Unable to help myself, I lean into his body, my lashes fluttering as if he’d just whispered the most sinful thing possible. “But I want you be careful,devochka” he warns with a deadly soft tone, “You’re mine now. And I don’t share.”
Kirill slowly spins me back around, and as I open my eyes, I see his gaze has transformed from playful to deadly serious.
“It is you that needs to be careful,” I reply, hoping my voice doesn’t shake, “It almost sounds like you’re jealous.”
I try to leave it at that, to take the upper hand, but I can’t take Kirill’s intense stare.
“I don’t want your brother,” I confess, my tone low so only he can hear. He may be handsome but he scares me.”
“And I don’t?” Kirill asks, raising a brow.
I meet his gaze, feeling mores sparks travel through my body.God, I want him.
“You told me not to, remember?” I bravely remind him.
Kirill’s grin slowly returns.
“And you do as you’re told, do you?” he asks.
My eyes dip to the floor, my blush growing so hot I feel beads of sweat form on my forehead. He’s won the upper hand, and after what I just admitted, there's no way for me to get it back.
Kirill’s deep chuckle has my eyes venturing up to his again, and he shakes his head.
“Don't hide from me,devochka.I reward obedience.”
His deep voices whispers the promise as his fingers softly grip my chin, and I feel a gush between my legs. I look back at him, speechless.
As the song ends, he releases me and steps away, snapping me out of the daze he’d pulled me into, and raises a hand signal toward the band. Immediately the MC comes running to him with the microphone, and before it is even in his hand, our guests grow quiet and give him their undivided attention.
I can’t help it. I marvel at the power my new husband holds over people.
“Privetstvuyu vas, dorogiye druz'ya i sem’ya,” Kirill speaks into the microphone.
“Privet, Pakhan,”a chorus of voices answers.
“My beautiful new wife and I want to thank you all for helping us celebrate this most sacred occasion. It is alliances such as these that make our family stronger and better. Help us build a greater world for our future and our children. Tomorrow we go to work. But tonight, we celebrate our accomplishments. Annika and I will retire, but you, you will stay. You will drink, and you will enjoy the life that we have worked so hard to protect.”
A waiter approaches unsummoned, and hands Kirill and I each a glass of champagne.
“K zhizni,”Kirill says, raising his glass in the air.
“K zhizni, Pakhan,”the chorus of guests answers, raising their glasses to him.
I watch it all, transfixed by the way my new husband seems to have a tight hold on every single person around us. My father is a powerful man. He has the respect of many. But I’veneverseen anything like what Kirill has just done. I watch him with growing wonder as he drinks from his glass, then he turns to me and gives me an insisting look.
“I…I can’t,” I say, still mesmerized, “The baby.”
Kirill’s smirk is nearly obnoxious as he reaches for the bottom of my glass and gently pushes it up.
“It’s sparkling cider,devochka,”he tells me. “You really think I would let you do anything to hurt my child?”
No,I think as I raise the glass to my lips. As I take a sip of bubbly apple juice, I also decide that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me either. As long, of course, as I obey.
Chapter Twelve
Kirill
“Oh, my,” Annika breathes, looking up at the Pavlovich Estate.
