“It’s beautiful,” I whisper after stepping inside. And it is. Soft white and red decorations. It looks like something out of a magazine. This would be a wonderful place to have a wedding night… if I loved my husband.
But instead, all I feel is a coldness towards him. I can still smell the alcohol coming off Maksim. After I danced with my dad, Maksim didn’t talk to me the rest of the party.
“It is,” Maksim replies in a clipped tone. We both stand awkwardly in the room, neither one of us knowing what to do.
I stare at the bed for a long moment, bracing myself. This is my duty. My father told me that when we danced together. I have to do this.
With a quick inhale of breath, I lay down on the bed.
Maksim stands over me with a frown. Intimidating and strong. My heart rate spikes, making me feel woozy. I’m not sure I can do this.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“It’s our wedding night.”
“And?”
This time, I’m the one who frowns. “And… it’s expected we… My father said this was my duty so I’m willing to do… it.”
“It?”
“You know,” I whisper, my face on fire.
“You mean have sex.”
A rough breath leaves me. “Yes.”
“You want to have sex?” He sounds incredulous. Is he that disgusted by me?
I roll onto my side, away from him, and squeeze my eyes shut to keep myself from crying. “I know you didn’t want this marriage. But you don’t have to be so mean.”
Maksim is quite for a long moment. A heavy weight settles over the room. “I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was just shocked that you would want to have sex. I mean, we barely know each other. I figured you wouldn’t want to.”
“So… it’s not because you find me repulsive?”
“No,” he says with a sharp laugh. “I think you’re beautiful.”
That makes me glance over at him. “Really?”
“Yes. Has no one told you that before?”
“My father never has. And he kept me away from a lot of other people. I thought maybe…”
“I don’t find you ugly, Natasha. You just seemed so afraid of me or upset because of me that you wouldn’t want to have sex. But if you want to… I mean, I’d be willing. I’m always down to fuck.”
His words make my face turn to fire which only makes him chuckle.
“You’re innocent,” he murmurs. “Usually the women I’ve been with in the past haven’t been.”
“How many women have you been with?”
“I’m not sure you want me to answer that.”
I duck my chin and keep my eyes glued to my lap. “Right. It’s just… my father expects me to do my duty. We have to do this.”
“We don’t have to have sex if you’re terrified. How will he know?”
“He’ll know. He… expects to see the sheet.”
