Page 93 of Marked (Russian Sinners 1)

We pulled up to the church. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

“This is the first time I am actually part of the wedding party. Hopefully I don’t goof up. Natasha didn’t really send any instructions so I am winging it.”

My hand wrapped around her neck, pulling her close to me. “You’ll wing it fine.”

I pressed a possessive kiss on her lips, and she sweetly gave it all. My possessive instinct kicked into overdrive when it came to this woman. “If anything at all goes wrong-”

She pressed her lips back to mine. “I promise if something happens, I’ll stick to our plan.”

I got out of the car and opened the door for my woman.My woman,I liked the sound of that.

As soon as we entered the church, Anastasia was shuffled off to the bride’s side. We must have been the last expected guests because no sooner did I sit down, the music sounded, signaling the bride and all eyes turned to the back of the church waiting.

As soon as I saw Anastasia drift down the aisle with a small bouquet of flowers, throwing them onto the ground for the upcoming bride, I felt like someone punched me in the gut. I wanted to see her walk down the aisle towards me. I wanted our future to be tied together forever by the sacrament of marriage. I never wanted any of it, didn’t see it in my cards until Anastasia. She was my future; she was the only future I cared about.

There was a gentle smile on her face, unintentionally capturing all men’s gazes but she noticed none of it. Her eyes were only on me.

As she passed by me, she winked mischievously. My little temptress.

The ceremony was long and in Russian. It had been a while since I attended a Russian wedding, it didn’t occur to me to warn Anastasia. Her initial enthusiasm waned at about the thirty minute mark. She started to get restless, shifting from one foot to another. I even caught her a few times rolling her eyes.

If Misha and Natasha don’t soon exchange rings and vows, they might lose their svideteli,I mused to myself.

The priest turned to Anastasia and asked for rings but of course she wouldn’t know that since she didn’t understand Russian.

Misha quickly translated and Anastasia’s soft murmur echoed through the church. “Oh, thank God.”

My lips tilted into a smile. Realizing everyone heard it, she blushed bright red and quickly gave the rings to the priest. She was a fucking goddess. Another ten minutes and finally the ceremony was over. I was sure most of the church felt the same as Anastasia at the long ceremony. She dutifully took a picture with the bride and groom, and then snuck back to me.

“That was torture,” she muttered under her breath to me. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her soft body against me. Her green eyes watched me seriously. “If we get invited to another Russian wedding, just say no.”

“You got it, milaya,” I whispered in her ear as I nibbled on her earlobe. I loved that she considered attending the future events with me.

“Natasha mentioned there is a party afterwards. Want to go?”

I tried to gauge if she wanted to go by her expression but there wasn’t eagerness or disagreement on her face. “Do you want to go, Anastasia?”

“We could make our presence known and then sneak out,” she suggested. “Maybe take a long way home?”

God, this woman made me feel younger than I had ever felt. “Why do I get a sense you have done this before?”

She smiled happily, pressing her body tighter against me. “Ahhh, Dimitry. But I had never done it with you. Usually it is the girls and I that sneak out together. It would be so much better with you.”

I lightly pinched her butt through her thin dress material. “I’m glad to hear you hadn’t snuck out with boys.”

She threw her head back in a soft laughter. “No, I hadn’t. I always figured I was safer in public places with the boys.”

When we arrived at the reception, the party was already in full swing. Anastasia and I walked hand in hand towards the married couple. As Misha and I shook hands, Natasha and Anastasia hugged.

“Guys, I am so sorry about my comment to the priest,” she apologized.

Misha chuckled. “You were right, it was very long.”

Natasha nodded in agreement, adding, “At least you know now what to expect when you get married in the Russian Orthodox church.”

Anastasia's soft laugh was music to my ears. “Right? Convince the Russian there is a shorter marriage ceremony.” We all chuckled at her comment.

“This is a gift from Anastasia and me.” I pulled out an envelope and handed it to the groom.

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