Page 133 of Sweet Animosity

I raised an eyebrow as I used the other spoon to lift an entire scoop out of the crystal dish. I held it aloft. “Oh, were you now?”

Her eyes widened as she circled around the kitchen island. Stretching out her arm, she pointed at me. “Var, don’t you dare!” She was laughing so hard she could barely get the words out.

I stalked her around the island. “Take it back.”

“I’m not saying it first!”

“Technically, you already did.”

“Did not!”

I lifted the spoon higher. “Last warning.”

She paused and put her hands on her hips. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I let the ice cream fly.

It hit just below her collarbone, where the shirt collar was open, coating the diamond necklace and the top curve of her breast.

With her mouth open in shock, she stretched her arms out to the sides before reaching to brush the dripping ice cream off her skin. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that, mister!”

She dug her fingers into the sticky dessert and lifted the scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Not to be out-armed, I did the same. Lowering my voice to try to sound as stern as possible, I growled, “Put it down.”

“Not a chance.”

Just as her arm pulled back to throw, I lunged and snatched her around the waist at the last minute, our bodies crashing together. In a fit of laughter, she smashed the ice cream against my lips. I then did the same to her.

It was our own cutting of the wedding cake.

Pushing my whipped cream-coated hand into her hair, I claimed her mouth in a sticky sweet kiss.

When I pulled back, I stared down into her eyes. “I love you, krasivaya.”

She licked ice cream off her lips, but didn’t say anything.

That was my girl, stubborn until the very end.

I tightened my grasp around her waist as a low growl vibrated in my chest.

She smirked. “Fine, you big gorilla. I love you, too. Happy now?”

Sweeping her into my arms, I leaned in and licked a dollop of whipped cream from the corner of her lips. “I’m not unhappy,” I responded smugly before carrying her back to the bedroom.

CHAPTER 46

VIVIAN

Michigan Avenue was in chaos.

The photoshoot of Yelena’s latest gown designs was a hive of social media buzz.

On top of the spectacle of shutting down one of the busiest streets in the city in the middle of the day so famous models could strut their stuff down the center as Katia took photos.

It was fascinating to watch.

And to be watched.

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