"Always," Gennady replies, and something in his tone makes Vasily nod with satisfaction.
Stefan lingers near the door, clearly waiting for some kind of instruction. Gennady catches his eye and gestures him over.
"Take the rest of the day off," Gennady says. "All of you. Staff included. I want the house empty."
Stefan's eyebrows rise fractionally. "Empty?"
"Except for my wife and me." Gennady's arm tightens around my waist. "Take Mila out. Dinner, dancing, whatever she wants.My credit card. Don't come back until tomorrow morning. And for god’s sake, don’t let her pick up any more red flags."
Understanding dawns on Stefan's face. "Understood."
He turns to leave, but Gennady's voice stops him.
"Stefan? Thank you. For helping to make this happen."
Stefan's expression softens just slightly. "Anytime, Boss."
Then he's gone, and Mila is saying goodbye with a cheeky wink and a wicked laugh that makes heat flood my face.
Within minutes, the orangery is empty except for us.
Silence settles, heavy and expectant.
I'm alone with my husband.
"Come on," Gennady says, taking my hand. "Let's go upstairs."
My feet move automatically, following him through the house that is eerily quiet after the busy morning of setting up an entire wedding. We reach the bedroom I stayed in last night.
"Wait," I say, "Is this your room?"
Gennady turns to look at me, and something in his expression confirms what I'm thinking. "Yes."
"Where did you sleep?"
"I didn’t, not really. I sat in my office." He steps inside, tugging me gently with him. "I wasn't going to put you in a guest room, Matilda. You were never a guest."
The implication settles over me like a physical weight.
He knew. Even then, even when I was just some girl he'd dragged from her family home, he knew he was going to make me his.
The room looks different in the afternoon light. Still masculine and sparse, but the bed is freshly made with dark sheets that look expensive and soft.
Gennady closes the door behind us, and the soft click of the lock feels impossibly loud.
We're alone. Truly alone. Together. Just us.
And suddenly I'm acutely aware of every detail. The way the dress feels against my skin. The way his eyes track my every movement. The way my heart is pounding so hard I'm sure he can hear it.
"Matilda." His voice is rougher than usual. "Come here."
I take two steps toward him, then stop. "I don't know what I'm doing."
"I know."
"I've never..." I trail off, heat flooding my face.
"I know that too." His hands coming up to frame my face. "And I'm going to take my time with you. I'm going to make sure your first time is everything it should be."
