Page 17 of Forced Bratva Bride

I resist, ever so slightly, not wanting to lie with him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his deep voice soft and gentle.

“I want you to leave, please. I would rather sleep alone.”

Self-consciously, I cover myself with my arm and pull my knees tightly together. He props himself up on his elbow to look at me.

“You want me to go? Now?”

“Yes,” I confirm, without making eye contact.

He pulls his mouth tight but lifts himself off the bed.

“Of course. I am sure you a tired and need some time to rest.”

There is no bitterness in his voice, as I had expected there to be.

He pulls his pants on and buttons his shirt. I sit tensely, covering myself, waiting for him to get out.

He turns toward me, then, unexpectedly leaning over the bed and softly kissing my cheek. I close my eyes for a moment.

“Sleep well,” he says.

“You too,” I reply, barely a whisper.

And then he gone, and I am left in stunned silence, wondering what I just did, and why he respected my request without any argument at all.

Chapter 7 - Maxim

I sit in my home office, watching the security cameras as Chiara walks down the hallway toward the kitchen. It's been a week since we moved into my place, and she has been exploring the mansion, talking to the staff, and getting to know the grounds and the people who work here.

Honestly, I'm surprised. I expected her to be stuck up, snobbish. I thought she would treat my staff as though they were there to serve her, and nothing else. But she has not shown one ounce of the diva attitude I was anticipating, and has been incredibly friendly to everyone. She even offered to help the chef cook dinner one night. The bodyguards I have assigned to her report that she is pleasant to have around and treats them with a lot of respect.

Right now, she is carrying her empty coffee mug back to the kitchen, even though she knows we have people to take care of those chores for her.

Nothing about her is as I expected it to be.

I switch cameras as I see Darya arriving and the housekeeper opening the front door for her. She insisted on coming over to meet Chiara properly, as she did not have a chance to talk to her at the wedding with all the commotion and so many people around.

She is carrying a gift bag as she walks into the house.

I watch the kitchen camera as the housekeeper enters, Darya close behind her.

“Chiara, miss. Darya has come to visit you,” she announces, then nods and steps out.

Chiara stands awkwardly for a moment, looking tense and unsure.

Darya rushes right over to her and hugs her. “It’s so nice to meet you properly. The wedding was so incredible, and you looked drop-dead gorgeous in that dress. Did you have someone make it especially for you?”

Chiara smiles tightly. “My father had it made for me.”

“Well, he has excellent taste. Come on, let’s grab a cocktail and have a chat outside on the patio. I would love to get to know you better. I hardly said two words to you at the reception. I can’t believe Maxim is married, and I didn’t even have a chance to meet his wife beforehand.”

Darya grins and gets to work making some cocktails for the girls.

I lean closer to the camera, studying Chiara’s expression. She seems wary, almost cautious of my sister.

I should go down there and try and ease her discomfort instead of leaving her in the company of someone she doesn’t even know. But then I realize she hardly knows me, and maybe it will be good for the two of them to spend some time together. Darya is the sweetest person, and can make anyone feel at home in her presence.

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