Page 39 of The Bratva's Prisoner Bride

Stepping back, I laughed as she hit the water before resurfacing a moment later, just as drenched as I was.

With her antics flipped onto her, Daria glared at me while she pushed her hair out of her face.

"Are you serious?" She muttered, huffing out an annoyed breath.

Still amused, I chuckled and moved toward her in the water, wrapping an arm around her waist. With ease, she was pulled closer to me as I looked down at her.

"Incredibly serious...I'm not one for letting anyone pull a fast one on me. Not even my own wife," I murmured, noticing how her white top suddenly became much more sheer than before. I couldn't ignore how it moved something within me.

Daria looked vaguely annoyed until our proximity became apparent to us both, and then she swallowed back whatever words were on the tip of her tongue.

Neither of us said anything for a moment while I drank at the sight of her. There was something about the way her drenched clothes clung to her body, and how her hair framed her face. There was an innocent look in her eyes and the wet lashes framing them, and overall, she looked like a walking temptation.

Through that beat of silence between us, I couldn't shake the growing need to be closer. To feel more of her.

I used to pride myself on my ability to resist all things, but in that moment, I couldn't care less to uphold that.

Instead, I guided her by the waist until her front pressed against mine, and I dipped down to press my lips against hers.

Daria flinched slightly, seemingly caught off-guard by the gesture, but with a moment to process, she tentatively moved her mouth in response.

It was stiffer than the last time we kissed, almost like some piece of her was still holding out. The enthusiasm I had hoped for wasn't quite there, but she didn't pull back from me either.

The smooth melding of our lips was more tender than I anticipated, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't send a different kind of thrill through my system.

I could taste the hint of salt water on her lips along with her own distinctive flavor, and while I didn't want to pull back, a part of me wanted to just give her a small glimpse of what I was capable of when I put my mind to it...but not an entire show of how sweet I could be just yet.

I wanted to catch her attention and leave her wanting more. In a way, it felt like a new project—a different goal altogether.

She may have been closed off to me, but in time, I had the feeling I'd be able to break her walls.

Severing the kiss, I took in her slight fluster with a sense of satisfaction. I murmured, "Get ready...we're going out for dinner tonight."

Chapter 16 - Daria

I still wasn't all that impressed about ending up in the pool alongside Ivan, but at the very least, he was being surprisingly decent.

I had half a mind to question if he was planning something devious to throw it back in my face how I spoke against him earlier, but all the while, I got myself ready, picking out one of the dresses he had bought me before, things remained civil between us.

I wasn't letting my guard down completely, but something in me felt almost hopeful.

Even if it was somewhat alarming to see him acting almost playful with me, I liked it much more than his previous attitude around me. It was bound to take a lot more than a once-off interaction to make me open up to him, but I wasn't complaining about things going even a little bit smoother than before.

Once we were ready to go, we loaded into the SUV, which was waiting for us out front, while Dom climbed in front with the driver. The drive there was quiet, but I didn't mind it.

Instead, I took in the sights of San Diego until we rolled up to the restaurant in an especially nice area. Dom opened my door and guided me over to Ivan's side while he kept a close eye on our surroundings. Even if the street seemed calm enough, he didn’t let his guard down.

For the first time since becoming legally married, I felt more aware of the fact that my husband was in the mafia. Having security with us, dressed up while heading to a swanky establishment that many others were hoping to get into while we skipped the line, and practically being on Ivan's arm made me feel a level of importance I had never known before.

Even if it didn't really have anything to do with me, it was like I had been brought into the fold in a way, and despite myself, a part of me liked it.

All the while, we were seated at a private table and served the most expensive champagne they had. Ivan kept the conversation light and was far more polite than I had anticipated.

In a way, it was almost like meeting someone completely new and having the chance to start fresh.

Sitting together at that table, sipping on our drinks and waiting for our food to arrive, I didn't want to admit it even to myself, but it was nice. All of it.

The lingering suspicion stayed with me while we began our meal, but despite everything, I found myself craving more of a connection. At the very least, a genuine conversation that didn't have anything to do with our marriage, my brother, or my past.

---