Page 11 of Forced to Marry the Bratva

My heart races as I weigh the advantages of remaining civil instead of openly declaring war. What would I gain by telling Father? He might get upset and cause a riot, driving Damien away from me. I would fail at the one job Papa has asked of me, and no one would win in this situation.

“Fine,” I say, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “But don’t mistake this for weakness. I’m only agreeing to this because it’s in the best interest of our families.”

“Understood,” he replies, and I notice the faintest hint of relief in his eyes. This uneasy alliance we’ve formed is fragile at best, and I know that one wrong move could send everything crashing down around us.

So, I have no choice but to play every move right. I may have been forced into this marriage, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a victim. I will navigate these treacherous waters on my own terms, proving to my father that I am worthy of the role placed upon me.

Which begins by playing the perfect role tonight.

“Let’s get back to the reception before people start asking questions,” I suggest, eager to put on a show for the world.

“Agreed,” he says, opening the screen and gesturing for me to exit first.

Just as we’re about to step out of the private space, a sudden sound from nearby freezes us both in our tracks. The muffled noise sends a jolt of adrenaline through me, and I can feel Damien tense up beside me. We exchange a brief, wary glance, unsure of what’s happening.

Did someone overhear us?

“Stay quiet,” he whispers urgently, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement. My heart races as I strain my ears, trying to make out the source of the noise. Could someone have discovered our secret conversation? Or is it just a party guest who’s wandered off course?

As I ponder these possibilities, I feel Damien’s hand on my arm, pulling me back into the room. Before I can react, he presses me against the corner wall near the exit, his body hovering above me. I try to protest, but my words are silenced by his lips crashing down on mine.

The intensity of his kiss catches me off guard, sending a wave of desire coursing through me. Despite our recent argument, I find myself unable to resist the passion that suddenly flares between us. The taste of him, so wild and untamed, consumes me, and I’m powerless to stop my hands from gripping his shoulders, holding on for dear life.

“Damien,” I gasp when he finally breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless and disoriented. “Why...?”

But he slams his lips against mine one more time.

Chapter 5 - Damien

I press Genevieve against the wall, my lips crashing onto hers with a feverish urgency I can’t control. The softness of her mouth beneath mine sends waves of desire coursing through me, and I grip her waist tighter, pulling her closer.

“Damien,” she pulls back again, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Play along,” I whisper into her ear, my heart racing as I consider the possibility of someone finding us like this. I need to protect our secret conversation at all costs, and keeping up appearances is crucial. “Trust me, we don’t want anyone, especially your father, questioning our relationship, and if he finds us here, he might wonder…”

Her eyes search mine for a moment, uncertainty flickering within them. Just then, we hear the footsteps draw closer, turning the bend in our direction.

She looks out through the gaps in the screen, and turns her neck back to me, her hair falling over her face, her lips parted, the sheen from a thin layer of sweat glistening down her neck.

“Fine,” she hisses. “But only if it keeps them from suspecting anything,” she agrees, her words filling me with a strange sense of relief. Gerald Russo is no fool.

He knows Genevieve and I won’t sneak out to just get to know each other. We married each other as strangers; we have our whole lives to talk. If he finds us here talking, he will suspect something, and I’m afraid Genevieve won’t be able to keep the details of Lev and my conversation from him if she’s caught by him on the spot.

With that, I lean in once more, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that sets my entire being alight. My nerves tingle, my eyes close, and the hair on my neck rises. This time, it’s different—raw, passionate, and filled with an intensity that leaves me breathless. Our mouths move together in perfect harmony, each touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins.

Her hands tentatively slide up my chest, gripping my shirt as she pulls me closer. The scent of her perfume fills my nostrils, intoxicating and addictive. I’m drowning in her—in this moment—and I never want it to end.

Without thinking, I wrench her hair through my hands. “Damien,” she gasps, breaking the kiss for a moment before diving back in, hungry for more. A fever takes over me, and I pull her toward me, pushing her against the wall in a more comfortable spot.

I can feel my control slipping away as the heat between us intensifies. My hands grip her waist tighter, fingers digging into her soft flesh through the material of her dress, as if I’m trying to anchor myself in this storm of emotions. She puts her arms around my neck.

Without thinking, I put one hand on the small of her back, and she moans, arching into my touch. My hand goes down to her ass, and I grip it in my hand. She trembles and bites my lower lip.

I pull away and nip at her neck. She gasps and pushes out her neck to me. I pull up the satin of her dress and trail my fingers up her thigh, taking her lips back under my control. I reach the curve of her hips and dig into them. She whimpers. I want to rip those panties off her…

Oh fuck, I’m losing all control.

Using all the restraint I have, I pull away. We both stare at each other, breathless. Her hair’s a mess, and her lipstick is streaked across her mouth. I reach out and wipe off the smudge, my finger lingering on the corner of my lips. She lets it sit there, looking at me all doe-eyed and innocent, and for some reason, it pisses me off.

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