I shook my head. It was complicated. I didn’t even understand my own thoughts anymore, and that was her fault. She was too sweet not to be tempting.
“You will be sore. A bath will help and sleep.” I headed towards the door, but paused before I opened it and glanced back at her.
She hadn’t moved. She just sat there against the headboard and stared at me with eyes full of tears.
“You’re an asshole, Alexei,” she whispered.
I did a double-take. “Yes, I am.” I opened the door. “And yet you married me anyway.” Without looking back, I closed it behind me. Leaning against it heavily, I took a deep, settling breath.
I was an asshole. Especially for leaving her to clean up herself because even an asshole would have cared for her, but I couldn’t do that.
I didn’t want her to get the wrong impression of how things were going to be between us, and now that I knew she was so inexperienced, I knew she would read into kindness. She would think it meant I had feelings for her.
Which I didn’t.
Another deep breath, and I was heading back to the party. My eyes scanned the room for my grandfather, but he was nowhere to be seen. His carer had obviously left to take him home, and that was for the best as well.
He would demand that I go back to her.
“Alexei.” A booming laugh went up, and my shoulder was slapped hard from behind. “Back down here so soon?”
A glass of amber liquid was thrust into my hand, and I downed it thankfully, loving the burn of it down my throat. But it didn’t take away from the sweetness of Amy’s skin that still lingered on my lips.
“We didn’t expect you back down tonight? The party is winding down. We all thought you would be enjoying the time with your new bride.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, they did because spending the night making love was what newly married couples did on their wedding night.
“Or did you wear her out? It was pretty clear that she was…how can I say it?” He lowered his voice. “Inexperienced?” His eyes searched my face for any hint that he was right, and I schooled my face into indifference.
“My wife’s experience and our private time together is not your concern,” I said through gritted teeth.
His face went slack. “Of course not,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean any disrespect, Alexei.”
Biting back the anger, I forced myself to smile. My reaction to his words had almost been violent, and why? Because he had realized she was a virgin before I had. Had everyone here realized just how innocent my wife was before I had?
“Of course, not, old friend.” It was my turn to clap him on the back. “And you are right in a way. I tired her out. She’s already sleeping, so I thought I would come down and enjoy the rest of the party.” Letting my eyes scan the room, I found it mainly to be the men in my organization and our allies. Most of the women and family members had left. There were only a few wives still lingering by the windows and chatting among themselves.
“I’m going to grab a drink and mingle. Enjoy the rest of the party.” Not waiting for his reply, I moved towards the open bar that had been set up in the corner, ordering with a click of my fingers even though it was clear that they were trying to pack up and leave.
“Can’t believe he’s back down here already.” I heard a woman say with a chuckle behind me.
“You’re not?” another said. “I am surprised he even went up to her anyway. The way he looked at her wasn’t exactly full of adoration, was it?”
More laughter.
“I noticed that as well. The whole ceremony and party, he looked like he didn’t want to touch her.”
“Of course he didn’t. We all know who he wanted to be under that veil. It makes me wonder why he married her at all. Does anyone know which family she belongs to?”
The next person to talk lowered their voice so much it was almost impossible to hear. I edged closer.
“No one knows. It’s a love match.”
I could almost hear her roll her eyes.
“Oh, come on, everyone knows that the only woman he has ever even liked, let alone loved, is Violet. Now, if it had been her upstairs, we wouldn’t have seen him for at least a week.”
Their laughter was high-pitched and squeaky. It grated on every nerve I had. I’d heard enough. Already, people were gossiping about us, but that was to be expected. It wasn’t like my feelings for Violet were a secret.
