Married Off To The Devil

KROSHKA

“Don’t you want to know when our wedding is?”

Alexei’s voice was a deep rumble. Although he had an American accent, I did pick up on a slight Russian one, almost inaudible aside from when he pronounced certain words.

“She’ll go along with whatever date is set,” my father answered and I looked at him, seeing him staring down into his bourbon, a scowl on his face.

“I didn’t ask you,” Alexei said in a deep, dark tone. I snapped my head in his direction, feeling my eyes widen. People didn’t speak to Vincenzo that way, least of all in his own home.

The room became deathly quiet with the only sound being that of the crackling fire. I let my gaze slip to Pavel, Alexei's brother and saw him smirk just as he brought his glass back to his mouth and finished off his liquor.

“I was talking to my future wife. My fiancé, Vincenzo.” I bit the inside of my cheek as Alexei used my father’s first name, something that would be deemed as disrespectful in his eyes.

But my father said nothing, and although I could feel the coldness blasting out of him, his anger tangible, his silence meant one thing.

He was afraid of Alexeii, of what this man, his organization could do. The power they wielded.

“Well, go on girl. Answer him.” My father’s voice was clipped and I could feel his gaze on me although I didn’t look at him.

I twisted my fingers together in front of me, knowing I should probably take a submissive stance and lower my head in respect, break eye contact with Alexei, yet it was as if he were silently willing me to meet him head on, to not back down. And that had a surge of sureness and my own power moving through me.

Show him I was stronger than people gave me credit for.

And so I straightened my spine and tipped my chin, holding Alexei’s gaze and seeing his expression clearly showing approval coupled with a little tilt at the corner of his mouth as he smirked.

“Don’t you want to know when we’re getting married, Bella?” He asked again and I suppressed a shiver at the sound of my name falling from his lips, his Russian accent seeming thicker now as he rolled those syllables around.

I felt slightly ashamed and uncomfortable for feeling a flash of desire at that, especially standing in a room with two strangers and my father.

I licked my lips and found myself glancing at my father as if instinctively being pulled to garner his approval.

“Don’t look at him, krasavitsa.”

Although Alexei’s voice was stern and demanding like my father could be, it also held a different note in it.

I couldn’t place it, but I knew it made me feel a certain kind of way that had my thighs clenching together and my face heating even more.

And I did find myself obeying, staring once more at Alexei, feeling everything else fade away.

“Answer the question for me.”

He took a step forward and although he was only a few feet away, I could smell the spicy, dark scent of whatever cologne he wore.I inhaled deeply, not realizing I’d done the act, took in his scent, until I was barely able to stop the soft sound of… what? Neediness? Desperation? Arousal?

“When?” That one word was breathless from me, barely audible, but he gave me another one of those far too sexy corner mouth smiles.

“When, what, krasavitsa?” He took another step forward and I felt how tight my muscles were, as if I were anticipating… something.

I licked my lips and noticed his gaze dropped down to watch the act before he slowly, lewdly dragged his focus back up to my eyes.

“When is the wedding?” For a prolonged second after I asked the question Alexei didn’t speak, just continued to watch me. And then he smirked.

“A month from today,” Alexeii finally said matter-of-factly. The air left me so violently I stumbled back, my father’s desk stopping my fall.

“Next month?” My voice was strained. “Get yourself under control, girl.” My father hissed.

“Stop being dramatic.” I felt like we were all silent for so long, only the sound of my racing heart filling my ears.

But then I blinked myself back into focus and heard my father speaking to Alexei, his tone sterner now.

I knew it was because Alexei had offended him with the way he spoke to my father, a disrespect Vincenzo probably would never get over. I tuned out everything else as I focused on the fire.

The room, scene, conversation… all of it drowned out as my pulse pounded in my ears once more.

“Because the date of the wedding has been pushed up, we’ll have to forgo an engagement party.” My father’s voice brought me back to focus and I looked at him. I chanced a look at him to see his jaw clenched as he looked at the other men.

Clearly this change of date and plans made my father upset. I knew how he felt. And I knew it was all because people would talk, gossip.

The rumors would spread on why the wedding had been pushed up, why there wasn’t an engagement party to announce the celebrations officially. They’d think I was tarnished, tainted.

Pregnant out of wedlock, perhaps. More talking, more tuning out.

“That’s all, girl,” my father snapped and I straightened, not sure what he had said before that, but knowing a dismissive tone when I heard it.

I left my father’s office and closed the door softly. I took a few steps away from the room and found myself leaning against the wall, my eyes closed, my palms flat behind me on the damask wallpaper, the texturecold and almost grounding me.

If I went right I’d go back toward the front doors, then take the stairs and lock myself in my room. Instead I found myself taking a left, wanting to go outside, to get fresh air, to look at the sky andclear my head.

I knew my bodyguard Dimitri would find me sooner or later, but when I was at home he gave me a little bit of breathing room, wasn’t right on my heels because of all the cameras and security that my father had in place.

I’d only made it about ten feet before I heard a door behind me open and close, and then heard the heavy sound of footsteps coming up behind me.

I was just about to stop and look over my shoulder, assuming it was my father about to berate me for being too “dramatic” in front of Alexei and Pavel but just as I was about to turn I felt a heavy body press against me and use their strength to move me until my back hit the wall.

I was now situated in a corner alcove, the light not penetrating the space so it was filled withshadows blocking the view of anyone who happened to pass by.

I gasped and craned my neck to look into a pair of bright blue eyes, Alexei’s expression hard, unreadable.

Although he used his body to corral me where he wanted, he wasn’t touching me any longer, now about a foot between us, his body heat slamming into me and making it hard to breathe.

“W—what are you doing?” My voice was barely audible, nothing but a breathless sound leaving my parted lips.

My heart was thundering in my chest, threatening to burst free of my ribs, and I felt jittery, adrenaline pulsing through my veins, the flight or fight instinct running hard in me.

My entire body jolted when I saw him lift his arm, and then my gaze was latched onto his hand, which rose higher and higher until his hand was close to my face. But he didn’t touch me, not for long seconds.

I stared into his eyes, not able to breathe or think. It was when I felt his fingers gently stroking along my upper arm that I snapped my head down, not even realizing he’d moved his hand back down.

“Not breaking his hand for touching you was really hard, kroshka” His voice was low and deep, sinister in the way he said the words. He was referring to earlier when my father gripped me hard for not paying respect to both Alexei and his brother.

“Yes, that’s what you are, isn’t it?” It sounded like he spoke to himself, murmuring the words low and deep and so veryheady.

“My little one.” He looked at my mouth again.

“Solynshka,” he murmured.

“Sunshine.” I looked up but saw he was watching his hand on my arm, still felt his thumb brushing back and forth. He lifted his focus back to my face then and I held my breath.

“I showed more self-control in front of your father than I ever have in my life.” Still the brushing of his thumb back and forth. “But my brother said I needed to be on my best behavior and all that.” Back and forth. Back and forth. He slowly grinned.

“First impressions and all that.” His accent seemed deeper, richer now, his thumb still sweeping over my fabric covered arm.

“But he shouldn’t have put his hands on you, father or not,” he ground out, his jaw clenching as I felt hisanger.

“I’m the only one who will ever touch you.” He leaned in close so our mouths were almost touching.

“But only to make you come.” I gasped in shock at his words just as he took a step back, his hand falling from my arm. I found myself lifting my hand and rubbing where he’s just been touching me.

Even through the fabric of my dress it felt like my skin was scorched in the best way. In a way his touch, his words and his body heat made me feel dirty and wrong and... feelings I wanted more of.

“Until dinner, kroshka.” And with an arrogant grin he turned and left me leaning against the wall still shrouded in shadows and wondering what in the hell had just happened.