Page 45 of Bratva Queen

The priest began.

It was difficult, saying those words: “I do.” I noticed Alek’s eyes drop down while Stepan’s face lit up. The love in his eyes was true, even if he got aggressive with me from time to time. It didn’t mean that he didn’t love me, quite the opposite. Ever since hearing of my pregnancy, he’d been gentle and loving, very strict about what I ate or how much I was walking around. I was hardly allowed to leave the house.

The reception was more glamorous than any party I’d ever been to. Out of all of the events Stepan took me to, none of them compared to the beauty and wonder that we saw when we arrived back at the estate, where the party was held within the gardens. The party was held in a massive white tent, closed at the sides to keep the cold out.

I knew it was because Stepan wanted his guards around. Something was going on that caused him to up his security team and have guards literally surround us at all times. I didn’t want to know. I felt happy for the first time in a long time, and I didn’t want to ruin that for myself.

I let myself enjoy the moment. At first, I thought it was my special day, that everything—all of the decorations and the cake, the dancing and the partying—was for me. But I realized quickly that it wasn’t really. Not completely. It was for Stepan’s image.

After a few drinks, he began to brush me off and laugh loudly with his close friends and associates. He’d done his part; he’d danced with me and cut the cake. I didn’t care too much though; when I saw my mama and Essa chatting enthusiastically, I slipped out through the walls of the tent and took a deep breath in the cold air.

It wasn’t long before Alek joined me.

“A bride shouldn’t be out here on her own,” his deep voice said behind me, and I turned around, smiling lightly. I knew he would come.

“Why? Are there bad men out to get me?” I looked over my shoulders quickly, feigning panic.

He laughed too, smiling widely. “No, Isa, because a groom shouldn’t want to leave her side for even a moment. He should have her in his arms, dancing the night away.”

I grew quiet. “Well… It’s no surprise. And truly, I’m fine out here, I wanted the fresh air.”

As I shrugged, looking around me, Alek reached out for my hand and drew me in. His other hand slid around my hip and stilled low on my back—beneath the drape of my dress, respectfully not against my bare skin—and pulled me closer.

“Alek, what are you doing?” I whispered harshly, but my body didn’t pull away.

His head bent down to look into my eyes, and his gaze softened. “You deserve a proper dance, Isabel.”

He began to sway our bodies from side to side, following the music coming from within the tent and pressing my body against his to lead my body. I sighed, melting into the movements and allowing him to pull me in. “Stepan did dance with me—”

“Yes… he did. But he didn’t do it quite like this, did he?”

His hand reached up to swipe his thumb across my cheek and lift my chin up. It was so loving. Our mouths were inches from each other. I thought he might kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me.

I whispered, holding onto his wrist lightly, “No… he didn’t.”

Alek was the wiser one between the two of us and lightly pushed me away to twirl me around, making me laugh. I landed back into his arms and he smiled so genuinely. “You look breathtaking, Isabel.Krasavitsa…” he added softly. Gorgeous.

“Thank you.” I smiled and brushed my hair behind my ear. We stopped dancing and separated.

I was about to walk back inside when he added, “The pregnancy glow suits you.”

My hand quickly lifted to my stomach as I turned back to face him. “I wasn’t sure if you knew.”

“Yeah,” he dropped his head, nodding and pushing his hands deep into his pants pockets. “I’m happy for you.” His tone was genuine.

I smiled and shrugged. “I’m happy for me too.”

He winked. “That’s my girl.”

* * *

In the morning,I woke up in one of the guest rooms in the highest, most private section of the castle-like mansion. Stepan snored lightly beside me and I looked around. Since, according to him, it was safer to stay at the estate, the wedding planner and house staff thought it appropriate to set up a “honeymoon suite.”

It was really quite beautiful, with white material draped across every wall and sheer curtains covering the windows. There were red roses everywhere, and candles that were already lit when we entered the room. I wore a satin negligee in a beige color that had lace along the bottom seam and over my slowly growing breasts. I felt beautiful, and I ran my hand in circles across my belly, not sure if the little one could even feel it but caressing them lovingly, nonetheless.

I turned onto my side, facing the windows lighting up quickly with the morning sun. For a moment, I allowed my imagination to break free. Everything was already perfect, but there was one thing I would change in my mind’s image.

Aleksei’s arm would slide over my hip, with his hand cupping my belly as his lips found my neck and kissed me good morning. I’d never been in an actual bed with him, but I liked to imagine that’s what he would do. He would turn me around and very easily, with those thick arms, lift me onto him. I’d straddle him with my thighs pressed tightly against his sides and lean down to kiss him, allowing my hair to fall to one side and drape across his large shoulder. We would tell each other how happy we were to be married, to be forever each other’s, and we would both look down at my stomach with excitement and adoration.

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