“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the priest says and my heart beats in a wild flutter of confusion.
Oleg steps right up against me, wraps his hand around the back of my neck and presses his lips against mine.
I am so angry it feels as though that anger is going to rip through my chest. But the worst part—the absolutelyworst partof this—is that the kiss feels so fucking amazing.
Oleg steps away and looks down at me with a dark streak in his gaze. Something behind his stare tells me he felt the same way about the kiss.
I want to go home.
This isn’t right.
I don’t want any of this.
I want to become a doctor and escape this horrible mafia life.
The priest slides a piece of paper across the desk towards us. “Please sign over here.”
I pick up the pen on autopilot, not even thinking anymore but feeling sick to my stomach as I scribble my signature onto the marriage certificate. Surely this can’t be legal. This can’t be happening.
But there it is. A marriage certificate with my name, right next to my husband’s name. Oleg Dubrov.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Dubrov,” the priest says with a smile.
“Mrs. Dubrov? “ I blurt out in absolute horror.
“Thank you for your time,” Oleg says to the priest. Ignoring my emotional turmoil. I don’t believe what just happened. I can’t even seem to process it in my own thoughts. Am I really married to him now?
I stare between them. I can’t process any of this.
The priest leaves and Oleg nods to his security guard. “Please take her to my room. I think her and I need to talk,” he says. The guard takes my arm, which I immediately pull back. “Don’t touch me,” I snap angrily. He takes my arm again and pulls me out into the hallway, then pushes me ahead of him—leading me to Oleg’s bedroom.
Oh, we are going to talk alright. I am going to tell him exactly what I think. He’s going to—
“Raisa.”
His voce makes me jump and I spin to face him. My guard is up, my fists are clenched at my sides and my jaw is biting down so tightly it’s starting to make my neck muscles ache.
“What the fuck just happened?” I blurt out, loud and aggressive.
“Raisa,” he speaks gently, not matching my energy. “It had to be done. I’m sorry, that you were put into this position, but this is for the best.”
I shake my head, no, this is bullshit.
“The best for who? You? Your family? Do you care about other people?“ “I hate you, Oleg. I will hate you till the day I die,” I whisper, the words spilling from my lips like a curse.
He smiles sadly.
He is standing too close and it’s making my skin tingle and my stomach flutter as though a hundred butterflies have escaped and are now flapping around inside me.
I bite my lower lip and squeeze my eyes closed to try and ignore how freaking sexy he looks.
Get a grip, Raisa.I repeat to myself.
“Raisa, you don’t deserve this. But somehow—maybe it is—maybe this is what was meant to happen,“ his hand brushes over my cheek. I want to turn my face away from him, but I seem to losing control of myself. I’m so angry, so full of rage, with blood pulsing through my veins so fast it’s making me dizzy.
His touch is warm and it sends shivers down my spine. What is happening to me?
“You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. You are smart, strong and passionate about everything,” he whispers, his voice is deep and it rumbles through me.