Page 31 of Possessive Vows

“I want that one,” I announce.

Wearing sweats with one sleeve pushed up to reveal my reddening arm and my hair in the messiest ponytail in history, I select the most lusted after wedding ring set in New York City with absolutely no idea if the massive, tattooed, and brutal Russian bratva man beside me will support my ridiculous farce.

I lift my gaze to his and almost melt to the floor from the fiery hunger in his eyes.

“Anything for you,so´lnyshka,” he murmurs.

His lips quirk in the tiniest smile, and for a moment, I want this to be real so badly my chest aches, but the excited whispers flowing through the store remind me of what’s at stake.

Dimitri wanted a big show. I delivered. Every member of the upper class will hear this story within the next few hours, and it’ll just keep spreading.

He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. I turn my attention to the jewelry, not really seeing it but needing a distraction from my thoughts.

They refuse to be quiet.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle his hands on me after we exit the store, but I can’t deny that this feels right. My fingers clutch at his as though I’ll die without the contact even as nightmares echo in my ears.

I want to marry Dimitri Volkov, even if he ends up resenting me for not being able to give him the future he should have.

Chapter 8

Dimitri Volkov

Camilla shines brighterthan all the diamonds in the store as she demands to try on her new ring. The woman behind the case nearly trips over herself to pleasemoyaso´lnyshka, and a part of me sours as I realize she’s putting on an act. Everyone here knows she’s a Vivaldi.

They’ll know I’m a Volkov as soon as I open my wallet. The rumors will spread.

My future wife is an amazing actress, but she wasn’t pretending in the bathroom. With only her mother as the audience, she bared her fangs and claimed her territory.

It was the sexiest thing I have ever seen.

My cock still pulses with need, but the seam of my jeans provides enough discomfort to keep him under control.

Camilla’s hand trembles in mine. Her eyes gloss over, but she maintains her haughty attitude as she holds her hand out for the ring.

I snarl and intercept the woman. She passes the ring to me. With enough diamonds to tip a woman as small as Camilla over, the band alone costs more than most Americans make in their entire lives.

I slip it onto her finger and lift her hand to my face.

Her burnt-umber eyes widen as I meet her gaze.

I don’t want to trigger her—she’s already proven me a fumbling ogre with the driver’s seat and bandage incidents—but my lips tingle with yearning to touch her soft flesh. She blinks, searches my face, and nods.

I kiss her knuckles.

Every woman in the store sighs.

When I hold my hand out, palm up, to the salesperson, the woman rushes to place the engagement ring in the center.

The massive diamond glitters as I slide it onto Camilla’s finger to join the band.

No longer on the verge of mental overload, she swallows and blinks shimmery eyes up at me with a sardonic mask in place.

We have yet to make it legal, butmoyaso´lnyshkacannot escape me now.

Her mask slips when she fits the matching masculine band onto my finger, and I pause, not understanding the sorrow in her eyes, but she covers her thoughts with a smile and rises onto tiptoes.

Her entire body trembles as she presses her front against mine and lifts her face. Even though I bend down to give her access to my lips, I respect her decision when she lands a chaste peck to my chin despite wanting to lift her onto the counter so I can ravage her with my teeth, tongue, and cock.

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