Page 28 of Darkest Desire

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, once the celebration moves outside to my maze, I don’t want you joining us.”

A shiver runs down my spine. Something about this doesn’t feel right. “What? What’s going to happen?”

“Things in my maze can get a little crazy. I don’t want you involved in that. So once I make the announcement tonight that the party will move to the maze, you will return to our room. Is that understood?”

“Why can’t I join?”

“Because you’re not ready for something like that.”

“Like what?” I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

“Just trust me, Sasha. You’re not ready. And I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I don’t trust you and why do you care if I get hurt?”

“Well, you’re my wife now. Why wouldn’t I care?”

I stare at him a moment, not knowing what to say. What can I say to that?

“I really don’t get to know?” I ask.

“Nope. I want you looking pretty for tonight. I’ll lay out the dress I want you to wear.” His eyes rake over my body. “I see you put on one of the dresses I bought.”

I run my hands over it then realize that maybe that’s not a good idea and pull my hands away. “It’s nice. That’s all.”

“Sure. That’s all.” Nico’s smirk deepens.

The dress Nico chose for me to wear to the party tonight is a deep red gown with a high neckline but it hugs my body in all the right places. I look like a woman in this gown.

Nico is waiting for me in the foyer, wearing an all-black suit, including his shirt, making him look even more dangerous than he already is.

“That color is perfect on you,” he says, practically purring. I hate how it makes me feel on display. I also hate how it makesme feel more warm. I don’t want Nico making me feel warm. I don’t want Nico making me feel anything other than hatred.

“Our guests will be arriving soon,” he says. “I always like to greet the first few people. It sets the tone of the evening.”

“I’ve never been to a party like this,” I admit. “My father never hosted any soirees at our house and I was never invited to any parties from my school friends.”

“Why not?”

I shrug. “I think they were afraid of who my father was and didn’t want to bring me along. Better to ignore me than invite me and get me into trouble, which would put them in the hot seat with my dad.”

“Do you need me to go beat up those so called friends of yours from school?”

I stare at him aghast. “No, I do not need you to beat up anybody for me.”

“I can do it, you know.”

“I know you can do it,” I snap. “I don’t want it.”

“Fair enough.” A knock at the door draws his attention away. “Our first guests have arrived.”

The celebration for our marriage is in full swing. The house is filled with at least sixty to seventy people. An overwhelming number in my opinion and pretty much everyone is speaking Italian so that means I can’t really converse with anyone. Nico keeps me at his side, introducing me to his friends from this part of the world. It’s wild to me how one person can know so many people. As someone who was kept sheltered most of my life, I really only know my family and the people from my classes back when I was in school but I’ve lost touch with any of the friends Iused to have. That’s what happens when you’re crazy controlling uncle locks you away for a year.

“Ah, a Russian,” a man says, shaking my hand. I’ve already forgotten his name, I’ll admit. “Russians are… what’s the word? Feisty.”

Nico chuckles, keeping his hand on my low back, marking me as his. I can’t think of anything other than his hand on my back. “She is feisty. That’s why I married her.” The men continue their conversation in Italian, keeping me out of it.