Page 46 of Arranged to Marry the Bratva

"This is nice," she murmurs. "Just being here with you."

"I couldn't agree more." I kiss the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.

My heart pounds as I contemplate asking the question that's been on my mind for weeks. Will she say yes? Or is it too soon? I don't want to pressure her, but I can't stand being apart from her, even for a single night.

"Anoushka?" I say softly.

She lifts her head to look at me, her eyes glowing in the dim light. "Yes?"

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. "I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me. Permanently. To a shared room. We could take mine or decorate a new one, whatever you like."

Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face.

“I know you said you never wanted to, but I feel things have changed between us. The nights when you do stay over, I feel just like this,” I twine my fingers through hers as she stares into my eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. “At peace.”

I wait with bated breath until, at last, a slow smile spreads across her lips. "I feel it, too."

I give her hand a gentle squeeze. "I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night and wake up with you beside me every morning. What do you say?"

"I'd like that very much." She reaches up to caress my cheek. "I thought you’d never ask.”

Joy and relief surge through me as I crush her in my arms, kissing her soundly. She laughs, throwing her arms around my neck to pull me closer.

When we break apart, she rests her forehead against mine, gazing into my eyes. "You're stuck with me now, Mr. Orlov. And trust me when I say I can be quite the difficult roommate."

"Oh, I’m up for the challenge, Mrs. Orlov."

Chapter 20 - Anoushka

I straighten my dress as the car pulls up to Boris’s mansion, mentally preparing myself for the dinner ahead. Nikolai sits beside me, his strong jaw set in determination.

"The more time we spend with my brothers, the easier it will be to end this pointless hostility between you all," I say, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “Trust me. Arranging this dinner in cahoots with Robin was the right thing to do.”

Nikolai nods, his dark eyes boring into mine. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes for peace between us, my love."

I give him a gentle kiss on the cheek before the chauffeur opens our doors for us. The truth is, I’m tired of how hostile things are between my brothers and Nikolai. My brothers have been upset because they believe I’m forgetting about them, about our family business.

And they’re blaming it all on Nikolai.

None of that is true, though. I’m not forgetting about them at all. It’s just that I’m a little busy right now, trying to familiarize myself in a new home with a new family.

I was talking to my sister-in-law Robin about the same when she suggested this dinner. “With time,” she explained. “Your brothers will forget that this ever happened.”

I agreed with her at the time. Now? I just pray my brothers keep it civil with my husband.

We exit the car and the guards lead us to the living room to reveal my brothers milling about the bar. Their booming voices quiet as we enter.

"Anoushka, darling!" Pippa rushes forward to embrace me. The men stand back, tension crackling in the air.

I give my brothers wary smiles. "Boris, Damien, Lev, it's good to see you all."

“Is it?” Pippa asks sarcastically, and I can’t help but burst out into laughter at Lev’s offended face while Pippa gives me a wink.

“Come, come,” says Robin, joining us to give me a kiss before leading Nikolai to the bar. “We must get you a drink.”

“Thank you,” Nikolai says stiffly. “You have a wonderful home,” he says as he follows her. Pippa and I stand behind for a few moments.

“You don’t want a drink?” she asks, nodding to the bar.

---