Page 109 of Desperate Desires

“I’ve always loved you, Bellezza,” he murmured, dancing me across the floor.

“I love you too,” I said, smiling as my heart contracted, damn near squeezing me to death.

“Yes, and as happy as I am to hear you love the daughter of my heart, beat it before I get sick.”

Adrik Volkov appeared, tapping my husband’s shoulder and cutting in, stealing me away from Ono, but neither of us really minded.

Scratch that. I watched Ono stand there frowning as Adrik twirled me around the dance floor.

“You look so lovely tonight, Rodnaya,” Adrik said, using the nickname he always used for me.

Micky explained once that it meant something like “one of my own” and I was always ridiculously flattered whenever he called me that.

“Thank you so much for everything,” I told him.

“You don’t need to thank me. Your husband was adamant he pay the bill no matter how much Micky argued,” the billionaire shrugged and I just stared shocked.

“Is he that rich?” I blurted, then covered my mouth with my hand.

I couldn’t believe I said that.

“And he’s only getting richer. That little company of his is a gold mine. The man imports the rarest goods directly to royalty and oil sheiks. He is a force,” Adrik said with admiration. And that meant a lot to me.

“I guess it is embarrassing how little I know about him,” I confessed.

“You have a lifetime to discover it, Rodnaya. But remember, we are here for you always. I wish only the best for you,” he said, kissing my cheek before handing me back to Ono.

“Stop growling at him,” I hissed at my husband.

“He didn’t have to kiss your cheek.”

“It was a fatherly kiss, Ono. Look at him and Sofia,” I said, grinning as I pointed out Adrik who was currently kissing his wife like they’d been apart for months and not mere minutes.

“Wow. He must really love her,” Ono said, eyebrows raised.

“He does. They are the original, like, ‘hashtag couple goals.’”

Ono spun me around, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. He bent to whisper in my ear and the whole room faded to the background as his breath warmed me, making me shiver and ache.

“We’re gonna set our own couple goals, Wife. We’re gonna beat them all.”

“I love you,” I told him.

“I love you too,” he replied and then he kissed me.

Chapter 37-Ono

The reception party was long, but I didn’t have the heart to tear Michelle away. Not when she was laughing so brightly and having the time of her life.

Sure, I wanted to drag her out of there. Every minute that ticked by all I wanted to do was toss her over my shoulder and drag her back to home.

Not even to the penthouse, but all the way home to Hudson Street. Tomorrow would be soon enough, though.

For tonight, I’d let her have her fun.

It was the next best thing to an actual formal wedding, but who knew?

Maybe we were gonna set a new trend. Ceremony and honeymoon first, then come back to party with the family.

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