I stared up at him in shock and surprise, for once my feisty tongue lost. Had he really just told me I was going to get fat if I didn’t cut down on my carbs? I blinked and opened my mouth to respond but found I had no idea what to say to him. How did you reply to that?
“Probably best to cut down on the alcohol too, I suppose,” he added, though it seemed he was talking to himself and not me. “A woman like you, from a family like yours, really shouldn’t be making such a scene of herself.”
“A scene?” I gasped, arching myself backwards despite his unrelenting grip on me.
“I expect my wife to be genteel and above reproach. To attend all business functions with the utmost respect to my guests and of course myself. To dress with class and sophistication.” He reeled of his list of expectations and I stared at him in astonishment. “Though of course, I’ll expect the bedroom behavior to have more flavor to it than that.” He smiled broadly, like he was telling a joke. Like this was his playful banter, when really it was a horror story to me because I couldn’t imagine a more terrifying life.
Viktor’s grip on me was strong, and despite us being outside he seemed to have sucked all the air away. My lungs felt empty, my tongue dry and desperate for water. The sand was no longer soft between my toes, but thick and damp. Quicksand, sinking beneath my weight and pulling me down.
“Katya,” he began, and I felt sick because I knew what was coming next. I should have realized, but I’d been so caught up with worrying about Nik that I hadn’t noticed what was staring me right in the face. It had been obvious from the way he’d shook my father’s hand. The way they had smiled proudly between themselves as I’d left with Viktor.
He was going to ask me to marry him.
That was how quickly this was all coming unraveled.
How quickly everything I had worked for was falling apart.
Would it be a double wedding with Alexander and Marisha? Or would I be entitled to my own? Had Viktor and my father already booked the venue and picked out my dress? A personal trainer on hand ready to fit me into my new husband’s bustling schedule, after I gave birth obviously. Because children would always be my priority. Would there be a nutritionist to keep me healthy and slim while someone nursed my baby for me? I was of childbearing age and Lord knows how much my father and mother wanted grandchildren quickly. I’d become a baby maker who cared more about her waistline than her children because it was my husband’s wish that I stay slim and worthy of him. I’d pat my son and daughter on the heads before attending the meetings and the parties and putting on a show.
Would I handle it with grace like my mother, who lucked into love? Or would I descend into the dulling fog of drink and drugs like so many Bratva wives?
Sickness flopped in my stomach.
“I need to go,” I said, stumbling back out of Viktor’s grip, blind panic thrumming through my veins.
“Katya, sweetheart,” he said condescendingly, like we were already an old married couple, “sit down and take a breath. Perhaps you’ve drank too much already tonight, it was a lot to have with your meal.” He tutted andoh God, I couldn’t marry him.“Really, two glasses of champagne is enough for a woman, any more is just common.”
“I feel sick, I’m so sorry, I really need to go,” I said, wishing that someone was here to rescue me from this situation, but worse, realizing that I wished that the someone was Nik. His hands rough on my bicep like earlier today as he pulled me away from those awful men, manhandling me, kissing me, teasing me.
Nikolai was a beautiful bastard, but he wasmybeautiful bastard, I realized with such force that I felt dizzy. He would never expect me to change. He would never tell me to cut out carbs or watch what I was drinking. He would dare me to do shots off his chest and spoon feed me mashed potatoes. Nikolai would hold my hair while I puked and then put me to bed. But Viktor… no, Viktor would do none of those things.
Viktor dropped the bottle of champagne into the sand at our feet, his look fierce as the bubbles spilled from the open top. He reached for me harder, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him.
“I had everything planned, Katya,” he said, his voice filled with seduction, “a whole evening of delights just for you, sweetheart.”
His lips were sculpted perfection, his eyes azure blue burning with yearning and intensity that should have made me weak at the knees, desire pooling in my lower belly. But I felt nothing...nothing but panic.
I wriggled free of his grip and stumbled back a step. “I’m so sorry. I really don’t feel well.”
He frowned, deep lines etched across his forehead and he sighed heavily, clearly unhappy. “Fine, tomorrow then?”
I nodded, having no intention of meeting him tomorrow or ever again. At least, not if I could help it. My father was going to be furious, my mother disappointed. And no doubt Alexander would lecture me. But Nik, he would tease me and laugh at how hilarious a situation it was for me to be in.
I grabbed the hem of my skirt and ran down the beach, heading towards my condo. I needed to see Nik right now. I needed someone who understood this whole horrible situation and I hated that he would, but so be it. He got it. He didn’t want to marry so young either. He didn’t want the responsibility. He wanted to get drunk and screw everything in sight.
He got it.
He got me…
I ran until my thighs ached and my feet came to a stop in front of the condo door. I turned the handle and stepped into the darkness, waiting a split second before calling his name. I was already wondering where he was when I heard the telltale cries of sex coming from his room.
The groans and moans.
The slap of flesh on flesh.
The cries of pleasure.
The grunts of desire.
