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He’s in worse shape than I am, but it doesn’t stop him from walking to the downstairs bathroom and retrieving a first aid kit.
I sip the vodka he promised me we’d celebrate with. God, this stuff is liquid fire. I let it hit my lips as he curses in Russian, filtering through the first aid kit until he comes up with a bottle of saline and some white gauze.
“Head back.”
I tilt my head back and grit my teeth. This will hurt.
I brace for the sting of pain, but it doesn’t hurt as badly as I anticipate. “Vodka’s an excellent anesthetic,” he murmurs as he dabs the gauze on my cut.
“Good to know.”
I’m sitting in an overstuffed leather chair, my arms barely reaching the armrests, my feet lightly gracing the floor. Mikhail kneels in front of me, glaring at the cut on my head as if it personally offends him.
“So,” I say. “Want to tell me what happened? Who were they?” I ask. He doesn’t answer at first, but after a quiet moment he blows out a breath.
“We have many enemies. My father’s cousin is our greatest. Fyodor Volkov’s notorious for having no use for modern conveniences like mobile phones. I sent him on a wild goosechase with decoys which delayed him, but he found us out. Since the men that were to report to him that we were already married are being buried as we speak, I’m guessing he didn’t get that memo. He sent his henchmen to fuck us up.”
I’m filled with sudden pride.
“And we fuckedthemup.”
A smile plays on his lips. “You were fucking brilliant, Aria.”
I feel my jaw drop in surprise, but I don’t speak. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll ruin this moment.
Praise from Mikhail Romanov? Be still my heart.
“It was nothing,” I say with a modest shrug even as my chest swells with pride.
“It wasn’t nothing.” His scowl makes me look away as I battle conflicting emotions. “I wouldn’t have been able to do what you did. It came so swiftly and naturally.”
I swallow and nod, surprisingly emotional about his praise. I’m not sure how that makes me feel.
It seems simpler…safer…if only I could continue to hate him.
“Well,” I tell him. “I’m good at what I do. You could’ve benefitted from my skills as a hacker probably way more than you’ll benefit from my skills as a wife.”
The bold, predatory look he gives me makes me draw in a breath and I wish I had somewhere to hide. I’m practically sweltering under the heat of his gaze.
“Maybe you should reserve your judgment on that,” he says in a low drawl I feel way, way, low in my belly.
My jaw drops. Did he just…go there? I set him up for that, though, and walked right into it.
I’m not good in bed. I have no idea what I’m doing, and we barely know each other. If he thinks —no.
“Maybe.” I swallow as he continues to doctor me with surprising patience.
Our voices echo in this enormous room. I haven’t been here long, but it’s already a little unnerving, not hearing any sounds other than the two of us in this enormous estate.
He presses damp gauze to my forehead and finally nods, as if satisfied.
“Now it’s your turn,” I tell him, rising and pointing to the seat.
“I’m fine.”
I snort. “You’re fine compared to who? I’m no doctor but I think it’s probably best you prevent…I dunno, infection or something by cleaning these wounds. And maybe we should…get some clean clothes.”
“Fine,” he finally agrees. “But we won’t be needing clothes.”
