Page 39 of Bound By Longing

But Dimitri could be.

So, I return his smile and watch as his eyes light up.

Chapter

Nine

SOFIYA

“Is this a good idea?” I ask Mikhail while we lie in bed together. “Marrying Mila off so soon after everything she’s been through?”

“It’s the only way to truly keep her protected.”

“But both Vik and I have been hurt even after we were married. A husband can’t do everything.”

“No. But a husband can sure help a lot. Damien is sniffing around Mila. If he knows she’s married, he’ll back off. A lot more men will back off. This is the only way to keep her safe.”

I stare into the strong, steady eyes of my husband. I love this man more than anything. I’m carrying his child.

But even I can tell he doesn’t fully believe what he’s saying.

A husband may help Mila, but something tells me Damien isn’t done with her yet.

MILA

I stare up at my ceiling, thinking about my conversation with Dimitri. He seems kind. Handsome. Sweet. The perfect man to be my husband. To be my prince charming.

But it’s not Dimitri’s face I see when I shut my eyes and try to sleep. Damien haunts my dreams the entire night until I wake up in the morning, exhausted like I didn’t even sleep at all.

When I go downstairs, I find both Sofiya and Vik at the kitchen table. “What’s going on?” I ask.

“We just wanted to make sure you were doing ok,” Sofiya says, stroking her belly.

“I was wondering when you’d want to move back in with Alek and me?” Vik asks.

I blink. “Um … I don’t know. I was taken there by Vladimir. I’m just not sure if I’m ready to go back yet.”

Vik nods with a surprising amount of understanding in her eyes. In the past, Vik would have argued with me for hours about choosing Sofiya over her, but now, she’s more empathetic. Marriage truly changed her.

Will it change me, too?

“So, Dimitri,” Vik says as I sit across from her. “Is he really going to be your new husband?”

“I guess so. Mikhail said I can say yes or no, but I think I should say yes. He seems sweet.”

“But you don’t know that.” Vik crosses her arms. “Shouldn’t you at least go on a date with him before agreeing to marry him? See if this guy is the real deal.”

“Mikhail wouldn’t give Mila to someone who could hurt her,” Sofiya says.

Vik rolls her eyes. Ok, so maybe she hasn’t fully changed. “I know that, Sofiya. But Mila deserves to know her husband. You and I didn’t get that privilege.” She reaches across the table and pats my arm. “You should get that privilege, Mila.”

“Ok. You’re right. I should know the man I’ll marry. I’ll ask Mikhail to arrange a another meeting between Dimitri and me.”

I should feel more excited about going on my first true date with a man.

But I’m not.

Because Dimitri isn’t Damien.

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