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I should be excited. I’ve never gotten so dressed up or been so pampered before, but my nerves have my stomach in knots. This event is highly publicized and draws an enormous crowd from all over Georgia. All of them prominent members of society.
They’ll realize as soon as they see me that I don’t belong.
I’ll be the outsider facing down their criticism, and as much as I tell myself that it doesn’t matter, I know it does. I want to be liked. Who doesn’t? And if some of these people are ones who regularly conduct business with my men, then I’d love for them to be able to tolerate me, at least.
Wait…
My men?
When did I start viewing them as mine?
I’ve never had anything that was solely my own since my mother died. Yelena was my friend, this home my sanctuary, but nothing had ever belonged to me. For the last twenty years, I’d fought my way to the surface of a life I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted—it growing more gruesome with each passing day—and just when I was at my lowest, ready to give it all up, these men came marching in like dark knights. Making claims of ownership and dominance that I couldn’t possibly comprehend, and now…now, I’m beginning to view them as my own. And I realize I want that more than anything else in the world.
Which is why I need to overcome my fears about tonight’s event and reinforce a thread of steel down my spine so I can make it through without embarrassing myself or them.
“Knock, knock.”Bebia’svoice penetrates my thoughts, and I turn to see her and Ana entering my room. “Well, aren’t you a stunning vision?” She pats Ana’s hand as they come closer. “Isn’t she?”
“Gorgeous. A perfect specimen for our boys,” Ana replies. Blushing at their compliments, I do feel pretty in the revealing dress.
“Thank you.” I don’t have any hair to hide my shyness behind this time; it’s all been pinned up in a mess of curls by the stylist Levan hired to help me get ready. AsBebiaand Ana encircle me, assessing the look, I feel like a bug under a microscope.
Nodding her approval,Bebiacups my cheek and then speaks. “Yelena would be so happy the four of you are together now.” I’d like to think so.
“It’s not too much? I’ve never worn anything like it.” Turning back to the mirror, I admire my favorite part of the gown—the strip of fabric that crosses my chest, holding one side to the other by the single long sleeve. Gold is interwoven with the material to look like starbursts. Something I hadn’t noticed when I tried it on.
“All eyes will be on you this evening.”Bebiagrins and wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“As if those men will allow anyone near her. They’re barely holding back from storming in here.” Ana wears a matching grin.
“They’re waiting? I thought we still had time.” Panicked at making the guys wait, I’m ready to run down to them, butBebiahalts me with a hand on my arm.
“Trust me, they’ll wait for you and be glad for it.” She reassures me when I stop my mad dash. “Ana, do you have it?”
Staring between the two women, they share a mischievous look. “Yup.” From a pocket in her apron, Ana pulls out two pieces of jewelry. One is a white gold clip for my hair that she lovingly pins in place. The other is a snake arm cuff in the identical colors as my dress.
“That was Valerian’s mother’s once upon a time,”Bebiaexplains as Ana slides it up my arm. The lace weaving around and up my leg from shoe to hip complements the statement piece cuffing my bicep.
“Now you’re ready.” I have no time to ask questions as Ana escorts me out of the bedroom,Bebiatrailing behind us. Val, Zak, and Levan can be heard speaking in hushed tones as we approach the stairs leading down to the foyer.
As I take the first stride onto the marble stairstep, my heel clacks, echoing through the house, and I grow dizzy at how good-looking they all are. Levan is wearing a midnight black suit, tapered to his exact measurements. Loose tie, open collar, and tattoos crawling up his chest and throat from mid-sternum. The stark white of the shirt draws attention to his skin tone, and I know women will be staring at him all night.
Valerian has on a navy-blue suit, the same color as his eyes, and his shirt is open as well, but the jacket is replaced with a silk vest, and chains hang from button to pocket on each side. I recognize the precise moment he registers the cuff on my arm—his entire demeanor softens yet grows tense all at once.
Zakar is a mixture of the other two. He’s adorned in black, and like Val, is wearing a vest, only he’s chosen to omit the shirt. An enticing opening between the V of the vest and the buckle of his pants shows off a dusting of dark hair leading to somewhere heavenly, I’m sure. His muscular arms are covered in as many tattoos as Levan, and as with the other two, I’m growing increasingly curious about what they have going on beneath their clothing.
“You all look very handsome.” I almost choke on the words because my throat is so dry.
Val reaches forward to brush his fingers across the face of the snake. “This was my mother’s.” He doesn’t sound upset.
“Ana put it on. Is it okay?” I hesitate in offering to take it off because I really don’t want to. But I will if he asks.
“It’s fucking perfect. My father proposed to my mother with it.” A surprised gasp passes my lips. I would never have thought. “Guess that means you’re mine now.” His eyes finally meet mine, and the intensity, the desire, the need he’s exhibiting makes me breathless.
“I guess I am.” I want to be.
“This”—Zak walks around me, his hand tracing along the lace ties on my thigh—“should be fucking illegal.” He trails his finger up under the dress and around the back to cup my ass cheek, dragging my body into his. My hands fly to his chest, steadying myself. “You’re fucking gorgeous.” The muscles under my fingers ripple with his desire as he gazes down at me with a drugged expression.
“Thank you,” I murmur against his lips as he leans closer, not quite touching but close enough that I nibble my lip to muffle the moan I so desperately want to release.
