Page 27 of Viripotent

His lips brush the shell of my ear, making a shiver work up my spine and everything else ceases to exist.

“You’re my bride now, the offer I gave you at the beginning has ended.”

We’re wrapped around each other in an innocent dance, but my brain is mistaking his proximity. There’s something about being in Vlad’s arms, feeling his biceps flex under the luxurious suit that makes me want to drool. This close, my nose is right near his pulse point, it’s intoxicating. Sandalwood, amber, cardamom, and something musky has me leaning in, wanting to eat the smell.

My steps falter as I bite back a groan when his bicep flexes under my hand. He’s wrapped up in the most beautifully dangerous package to exist with every single thing that I have ever been attracted to in one man. The warning he’s attempting to give me isn’t able to fully sink in and I sound faraway in my lust.

“What offer?”

He pulls me closer so there’s no space between our bodies, his voice is deeper, huskier, and making it harder for me to concentrate.

“You’re mine to fuck as long as that ring is on your finger, meelaya.”

Desire is coursing through me. This feels too much like foreplay and I want him. Physically, only.

Taking one last inhale as the song comes to an end, I feel cold stepping back. I don’t get a second glance as Grandfather replaces Vlad and his warmth seeps out despite the stoic face.

“You’ve made me a proud father, docha.”

Emotion chokes me like it always does when he refers to me as a daughter rather than a granddaughter. He doesn’t add anything else, and my eyes automatically go to Vlad.

He’s in conversation with the old boys club, the gentleman is still in control of his body, but his fist is clenched at whatever his father is saying. We continue turning in a slow circle giving me the opportunity to look around the hall. Xiomara Verelli is stood off to the side observing everyone and my returning smile is genuine. She’s ethereal in a gold Grecian gown that highlights her bronze skin, making her glow. Everyone else is tied to my family, but she’s the only person who’s here for me.

Our friendship may be unorthodox, given her ties to the Albanians, but Steorra will always be separate from the feuds. I’ll spill blood myself if anyone even attempts to change that. Not only to protect the carefully crafted friendships there, but for the children and families who need it.It’s the one place that offers the child inside me what they need, and charity is inherently selfish. No one does good to help other people, it’s settling something inside themselves, some unresolved anger or deep pain. It makes me feel less alone knowing I’m removing it from other people’s lives while also being surrounded by children who can understand that abandonment.

I kiss Grandfather’s cheek as the song comes to an end and there are no lines of guests waiting to cut, so I can make my escape. Stasya stands beside her mother and stepfather, and she gives the smallest smile known to man. She used to run around the garden with me when I was a child, I’d force her to take away all the dolls Dariya gifted me in exchange for a chocolate. All those childhood memories flood back, the excitement of planning our weddings and promising we’d be each other’s bridesmaids when we didn’t understand what a wedding was other than standing in a cathedral in a pretty dress wearing a crown.

Walking steadily towards the bar, Pavel stops me. He’s as slimy as he was when I was thirteen and visiting my parents. I hold my body taut, it’s a reflex that I can’t help as he touches my shoulder and kisses my cheek. I don’t move to stop myself from throwing up on him. His lips linger on my cheek, and I pull my head back using the Vartanov name for steel.

“My husband won’t appreciate your closeness.”

It’s like my new shield and he steps back automatically. Stepping around him, I go to Xiomara and her husband is like a shadow behind her with an emotionless face.

TWELVE

Vlad

My attention is pulled from whatever bullshit story Len is currently lying through. Inessa stands far too fucking close to the prick who was at the last dinner. I didn’t give a fuck what she did before my name was attached to her. Now that she’s my bride no one will disrespect me by treating her like a whore.She will be publicly afforded the respect of my name and that chuski won’t touch what’s mine.

She steps around him and goes to her business partner’s side, and I make it half a step when a hand lands on my forearm discreetly. Valentin keeps his voice low and angles his body away from the other fuckers as Dima closes in on my other side.

“No blood on your engagement, save it for the wedding night.”

He tries to disguise his comment as Viktor pops his head up, curious as to what we’re talking about. He doesn’t drop his mean mug and keeps his back straight, knowing it’s not safe to allow any of the people around us close.

My lips quirk and we both know I’m lying, but he doesn’t say anything to stop me.

“It would be rude not to accept his wishes.”

He can act like a petulant child at home, once we leave the sanctuary of those walls we all know how to present ourselves. We all do it and match Dima’s grumbly-ass personality when we’re not naturally inclined to be moody. We find enjoyment in misery, it’s the Vartanov way of life.

I step through the crowd allowing them to create a buffer between the other guests and the one I’m going to speak with. He’s a clueless fool, leading himself away from the safety of witnesses as he walks into the night. Pavel doesn’t turn as he walks closer to the edge of the house and stands off to the side of the steps leading inside. He tips his head back and takes a deep breath of toxic smoke. This is why the Bratva is going to shit, all the men are too concerned with their vices, from smoking to drinking, that they lose their awareness.

He’s an older man, old enough to be Inessa’s father in society’s eye, making his perverted stare even more sinister. He doesn’t notice me as I join him on the plush grass, and it takes a second for him to snap out of fear. People are dumb as fuck; they feel uncomfortable in silence and fill it with their confessions without realizing.

“Pozdravleniya, I was going to find you after speaking to your bride.”

His fingers shake as he taps away the excess ash and the low lights coming from inside the house highlight the way his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. I love this part, watching how they lose that grip on the mask and struggle with their perverted admissions because they know it’s wrong.

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