Page 53 of Twisted Union

“Viktor, we’re married now. You have to start trusting me to not run.”

“I’ll consider it.” He sets the bags on the bed. “A peace offering.”

I look inside one of them and gasp. It’s clothes. Honest to goodness clothes! I won’t have to wear my black dress any longer. “You bought me clothes.” I take out a purple shirt, enjoying its silky feel. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He sits down on the bed, waggling his eyebrows. “Give me a fashion show.”

I immediately drop the shirt back into the bag. “Is that why you did this? So you could watch me parade around like an idiot?”

“No. I bought you clothes because it was the right thing to do.”

I stare at him.

He sighs, his shoulders slumping. “Ok, fine. So,maybeI wanted to see you model these outfits for me. A man can dream, can’t he?”

“No, he can’t,” I say, tossing the bag at him. He catches it with a laugh. “If this is truly a peace offering, it needs to come without any strings attached.”

“Since when did you become all high and mighty on me?”

“Since you kidnapped me.”

“Ah. But I didn’t kidnap you. Last I checked, you got into my van willingly.”

“Atgunpoint.”

He blinks. “Good point.” He starts ruffling through one of the bags and pulls out a slinky red dress. “I just think you’d look great in this. And I know you’d really appreciate some new clothes. So, give me a show, and you get to keep the clothes.”

“And if I don’t give you a show?”

He slowly moves the bags away from me. “I’ll return all of this.”

I shove him back, making him laugh harder as he falls onto the bed. “You’re horrible, Viktor.”

“I know.” He bats his eyes at me, trying—and failing—to look innocent. “But you like it.”

I grumble as I grab the red dress from him. “I’m only doing this once.”

He sits up fast, looking more like an overeager puppy than a psychotic maniac. “Deal. But you have to change in front of me.” I shoot him a look. “What? I’ve seen you naked, Gemma. Shit. I’ve beeninsideyou. I think we’re past modesty.”

I flush at the memory. “Whatever.” I turn away from him, staring down at the dress in my hands, when an idea hits me. Fine. If Viktor wants a show, I’ll give him a show.

I slip my dress off, keeping my back to him. I make a big point of leaning over as I tug the new dress up my body. I smile at Viktor’s quick inhale. I’m in control at this moment. With a slow, sultry movement, I turn back around, giving him a good look at me. His eyes darken as they take me in. The dress hugs my body, giving me some curves I didn’t have before.

“What do you think?” I ask

“I think I like it,” He slowly nodding, scanning my body from top to bottom. “I think I like it a lot.” He reaches his hand toward me, but I slap it away.

“Uh-uh. This is a show, remember? No touching.”

Leaning back, Viktor looks even more excited as he watches me. For a moment, I feel insanely awkward since I don’t know what to do, but then I remember all the dance parties I used to have with my family. I know how to dance. Now, I just need to show Viktor.

I start swaying my hips. Then I run my hands over my body. I hope I don’t look ridiculous. Granted, I never used to dance like this with my family. Back then, it was always just a mixture of jumping around. Now, I’m trying to deliberately turn Viktor on, which, judging by his expression, won’t take much for me to do.

“Is there another dress you want me to try on?” I ask, running my hand between my breasts. Viktor eyes the motion while handing me a short, green dress. I make a big show of slipping the straps of the red dress off, but I stop the dress from fully coming off. Viktor leans forward, practically salivating. With a sultry look, I let the dress drop to the floor.

“Take your bra off.” His voice startles me.

“What?”

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