Page 76 of Ruthless Lullaby

From the top of the grand staircase, I watch Mindy emerge from the sleek black car, looking like a vision in the dress I handpicked for her. The fabric clings to her curves like a second skin, offering tantalizing glimpses of the treasures concealed beneath. Each step she takes sends arousal through my body, igniting a fire that threatens to consume me from head to toe.

My woman.

The chauffeur escorts her to the foot of the stairs, and she begins her ascent. The soft click of her heels on marble echoes through the foyer, like a countdown to the moment when she'll be within my reach. It takes every shred of my hard-earned self-control to not bound down those steps, sweep her into my arms, and carry her straight to my bedroom where I can worship her body and fuck her senseless.

But there’s a time and place for that. I force myself to wait, to savor this moment of anticipation. As she reaches the top of the stairs, I slip into the role of the debonair host, though my eyes betray my hunger as they devour her form.

"You look beautiful,lisichka," I murmur when she reaches me.

A rush of warmth spreads across her face, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of innocence and desire. "Thank you," she whispers, her gaze boldly taking me in in my black suit. "You don’t look too bad yourself."

"You like what you see?" I tease with a smirk.

She bites her lip. “Maybe.”

My body reacts instantly, my half-erect cock shoving itself against the inside of my pants. I gently take Mindy’s hand and guide her into the dimly lit chamber where the party is taking place. The electricity between us is undeniable.

Upon reaching the bar, I uncork a bottle of champagne. The lid comes off with a satisfying pop. I pour two glasses of the amber liquid, watching in satisfaction as the bubbles dance inside. I hand her one glass. "Let's kick off the night."

"Wait," she says. "First, I've got something for you. I want to give it to you while I'm still sober."She reaches into her bag, pulling out a piece of paper. "Here," she says.

Finally.

Exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

I take the blue folder from her, the one holding the contract for our arrangement. I flip it open and look at the bottom where her signature is supposed to be. “Ms. Melinda Grace Williams,” it reads.

Good.

Better than good.

"Thank you." I smirk, leaning closer and speaking into her lips. "Best decision of your life." I hand her a glass of champagne. "To us," I say and raise my glass in a toast, locking my eyes on hers. "To my beautiful wife."

She smiles back. "I might need some time to get used to the term." She also raises her glass, her eyes never leaving mine. "Happy birthday, Maron!"

We sip the champagne, allowing the bubbles to dance on our tongues. The whole time, all I can focus on is the way Mindy's lips touch the edge of the crystal cup, and the way her throat moves as she swallows the sweet liquid. The same lips willbe wrapped around my cock tonight. The thought alone makes me even harder in my pants.

I place my empty glass on the table and take her by the hand. "Come," I tell her.

I lead the way to the dining room where the scent of gourmet cuisine fills the air, mingling with the heady aroma of expensive wines and spirits.

"This looks amazing," Mindy says when she sees the buffet table. “Smells amazing too.”

She's not wrong. The chefs have outdone themselves, laying out a feast fit for kings. Every dish is carefully selected to tantalize even the most refined taste buds. There’s caviar from the depths of the Caspian Sea, its briny flavors perfectly paired with crisp champagne; foie gras from the hills of France with a rich and buttery flavor. We also have truffles from the forests of Italy, oozing a scent of earthy decadence.

But none of those things compare to the sight beside me - Mindy, dressed in her fiery red dress that clings to her, emphasizing every beautiful curve of her body. I fucking can't take my eyes off her. My desire keeps growing with each passing second.

Patience, dolboyob.

You’ve got the whole night ahead of you.

As we take our seats at the table, the doors to the dining room swing open, revealing a familiar face. It's Pavel. He walks over and nods in a silent greeting, his eyes flickering briefly to Mindy with a look of appraisal.

"Happy birthday, boss," Pavel says as he lifts a glass in my direction.

"Spasibo, Pavel," I reply, my arm draped around Mindy's waist. "You already met Mindy, my fiancée."

Pavel nods at her, extending his hand to Mindy like a true gentleman. Despite the fact that my second-in-command grew up on the streets, he’s doing a decent job at party etiquette. He can behave when I need him to.

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