Behind Wexler, the entrance of the gallery opened. Lev entered, followed by the rest of the Safin men, and an electric shock ran over my body. It was as though the air shifted, and I noticed it didn’t only affect me. Men stood straighter, and women subtly fixed their hair and flashed charming smiles.
When Avit stepped through the door last, our eyes locked.
He wore black pants and a jacket with silver intricate swirls on its black fabric. The sides of his hair were slicked back, but the top was slightly tousled, a few curls kissing his forehead. He also wore black and silver-rimmed glasses to complete the look.
He looked absolutely mouthwatering.
My nipples hardened, my pussy pulsed, and my face reddened.
Wexler went to Avit and spoke to him softly. Avit’s eyes narrowed. I turned away, gulped the rest of my drink, and placed the empty glass on a server’s tray as they passed.
As Lev and the others kissed their wives softly, then shook the hands of the Rykov brothers, an arm slid around my waist, turning me gently.
“Sienna, are you okay? Do you need to get away for a bit?” Avit asked softly.
Why was he acting like he cared when I was nothing more than a placeholder?
“I’m okay.”
He stroked my cheek. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Avit’s hand stayed on my waist as he turned to the others. The longer it stayed, the more I longed to lean into him.
“Avit, loving the look,” Ninel grinned. “It suits you.”
“And being an art gallery owner suits you, sis. I’m proud of you.” He gave my waist a small squeeze, then went to hug her like the others before returning to my side, his hand on my waist again.
I didn’t know if that was a blessing, because I needed time to recharge before talking to strangers, or a curse, because the longer he stayed beside me, the harder it became to pull my attention away from him. I watched them laugh and tease each other, the way the men doted on the women.
Fifteen minutes later, Lev and the other men drifted off to mingle, leaving the women in a small circle chatting amongst themselves.
I tried to listen, but their voices blurred into soft background noise as my eyes kept sliding toward Avit. Pathetically, I wished that he wanted me the way I wanted him. That he looked at me the way the other men looked at their wives.
Unexpectedly, my vision blurred with unshed tears, and I quickly blinked them away. I needed air, to clear my head.
I touched Mariya’s arm. “I just need to recharge a bit. I’ll be right over there.”
She gave me a gentle smile. “Take all the time you need.”
I slipped away, drifting toward one of the quieter corners near the entrance. I pretended to study a piece of art, but my pull towards Avit was too strong. I glanced over at him again.
To my surprise, his eyes were already on me. They weren't blank; they weren't unreadable. I noticed that look. It was desire. The same desire I saw in the other men as they looked at their wives.
Was Avit as attracted to me as I was to him?
No.
That couldn’t be right.
Women in his world were flawless, glamorous, and wealthy. I could never compete with that.
But the longer he held my gaze, the more I ached for him in ways I shouldn't. I couldn’t want him. Not the man who forced me into marriage, used me as a bargaining chip and hated me.
Then he started walking toward me.
Crap!
