Page 29 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride
Nothing more needs to be said about Lydia. I just wanted her to understand that.
“Come down at have dessert with me. We didn’t have any at the restaurant.”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” she smiles happily.
Chapter 9 - Belle
It doesn’t matter what city you’re in, Las Vegas or Los Angeles, the mafia events are all the same. It’s only the faces around me that have changed. I recognize one or two of them, probably men who are part of the bigger alliance with Nestor, but mostly I’m a stranger here.
Despite that, I feel quite at home in this environment.
And I’m enjoying myself.
It’s good to be out and to have a chance to dress up and do my hair and strut around in high heels for a while.
This little black dress is even more beautiful than I thought when I first chose it. I feel like I stepped right out of a fashion magazine.
Everything at this event is familiar to me—except for one glaring difference.
My husband.
I’m not used to having a gorgeous man at my side, making a point of letting everyone know we’re together by constantly brushing his hand down my back or along my arm. Slow, seductive touches that leave my skin heated and my heart racing.
His fingers move up my spine, and he cups his hand around the back of my neck, holding me possessively as he speaks to one of his business partners.
I sip my champagne, focusing on the conversation, trying desperately to ignore the heat building between my legs and the way my heart keeps fluttering when Ardalion glances at me with that devilishly sexy smile.
I wish this were all real.
I wish a man as gorgeous as him wasn’t just parading me to make a show of it in front of his colleagues, but was doing so because he had genuine affection for me.
I keep reminding myself that thisisn’treal. But it doesn’t stop my hormones from raging and my body from responding to each brush of his hand against me.
When he slips his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side, whispering in my ear, it almost has my knees so weak I want to fall into him.
“Are you doing okay, little bunny? Having fun?” The smooth deepness of his tone, his voice a soft growl, causes goosebumps to flare over my arms.
Embarrassed by my reaction, I answer quickly, “I think I need another drink. I’m going to the bar if you want anything?”
“Sure. I’ll have a vodka. Thanks, gorgeous.” He says, his eyes roaming over me, filled with hunger that for a moment I could believe is entirely real.
I bite my lip, a nervous giggle spilling from my mouth. “I’ll be right back,” I say, turning away from him.
Once I have some distance between us and his hands no longer driving me crazy with lust, I can think a bit more clearly.
Pull yourself together, Belle. He’s putting on a show for everyone else. Stop falling for his charm. It’s going to hurt you in the end.
Leaning against the bar, I ask the barman for a gin and a vodka. He takes his time, and I don't mind at all. I need a moment to breathe, to get my thoughts in line. And it’s all going very well until I spot Lydia.The one and only.
She walks into the event, and immediately, my body tenses. Her long gold dress is elegant and beautiful as shemoves across the room with her blonde hair loose around her shoulders.
She walks directly to Ardalion like a lioness stalking her prey.
A wildly intense possessiveness bolts through me as she slides up against his side, gushing over him. I can hear her laughter from here.
Ardalion politely steps back from her, his hand on her shoulder, forcing distance between them. She doesn’t seem to catch the hint as she reaches out to touch his face, those red nails flaring more intense anger in me.
I leave the drinks I’ve ordered at the bar, forgotten in my urgency to get back to myhusband’sside and tell this pompous bitch that she’s messing with the wrong girl.
