Page 45 of Arranged to Marry the Bratva

She takes a sip and smiles appreciatively. "This is lovely, thank you."

I make myself comfortable on the benches we have set up in the balloon and reach under.

"Hungry?" I open the picnic basket, revealing an assortment of gourmet treats. Foie gras, truffle sandwiches, chocolate-dipped strawberries. "I wasn't sure what you'd want, so I got one of everything."

"This is too much." She picks up a strawberry, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "What's the occasion?"

"Can't a man spoil his girl without needing a special occasion?" I pour two flutes of Dom Perignon. “Besides,” I wiggle our eyebrows. “I believe we just hit four months of marriage.”

Anoushka's cheeks flush a delicate pink as she chuckles, taking a sip of champagne. "I suppose that calls for a celebration." Her eyes meet mine, the warmth in them making my heart skip a beat. “You’re going to spoil me rotten." She leans toward me and kisses my cheek, a fleeting brush of soft lips.

My chest tightens with longing for more. "You deserve to be spoiled." I then reach into my coat pocket and pull out a box, opening it as I do. I watch as her eyes fall upon it, the shimmer from the diamonds brightening her face in the night sky as she stares down into the box. I pull out the necklace and lean forward to put my hands behind her neck, fastening it around her neck, the stones glinting in the golden light. "For you."

Her eyes widen as she touches the necklace, heavy around her neck. "Nikolai, this is too expensive a gift for me to accept."

"Nothing is too expensive for you." I caress her cheek. “You’re my wife.”

She frowns, grasping my hand and pulling it away but holding it in hers. "You don't have to buy me expensive things to win me over. I'm here because of you, not what you can give me. I’m just so touched you made an effort into putting all this together, Nikolai, but I have more jewelry than I know what to do with."

She quietly pulls back and removes the necklace, putting it back in the box. “I think Sofia would love this,” she closes the box quietly. “For me, this,” she motions at the skyline below and the stars above, “is enough.”

Her words hit me, a splash of cold water. She's right. I've been a fool, thinking I could buy her affection when all she wants is me.

"I'm sorry," I say. "You're right. But please, Anoushka. Just keep this necklace as the first gift your husband ever bought you. In the future, it won’t happen again.”

I see her warring with herself, and then, with a brief nod, she whispers, "Okay. It’s beautiful. Thank you."

I place the box on her lap, and she puts it beside her after caressing the soft velvet. Silence settles between us, filled only by the soft rustle of the wind as we float in the air. Anoushka leans into me, resting her head against my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close, cherishing the moment.

Her smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. She kisses me, a sweet, unhurried kiss. "Now you're getting it."

I pull her into my arms, holding her close as our balloon drifts over the glittering skyline. She's all I need.

***

We lounge on the floor of the basket, the picnic basket quarter-gone between us. I refill our flutes and hand one to Anoushka.

"To us," I say, clinking my glass against hers.

"To new beginnings." She smiles at me over the rim of her glass before taking a sip.

I follow suit, the bubbles fizzing in my mouth. "I never thought I'd find this."

"Find what?" She laces her fingers through mine, her hand soft and warm in my grasp.

"Peace." I brush my thumb over her knuckles. "After my parents died, I never thought I'd be at peace again.”

Her eyes soften with understanding. “I know what it’s like losing your parents, especially to the violence of our world,” she says softly.

“How old were you?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Very young. Around thirteen. Without Boris, all would have been lost.”

I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Poor Boris.”

"He did carry a heavy burden." She inches closer until she's curled against my side, her head on my shoulder. "You're a good man, Nikolai Orlov. I’ve seen all you do for your family."

"I try my best." I wrap my arm around her shoulders, holding her close. The sun dips lower in the sky, the golden light from the fire caressing her face. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

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