Page 39 of Darkest Sin

I flinch. “My dad was still a good man. Exacting and stern but a good man.”

“I didn’t mean any offense. What I’m saying is that you don’t need to be afraid, Natalya. I’m here with you. I won’t let you get hurt. Now, let’s go in. Come.” He tugs on my hand and leads me further into the party. We end up in the kitchen where Mikhail grabs a champagne flute from a passing waiter. The waiter, I notice, is wearing nothing but tiny short shorts. The bulge in his pants is obvious.

I avert my gaze and end up stumbling into someone. A man. He’s young, in his twenties, shirtless. Handsome but not as handsome as Mikhail is.

“Woah there,” he says, steadying me. “You better be careful. You never know who you’ll end up bumping into around here.”

“She’s with me,” Mikhail says, wrapping his arm around my waist. He hands me the champagne and I take a large gulp.

“Sorry, Mikhail. Didn’t realize. You got a new sub?”

“She’s my wife.”

The man’s eyes widen. “No shit? Didn’t know you got married.”

“Just a few days ago. Natalya, this is Daniel. Daniel, Natalya.”

He takes my hand and kisses the back of it. I can feel Mikhail’s hand tighten on my waist. He doesn’t like any other man touching me, it seems, even if it’s innocent.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Daniel says, letting my hand go. “What did Mikhail do to deserve such a beautiful wife?”

“Careful,” Mikhail says. “Don’t flirt with my wife.”

“Hey, man. You brought her here. Other men are going to look and you know it. They’re going to want to touch.”

“I’ll let any other person here know they’re not allowed to touch her.”

It’s strange for them to be speaking about me like I’m not even here. I may be Mikhail’s wife but it’s clear that I’m an extension of him and not my own person.

Daniel rakes his eyes over me and I resist the urge to tug on my dress again. “You brought her here dressed like that? You’re asking for the vultures to come out and get her.”

“I want them to marvel at my wife and know that they don’t get to have her. Only I’m allowed to touch her.”

“You’re playing with fire, Mikahil.”

“And you know who I really am, Daniel. You know not to mess with me.”

He nods, smirking as he takes a sip of his drink. “You’re right. But not everyone else knows that.”

“I’ll make it clear to them.”

“You do that.” He gives me a wink. “Have fun.” It almost sounds like a threat.

“Please don’t talk to me like I’m not even human,” I say to Mikhail when it’s just the two of us.

“I apologize. I’m used to bringing women here who are actual subs. They know how to be quiet and that they’ll be treated differently.”

“But I’m your wife. Not a submissive person.”

“You’re right.” He swipes his thumb over my cheek, close to my lips. What would it be like for him to fully kiss me? Our lips brushed together on our wedding day but nothing else happened. “But you are naturally submissive. Now, let’s find some seats. Watch some shows.”

By shows, I know he means watch people have sex. I haven’t forgotten what happened last night. The image of Cecillia and Robert having sex is still plastered in my mind. It makes me warm just thinking of it.

There’s an open chair in the living room and Mikhail takes it, sliding me onto his lap. A man and a woman are having wild,vocal sex right on the couch. She’s on top of him, taking control. It’s fascinating in its own way. Both of them are naked.

I can’t watch for long. My natural embarrassment is just too much. I was taught to never watch these things. Never participate in things like this. I don’t know how to handle it.

“Watch,” Mikhail says into my ear.