54
I bring her to the rooms we’ll be using while staying with my father. One night. It’s all I’ll put up with. After the wedding, I’m taking my wife home.
Once we’re inside the seating area of our suite, I lock the door.
“There won’t be a reception,” I inform her. “Just a small luncheon.”
She pushes a half smile onto her lips. “I suppose taking a Polish girl for your wife isn’t much to celebrate.” The statement lacks sincerity.
“Don’t go getting soft on me, princess.” I squeeze her hand then let go, showing her the rest of the suite. “There’s a bedroom through that door.” I point to the right of the sitting room. “Our bedroom is through that door.” I spin on my heel and point to the room on the left. “Each bedroom has an attached bathroom. The seamstress will be here in the morning to help you dress.”
“I can dress myself,” she says softly.
I grin. “I’m sure the dress needs a few pairs of hands for hooks and zippers. Let her help.”
“Kasia will be here too.”
My eyebrows rise. “Good. That will be good.” She needs someone on her side tomorrow. Plus, it will keep Kasia away from my father. He doesn’t need another reason to make a scene tomorrow, and it will be difficult day for Lena-I won’t add to it by letting my father loose on her family.
“The dress for tonight is in the bedroom.” I open the double doors and gesture for her to follow me.
“Your father has a beautiful home,” she says as she steps into the bedroom. She wanders to the dresser where family photos are lined up.
“That’s Igor.” I step behind her and point to the photo she’s holding. “My older brother.”
“He’s handsome.” She puts the photo down. “Imagine, if he were still here, I’d be marrying him instead?” she teases with a little laugh, but quickly covers it with her hand. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
I grab her wrist and spin her around to face me. With my fingertips I brush away little stray hairs from her cheeks and kiss her forehead.
“You weren’t rude,” I assure her. “And if Igor was still here, you probably wouldn’t be here at all. He would have protected that shipment. He would have been more involved in that business and my father wouldn’t have even tried to work with the Polish.”
She tilts her head to the side. “You think it’s a bad thing that you’ve distanced yourself from that part of your father’s world?”
I glance back at the photograph. “Igor was a strong leader. He was raised to be my father’s heir while I was raised to have a mind for business.”
With a featherlike touch, she brushes her fingers across my jaw. “You’re a good man, Micah.” She pinches my chin in the same manner I’ve done with her dozens of times, and I give her the moment. “As good as a man can be in the world we live in. Did Igor agree with your father about-the girls?”
I gently tug her hand away from my chin. “He was not as passionate about it as my father.” It’s all I’ll tell her. Niko has given me hints into my brother’s thoughts that make me believe he might have been more against my father’s plans than I could have imagined.
“You’ll do what’s best for your family. And you can do it without the stable.” She says the word as though it burns like acid on her tongue.
I grab her by the back of her neck and drag her to me. She flattens her hands against my chest, stabilizing her stance, tilting her face up toward me. She knows what I want, and she wants it, too.
Moving up on her toes, she brushes her lips across mine. When she lowers herself, she’s smiling up at me, proud of herself I’m sure for being so bold. It’s that action that triggers the most animalistic growl from my chest.
Her smile broadens and I kiss those full lips of hers, tasting the berry flavor of her lip gloss. She wraps her arms around my waist, holding me as I deepen the kiss. Leaning into me, she opens to me, trusting me. It’s a drug, her trust. I began this whole thing with her as an order from my father. A job to humiliate our enemy, but here I am kissing her and not wanting to stop. I hold her against me, wanting to protect her and shield her from anyone who might do her harm.
I break the kiss, pressing my forehead to hers and gently rubbing my nose against hers. Our quickened breath mingles between us, as we stand in silence. I can’t put words to the emotion building inside of me. I only know that I want more of it and would kill to keep it.
“I have to meet with my father before dinner,” I say, reluctantly pulling away from her.
She brushes her hand across her cheek and raises her chin. “I guess I’m supposed to stay here until I’m called?”
“Would you stay if I told you to?” I ask playfully.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
She lifts a single shoulder. “I’m not sure, really. It is a big estate, and I could probably wander a bit before someone stopped me.”
My father’s men would stop her the second she stepped off the stairs, but I don’t want to tempt her to test it.
“Then be good for me. Not because I’m ordering you to stay here, but because it will please me if you obey me in this.” If my men heard me be so gentle in my approach, they’d probably demand my balls on a platter.
But Lena isn’t one of my soldiers. She’s to be my wife. I will always expect obedience, but she’s not someone to be crushed. She’s not my enemy.
Contrary to what Roman thinks.
She hooks her hand into my pants, tugging on the buckle of my belt. “And what prize do I get for being a good girl for you?”
“Careful with your teasing,” I warn her with a smile, dragging her hand down to my erection.
Her bottom lip is trapped between her teeth.
“Be a good girl and I’ll make you feel good. Be naughty and you won’t be sitting at the luncheon tomorrow.”
“Or you could make me feel good now-incentive to be good later.” She reaches up and kisses my cheek.
I force myself to step back and pull away from the very temptation I can’t deny.
There isn’t much time before dinner, and I need to talk with Niko before I talk with my father. “Incentive is the reward, princess.”
She sighs. “Fine. What time do I need to be downstairs?”
“I’ll come get you so we can walk down together.” There will be less intimidation with me at her side.
“Okay then.” She saunters away and plops down on the bed. “I’ll just sit here until you come fetch me.”
Her exaggerated sigh makes me grin. She may look playful and sweet now, but I have no doubt if pricked, this woman could pull the heads off her enemies.
“You do that, princess.” I adjust my cock. Good or bad, I’m fucking her once we’re alone tonight. Her behavior will only determine how much she enjoys it.
I move toward the double doors. “Be good, Lena. I’m serious. Control your temper and your mouth tonight. No matter what my father does or says, or anyone else, don’t let them climb under your skin.”
She screws up her lips to the side and shrugs.
It’s the best I’m going to get without provoking her and time is not on my side.
I shake my head and shut the doors behind me.
If only I could keep her locked in there all night. It’s really the only surefire way to be certain she doesn’t cause trouble.
Keeping her chained down would be a good option, too. I force myself to stop imagining her body laid out for me with arms and legs tied to the posts of the bed.
The more I think about sinking my cock into her, the more fevered my prayer that she behaves tonight.