Jaroslav clears his throat loudly, interrupting our kiss. He’s standing right in front of where we’re sitting.
Stef giggles and pulls away, biting her lower lip, her cheeks flushing beautifully pink.
Her brother holds his hand out to me.
I stand, taking it in mine and shaking.
“To our alliance,” he says.
“To our alliance and our families becoming one,” I agree.
Matvei comes to stand with us. He takes my hand and shakes it with a firm grip. “Welcome to the party, Marlen. It’s good to have you on board with us,” he smiles.
“It’s good to be here. Honestly, I can’t be happier right now.”
Stef slips her arm around my waist and stands at my side, a united force.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I look down at her, then lean down to kiss her. I don’t care who’s watching. I don’t care about anything except how full my heart is because of her.
Epilogue - Stefania
“Babe, do you know where my phone is?” I call toward the bathroom. “I can’t find it.”
He sticks his head around the shower door as I walk in. “Call it from my phone, but you don’t really need it today, do you?”
“No, I’m not taking it with me. I just want to message Talia and ask if we need to bring anything for the pool party.”
“Knowing Talia, all she’ll suggest is tequila,” he laughs, stepping out of the shower.
My eyes drag hungrily over his gorgeous body. We only just got out of bed. We spent the morning lost beneath the sheets until long after the sun came up, exploring each other’s bodies. But still, seeing him now, I instantly want more.
When my eyes drift up to his, he meets my gaze and looks amused.
“Do you want to go back to bed and skip the pool party?” he says, husky and enticing.
“Yes, actually. I kind of do,” I reply, stepping close to him and pressing myself against his dripping wet body.
He runs his hand down my back and cups it beneath my ass cheek, lifting me into his arms.
His lips meet mine, and my heart races.
But then he sets me down again, and with the cheekiest smile ever, he grabs a towel and starts drying off. “We should get going or we’ll be late.”
“Hey, you can’t…” I bite down, realizing he just did to me what I love doing to him. Teasing. Seeing how far I can pushhim. I admit there have been plenty of times when it backfired, and we did end up late for events.
“I see what you did there,” I grin.
“And… how does it feel?” he muses.
“It feels like you’ve just got yourself into a little bit of trouble,” I smile confidently, poking my finger into his chest.
“Is that so? What kind of trouble?” he grabs my wrist and pulls me close.
“The kind of trouble you’re going to regret,” I warn him.
“Mm. I’m not going to lie to you, cutie. That sounds like exactly the type of trouble I was looking for,” he slaps my ass really hard, and I yelp in fright, jumping away from him.
He really is asking for it. I stick out my tongue, still grinning, then run from the bathroom to find my phone.
