Page 21 of Savage Beauty

I abruptly stand up, needing some distance from the charged atmosphere. “So, what are your plans today?” I ask.

He frowns. “Myplans? Whatever I do, you will be doing with me.”

“But I wanted to hang out with Morgana today. Go to a spa or something.”

Sasha sets down his coffee. “Another time,zolotse. We will be choosing a wedding venue. Thekomissiyainsist we hold another ceremony so they can attend, and we can’t do it in church as the legal side is already in place.”

“Awesome. Maybe you can refer to me as your unlawfully wedded wife? Coercion is against the law, you know.”

He grins. “I do a lot of illegal things. How much do you think I care? Maybe I’ll go for ‘awfully wedded wife.’ That’s pretty accurate.”

I laugh despite myself. He’s six foot three, tattooed from head to toe, scarred and hardened from a life of violence, yet somehow still the goofiest idiot I’ve ever met.

“You’re an asshole, Sasha. I hate your voice, your hair, your tattoos, your stupid buff body, your fucking annoying handsome face, andespeciallyyour massive—”

“Brain?” Sasha raises an eyebrow. “Just go with that. No need to say what you’re really thinking.”

“I was thinking ‘ego,’” I reply. “Presumably, you got so muscular from carrying that around everywhere?”

He nods. “I knew it. You like my body, huh? You want this big hunk of—

I grab a cushion and hurl it at him, but he catches it easily and tosses it back, hitting me squarely in the face. He bursts into laughter, and so do I.

“Stop acting out now.” He sits on the edge of the bed, a corner of the duvet hiding his junk, and I see he’s naked. “You’re so hot when you’re angry. If you escalate the hostilities, I’ll come at you hard.” He chuckles at my flustered expression. “Make of that what you will.”

He’s so damn cocky. I don’t know whether I wanna slap his face or ride it. I sit in the chair and cover my eyes.

“Okay, I surrender. Now put some clothes on.”

When I sneak a glimpse, Sasha is wearing pants and buttoning up his white shirt. He catches me looking and shoots me a knowing glance.

“Look all you want,moya zhena,” he teases.

“Oh shut up, Sasha,” I snap, annoyed at being caught out. “What wedding venues?”

“Wherever you want, obviously.” He straightens his collar. “I’ll buy whatever time and date works for us. No price is too high.” He sweeps his hand through his hair. “I stole you to be my bride and hijacked your cheap-ass shitty wedding to do it. You deserve better, and I’ll make sure you get it.”

* * *

Every hotel is the same. Beautiful, opulent, and desperate for our business. One flash of Sasha’s credit card and events managers practically trip over themselves to offer us wedding packages.

Yet, despite the extravagance, nothing feels right. I’ve never been a fan of hotels, and all the money in the world can’t change that. My head is all screwed up; why am I letting this man get to me?

I watch him as he moves, lean and irresistibly sexy in his slacks and Gucci shirt. He’s wilder-looking and rougher around the edges than Vlad, but damn. Those Kislev boys have got it, and Sasha is my type, from his tattoos to his pierced—

Don’t think about that now.

The wedding coordinator at The Plaza has eyes like Bambi. She hasn’t thrown me as much as a glance in the hour we’ve been here.

“So, Mr. Kislev—may I call you Sasha?” Bambi flutters her lashes prettily. “That’s the tour. Do you think you will,” she lowers her voice, arching a laminated brow, “need me?”

I look Bambi up and down. She epitomizes the Clean Girl aesthetic, and I feel grubby beside her. My inked skin and raven hair contrast sharply with her blonde, baby-faced vibe. And I don’t like how she looks at my man.

That’s right.My man. Because that’s what he is. We’re married, and if he insists on treating me like a real wife, maybe it’s time I return the favor.

Sasha turns to me. “Your thoughts?”

I fix Bambi with a pointed glare. “I think this bitch needs to back the fuck off.”

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