34
Nikolai
Two more toasts from Pavel and Lyudmila, and the dinner is over. Sweeping Chloe into my arms, I carry her upstairs to my bedroom.
No, our bedroom. Now that she’s my wife, she’s going to be sleeping in my arms every night.
My heart thuds heavily as I push open the door with my shoulder and carry her inside, where I carefully set her on her feet in front of the bed. She sways slightly and giggles; clearly, all that wine and champagne has gone to her head.
My head is clouded as well, but not from alcohol. It’s lust that tangles my thoughts and fills my veins with slow-moving lava. The lengthy celebration was another test of my self-control, one I barely passed.
I wanted to grab Chloe and carry her off to bed right after we said our vows, to seal our bond in the most basic way
