He stares at Alek for a moment before clearing his throat. “Do you, Katya Ivanov, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
This is it. The moment I become Alek’s and lose the life I once had. Because I’m never getting it back now.
“I do,” I whisper.
The priest nods while Alek gives me a smug smile, like he knows he won. And I guess he has. He’s made me his bride.
He pulls out two wedding rings and slips one onto my finger. It’s a perfect fit. Did he guess my finger size or is it fate trying to tell me something? My wedding dress was also a perfect fit without any alterations.
Alek opens my hand and places the other ring in it. “Put it on me.”
My hands are shaking as I do as he says but I manage it. The moment I put the ring onto Alek’s finger, I know this is it. He’s making me complicit in this crime. By making me take action by putting the ring on his finger, I’m silently saying I’m all right with this.
Of course I’m not but to everyone in the room that’s how it appears.
I have sealed my fate with Alek and there’s no going back.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I squeak when Alek cups my face. Is this really how my first kiss is going to go? He gives me the tiniest brush of his lips on mine before pulling back. I’m grateful it wasn’t a real kiss. I’m not ready for that yet.
Alek’s eyes soften as he looks down at me. “You’re mine now, Katya.” He says the words low so they’re just for my ears.
I am his wife now.
The wedding continues at a reception hall inside a hotel. It all happens so fast that it’s all a blur. I don’t even know the name of the hotel. Just that it’s elegant and beautiful and rich. And that it’s filled with people who shout out ‘congratulations’ as Alek and I head into the ballroom.
This is not a wedding to congratulate. This is more of a funeral. The death of my previous life.
Alek’s guests – because they’re not mine – congregate inside the ballroom, sitting around the many tables in it. The place is decorated beautifully with soft cream and green accents. It’s like a fairytale but this is a nightmare for me.
We walk onto the dance floor together.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“We have to have our first dance, don’t we?” He pulls me into his arms as the live band begins to play a soft, sweet song. I almost laugh. Soft and sweet are the last ways I’d describe Alek. He literally spanked me on an altar.
“Why did you do that?” I ask, my face on fire. It’s not a question I want to ask but I need the answer to.
“Why did I do what?” he asks, settling his hand on my low back. It’s distracting to say the least.
“In the church. You…”
“When I spanked you?”
I let out a breath. At least he’s not making me say it myself. “Yes. That.”
“Well, you needed to calm your mind. And it seems that a good spanking does that for you. It got you to say your vows, did it not?”
“You forced me into that.”
“I never claimed to be a good man, Katya. I did kidnap you after all. I would have done anything to get you to say yes to me.”
“Even murder someone again?” I think back to when he shot Travis in the head like it was nothing. I don’t even think he flinched.
“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in his voice.
“Why do you want me so badly? I know you want to get at my brother but…”
