See? Like that. That made me smile despite myself. Across the room, I could feel Targen’s eyes on me.
Good.
Maybe.
Probably not good, actually. But I was in my feelings and in my little spiteful bag, so I kept dancing.
Nikolai’s gaze drifted over my shoulder. “Your husband does not look pleased.”
I turned slightly, following his line of sight just enough to catch Targen standing near one of the columns, one hand around a lowball glass he had not lifted in several minutes. His face was blank. Too blank. That was worse than mad.
I turned my attention back to Nikolai. “He’ll survive.”
“Will he?” Nikolai asked, amused.
I laughed more than was warranted as I gazed up at him. Nikolai’s smile widened.
“You are a treasure, indeed, Ms. Miller,” he murmured.
“Thank you. I?—”
“It’s Mrs. Sidorov, and my wife and I need to make our exit.”
I was really, really proud of myself for not jumping out of my fucking skin. I looked over my shoulder into Targen’s blank face. I kissed my teeth in annoyance before turning back to Nikolai.
“I’m not ready to go,” I threw stubbornly at the seething giant behind me.
“Oh, trust me,” he said, grabbing my hand. “You ready.”
“Targen—”
The words were barely out before he had turned me around. The look in his eyes contradicted the nonchalant little smile on his lips. He leaned down until his lips were near my ear.
“Don’t make me embarrass you in here,milaya. Not when it’s still gon’ end with you leaving with me.”
Pulling back, he cupped my face and pressed a kiss to my forehead. A frisson of desire spiked with a touch of fear trilled up my spine. There was also anger—was that his signature move?That forehead kiss? His eyes were wild, stormy, promising something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
“If you’re ready, baby,” I said, giving him a wide, fake smile that I turned on Nikolai. “It was nice to meet you.”
He bowed slightly, then winked. “Same, Ms.—excuse me—Mrs. Sidorov.”
My husband whirled me around that room enough to say bye to his parents and my relatives. My messy little sister pressed her cheek to mine and whispered, “Ooh, you finna get it.”
On the other side, Ev murmured, “Call me when you can walk again.”
I wrinkled my nose at them.
“He wish,” I muttered.
The grasp on my hand tightened. I looked up into my husband's expressionless face.
“Nah, shorty. No more wishing,” he said, voice low.
But serious.
I looked at him, one eyebrow raised. I'd wait though. Juvie and Mikhail made their way toward us.
“I'm driving? Cuz look like you and Ms. Theory of Relativity need some privacy. If you want me and Misha here to catch a ride, let me know, OG,” Juvie said.
