Page 43 of The Bratva's Virgin Bride

I look at Anton, who shrugs.

Chapter 20 - Riley

I can't help but notice that Viktor is being distant, broody, and generally in a bad mood. He seems preoccupied and isn't paying attention to me like he used to before the meeting with his brothers. I don't know what's bothering him, but I'm scared to ask. He doesn't seem interested in talking about anything, and I don't want to push him. I wonder if he got into trouble over something. I can’t understand what it could possibly be because he rescued Anton. He should be praised as a hero, yet he’s just snapping at the staff, and now he has guards inside the house as well as outside patrolling.

It's worrying.

I want to do something nice for him. I want to find a way to take his mind off his troubles. Since he doesn't really want to leave the house, I decide to prepare an intimate dinner at home. I'll cook just for the two of us. Perhaps this will lift his spirits. Or at least provide a momentary distraction from his problems.

Arranging the food isn't hard. I give Rachel a list of things I need, and she agrees to get all the ingredients when she orders the usual groceries. I plan to do it tomorrow, Sunday. I spend some time in my closet looking for something nice to wear, but I can't find anything. The dress I had was ruined, and when I went shopping with Anya, I didn't really buy any more. I feel like a fool for choosing comfortable clothes now instead of more designer dresses, but how was I supposed to know? I guess I should have listened to Viktor when he said I needed to dress to a certain standard. Still, I know he prefers me naked.

I take out my phone and dial Gwen's number.

“Hello, stranger. It's been days since I heard from you,” Gwen says as she answers her phone.

I smile. “I'm sorry. It's been a bit weird. Viktor seems really preoccupied and I've kind of been tiptoeing around him.”

“Where is he now?” Gwen asks.

“He's gone out to meet Rigor, I think,” I say quietly. I go to our room and I shut the door. “I want to do something nice for him tomorrow.”

“What do you have in mind?” Gwen asks.

“I want to make him dinner and a little something more, but I have nothing to wear.”

“Are you asking me to go shopping with you?” Gwen asks and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I'll be there to fetch you in half an hour.”

I nod and get dressed in comfortable shopping clothes and sneakers. I go downstairs and walk out the front door, going to wait by the front gate. One of the guards at the gate stops me. “Mrs. Milov, where is your security detail?”

“I don't need one. Gwen is coming with hers, and you'll watch me until she picks me up,” I say confidently. “Please open the gate.”

“Mr. Milov said you are to always be with security.”

“Do you want to call him?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “And tell him you're arguing with me and holding me prisoner?”

The guard shakes his head and waves me through the gate just as Gwen pulls up with Anya in the car. Another car follows her, with four men in suits.

“We told the guards to follow us at a distance,” Anya says as I climb in. “This is a girl's trip, so we can discuss girl things.”

I blush. “I didn't realize you were coming.”

“Why are you blushing?” Anya asks.

“It's just… I wanted to ask Gwen some things about… doing things in the bedroom and you're my sister-in-law.”

“So is Gwen,” she points out.

“Yes, but you're my husband's little sister,” I insist as Gwen joins traffic going toward the mall.

“Yes, but I'm also not a child, and I know what happens in the bedroom. Trust me, your secrets are safe with me.” Anya turns to face the front. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Well, I want to plan something intimate with him, so I am going to make him dinner, and then I was thinking of luring him upstairs to the bedroom,” I say quietly, still unsure if I should be talking about this in front of Anya. “I just wanted to know if you have any tips for making sure he's… thoroughly distracted.”

“Strip show,” Anya giggles. “We'll find you some exceedingly sexy underwear, then you strip your clothes off slowly. Men like a show, and they like to be teased.”

Gwen laughs. “Roman certainly does.”

I feel a little bit more at ease and nod. “Okay, so I strip. Do I put music on?”

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