Page 38 of Deceitful Bond

“Thank you.” I watch my fake husband dance to a fast beat with another woman while a circle of armed men remain around me and Eva.

I can’t help but feel jealousy welling up inside of me at the sight.

“Our men want us near,” Eva says as she grips my hand gently. “We must support their choices, patiently and quietly. But never forget,youare his wife.”

Andrei glances over. The happiness dissolves off his face whenever he looks at me. He says something to Natasha, and she sashays off to find someone else to dance with. Andrei walks back toward the table.

Jealousy scores my insides at the sight.

Did you also tellheryou had a Lamborghini parked outside?

I get up from my chair, march around the table, and grab a startled Dmitri’s hand. I drag him out onto the floor, past a questioning Andrei.

“What are you doing?” Dmitri asks.

“Dancing,” I snap, surprising myself with the bitterness of my voice. “It’s my wedding, right? Don’t I get to enjoy myself?” Maybe I said it too loudly. I catch a few gawks from the crowd before a peal of laughter rings out.

I try to move to Imagine Dragons in the voluminous dress, but I can barely move from side to side. Dmitri gets into the music, spinning in the middle of the dance floor and dancing around me in circles. Try as I might, I can’t help feeling a smile rising up on my face.

Soon, I’m laughing with everyone else. People start streaming onto the dance floor, and I become the center of the crowd, not watching from the sidelines.

I close my eyes and spin.

When I open them again, Andrei is standing in front of me.

Wordlessly, he takes me into his arms, and we dance in the center of the wild confusion as if we’re alone on the floor.

His fingers rest gently on my waist as I stare into his eyes. My thoughts take me back to the day I tried on that other dress. The one far too inappropriate to wear here. I sigh as if his hands were brushing over my nipples through the thin fabric again. My breathing lowers as I step closer and feel his heat pressing against me.

Desire becomes a magnet drawing me to him. But what will happen now that the wedding is over? Am I no longer useful? Andrei has made no effort to hide his attraction. The more he wants me, the better my chances of survival.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I move against Andrei. Playing with his hair as the music shifts to a faster beat, I pretend I’m someone else. Someone sexier and less uptight. Maybe someone like Natasha, who can walk around effortlessly in heels and with a gun strapped to her thigh. He must admire that.

Did he ever fuck her?A jealous little monster asks at the back of my head.

I step away from him and add some spice to my moves. When I spin and land in Andrei’s arms, I receive a cheer for my efforts. He tugs me close, pausing on the verge of a kiss, but then he spins me away.

He stands behind me, my hands on his strong thighs. I ease my hands up suggestively as I sway my hips. He grabs my hands and spins me again.

“Is this what you want?” I take the edge of the veil and pull it across my chest.

A moan slips from my lips as his hand brushes my breast. And just like that, I’m soaking wet again.

The song ends, and I’m shining with sweat. I glance toward the front table, and Eva is smiling broadly. A huge difference from the last wedding we attended. She blows me a kiss, and my heart sinks.

She actually believes we’re a couple.

I take a step away and Andrei grabs my arm. “I’m going to the bathroom,” I explain.

He motions to a guard. “Go with her.”

Hurriedly, I exit for the bathroom, holding the hem of the dress as the man follows me. He stands by the door as I rush in. I splash my face with cold water, accepting the fact that I struggle to think clearly around Andrei. Why else would I fall for my tormentor? I must be insane to find him attractive.

Am I so damaged that I would want a man who treats me like this?

My lust dampens down to nothing but a wet spot in my panties. I lock myself in a stall and wrestle with my dress. When I step out of the stall, I’m not alone. The man sent to guard me is standing inside the room, staring at me.

“What’s wrong?” I walk toward the door, but he blocks my way.

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