Page 13 of An Arranged Virgin for the Bratva

The chapel doors swing open. Heart pounding, I take my place at the altar, with Abram standing behind me. I turn to face the ornate doors at the end of the aisle. My heart pounds beneath my crisp white shirt. Any moment now, she'll walk through those doors. My bride. My obsession.

The string quartet begins to play a haunting melody that makes everyone crane their necks. My eyes remain fixed on the entrance, searching for any sign of movement. The anticipation is almost unbearable. I force myself to breathe slowly, to maintain my composure.

Where is she? Has she run? The thought sends a jolt of panic through me. No, Sofia is too dutiful for that. Too proud.

I shift my weight, hyper-aware of the hundreds of eyes upon me. Bratva families from all over the country are here to witness this holy union.

The music swells, and my breath catches in my throat. This is it. She's coming. The heavy doors swing open, and there she is. Sofia. My bride.

Guests rise, faces craning in anticipation.

She glides down the aisle on Nikolai's arm, a vision in white. Her dress is a masterpiece of lace and silk, hugging her slender figure before flaring out at the hips. The bodice is adorned with intricate beadwork that catches the light, making her shimmer with every step.

I can't tear my eyes away from her face. Her green eyes are bright, challenging, framed by long lashes. Her blonde hair is swept up in an elegant updo, tendrils framing her face. She's the picture of grace and beauty, but I notice the slight hesitation in her step, the way her fingers tighten on Nikolai's arm.

My chest tightens. I want to go to her, to sweep her into my arms and carry her toward a certain future promising joy. But I remain rooted to the spot, struggling to maintain my composure.

As she draws nearer, I can see the tension in her jaw, the slight tremor in her hand. She's scared, I realize. Beneath that icy exterior, she's terrified.

"You look beautiful," I murmur as she takes her place beside me.

Her eyes meet mine, a flash of defiance in their depths. "Save your compliments," she whispers back. "This changes nothing between us."

I lean in closer, my voice low and intense. "It changes everything, Sofia. You're mine now."

A shiver runs through her, and for a moment, I see a crack in her armor. But then it's gone, replaced by that familiar cold disdain.

"Only on paper," she hisses.

I smirk, drinking in the fire in her eyes. "We'll see about that."

The low murmur of voices fades as the officiant begins to speak, and we both stand in attention.

I barely hear the words, my focus entirely on Sofia. She stands rigidly beside me, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Do you, Vladimir Zolotov, take Sofia Orlov to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

My voice is low and steady as I respond, "I do."

Sofia's turn comes, and I feel her tension radiating off her in waves. Her "I do" is barely more than a whisper, but it echoes in my ears like a thunderclap.

"You may now kiss the bride."

I turn to face her, my heart pounding. Her green eyes meet mine, a mix of defiance and fear swirling in their depths. I lean in slowly, giving her time to prepare herself. My lips brush against hers, soft and chaste. It takes every ounce of my self-control to keep the kiss brief and respectful, to not deepen it and show her exactly what she does to me. She never offers more, her mouth remains closed the whole, brief time.

As I pull back, I hear her sharp intake of breath. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" I murmur, my voice rough with restrained desire.

Sofia's eyes narrow. "Don't get used to it," she hisses.

I can't help but smirk.

***

The reception hall buzzes with life. Champagne flows freely, clinking glasses and boisterous laughter filling the air. I scan the room, my eyes inevitably drawn to Sofia. She stands across the room, a vision in white, her posture rigid as she converses with some of our guests.

"Quite the party, isn't it?" Boris sidles up to me, a glass of vodka in hand.

I nod, my gaze still fixed on Sofia. "It's… lively."

---