AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smile and place my hand on his. “Oh, no. I grew up with all of this, Ilya. I only worry about you not coming home to me.”
“I’ll always do my best to find my way back to you, either in this lifetime or the next.” His mouth crushes mine. When hepulls away, he flips me onto my back and pins me to the mattress with my hands over my head. “Now, where were we? What concerns you?”
“When did you decide that you wanted to be with me?”
“That’s tricky.” He pauses and releases me, sitting up and lifting me onto his lap as he leans against his headboard. “I always cared for you. At first, it was as my godsister, and then I just loved to see you smile. Then, on your sweet sixteen, I couldn’t stand anyone else dancing with you, so even though I shouldn’t have, I took you onto the dance floor.”
“Even then?”
“Yes, even then. It was wrong and I tried to push the feelings away, but I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d cave. Staying away was the best I could do for the both of us. Then you asked for a kiss. You have no idea how hard it was to force myself to just leave when all I wanted to do was take you right there.”
“Funny, I’ve had a crush on you since I was ten years old and you picked me up after I fell off my bike. You carried me inside, got the first aid kit, and cleaned my cut knee like it was a must, as if none of our mothers were there to do the job.”
“I’ve always felt protective over you in a way I can’t even describe, in ways I wasn’t with my siblings. So, I guess my love for you has been growing since we were young.”
“I love you, Ilya.”
“I’ll love you forever, Natalya.” We kiss, but just as we’re about to go further, his alarm goes off. “Unfortunately, that means it’s time for us to get up and get dressed.”
“What are we doing today?”
“I have business matters to attend to, and you have to prepare for the wedding, including selecting your gown.”
“Are you not going to be involved in any of the planning?”
“Not unless you want me to participate. I assure you that my mother and yours are probably going to be driving you nuts with all the decisions and questions.” He pauses and tilts his head. “Do you want me to be there to intervene just in case they overstep?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will work just this morning and move everything I can until later.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you.” We kiss once more before getting dressed. “I’m so glad my father brought along my suitcases. I didn’t pack everything I needed from your condo.”
“It’s our condo, and what do you need? I can get anything for you.”
“It’s fine. I just have my hairstyling products and makeup in my bags. If we’re going places, I don’t want these people to see me looking like a bum when I’m marrying someone like you.”
“Someone like me? I’m marrying the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Thank you.” I fix my hair and start putting on my makeup when there’s a knock on the bedroom door.
Ilya goes to the door and opens it for my mother. “Good morning. Please come in. Natalya is still getting ready.”
“I only came to let you both know that breakfast is ready and your father is starting to get growly, wondering where you are.”
“I’m finished now.” I roll my eyes and come out of the bathroom with my outfit and makeup completely done. “How do I look?”
“Like you are ready to take over the world,” my mother says.
“Like I’m sending several extra guards with you today if you leave the estate. Better yet, I will accompany you.”
“Actually, you can’t. We’re picking out her wedding gown today, so you will be doing something else.”
“I guess today will be a good day to finish all your work.”
“I suppose so, but I’m serious about your safety.”
