Page 44 of Arranged to Marry the Bratva

"Nikolai," I breathe, hardly recognizing my own voice. He has awakened something primal and passionate inside of me. I never want him to stop.

"Come with me," he says quietly, already leading me toward the exit. I follow willingly, eager to lose myself in his embrace once more. The party fades into the background as Nikolai and I make our escape.

Chapter 19 - Nikolai

Our marriage is hitting a solid four months now, and with each passing week, Anoushka and I are beginning to truly understand one another better.

I realize now I’d been a fool to ask her to fulfill marital duties. When given free rein, it’s in Anoushka’s very fiber to care, to nurture, to love. Her laughter fills the halls of our home. At the office, she’s made the space hers. The staff loves her. She remembers birthdays, fixes brunches with my siblings, and ensures we always have a well-stocked kitchen.

In every way, she’s become a pillar of support.

Today, I watch as she hums softly and arranges flowers in a vase, a serene smile on her face.

“Beautiful,” I murmur, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

She leans back into my embrace, tilting her head to look up at me with those enchanting eyes, which remind me of the ocean.

“Anoushka,” I mumble into her ear. “Are you free tonight?”

“Yes, why?” she asks, turning to face me wholly, her arms linked around my neck.

I brush my lips around hers softly. “I’d like to take you out.”

To my surprise, she frowns.

“What?” I ask, getting worried she’d turn me down. She’s only just warming up to her role as my wife. Did I assume she’s more invested than I believe she is?

“Nothing,” she shakes her head. “Tonight sounds wonderful. It’s just… I realized we’ve never been on a date.”

“So we haven’t,” I whistle. When she puts it like that, I better put up a spectacular show tonight.

***

As we step outside the car, I notice the sun is beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the hot air balloon site. I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation at the surprise awaiting Anoushka.

"Alright, let's get this started," I say to the crew as they prepare the hot air balloon for liftoff. They work diligently, making sure everything is in order.

"Are you ready?" I ask Anoushka, who stands beside me with wide eyes, her hand in mine.

"More than ready," she replies with a grin. "I can’t believe you pulled this off, Nikolai."

With a nod to the crew, we climb into the basket. The balloon rises into the air, drifting up above the city skyline. Anoushka gasps, clutching the basket railing. Her eyes widen, drinking in the breathtaking view.

My heart swells with pride at her reaction. I knew she'd love this. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

She turns to me, eyes shining. "How did you arrange all this?"

I shrug, feigning nonchalance. "I have my ways."

The truth is, I pulled a few strings and called in a few favors to get a last-minute booking—anything for her.

We float higher, the breeze rustling her hair. She smiles, utterly captivated by the sight. I'm not even looking at the view. I only have eyes for her.

“Philadelphia is strangely charming,” she whispers, staring down from the basket and then at me. “But the fact that this is what you managed to pull together for our first date… ”

Words fail her as she sighs with contentment and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

Eager to impress her further, I pull out a bottle of champagne and two glasses from a hidden compartment in the basket. "For us," I say, pouring the bubbly liquid into the glasses and handing one to her.

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