The priest starts his sermon, and when he’s done, we recite our vows after him. I start first, forcing the words out even though I’m reluctant to say them.
Leonid repeats his slowly, as if he means every word he says.
The moment he slides the ring onto my finger, the air drains from my lungs.
I stare at the huge diamond catching the sunlight. He definitely spent thousands of dollars, if not more, on this.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Cheers erupt all around us, and I wonder what my parents think of this moment. I know they’re confused, so I have to come up with something to tell them.
Unlike Audrey, they can’t know this is a forced marriage. They can’t know about Leonid’s position in the mafia or anything else. Involving them will only put them in harm’s way, and I can’t risk that.
“Mr. and Mrs. Nazarov,” one of the guests yells excitedly from the small crowd of Leonid’s family, friends, and allies.
It hits me all at once.
I’m no longer a prisoner trying to escape her captor. I’m legally bonded to him now. To his world. To the violence of the mafia. As his wife.
Forever.
The thought of forever with the man standing in front of me is terrifying, but something far more dangerous than fear twists inside me when he reaches for me again.
My husband.
God.
His thumb brushes over my knuckles before he steps closer, towering over me in the soft glow of sunlight and white roses.
Then, without warning, he kisses me.
It’s nothing like the ravenous way he devoured me our first time. This kiss is slower, more possessive, like he’s carving a promise into me with his lips. And every fiber of my being surrenders to him.
Then, as suddenly as it began, his lips leave mine just enough for him to murmur, “You’re mine now, Elena. All mine.”
His arm curls around my waist, his fingers working up my spine in a slow, seductive pattern that draws a soft gasp out of me.
“Forever.”
***
“Mr. Petrov is the head chef,” Tatiana says, pointing to the old man as if I haven’t already met him several times. “He’ll be making all your meals, so just call him if you need anything.”
It’s been a day since the wedding. A day since I became Mrs. Nazarov.
Leonid hasn’t been home since last night. He mentioned having urgent business to deal with after the wedding, but I think he spent the night away just to avoid me.
I should be happy we didn’t need to consummate our marriage, but the house feels empty without him in it. It’s odd, but I miss our bickering and how easy it is to piss him off.
I miss the way he reminds me I’m his every time we argue. The thought unsettles me less than it should.
Luckily my parents had to leave Miami last night, so they didn’t have much time to question me. My father only mentioned in passing that he was okay with the marriage as long as it made me happy, so I assured him I was.
The guilt from that lie still sits heavily in my chest.
“And this is Marrisa,” Tatiana continues, drawing me back to the present.
I blink, forcing my attention to the older woman standing in front of me.
