Luerna reached for a burping blanket and spread it out over her chest. “There, happy?”
Rurik glanced over his shoulder before he faced her. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
“Aside from the burping cloth? Yes.”
“Enough with the sarcasm.” Rurik went into his closet to change, but his voice filtered out, “You get that dress from the flea market?”
“I didn’t think this was a ball-gown situation. As it is only dinner.”
“Fine. Look how you want.” He returned with a different-colored suit, laying it on the bed. “Did you take your medication?”
Luerna clenched her teeth. “I’m not taking those pills. They make me feel weird.”
“I suppose killing yourself is a better alternative.”
Luerna kept quiet, staring at the floor. He liked having something to rub in her face. As if her attempted suicide last week was something to use against her. “It was the lack of sleep. I’m fine now.”
Rurik finished buttoning up his shirt and reached for a tie. “Fine. But next time, don’t try to jump off the balcony. Take some pills. Less of a scene.”
“Very sweet of you, honey.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I would miss you.”
She forced a smile.
“But not your sarcasm,” he added before he left.
Chapter five
Decide
Luernadidn’tlikefeelingnervous. She sat at the dinner table with Rurik to her left and Kira to her right. But directly across from her was Levka. He played with his food, his fork tapping against the plate as his father and Yakov spoke about business. The boys, Adrik, Alexei, and Gil, were all silent, adding to the awkwardness of this meeting.
It was here that Luerna regretted keeping the family home. If she had been smart like Anya and Nadia, taking off as soon as they married, she would have avoided these kinds of moments.
Rurik held his glass up and waited. Luerna leaned up to get his refill, but Silvia quickly came to the forefront and poured him a drink. She sat back, glancing around, meeting Levka’s gaze for half a second before dropping her sight to her lap.
Levka clenched his teeth but stayed silent. Was she a fucking servant in her own home? That wasn’t a typical movement. This family could afford maids to cater to their every move, so why was Rurik using Luerna, a woman who should be waited on every day of her life, as his slave?
With this assumption twirling around in his head, Levka took a big bite of food. “This is delicious.”
“We had the finest chefs brought in for you,” Luerna responded dutifully.
Knowing she hadn’t spent hours cooking for him was a relief. He sat back, took a large drink, and peaking at Luerna from over his glass. She kept her head down, but she must feel it. How did she expect him not to stare? She was a fairytale. Her long blond hair shined. Her dress was simple but amplified every curve. Her cleavage was a siren, pulling his gaze without him realizing it. Her big, weighed breasts filled the cups of the halter like flower pots. He imagined for a split second what it would be like to press his face between them.
Kira cleared her throat, and his eyes popped over her. He had forgotten entirely about his bride-to-be. “Levka, what do you do in your spare time?”
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. This meet-and-greet was the most humiliating thing. “I work out.”
“I can tell.”
Adrik didn’t like that. “Don’t make us sick, Kira.”
She groaned. “Would you please be quiet?” With a deep breath, Kira began again. “Do you watch TV or read?”
“No.”
“Well, I love to read.” She paused, waiting for him to ask about her favorite books, but when he said nothing, she pushed ahead. “I really love fantasy. Vampires and Werewolves.” She smiled.
