Page 41 of Lord of Justice

"Oh yes, you do. Does it somehow make putting on mascara easier, or faster?"

Iris looks at the mascara wand and then at myreflection in the mirror. "To be honest, I don't know. But you are correct, wedodo this from the first time we apply makeup. You have questioned one of the great mysteries of the universe, and I have no answer."

"Just get ready, wife. If we're late to our own party, my mother will shove me out a fifty-story window. No, worse, she'll throw all my suits out of it."

"Tania is a woman who knows how to party," she says approvingly.

The Aston Martin is armor plated, and it adds an extra layer of quiet to the backseat. The street lights flash by in ribbons of red and green. Inside our dark and enclosed space, it's silent. "You look beautiful tonight," I say, watching the light play over her face as she stares out the window.

Iris raises her chin. "You don't have to compliment me. You've already got me locked down."

"We're married," I correct. "That is not the same as being locked down. That would involve you being in bed with me."

Now she shifts her position, her back against the car door and folds her arms, glaring at me. "That was not part of the deal," she says defensively. “You got me," she holds up the ring glittering onher finger. "I am your demure and clever show pony, and that's it."

Picking up her hand, I run my thumb over her ring, watching her pupils flare. She's breathing faster. I don't know if she's aware of it.

"You can learn a great deal about a person simply by observing them. I built my law career on that principle. I know that when you and Rose came back after being abducted by the… Thads?"

"The Chads," she mutters.

"You each found a way to cope with what happened to you. Rose dealt with the abduction by taking control of her sexuality. She's had boyfriends, at least four or five, nice young men that she can easily sway into doing whatever she wants. That's how your sister freed herself from that sense of powerlessness."

Iris is stubbornly silent, watching me.

"But you, darling, you picked another path, making the choice not to let anyone touch you, at least not to fuck you."

Her lips move, like she's trying to say something, what comes out is more like a snarl. It dies away as I watch her.

"You regained your power by not having sex. There was no one worthy of you. No one you felt safe enough with to do it. I believe you're still avirgin, my beautiful wife."

"You don't know that." She shakes her head angrily, her curls flying around her face. "You knownothingabout my sex life!" I shift, leaning over her, inches from her face.

"It's possible," I allow. "Though I am rarely wrong. The abduction was a violation of everything that belongs to you. Who you allow to touch you is your choice and your choice alone." Her breath is coming faster now and there's a slight tinge of sweat on her forehead. "When you do feel ready, when you can trust me, I will defile your… what did Rose call it? I'll defile your sacred womanhood in the most careful, gentle way. We can stop anytime you like. If there's anything you don't want, you will tell me."

"Why?" There's a sheen of tears in her eyes. "You can go out and sleep with anyone you want. Why do you care?"

"Because you're my wife," I say. "You are the only woman I will be with for the rest of my life, just as I am the only man for you."

Iris looks startled. "What- really? You're planning to befaithful?"

"Of course." I draw back, watching her. "No Morozov union has started in the 'normal' way, but none of us would disrespect our wives by stepping outside the marriage."

"You're an organized crime family," she says incredulously. "I thought everyone had mistresses and an avalanche of illegitimate offspring."

"How many mafia romance books have you read?" I ask dryly.

"Well, that has nothing to do with it," she blusters, knowing perfectly well that I've found dog-eared paperbacks all over the penthouse.

"Do you think Roman cheats on your sister?"

"Oh, god no," she says instantly. "They're at that soulmate level of love."

"You've seen my parents," I point out, "and Uncle Maksim and Aunt Ella. Do you think they've stepped out of their marriage vows?"

She chews her lower lip again and it's taking a troubling amount of self-control to keep from kissing her.

"No," she admits. "First, I'm pretty sure your mom would set your dad on fire if he tried something like that. You don't mess with Tania."