Page 34 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

I check my watch and head back downstairs to my office to grab my things. I am halfway across the entrance hall when Leanne calls out to me and comes hurrying. “Sorry, I forgot to give you your keys.” She puts a bunch of keys in my hand. “Do you need me to go through them?”

“I’ll figure it out, don’t worry.” I smile. “See you tomorrow.”

I leave and go to my car. I am actually a little tired from the day, but I’m excited to see Penny. I haven’t seen her in forever.

I drive over to Zeek’s, and Penny is already there waiting for me when I walk in. I give her a big hug before I sit down.

We order a glass of wine for each of us before we settle down properly.

“So, how was the honeymoon?” she asks, smiling brightly at me. “Did we make any progress?”

“Uh…” I blush crimson when I realize what she’s referring to.

“Tell me everything,” Penny squeals, attracting the attention of some nearby diners.

“Penny, hush,” I say.

We sit there for a moment before I say, “Yes, we have slept together.” I don’t tell her how many times. That’s between me and Danil. “It was okay.”

“Just okay? What’s wrong with him? Is he defective?” she asks.

I snort. “Not at all. In fact, he was very tender and gentle with me that night. I mean, we’d done tantric couples yoga, and then there was just this vibe, you know. So he… well, he did things to me I would never have imagined.”

“Was it good, at least? Or did he only pleasure himself?” She wrinkles her nose. “Kervyn has a thing of always pleasuring me first and foremost.”

“Oh, they’re definitely brothers then. Danil made me…” I lower my voice, “orgasm multiple times. In one night.”

Penny sits back, looking smug. “You enjoyed it.”

“Well, I mean. I’ve never done it before, and it was… he was gentle about it.” I stammer over my words.

“You enjoyed the physical aspect of your relationship. Good, that’s the first step to acceptance, Ash. Enjoy that sexual tension. I can’t get enough of it. I love trying for a baby because Kervyn heard trying different positions helps.” She giggles, and I smile.

We pause as the waitress brings our wine and sets it down.

“Were you… sore afterward?” I ask quietly.

“I remember being stiff afterward, almost like I had pulled a muscle or bruised myself. But the actual sex wasn’t sore, and I don’t get that anymore. Well, after having a baby, I doubt there’s any pain I can feel that will trump that.”

I nod and look out at the street wistfully.

“This is a good thing,” Penny says. “This is learning to accept a new part of your world, making things so much easier.”

“I know you fell in love with Kervyn, Pen. But I don’t know if I can fall for Danil.”

“Only time will tell. Heck, why don’t we go on a double date? I’ll get Mama Milov to watch Samuel, and we can all go out somewhere fancy. Really dress up for the evening and enjoy ourselves.”

I groan and shake my head. “I have work in the morning.”

“This coming from the girl who parties until five a.m. every morning? Come on, it’ll be fun. Just give it a chance.” She pouts at me. “Pretty please.”

I wrinkle my nose this time and sigh. “Fine. You can have your double date, but it isn’t a real date because I don’t consider Danil my husband or boyfriend. I don’t consider him to be anything in my life, really.”

Chapter 13 - Danil

Asher left the house this morning without saying goodbye. I assume she was in a rush, but a part of me wonders if we’ve lost that island magic. I can’t live on the island forever, though. I have business to attend to.

Renat drives me to the new casino, where Luka is waiting for me. The renovations are practically complete, and we need to discuss what we’re going to do.

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