96
Lottie
“Do you know why Rage has come?” I asked, watching the men disappear into Ive’s office.
“Work, what do you think? Something is going down, but I don’t have a clue.”
“You don’t?” This did surprise me. Cassie was used to peopletalking to her about all the comings and goings at the MC club.
“There have been a lot of changes. I know Rage had to prove so many times that he is fit to lead.”
“That’s always a risk. They’re loyal to Dad, right?”
Cassie shook her head. “No, that’s not even it. Rage cleaned shop after that bad shit went down. A lot of people didn’t like how Dad treated you, nor what he was doing to the club. Going against Ivan Volkov was a bad move. This is different. Ivan put Rage in place, but even though he was the VP, they needed to know he had what it took.”
“They all know he has what it takes.”
“We all know that, but now they’re making him work for it, and it’s kind of hard to watch.”
“He’s won, though, right?”
“Yeah, he has, but I don’t know, shit is going down. It’s kind of … scary, you know.””I get it.” Nibbling my lip, I look down at my lap and stare at the engagement ring and wedding band. A lot of stuff happened all the time.
“Hey, we’ve got to stop talking about the bad stuff,” Cassie said, reaching for my hand. “And tell me about the good stuff. You’re a married woman now, and I have to say, Ive is hot.”
This made me blush, I couldn’t help it.
Cassie giggled. “Come on, you have to tell me all about it. You have to tell me what he’s like in bed, or what it’s like being married to one of the most powerful men in the world.”
This made me laugh. “Ive Yahontov is not the most powerful man in the world.”
“But he is in your world, in our world. Comeon, spill the details.”
There’s not a lot to spill. I wanted to laugh and giggle, and do the whole girly routine, but there was nothing for me to say, so I shrugged.
“It’s great,” I said.
“Charlotte?”
“There’s not a lot to say, Cassie. Honestly, I wishthere was a lot I could say, but there isn’t. We … for the first month, we didn’t see each other. I was at his home, and he was here. Only when Ivan came to pay me a visit did I move out here, and to be honest, I miss his home. It’s a lot nicer and I can go exploring the grounds, and the rooms. It is a lovely home. Here, it’s boring.”
“You never liked the city life,” Cassie said.
“I was … the mistake,” I said.
“Don’t say that.”
“They were going to kidnap you,” I said. “You do know that. They wanted to have someone to use leverage against our dad. Instead, someone fucked up and they got me. You should be the one here, married. You would fit in.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Cassie said. “You haven’t seen the way Ive looks at you.”
“He doesn’t look at me.”
“No? I saw the way he looked at you through dinner. He wants to see you happy.”
“He and I … we haven’t … you know … done it.”
“You haven’t had sex?”
“He doesn’t find me attractive.”
“I doubt that,” Cassie said.
“He sees me as a child.”
Cassie scrunched up her nose. “Is that a bad thing? I mean, seriously?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, because in truth, that wasn’t a bad thing. “I’m not a child, but I also don’t want to stay in a bad marriage.”
“Is he mean to you?”
“No.”
“Then why nottalk to him? Why not ask him for … you know.” Cassie groaned. “I cannot believe I’m advising my sister to ask for sex.”
Cassie pressed her fingers to her head as she was trying to rub out the memory of her asking. This did make me smile.
“What’s it like?”I asked.
“Sex?”
“Yes.” I know Cassie has done it. There were a couple of guys at school, who after having sex with Cassie, announced it to the whole school. She’d been mortified. The club had been sure to punish the guys. One of them had been a jock, and Dad or one of the guys had broken his pitching arm, when he needed it most. The other guy had been a geek, and well, he’d been at the hospital while some kind of important life-changing decision was being made by some tech scouts or something. I don’t know. Either way, they had both paid the price for humiliating my sister.
“It, er, it can be good. The first time isn’t great. It’s kind of awkward, but I don’t know how it would be for you. My first time was with a loser, Charlotte. He didn’t have the first clue of what he was doing, and it wasn’t great.” She wrinkled her nose. “Ive doesn’t look like a loser who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Therewas that.
The door to Ive’s office opened and Rage walked out. He didn’t look happy, and neither did Ive. Ivan seemed to be in quite a pleasant mood still. I wondered if he had put my husband and Rage in a bad mood.
Rage, Cassie, and Ivan left minutes later. It was just Ive and me.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Fine. I’m sorry I didn’t know it was your birthday.”
This made me smile. “It’s okay.”
“I had no idea what to get you.”
“I like the idea of a honeymoon,” I said. “That sounds like fun.”
Ive nodded. “Is there anything you want?”
“What do you mean?”Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
“You know I had no intention of a honeymoon, but I was going to offer you anything you wanted.”
“I can have anything I want?”
“Yes, name it, it’s yours. It doesn’t matter the price or the time.”
“And we’re still going on a honeymoon?” I asked.
“Yes, Ivan insists on it.”
I looked at Ive then glanced away. Could I ask him for what I wanted?
“If you don’t know what you wantright away, don’t worry. Think about it, and let me know.”
He went to walk away and I just couldn’t let that happen.
“I know what I want,” I said. Damnit, I felt my cheeks heating even as I said it.
“What do you want?” he asked.
I opened my mouth, closed it. It was so stupid, but it wasthe only thing I could think of.
“I’d, er, I’d like you to kiss me.” I pressed my lips together.
“A kiss?”
“Yes, but not like on the cheek, I’d like a proper kiss, if you don’t mind. How you would expect to kiss your wife. One that you wanted.” I struggled to look him in the eye as I asked this.
When Ivan had told me I was going to marry Ive, I’d been terrified. Thesewere my kidnappers, but in a short time, I had gotten used to the idea. They hadn’t killed me. Even when my father had begged for them to do so. They hadn’t. In fact, they had made me comfortable, and showed me affection and care.
“You want me to kiss you?”
“Yes.” I nodded, trying not to feel embarrassed by my girlish request. “I’m not a child. I’m your wife, and I know I’m not like the Sophies of this world, but I would like to have a kiss from my husband.”
He took a step toward me, then another. I couldn’t help but wonder how many other people he’d approached, who’d been terrified. I wasn’t scared. The tip of his toes brushed across mine. I had no choice but to tilt my head back to see him. I liked looking at Ive, and the blue of his eyes.”Let me knowif at any point you want me to stop.”
He cupped my face. I loved the size of his hands. They were big, strong, sturdy hands, and they feltcapable. His thumb brushed across my lip, and I felt an answering call in my body. My nipples tightened and my flesh felt sensitive. He moved closer and I felt his breath fan across my lips.
This was a secret I hadn’t told anyone. I was attracted to my husband. No one knew. Not even Cassie, nor Ivan, but I had a feeling he already knew. When Ive had taken me, locked me up in one of his cages, and kept visiting me, I liked it and hadn’t wanted it to stop.
I was desperate for his kiss. Hungry for it.
Ive’slips pressed against mine. They were gentle at first, but with that one touch, I couldn’t help but moan, and my eyes closed. His lips were slightly damp, and I tasted the hint of whiskey. I’d gotten used to the scent as he drank it a few evenings. Never a lot, just one glass.
I felt his hand at my waist as he pulled me in closer. Another moan left me, and I kept my hands at my sides for as long as possible.
I needed to touch him, to feel him, and slid my hands up his arms, going toward his shoulders, holding onto them tightly. The hand at my waist went down toward my ass, and he squeezed the flesh. That felt so good, and I didn’t want him to stop. I heard his guttural moan, and I knew I was already addicted to this man.
My very first kiss. And I wanted more.
Was Cassie and Ivan right? All I had to do was ask?