I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Do you remember Aleksei Marinov?”
“The sexy Russian criminal you spent months trying to rail—I mean nail? Of course I do.” Her mouth quirks up, and then her brows shoot up as realization hits. “No way! Are you fucking kidding me? And you kept it from me? Wait…” Her hand cups her mouth. “He’s the secret guy, isn’t he? He’s the one who saved you that night you got drugged?”
I nod.
“Holy crap. For once in my life, I don’t know what to say.”
“Some days, neither do I.”
The shock of it all still hasn’t left her face. “But why would you marry him? I don’t get it. You hate him.”
“I did. But things got…well, complicated. It had a lot to do with saving my parents’ vineyard, and he was the only one willing to help.”
“Shit. He told you you’d have to marry him before he’d help, right? Wow. This is like a movie.”
“Yeah. A movie. Sure.” I let out a short chuckle. “I haven’t told very many people. Well, actually, no one knows aside from our families. And Emilia, of course.”
“Don’t worry, I can keep your secret.”
“That’s the thing. I don’t even know if I want it to be a secret anymore, because I’m actually happy.”
“Well, that’s great, then.” She shrugs. “Life is too short. If marrying a sexy murderer makes you happy, I say good for you.”
“You always know just what to say.” I roll my eyes playfully.
“I know, right? Aren’t you happy you’re going to have me here with you?”
“You have no idea.”
I mean that, because knowing she’ll be by my side in this new beginning makes all the difference.
When I get home, the door opens before I can touch it, one of Aleksei’s men stepping aside as I walk in to find Aleksei already waiting.
His jacket’s off, shirtsleeves rolled, collar open just enough to expose the skin I ache to touch. And that smile—God, that wicked, knowing curve of his lips—is aimed at me like a weapon.
“Zdravstvuy, moya zhena.”Hello, my wife.
Thankfully, my Russian has been coming along in these last few weeks.
He closes the distance in a few long strides, arms wrapping around me before I can reply. His mouth brushes mine in a kiss that starts soft, then deepens, stealing the breath right out of me.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
The words barely leave my lips before he’s backing me against the nearest wall, one hand sliding to the side of my neck, the other gripping my hip like he intends to leave his mark there.
“Never apologize.” The words ghost over my lips as he kisses me again, harder this time, his nose trailing up the line of my throat while he breathes me in like he has been starving for the scent of my skin. “I missed you,” he whispers as my fingers thread into his hair, tugging him closer.
“I missed you too.”
For a moment, neither of us moves as we breathe each other in, his forehead pressed to mine, our bodies flush, his thumb tracing circles at my waist like he can’t quite let go. And I don’t want him to.
“Is everyone here?”
His lips graze my temple as he answers, low enough for only me to hear. “Yes. But we waited for you.”
He threads his fingers through mine and guides me toward the dining room, and the moment we step inside, a smile pulls at my mouth. Our family fills the room, voices weaving over one another, laughter warming every corner. For a moment, I just stand there taking it in, loving the sight of all of us together.
As soon as they see me, conversations fade and faces turn. Emilia rises immediately and wraps me in a hug before I go to my parents. My father kisses my cheek and reaches for the chair beside him, but Aleksei already steers me to the seat next to him with a gentle pressure at my back.
