’s like when I’m dancing, nothing bad in the world can touch me. All my worries fall to the side, and there is nothing but me, and the music.
I smile and twirl on the tips of my toes. Joy grows in my chest and flows outward to the tips of my fingers and toes. Sweat beads against my forehead as I push myself. My muscles ache, and the music speeds up, causing me to move faster. The heavy swoosh of my heartbeat is all I can hear. Lungs expanding, I breathe deep as I jump, the air moves all around me, and I land the move perfectly, a smile ghosting my lips.
“Yes!” I fist pump the air, and twirl around until I find myself dizzy.
I do a few more steps, and then check the time on my phone. It’s seven, and the studio doesn’t close until nine, but I still have lesson plans for next week to make up. Indecision weighs heavy, but I know I can always come back tomorrow and dance more. Lesson plans are important, especially if I don’t want to lose my mind.
With a smile, I grab my bag and slip it over my shoulder. I walk down the hall, hoping that Matthew won’t be sitting at the front desk when I walk out. I’m already anxious, and that anxious feeling only mounts when I spot him leaning against the counter, a smug look on his face.
“Hello, beautiful, you’re just the lady I was looking for.” Oh god, no.
“Is… is… something wrong?” I stammer, gripping the strap of my bag a little tighter.
“Why don’t you step into my office, and we can talk about it.”
Worry worms its way through my stomach. What happened? Did I do something wrong? I can’t think clear enough to piece anything together.
“Sure, of course,” I say, even though I don’t want to because Matthew gives me the creeps. Everything about him on the outside appears to be picture-perfect, but inside, he’s rotten to the core.
Stupidly, I follow him into his office without knowing what it is he wants. As soon as he closes the door, and I hear the lock click into place, I realize the mistake I’ve made. In an instant, he turns on me, his eyes dark, his features harder. The kind, easygoing guy is replaced with a villain in seconds.
He walks over to his desk, his fingers trailing along the wood. “I hate to be that person, but I need you to pay me back the last six months of membership fees.”
My mouth pops open, shock being the first thing I experience, followed quickly by anger.
“You waived the fees. You said I didn’t have to pay them.” I can feel the tears welling in my eyes. I’m so angry, but also disappointed. I have no one but myself to blame for this situation. “I’m only working as a preschool teacher. I can’t afford the fees here.” My voice cracks. “You know how important dancing is to me.”
A knot of anger forms in my throat. I want to yell, to lash out at him, but he’s already made up his mind. I can tell.
He smiles, actually smiles, but it’s not a happy smile. It’s the kind of smile that leaves you cold, that is terrifying, and promises bad things. He inches toward me, and my skin crawls.
“Maybe we can figure something else out, a way for you to pay…” His dark gaze drags over my body, and I know what he’s insinuating.
He wants me to sleep with him to pay off my membership fees.
“Are you…” I can’t even get the words out.
Bile rises up my throat, and I shake my head thinking maybe this is a bad dream or something.
Just when I think I can’t be any more shocked, Matthew continues, “Let’s be honest, Payton. You want my cock. I’ve seen you watching me for a while now, and I know you want me to fuck you, so you can stop with the innocent act.”
The nerve on this guy.
“I… I’m not sleeping with you.”
“Come on.” He pushes off the desk and takes a leering step toward me. I take an involuntary step back. “I know your kind. You’re a slut for any man that gives you attention. If you want to keep your membership here, you’ll let me fuck you.”
He didn’t… he did.
“I’m not fucking you.” I grit my teeth, trying to hide the fear that is starting to bubble up from being alone in this room with him.
“You’ll do whatever the fuck I tell you to do. Now stop talking and get on your knees, so I can fuck your mouth.”
I’m so disgusted and angry with him. I can’t believe I ever thought he was a nice guy or that he was offering me time here out of the kindness of his heart. I should’ve known there was a hidden agenda.
Afraid that he may force himself on me, I bite back my anger and do my best not to aggravate him. All that matters is that I get out of this room and never find myself alone with him again.
“I’ll find a way to pay you something, but I’m not… I’m not going to use my body.”
He tips his head back and laughs into the quiet room. When he looks at me again, I shrink back, wanting to make myself as small as possible.
“I’m no longer accepting money as a form of payment. You owe me, and the price tag is your pussy.”
Fear snakes up my spine and wraps around my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. I can’t say anything, can’t even react, really. Matthew grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me forward. Then he presses down on my shoulders, and I whimper at the pain as I break and descend to my knees. How had this night gone from great to this in a second?
“See, not so hard now, is it?” Matthew sneers as he looks down at me like I’m a peasant. He undoes his pants and shoves them down his legs.
I’m not doing this. I’m not going to be a victim because of this asshole. I push the fear I’m feeling aside and know what I have to do. With a shaking hand, I reach out like I’m going to grab his cock. Matthew’s eyes grow wide, and he smiles like I imagine a serial killer would as he kills his next victim.
Instead of stroking his cock like I know he expects, I grab him by the balls and squeeze as hard as I can.
>
“Jesus fucking Christ!” he screams, like a little girl, and staggers backward, holding onto his junk. In that time, I shove off the floor, my feet slipping over the wood as I rush toward the door like a newborn fawn. “You’ll pay for this, Payton.”
All I can hear is my thundering heartbeat in my ears, intensified by his threat. My fingers shake as I unlock the door and all but rip it off the hinges to escape. My sneakers squeak as I run, and my legs shake while tears leak from my eyes, leaving cold streaks down my warm cheeks.
Stupid. I can’t believe how stupid I was to think that he was being kind to me, or that any man would be kind to me for that matter.
In my haste to escape, I don’t realize the lobby of the studio is now busy with people, and as I rush through the masses, wanting to put as much distance between Matthew and me, I crash face-first into a wall.
A warm, delicious smelling wall.
2
Cash
Tutus. Pink, frilly tutus everywhere.
I’ve never felt so out of place in my life. Kane and I are walking through the entrance of the ballet studio Madison goes to.
“Why are we here again?” Kane asks, sounding just as uncomfortable as I feel.
“Because Archer asked us to be here,” I quip. Archer, our younger brother, has been obsessed with Madison since the day he met her. She seems just as obsessed with him, which is a surprise, considering the way they met.
“Yeah, but why? Couldn’t he have sent a cab or at least told her to come out to us, instead of sending us inside this madhouse?” Just then, a flock of little girls—maybe five or six-year-olds—brushes past us, giggling and laughing.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Let’s just find Maddie and get out of here.
We walk all the way to the end of the hall, looking into every room we pass, but there is no sign of Madison.
“Where the hell is sh—”
My words are cut off by a blur of brown hair running around the corner and straight into my chest. Instinctively, I grab a hold of the person who tried to knock me over. With an angry growl, I dig my fingers into two dainty upper arms and shove the small body away from me.
I’m about to yell something like, watch where the fuck you’re going, but my vigor leaves me when I take in the face of the person in my hold.
Two large eyes stare back at me with fear and shock. Her eyes are a stormy blue, with some light gray specks. Her plump bottom lip is shaking slightly, and her chest is rising and falling rapidly.
She is a good bit shorter than me. So short, she actually has to tilt her head up to look at my face.
“I-I’m s-sorry,” she stutters and tries to take a step away from me. My hold on her arms only tightens. Instead of letting her go, I keep her in place and pin her with my stare. I can’t explain why I don’t want to let her go, just that I don’t.
Bewildered, she takes me in. There is a distinct fear in her eyes, which I am used to, but when she turns her head away for a second to look over her shoulder, I wonder if something else frightened her.
“Please, let me go,” she begs, her voice small and timid as her delicate hands push against my chest.
“What’s wrong? Why are you trying to get away?” I ask, still not making a move to let her go.
“Did something happen back there?” Kane chimes in, taking a step closer.
The petite woman in my hold turns her head to look at Kane, a moment of confusion washes over her face as her eyes bounce between my twin and me.
“I’m heading home…” she explains, obviously keeping something from us. “I just finished my dance class.”
“Why don’t you come to dinner with us instead?”
“What? No. I don’t even know you.” She shakes her head.
“You’ll get to know us at dinner,” Kane tells her. “We’re not taking no for an answer.”
Her eyes go wide, and I can’t help but smirk. Kane knows me better than anyone. I don’t have to tell him how bad I want her to come with us.
“I-I didn’t bring a change of clothes,” she says, trying to talk her way out of this.
“You look perfectly fine to me.” More than fine, actually. I let my eyes roam down her taut body, which is on full display in the tight leotard she is wearing.
“I really don’t think—”
“There you are!” Madison’s voice booms through the hallway. “I was looking for you. Hey, Payton, I didn’t know you guys knew each other.” Madison looks between us curiously.
“Um, we don’t…” Payton starts but stops when I let her arms go just to throw my arm over her shoulder and pull her into my side.
“But we will. Payton just agreed to come to dinner with us.” I can barely get the words out because I’m overwhelmed by Payton’s sweet floral scent. My cock is already straining against my zipper, and that only intensifies when she tries to wiggle out of my hold. Fuck, I need to have this woman.
“Oh, awesome!” Madison squeals, a genuine, happy smile plastered on her face.
“Perfect, let’s go.” I grin, and start pulling Payton down the hallway with me. “I’m Cash, by the way. That’s my brother, Kane, and you seem to already know Madison.”
“Yes, we go to the same dance class,” Madison answers.
We walk all the way to the front door before Payton makes one more attempt to get away. She digs her heels into the ground and shrugs her shoulders, but I simply tighten my hold and pull her with me through the entrance.
Madison and Kane are walking ahead of us, unaware of her struggle. Not that I would care if anyone saw. I’m about to pick her up and carry her to the car, when she huffs and finally picks up her feet again.
Leaning down, so my lips are only inches away from the shell of her ear, I say, “You’re not getting away that easy, tiny dancer.”
Her body shivers slightly, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the crisp air outside, or of my words. Maybe she is just cold. I should warm her, but I’m worried if I pull her any closer, I’ll crush her fragile-looking limbs.
“You can ride up front, Maddie. I’ll sit in the back with Payton,” I say when we get closer to the car.
“You sure? I don’t mind,” Madison offers, but I insist.
Opening the back door, I usher Payton into the backseat. When she is sitting, I lean down and buckle her up. I let my knuckles skim over her thigh on purpose, drawing another shiver from her body.
When I look up, her cheeks are red, and her pupils dilated. If Madison wasn’t in the front seat, I would shove my hand into Payton’s tights to see if she is as wet as I think she is.
As if the girl can read my mind, her face reddens another shade darker. With a smile on my face, I close the door and walk around the car to get into the other side.
Madison is chatting up my brother, but her voice is nothing more than background noise. All I can concentrate on is the woman sitting inches away from me. Payton is wringing her hands in her lap nervously, and I have the urge to reach over and clasp my fingers around hers.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Rigatoni’s, it’s downtown,” I explain. “You like Italian food?”
“Um, yes. Who doesn’t?”
“True.” I chuckle. “Rigatoni’s makes the best lasagna I’ve ever eaten. You’re in for a treat.”
And maybe after dinner, I’m in for a treat.
3
Payton
It doesn’t take me long to realize there is something off about Cash and Kane. Not in a creepy Matthew way, but a, I’m more dangerous than the average person way. There is a danger surrounding them, and as we walk into the restaurant, that becomes even more apparent.
The hostess stiffens when she sees us, and multiple people stop talking. As we are led to a table in the back, I notice people cowering away. Grown men look the other way to avoid eye contact. What the hell?
Kane and Madison walk ahead of us while Cash is so close behind me that I can feel his body heat through my clothes
, seeping into my skin.
The hostess takes us to a large round booth in the far corner of the restaurant. One man is already sitting there, and I know right away this must be the twin’s brother. Same build, same dark hair, and the same murderous glint in his eyes.
Who are these people?
I stop right in front of the table, watching curiously as Madison throws herself at the guy on the bench. His eyes soften before he welcomes her into his embrace. I’m fascinated by the sight in front of me. I almost feel like I’m at a zoo, watching a lion cradle a lamb.
A large hand on my lower back drags me out of my thoughts.
“Sit down,” Kane orders gruffly, pointing at the bench he wants me to slide into.
Cash is already sitting down, which means if I slide in and Kane sits down next, I’ll be sandwiched between them. Warning bells go off inside my head.
“I actually just remembered I had dinner plans already. I should probably head out—”
“Nonsense. Sit down,” Kane pushes on, verbally and physically. He basically shoves me into the bench, making me slide in until my body is flush up against Cash.
“Who do we have here?” The man with his arm around Madison asks.
“This is my friend, Payton, from ballet class. Cash and Kane invited her to come,” Madison explains before introducing her man, “Payton, this is Archer.”
“Nice to meet you,” I lie. Nothing about this evening has been nice.
“Likewise.” He nods, but I can tell it’s a lie as well. He is not happy about a surprise guest, which only makes me more uncomfortable.
“I’ve already ordered for us. I didn’t know you were bringing someone.”
