Page 35 of Defiled Innocence

“I’m not saying that.” I turn to look up at Dmitri who has one eyebrow perfectly arched.

“They’re your vows.” He squeezes my hand. “Speak them.”

“That’s not the normal vows.” I point at the judge’s book with my free hand.

“No. These are the vows that we are taking. Now repeat what he said.”

“Dmitri. Women don’t say things like that anymore.”

“My wife did,” Nikolai leans forward to say to me.

“Mine, too. But I admit she was hesitant at first,” Arman pipes in.

“See? Now repeat the words,” Dmitri orders.

I shake my head. “I’m not promising to obey and honor you.”

“Then we’ll wait.” Dmitri drops my hand.

He tugs on his sleeves like he’s adjusting them from beneath the suit jacket, looking almost bored. I have no doubt the man will simply stand and wait for his orders to be followed.

“Well, I’m sure your cousins have better places to be than to stand here and watch you be stubborn.” They have to help me. Aren’t these men all about helping a woman in distress?

“Actually, I have the afternoon clear. Anya won’t be home until past dinner tonight.” Arman slips his hands into his pants pockets, clearly taking the position that he’s on his cousin’s side.

“And Charlotte’s with Anya, so we both have time.” Nikolai checks his watch as though he’s going to time me. How long can I hold out.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’ve never known him not to be.” Arman grins.

“Fine. We’ll just stand here.” I fold my arms over my chest, ready to dig my heels in.

If they want to stand here and stare at each other, I can play that game too.

When I was young and my parents would get into one of their screaming matches, I’d hide in my bedroom waiting for them to stop before venturing back out. I got really good at waiting.

This won’t be any harder.

“Actually, I do have another meeting,” the judge faintly intervenes into the madness.

“They’ll wait,” Dmitri assures him. “If her stubbornness causes them to delay their wedding, you can assure them my wife will have consequences for her behavior.”

My cheeks burn. How can he say such things in front of the judge? His cousins?

Speechless, I turn to look at Nikolai, sure he’s just as appalled, only to find him nodding in agreement.

Arman looks just as satisfied with Dmitri’s threat.

The judge is the only one with any real decency to at least look surprised by his words.

Obviously, even if I don’t promise to obey this man, Dmitri’s going to see to it that I do.

“You’re impossible.” Kicking him in the shin would help deflate the balloon of anger building in my chest, but I have to settle for stomping my feet as I move back into position beside him. “What was the line again?”

The judge glances at Dmitri and waits for him to nod his permission before repeating the vow.

“Fine.” I take a deep breath, steadying myself to spew the words. “As Dmitri’s wife, I promise to honor him, obey him, and… seriously, Dmitri, I can’t.”

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