Page 4 of Ivory Ashes

I look from the family signet ring to its new owner.

The Novikov Bratva just got a new heir. And his sights are set on me.

2

VIVIANA

“What are you still doing here?” Mikhail asks.

The words of my savior, everyone.

“I’m naked,” I blurt.

The words of the socially illiterate, everyone.

I’m usually much more eloquent, but word vomit must be a nasty side effect of cranial and/or emotional whiplash.

Not to mention, Mikhail is handsome. Stunningly, stomach-twistingly handsome.

It’s the reason I walked over to him at my engagement party in the first place. Sure, I was there to marry his brother, but being betrothed didn’t make me blind. Mikhail was leaning against the wall with a diamond-cut jaw and a curl of golden brown hair that fell perfectly across his forehead. I wanted to see what he was about. Could the inside possibly match the outside?

I thought the answer was a definite no, but now… He saved me. Does that change things?

Now, I’m seeing him up close and in better lighting. Does that change things?

The same strand of hair sweeps slightly lower over one of his cold blue eyes now. Eyes that are wholly fixed on me.

I shake my head to clear away the lusty cobwebs. “Well, not naked,” I correct quickly. “I’m almost naked. Barely clothed. I’m in pajamas.”

Mikhail looks pointedly at the skewed scrap of lace covering my lady bits and little else. “You wore that for him?” Mikhail’s upper lip curls in disgust. It’s the first easily-readable emotion I’ve seen on him.

“I didn’t wear anything for him. It’s for me.” I cross my arms over my chest, which only serves to put my cleavage even more on display. I quickly uncross them. “I think it’s pretty.”

Trofim may have been a monster, but he had great taste in lingerie. Well, really, whatever poor maid he got to order me the present had great taste, is more like it.

Silk triangles cover my breasts, but the rest of the nightie is intricate lace. It flutters over my midsection and brushes against the very tops of my thighs. If I turned around, Mikhail would get an eyeful of the matching silk thong.

I press my bare ass more firmly against the wallpaper so that doesn’t happen.

“You should leave while you still can.”

I frown. “I didn’t realize my salvation came with an expiration date.”

Mikhail roots through the mini-bar fridge, grumbling when there’s nothing but champagne inside. He pops the bottle and crunches over the remains of a shattered vase and haphazardly spread rose petals to find a glass.

The fact that we’re in what would have been mine and Trofim’s honeymoon suite tomorrow night is becoming hard to ignore.

For me, at least. Mikhail still won’t look at me.

“Why are you here?” I demand.

His throat bobs as he swallows down champagne before pouring himself another glass. “Were you not listening? I already explained myself. My brother was unfit.”

Unfit to lead and to marry Viviana. I’m about to hand over the last of my dignity to ask which one he’s referring to now.

Instead, I nod. “He was. But he was unfit yesterday. Last week. Six months ago. Why did you decide to finally do something about it tonight?”

I didn’t ask the question with an answer in mind, but I suddenly find myself hoping Mikhail will turn and look at me. I let myself imagine his icy blue eyes burning with passion… for me.

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