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Swatting her away, I adjust my hair and check my makeup. “I have to give him a gift, too!” I blurt, suddenly panicked.
“Do you actually have something or do you have to wing it?”
I’m too busy pacing back and forth to reply. Then I come to a grinding halt and turn to Syrah. “Can you go get Dmitri?”
“I dunno if you’re aware of how this whole thing works, but you’re not supposed to see each other before the ceremony. It’s tradition.”
I glare at Syrah incredulously and gesture to myself. “For God’s sake, Sy, look at me. We’re not exactly a traditional couple.”
She bursts out laughing. “Okay, fair point. What do I say to him when he asks?”
“Tell him that I need to speak to him urgently. He’ll come.”
Syrah nods but she hesitates. “And you have a gift in mind?”
I give her a mischievous little grin. “It’s a gift only I can give him.”
“Ooo, you naughty little minx. I like it.” She rushes for the door but pauses at the threshold. “Just be careful not to rip that dress. It’s too pretty to ruin. Even for a man as sexy as your future husband.”
She disappears through the door and I stand there with her last word on my lips. Husband. It’s too surreal to be real. And yet why do I feel as though I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment? Why do I feel as though this was always meant to happen, exactly the way it’s happened?
Why does it feel so damn… inevitable?
I’m fussing and primping in front of the mirror when I hear footsteps pounding down the corridor. I jump back just as Dmitri rushes into my room, panting. “Wren? What’s wrong? Are you…”
The words die on his lip and I decide then and there that that’s the best gift he’s ever given me. That look. Pure awestruck.
“What do you think?” I ask, twirling in place if only to hide how hard I’m blushing.
He’s scowling when I pivot back to face him. “I thought you were either dying or delivering.”
I smile ironically. “I’ve made peace with the fact that this baby is never coming out.” Then I walk up to him and take his hands. “Notice anything different about me?”
His gaze flits to the pendant. “It suits you.” His eyes shine brightly, the exact same shade as my dress. “Do you like it?”
“Like it?” I stutter at him. “I love it. It’s the perfect gift, Dmitri. But it made me realize something: I didn’t give you your gift.”
He starts to protest immediately. “You don’t have to get me anything, Wren. I?—”
“Of course I do. Quid pro quo and all that.”
He shakes his head. “You’re marrying me. That’s gift enough for me.”
This smooth criminal. He’s really outdoing himself today. “All the same, it would make me happy to be able to give you something. So I brought you here to give you your gift.”
I lead him to the chair beside the bed and make him sit down. Then I get down onto my knees as gracefully as I can manage. Despite what Syrah said, I don’t mind ripping the dress for this. Dmitri is worth it.
Except, he’s looking more horrified than turned-on right now. Hurry things up, darling. Skip to the good part.
“Wren, what are you doing?”
“I would have hoped it was obvious,” I tease. “But since you need more of a clue…” I reach for his pants and start unbuckling him. Before I can get far, he grabs my hands, stopping me. “Excuse me,” I complain. “I’m in the middle of gift-giving here.”
He tries to suppress his smile. “Wren, you’re nine months pregnant.”
I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. Why does everyone feel the need to remind me? It’s not like I’ve forgotten. “Mhmm. And?”
“And I don’t want you on your knees.”
