Page 24 of Pregnant Bratva Bride

My body stilled from the way he was looking at me as if he wanted to drink me in. “Why?” It was a stupid question, but I would lose to the pheromones oozing off of him if I didn’t keep the conversation going.

His smile was dark and mischievous, and he gave me a compliment rather than an answer. “The dress looks good on you.”

I tensed.Christ.I swallowed hard. “Did you pick it out?”

“Yes.” He glided his fingers down the small of my neck, setting my body ablaze with his soft touch. “You would look perfect with a diamond around your neck.”

Electricity rippled through me, and I found myself wanting to melt in his touch, but I wasn’t going to give in. It was just the pregnancy hormones and nothing more.

“You know what will make me look good?” I slapped his hand away. “Me, in my own house.”

His icy-dark eyes held mine. “Be a good girl, and who knows? I might let you go.”

“Will you really let me go?” He was probably bluffing. No. He obviously was, but I was willing to take even the slightest chance to regain my freedom.

He rubbed his beard. “Depends on how good you are.”

“What should I do to prove myself?”

A mischievous smile darkened his features. “Kiss me.”

“What?” Air drained from my lungs at his request. My eyes darted to his lips, my tongue watering at the thought of kissing him. Memories from our night together and how rough his kiss had been made me flush. “Pervert!”

“Swear you don’t want to kiss me.” He snaked his hand around my waist and hauled me to his chest. “I know you’re as thirst and horny for me as you were our first night together.”

I placed my hands on his chest to soften our collision and cringed at how firm his muscles were.

Nikolai was right, I wanted to kiss him. I was dying to see if he tasted as good as I remembered or if the alcohol from that night had fogged my sense of judgment. Rather than pulling away, I closed my eyes and stood on tiptoes as I brought my parted lips to his. My anticipation built, and my nerves fluttered with every inch I closed between us.

He smelled so good, and I was certain he tasted even better.Oh God.Just as my mouth was about to press against his, he whispered, “You’re easy to fool, Giselle.”

I peeled my eyes open. “What?”

“You’re not my wife yet. Why would I kiss you?”

I stepped away from him, scarlet red scorching my cheeks. “I-uh. I wasn’t going to—” I trailed off. Who was I kidding? He’d pulled a prank on me, and I was stupid enough to take the bait.

Goddamnit, Giselle. Pull yourself together, girl.

Fuck! What was I thinking trying to kiss him?

“We’re getting married tomorrow,” he said, wearing his usual emotionless mask. “Don’t try anything silly before then,” he added, then he started for the door as if we weren’t about to kiss each other seconds ago—well, as if I hadn’t tried to kiss him.

Still, how could he act so indifferently? Nikolai was dead inside. That was the only explanation I could think of.

My glare pierced the back of his head as he left the room, my shame mixing with anger as my hands curled into fists. Nikolai just humiliated me, and I let him do it.

I was still standing in the spot where he left me when a younger maid entered the room minutes later. “The boss wants you to have this,” she said.

It was a simple, silky-white wedding dress with an off-the-shoulder neck and a high slit. Elegant but nothing too serious. I scoffed. “A wedding gown?”

The maid nodded. “He wants you to wear tomorrow.”

I shot her a look, then realized I was glaring at her and looked away. It wasn’t right to transfer my aggression to other people, more or less a maid who had no part in what I was going through. “Thank you.”

She smiled, nodded, and walked away.

Once she closed the door, I held the gown up, my fists itching to rip it to pieces. Nikolai wasn’t backing down, and it was more than clear nothing I did or said to him would change anything.

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