Page 38 of Unwillingly Yours

“Okay,” I finally said, bringing my own hands up to cover his. “Okay.”

Something in Aleksey’s eyes shifted before he leaned down and brushed his lips over mine once, then twice before stepping away back to the wheel of the boat. “Sit back,” he told me. “Enjoy the sunset, Elia.”

So I did, watching as the rays pierced the air as Aleksey steered the boat back to the harbor.

***

After the boat was secure, we walked back to the waiting car. There had been no guards accompanying us today, which had surprised me. I thought that he would always have someone present, but when he led me to the sleek black sports car instead, I knew it was just going to be us wherever he was taking us.

I was grateful for the break, and after what he had told me today, I was glad that it had only been the two of us out there on the water. He opened the door and I slid into the leather interior, placing my bag at my feet. I felt relaxed, and it was a strange feeling.

Aleksey climbed into the driver’s seat and we took off toward the city, the smell of the water still clinging to our clothing. “Did you enjoy today?” he asked after a few moments.

“I did,” I admitted, clasping my hands in my lap. “Thank you.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out on the water,” he replied, his hand resting on his leg. “We used to go out all the time when Alya and I were kids.”

“Why do you call her Alya?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I thought her name was Alyona. At least, that’s what my father’s file about your family said.”

A hint of a smile crossed his face. “It’s a Russian name thing. Diminutives. A nickname, I guess you could say. These are the names that are reserved for family and a few close friends.”

“And yours?” I asked. “What is your diminutive?”

“Alyosha,” he stated, the word rolling off his tongue like honey. “You may call me by that name if you would like, Elia.”

I thought about the olive branch he was extending to me. “I think I like Aleksey better,” I finally said. “It sounds more regal.”

“Whatever you want,” he said, reaching over to grasp my hand in his. “I don’t have a preference either way.”

I looked down at his hand before I interlaced our fingers together, my heart racing at the touch of his skin against mine. The last time we’d done so was at our engagement ceremony. There, we had tried to crush each other’s fingers.

But now?

Now there was a tenderness that we hadn’t experienced before.

We were in the middle of something we didn’t understand, couldn’t understand, honestly, but I didn’t feel like we were enemies at this point. I was still upset that he had killed my brother. But if what he had said was the truth, then it brought a whole new level of complexity to this marriage.

One that wouldn’t be driven by revenge.

So I held Aleksey’s hand all the way back to the penthouse, only releasing it when he parked the car in the garage. After a shower, we climbed into bed.

For a moment we lay there next to each other, our breathing the only sound in the room.

When he reached for me, I didn’t try and stop him, nestling myself against his warm, strong body with a happy sigh. His lips pressed into my hair. “Good night, Elia,” he said, his arm tightening around my waist.

“Good night, Alyosha.” I breathed, worried about the tender feelings that were swirling around in my body.

I didn’t want to let down my barriers, but the way that he was holding me, it was impossible not to. I would ask my father about the pin. And if it was true, then perhaps I could start to trust my own husband.

That was terrifying in itself. To trust someone like that, someone who was supposed to be my enemy, was the ultimate form of weakness in my father’s eyes.

I wasn’t sure I could go down that path.

Still, maybe there was something more between us than just this contracted marriage. Today we had built a fragile bridge between us, finding some common ground to start building upon.

As we drifted off to sleep, I listened to his even breathing and allowed myself to dream just a little.

The happiness I had hoped for. Was it closer than I had imagined? Could I be happy with him?

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