Conversation goes on around me, but I don’t pay any attention. My entire focus is on the temptress next to me. She catches my gaze and raises a brow. I blow her a kiss, and she rolls her eyes then turns her back to me. But she can’t hide the flush on her cheeks.
“Guys, why don’t we meet in Dad’s office?” Bash suggests.
It takes me by surprise. I’m always the one pushing for Syndicate meetings after dinner, but tonight, I don’t want to. I don’t want to leave my wife. And not because I think she’ll stab anyone in my family without my supervision, although they’d probably deserve it, but because I simply don’t want to leave her side.
Roman and Matthias look just as reluctant to leave their wives. For the first time in my life, I consider cancelling a Syndicate meeting. I look at Katerina in question, but she just ushers me away.
“Go talk business. Your dad’s going to show me his knife collection.” She sounds excited at the prospect, and my gaze flies to my dad. He looks just as giddy as she does. None of us have taken an interest in his more unusual hobbies, but it looks like my wife has.
“Have fun,” I tell her then kiss the top of her head.
I freeze as she tenses. What the fuck did I just do? Just because we barely kissed doesn’t give me the right to kiss her whenever. Or does it? I mean I am her husband. But we don’t have that kind of relationship.
I rush out of the room without looking back. I walk quickly into Dad’s office and lean against a bookshelf.
As my brothers trinkle in, I maintain a mask of indifference. Far too many people have seen me emote because of my damn wife. No one needs to know what I’m feeling… except her. She brings it out of me.
“I see married life has been treating you well,” Matthias says with a smirk. When I shoot him a glare, he wiggles his eyebrows at me.
Bash coughs in discomfort, but we ignore him.
“I never thought I’d see the day Dominic Montclair was smitten for a woman. I bet she leads you around by your cock.” Roman adds unhelpfully.
Bash chokes and turns red.
“My relationship is not up for discussion!”
“We’re just messing with you. It’s good to see you happy.” Matthias’s words make me wonder if I seemed unhappy before Katerina.
“Let’s get on task. What did we need to discuss?” I ask, ready to put an end to the conversation.
My brothers look at me in shock.
“What?” I demand.
“You don’t have something planned? You always want to talk about work.” Roman sounds confused, but then he smiles. “Oh, I get it. Something else is on your mind now.”
He wiggles his brows suggestively, so I reach over and punch him. He just laughs harder.
“Fuck off. If no one has anything to say, then meeting dismissed.” I straighten my stance and head to the door, ready to get back to my wife.
“Oh, I have a lot to say,” Roman starts.
“Me too!” Matthias continues, and they high five.
I ignore their jabs as I make my way to the family room. Sure enough, Dad has multiple sets of knives laid out and is explaining the history and use of each one to Katerina. She’s actively engaged in the conversation, eagerly taking in the information.
I hang back by the doorway and just watch her. I can’t put words to the feeling in my chest at watching her with my family. There’s just something so right about it.
My mom is the first to see me and beckons me into the room. I come in and sit next to her. Katerina looks up at me and winks, then makes a small stabbing motion with one of the knives in my general direction. A laugh erupts from my chest at my psychotic wife and her stabbing tendencies.
“You don’t know what it does to a mother to see her child so happy. I’m grateful for Katerina. She’s brought you such lightness. She’s such a marvelous young lady.” Mom grabs my hand in hers and squeezes.
My chest hurts at containing the laugh at Katerina being referred to as a lady after our conversations, but I know my mom is being serious, so I won’t mock her.
“She’s great, Mom. She’s strong, fierce, and stubborn in the best way. She doesn’t let me get away with anything. I thought she was this weak, boring woman when we met, but she’s been full of great surprises.” I smile softly as I tell my mom about my wife.
“She’s a great addition to the family,” Mom says sweetly, then her eyes harden. “You’re not allowed to miss anymore family dinners. And don’t forget, your brother’s vow renewals are next weekend.”
