Page 32 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

Chapter 12 - Asher

I can’t believe how intense that was. My whole body is shaking. I feel like I’ve been shocked with electricity. At first, I rest against him, just enjoying his company, but then I move off him and realize I need a shower. I shakily walk to the bathroom and turn on the hot water.

“You’re going to be sore, a bit stiff,” he says from the door where he’s standing naked.

I climb into the shower and begin to wash myself off. That’s when I feel his hands on me. He’s gotten into the shower with me. He takes the soap and sponge away from me, and after soaping up, he starts to wash me gently. I don’t think I’ve been this gentle with myself, let alone another person. He turns me around and cleans every inch of me before he washes my hair.

“Get into a robe, get dry, and pop into bed. You’ll be tired from the rush,” he murmurs.

I can already feel it. And yet, I don’t want him to stop touching me. I don’t want to stop touching him. It has to be the whole island vibe. It’s intoxicating me. I feel like I’m addicted to him. And I can’t be after what he’s done.

Still…

There is no point in being miserable while on a tropical island. That’s what I’ve decided. That’s what I tell myself as the days pass, and as time and again, I fall into bed with Danil. He doesn’t fuck me. He treats me tenderly and gently, and he pleasures me in indescribable ways. I cannot believe that’s how my first few times have gone.

I still want revenge, but I will plot it in Vegas. I just want to have fun, and that’s what we do. We do the yoga a few more times since each class is a little different, but it always leads to the bedroom or the bathroom. Showering together is exciting and something we often do together after sex. I’ve also been in his arms in the ocean, just floating, my legs wrapped around him.

He tries to goad me into having sex in public, but I’m still too worried we’ll get caught. As the honeymoon approaches its end, I realize this fairytale has to come to an end as well. No more tropical beach vibes and hot, sweaty sex together. We are returning to Vegas, and I need to do something about getting myself out of this situation.

On the flight back, we don’t talk much, but Danil reaches across every now and then to squeeze my hand absentmindedly. When we look at each other, he smiles, and I give him a small smile in return. A part of me longs to stay on the island where nothing felt real except the pleasures I felt in the bedroom. I don’t think we can replicate that in Vegas. His home, not mine. His is not the kind of place I feel comfortable in, even if we are sleeping in the same bed.

After a short trip from the airport, I walk through the doors, and Renat instantly takes my luggage upstairs. I look around; all the things I brought with me from my house are unpacked and on display—especially a lot of my artwork.

Danil walks in behind me. “I had it done while we were away. You can change it around, of course.”

I want to say thank you, but instead, I nod and head upstairs. “I’m tired,” I say over my shoulder.

I go shower and get into bed. He walks in and sits on the edge. “Everything okay?”

“I’m just tired,” I say quietly.

He strokes my arm gently. “The gallery called back about the position. They loved your interview and said you can start tomorrow.”

I can’t help but sit up. ‘Really?”

“Yeah, and I swear I had nothing to do with it.” He holds his hands up.

I smile softly. “Thank you. I’m going to turn in now.”

“It’s only six, don’t you want dinner?” he asks.

“No, I ate on the plane, and I’m feeling really jetlagged. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He leans over and kisses my head. “Okay, sweet dreams.”

He gets up, walks out of the room, and I curl up on the bed. I need to figure out a plan and to do that, I need some alone time. That’s hard to come by when his hands are constantly on me, not that I really mind.

But he is the one who forced me into this marriage against my will, and I need to figure out how I can pay him back and get a divorce.

I must have dozed off because the alarm suddenly goes off, and I feel Danil let me go. There’s an instant coolness when the heat of his body leaves me. It’s as though we’ve disconnected a power supply. He gets up and leans on the bed, kissing my head. “You better get up if you want breakfast before work.”

I stretch in the bed and sigh. “Okay.”

I wait until he’s done in the bathroom and dressed before I get up, though, so I can have a peaceful morning. Breakfast is a quiet affair, and before I can blink the sleep from my eyes, the wind is blowing through my hair as I travel to Madam Ambit in my convertible. It’s a large gallery with a lot of patrons. They showcase huge artists, really famous ones, and they sell paintings for thousands of dollars.

Their exhibitions are invite-only, and you would be hard-pressed to get into this circle of art lovers. I didn’t know Danil was one of them before this.

He’s been on my mind a lot lately. I feel a conflict rising in me that I have to fight actively. The tropical island was an illusion, and it’s over now. This is the real world where my life has been dictated to me, and all my choices for my future have been taken away.

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