I don’t know what to say to that. It seems I can’t say anything right.
“We should probably dance,” I say. “My father expects it.”
“Mine too.”
I offer her my hand and slowly, she takes it. Since I’m still a little drunk, I’m not exactly smooth on the dance floor. I pull Natasha into my arms and I’ll admit, she feels nice here. Warm and fits into the nooks of my body perfectly.
It’s obvious she doesn’t know how to dance as we stumble across the floor. She keeps stepping on my feet and the fact that I’m drunk isn’t helping matters. I end up stepping on her dress and it makes both of us stumble forward. She falls to the ground before I can catch her.
Our guests watch us, no one commenting, but it’s obvious from all of their expressions that they’re embarrassed for us.
I help Natasha back to her feet but she pulls away from me before we can start dancing again.
“I think we should stop,” she whispers. It’s hard to hear her voice above the music of the band.
“I didn’t mean to step on your dress. I’m sorry.”
“You shouldn’t have shown up drunk then.” She doesn’t snap at me. Doesn’t scream. Just tells me this calmly before she heads over to our table.
I blink, stunned, before a deep shame fills me. Natasha is right: I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve embarrassed both of us on our wedding day when this day is all about ensuring peace. I should have been better.
Natasha and I don’t say a word for the rest of the evening. Our guests look like they’re having fun as they dance around. Kira ends up on the dance floor, moving around like crazy, until our father gently grabs her arm and leads her away. She may be his precious daughter but he doesn’t want her making a fool out of herself.
Kira eventually comes over to our table. “Hi.” She gives Natasha a huge, genuine smile. “I’m Kira, Maksim’s sister. It’s nice to meet you.”
Natasha blinks before she nods at Kira. “You too. I didn’t know Maksim had a sister.” There’s an unspoken sentence between us: Natasha doesn’t know anything about me and I know nothing about her.
“Well, I’m the best,” Kira announces. “I know we’re going to be friends. I can just feel it. You don’t have to worry being around my brother. He’s a big softy at heart. Trust me.”
Natasha’s eyes flick to mine. “Oh. That’s good to know.” For just a moment, Natasha seems to soften…
Until her father comes over to our table. “Who are you?” he asks Kira in a rude tone.
Kira bristles. She’s used to having people worship the ground she walks on. “Maksim’s sister.”
“I saw you on the dance floor. I don’t appreciate a woman who dances like that. My Natasha never has and never will be like that.” He sets his eyes onto me. “And you. I can smell the alcohol reeking off you. You should be ashamed showing up to the wedding like this. You’re lucky I already agreed to marry you to my daughter. But never embarrass me like this again.” He holds his hand out to Natasha. “It’s time for our dance.”
Natasha quickly gets to her feet and takes her father’s hand. I watch as they go onto the dance floor. She didn’t hesitate to go to him but it didn’t seem like it was out of love. No. It seemed like it was out of… fear.
“God, he’s an asshole,” Kira mutters.
“Careful,” I murmur back. “Don’t let Lev hear you. I can’t ruin this peace deal.”
“Poor girl.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Maksim? She’s terrified of him and now she has to marry a man she’s never met and you show up drunk. You couldn’t even give her the courtesy to show up to your weddingday sober. Why do you think she cried?” Kira shakes her head at me like I’m hopeless.
And I guess I am because I know nothing about the woman I married but I’m starting to find out that things may be a lot more complicated than I realized.
Chapter Four
Natasha
When the wedding day comes to an end, I know it’s time for me and Maksim to have our wedding night. I’m not sure what he’s expecting. Will he want to have sex? We’re strangers. I can only hope not but I will do my duty if I have to. I know my father will want me to do that.
I’m shaking as Maksim and I leave the ballroom and head up to the highest floor of the hotel. The VIP suite.
