Page 35 of Cruel Honor

Dimitri gives me an encouraging nod.

Here goes nothing.

“I do.” My voice is weak and thin.

“I know pronounce you husband and wife. Uh …” He trails off, shrugging. Poor priest. He just wants us to leave so badly.

Dimitri grabs my face and tries to kiss me, but I back up.

“Aren’t you going to ask me at least? It’s the respectable thing to do.”

“Miss Manners,” he says with a smile. “All right. May I kiss you?”

I’m not sure I can handle Dimitri kissing me. I’ve only been kissed once before back in high school, and it wasn’t anything memorable. I think it’s partly what drove me to never want to date.

Well, the real reason was the loss of my dad. I put myself deeper into books to not deal with his death, and I haven’t ever really left them.

“You may.” The words are out of me before I can stop them. Katya looks surprised. I surprised even myself.

Dimitri’s smile is cheeky as he leans down and presses his lips to mine. I pull away before it can deepen, my face burning. But within that one second, it was already better than my kiss from high school.

Within that one second, my entire life has now changed.

Dimitri looks a little disappointed, but he doesn’t push me. “Let’s get back home where it’s safe.”

“No party?” Katya asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Not this time. Not until I deal with Abram.”

Dimitri helps me get back into the car, being careful that my dress makes it back inside as well. He can be considerate.

When he wants to be.

None of us speak on the drive home. Katya is in the back, glaring at her brother, while I’m trying everything inside of me not to look at Dimitri. I don’t want to blush again.

I’m a married woman now. Surely, it can’t be legal, but that doesn’t matter. Dimitri has claimed me.

Now, it’s time to see if it will really keep me safe.

Once we get back to his house, Dimitri tells us he needs to go deal with Abram, and then he leaves, giving me a large smile as he goes. I can’t help it—I feel myself smiling back.

Katya looks at me more closely. “Are you smiling?”

“No.” I turn away from her so she can’t see the shame on my face.

She grabs my shoulders and makes me face her again. “You totally are! God, Evie, don’t fall for my brother’s charms. Ok? Trust me.”

“I won’t. I’ll just stay here long enough until he deals with Dima, and then … I guess get a divorce. Go back to my old life.”

“Oh, Evie. I hate to break it to you. You’re Dimitri’s now. You’re not going anywhere.”

Her words chill me right to the core.

Then she hugs me. “But at least we have each other.”

I try to find comfort in her words, but I only feel cold.

DIMITRI

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