Page 32 of Devil's Bride

Alexei finishes the liquor in his glass and finally turns to look at me.

My heart skips a beat when he does. His dark hair is tousled, and most of his white dress shirt is unbuttoned, leaving his chest exposed. He looks so indecent, and now my mind is filled with unholy thoughts. This Russian man is something.

“Enjoyed your day shopping?” he asks with a quirk of his brow. His voice is calm, and it’s a struggle to read his expression. If he is angry, he doesn’t give it away.

I nod, crossing one of my legs over the other. “I did.” I pick up my purse beside me and pull out his unlimited Amex card. “Here, have your card back.”

I swear he huffs as his gaze floats between the card and me. “You spent $95,000?”

I smirk at him. So, he is upset about it? He wouldn’t be asking if he wasn’t. “Yes. I was being considerate so I didn’t spend more. Plus, I still need to redecorate our bedroom.”

He’s quiet as he watches me.

“I got you something.” Standing up to my feet, I grab one of the shopping bags and walk to him. Holding the bag to him, I say, “This was really expensive, but I think you deserve this much.”

Alexei takes the bag from me and brings out a maroon tie. “You got me a tie?”

“You like it, don’t you? It cost $500.”

His eyes widen as he looks at me. I’d spent a whopping $94,500 of his money on myself and got him a tie worth way less than that. That’s an enough to buy a house and anyone would be upset.

“You can file for divorce if you don’t like me spending that much money,” I say, “I don’t want to live with a man who can’t take care of me.”

I expect him to lose his shit right about now, but his dark eyes crinkle as he takes me in. “That wasn’t enough?”

“Barely. I shopped on a budget.” I chew my cheek. I’d bought a few clothing items to donate to charity. Mikhail and I had also visited a restaurant downtown and we’d gotten over a hundred meals for the homeless. It wasn’t easy spending that much money.

I’d only done it to get back at him for last night, and to piss him off enough not to want to be with me anymore. I’m thinking about him a lot more than I should. My body is needing him a lot more than is necessary. The quicker we get this over with, the better it will be for both of us.

While I can initiate a divorce, a man like Alexei will probably kill my family to get back at me for walking away. Or maybe he won’t and that is just an excuse I’m making up so I don’t have to leave him first.

“Spend double that next time.” He raises the tie. “Thanks for this, too.”

My mouth falls open. I’m gaping at him like a stunned idiot. He’s asking me to spend double what I spent today, and he’s thanking me for buying that cheap tie for him? There’s no way in hell he’s that chill about this. “Wait, aren’t you upset?”

It’s his turn to smile now. His teeth are white and perfect. “Why would I be?”

“I spent enough money to buy a house on shopping, in one day.” It’s difficult to get the words out because I’m really surprised. His calmness is not what I anticipated.

“You’re my wife, Irina. And I have enough money to spend.” He inches closer, putting a finger under my chin and tilting my face up. “Did you think I would make a fuss over $95,000?”

“Yes.” I don’t bother lying. Either this man is stinking rich or he’s crazy. “I expected you to be pissed, really pissed.”

“Was that your way of getting back at me for last night?”

My cheeks burn. Heat radiates from his body and sears through mine. Every cell in me is unashamedly awakened by his touch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His gaze dips to my chest. My breathing is labored, my chest heaving. “You’re trouble, malyshka. I shouldn’t engage with you, but I can’t help it.”

“You can get rid of me and move on with your murder spree.” It’s after the words leave my mouth that I realize how he might interpret it. “I don’t mean kill me.”

“Do you think I’ll kill you if you asked?” he questions in a hoarse voice.

I shrug. “You hate my father, and by extension, me. There’s nothing stopping you if you want to.”

And for some reason, I trust that he won’t. People fear this man and sing his name like a death knell. He’s known as the Devil of New York, yet there’s never been a moment where I was truly afraid he would harm me. Not even at our first meeting at the gala.

He angles over me, leaning so close his citrus and woodsy scent fills my nose. I’m getting sort of addicted to the way he smells. It’s comforting and makes me want to wrap myself around him. “You’re mine, malyshka. You do not have the right to ask me to end your life.”

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