“Then it’s a good thing you’ll be living with me from now on and won’t have to be around him as much.”
“I thought you weren’t happy about this marriage.”
“I’m not,” he admits. “But just like you: I know what’s my duty. And I have to do this to make my own father proud. We don’thave to be enemies, Natasha. Honestly, all of this would be so much easier if we try to get along.”
“This is all so new for me. I’m not used to dealing with men. Or… people in general.”
“I may be a Bratva man but I’m not scary. I’m good at charming women. Let me charm you.”
“I…” A part of me likes the sound of that. Not having to be afraid of the man I’m married to would be wonderful. But I still don’t fully trust Maksim. Not after he came to our wedding drunk. Not after he made me feel bad saying our vows. He doesn’t want this marriage and I’m not sure he ever will. Even if he grows to like me, will he ever be truly happy?
Will I be truly happy?
“Maybe we should just go to bed,” he offers. “It’s been a long day. I’m tired.”
“Ok.”
He nods at our suitcases. “You can change. I won’t touch you.”
I practically run to my suitcase and grab a pair of pajama pants and a top. Something simple and cozy.
Maksim gives me the bathroom so I can change in peace. At least he isn’t trying to force me to change in front of him.
But I quickly realize just how hard my wedding dress is to take off by myself. Courtesy of my father who chose this one.
Having no other choice, I open the door and call out to Maksim… only to find him gone.
Where did he go?
It’s then that I see a notepad on the side table that reads he went out to give me some space. It sounds nice in theory but… he left me. On our wedding night.
All I can do is slump to the floor in a big, poofy dress and cry.
Maksim
I had to get out of there. With how pretty Natasha looked but also how scared she was, I couldn’t take it. Her father clearly made her this way. Afraid and skittish. It’s not what I want in a wife. I don’t know how to act around her.
I’m sure she’ll appreciate having some alone time so I’m giving it to her. As for me, I’m going to find a bar and nurse another drink. As long as Lev doesn’t find out, no harm no foul.
I know I shouldn’t be going for another beer but I just need time to compose myself. Natasha is making me feel strange things and I don’t know how to process it all.
I go down to the hotel bar and after seeing that Lev nor my father are here, I settle in at the bar and order another drink. Natasha will go to bed and then I’ll return to her and try to sleep myself. But there’s no way I can stay in that room and look at her pretty face and not want her.
I could have easily fucked her. Shown her pleasure. But she was obviously scared and I don’t want that in a woman. I don’t want any of this.
I practically down the entire beer I’m given. Just to take the edge off.
That is… until I hear my father’s voice behind me. “Maksim. What the hell are you doing here?”
I turn around to see him and Lev both glaring at me. Fuck.
“You should be with my daughter right now,” Lev snarls. “Not at the bar getting drunk. Well, more drunk than you were.”
“Return to your wife. Right now,” my dad threatens.
“Of course,” I say, not putting up a fight. “My apologies.” It seems I’m going to be apologizing for the rest of my life.
“And Maksim,” my dad calls out. “After tonight, you’re going on a honeymoon with Natasha. To Greece.”
