Page 14

We sat by a cozy corner table surrounded by the soft hum of conversations and the clinking of silverware. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and roasting vegetables.

It had been a few weeks since my wedding day, a few weeks of bittersweet experiences in the Tarasov mansion. My husband and I hadn't yet come to an agreement about literally anything. We still had our banter every now and then.

I’d expected worse, though—didn't even think that I could stand him this long, but so far…things weren't so bad.

However, I got bored of the mansion and needed some fresh air; I needed some else to hang out with. Who better than Ravyn Jensen, who wouldn't stop staring at me?

I sat in silence across from her, eating my salad, savoring the sweet flavors in my mouth. Her gaze lingered; I could feel it, but she hadn't spoken yet.

Ravyn slumped into her chair, the leather crunching beneath her weight, her plate of pan-seared salmon sitting in front of her—untouched.

She wouldn't take her blue eyes off me, and on her lips was a smile that brightened her face. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her brows furrowed as if she was trying to make sense of something.

“Would you stop staring at me like that? You're making me nervous,” I said, locking eyes with her, my voice dropping to a hushed tone.

“Sorry, I just can't help it.” She shrugged her shoulders, giggling, her gaze etched with mirth.

I tilted my head, brows arching ever so slightly, curious. “What's so amusing?”

“Nothing— nothing…” she stuttered amidst chuckles, leaning forward with her elbows on the table between. “It's just….” Ravyn paused, her smile broadening as she stared deeply into my eyes. “Has anyone told you you're glowing?”

I pushed my head back in surprise, my cheeks flushing subtly at her remark. “Glowing? How?” I questioned, eager to hear her response.

Her lips twitched at the corners, her gaze unwavering. “For someone who didn't wanna get married, marriage does look good on you,” she said, her eyes roaming over my body. “Damn, girl, what did he do to you?”

I threw my head back, letting out a throaty cackle and feeling an abrupt flutter in my chest. “Okay, now you're just exaggerating.”

She chuckled, reclining in her chair. “I'm not—I mean, look at you!” she exclaimed, gesturing with a manicured hand. Her voice dripped with teasing emphasis, and a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes.

My lips curled into a broader smile, palms rubbing against my forehead as I avoided her gaze. “Is the plan to make me blush? Because it's working.” I laughed lightly.

“Tell me,” she began, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she edged closer, holding my gaze. “How does it feel to be married? And most importantly….” She glanced around as if to make sure that no one was listening.

No one was. Every other person was engrossed in one thing or another.

She continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, “How was your first experience?”

My heart skipped a beat at her question, my mind drifting back to that night, and I didn't realize I'd been smiling until her voice, tinged with amusement, caught my attention.

“Oh, my God, it was that good, wasn't it?!” she gasped, her eyes sparkling. Ravyn clapped once, her shoulders shaking as she let out a peal of laughter.

I lowered my head, eyes dropping to my plate in embarrassment, though I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as my fingers covered my face.

Her throaty chuckle was infectious as she fell back in her chair, her voice still trembling with laughter. “You can't even hide it—no wonder you're glowing!”

“Stop, you're embarrassing me,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper, lips twitching in an attempt to suppress my own laughter.

“I'll stop once you tell me what's going on,” she said, now taking a conspiratorial tone, her eyes never leaving my face. Ravyn leaned forward again. “Tell me all about it…. I wanna hear it. Gimme detailed information.”

A quiet, husky chuckle rumbled in my throat as I jerked my head to face her. “What do you wanna know?”

Ravyn's face lit up with excitement as she banged the table with her palm, the sound making a soft thud. “Are you kidding? Everything!”

“Well….” I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Everything's been….” I paused, groping for the right words to describe this complicated union between Alexei and I.

She lifted her brows, anticipation flickering in her eyes. “Everything's been what?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

“It's…it's complicated,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. I had no better word.

Ravyn glanced at her watch and then refocused her attention on me. “Lori, you have 30 seconds to uncomplicate it,” she declared, her voice laced with playful solemnity.

I rolled my neck in a massaging motion, a smile perched on my face. “It's hard to put into words—honestly, I'm still trying to figure it out myself.”

She tilted her head, her brows furrowing in bewilderment. “Okay, I'm confused.”

“I am, too, really,” came my response as I wiped a palm over my face. “I mean, I'm supposed to hate him, considering the circumstances behind our union….” My voice trailed off, shoulders slumping in dismay.

“But now you don't?” She raised her eyebrows further in question.

I paused for a moment, evaluating my next response as my fingers dug into my temples. “I don't know, Ravie.” My eyes met with hers. “Ever since our first night together, it's like….” I swallowed hard, this uncertainty choking me. “It's like I'm struggling to hate him, and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop thinking about the way he made me feel; those memories won't stop flashing in my head all day, every day.”

Ravyn watched me with a palm under her chin. “That's because it was a wonderful day,” she said without taking her eyes off me.

I recalled the way his hands had caressed my skin, his touch, gentle and tender. My own moans echoed in my head, followed by images of him pounding inside me.

My lips curved into an unwanted smile, my fingertips tingling at the sensation coursing through my body. “Yeah, it was. Alexei knows how to pleasure a woman.” I snapped out of my thoughts, and my gaze settled on hers.

She retained that smile, her eyes locked on mine. “I'll bet he does. It's so obvious.”

I shifted my eyes back to my plate, cheeks flushing in embarrassment as I took another bite of my salad.

Ravyn could see right through me, and the look of amusement on her face made me uncomfortable—nervous, maybe. Thoughts of that night had ignited a fire in me, and now Alexei was all I could think about—his touch, hands, lips, and tongue.

My thighs subtly brushed against each other in response to the sensation between my legs.

This was why I’d been skeptical about spilling the tea in the first place. I knew talking about him would only turn me on, and I loathed how he had such an effect on me, even in his absence.

“Are you starting to like him?” Ravyn asked, suddenly serious.

I felt a jolt of surprise, eyes widening in alarm. “Whaaat? No.” My voice rose defensively as I protested. “Don't be ridiculous.” I blew a raspberry, sounding childish. My laugh came out as awkward and forced—unnatural.

She arched her brows, squinting as though she was examining me, and this just further accentuated my nervousness. But why was I so suddenly nervous? There was no way that I was starting to like him after just a few weeks, so why was all I defensive?

Ravyn looked me in the eyes and lowered her tone, leaning toward me. “Maybe you should try to sound a little bit more convincing.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she withdrew and picked up her cutlery, ready to eat.

She couldn't be right in assuming that I was starting to like Alexei, could she? This was a marriage of convenience, and we both despised each other. One night of intense sex shouldn't be able to soften my heart so quickly.

But did I always find myself dreaming about him touching me the way he had the last time? Maybe this was just mere attraction. The man was undeniably attractive. It was possible that I was only drawn to his rugged masculinity, his allure. Maybe this was lust and nothing more.

“Dang it,” Ravyn whispered, her tone laced with a familiar sound of agony.

I snapped back to the present, eyes falling on her as she bent over, a hand over her belly. Her face was scrunched up in pain.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice dripping with concern.

“Yeah,” she replied, straightening with a scowl on her face. “I just want some relief from these stupid cramps. Is that too much to ask?”

Cramps.

Shit.

My eyes widened in shock at the realization that I'd lost track of my cycle. My period was supposed to have started days ago. This had never happened before, and now, my heart sank into my belly, my mind thinking the worst.

Was I…? No. I couldn't be. Right? No.

“What's the matter?” Ravyn asked, eating her pan-seared salmon.

“My period is overdue,” I replied. My breath hitched in my throat, my body tensing subtly.

A sudden heat overwhelmed me, and the dryness in my throat made it difficult to swallow.

“Okay, uh….” She scratched the back of her head. “Did you guys use protection?”

I shook my head, my chest rising and falling with a slow, almost undetectable motion.

Ravyn's eyes widened in amusement, and she let out a low whistle. “Whoa, you guys went all in, huh?” She wiggled her brows, a sly grin playing on her lips. “Skin to skin, no barriers…just pure, unadulterated sex,” she teased, dropping into her chair. “Which is not bad at all, considering you two are husband and wife.” She looked deep into my eyes and added with a broad smile, “Two shall become one.”

“Okay, that's enough.” I massaged my forehead, quickly changing the subject.

She giggled, grabbing the bottle of water on her side of the table.

“Ravyn,” I called softly, my heart pounding in my chest as I edged closer to whisper. “What if I'm…you know…?”

She arched her brows, her eyes locked on mine. “Pregnant?”

I nodded, feeling a jolt of anticipation rushing through me.

She leaned forward, mirroring my position, and her brows narrowed in confusion. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

“Yes!” The word fell out of my mouth. “I mean, no—maybe!” I slapped my forehead and slumped back into my chair, confused.

“Lori, you're married. It's to be expected…. It was only a matter of time,” Ravyn said, her voice soft and tender. She kept her eyes fixed on me.

“I know, okay!” I groaned, cupping my face in my palms. My voice rose in exasperation. “Just wasn't expecting it this soon.” I let out a frustrated groan.

“Hey, don't freak out just yet,” Ravyn said, her tone reassuring as she reached out to hold my hands. “You know how unpredictable our bodies can be.” She shrugged her shoulders, eyes pinned on me. “Maybe your cycle just shifted. It's not uncommon for our periods to get a little wonky.”

I let out a deep breath. Thanks to her words of encouragement, I felt lighter, even though I couldn't completely shake off the feeling that something was off.

“Chill, Lori.” Her lips curled into a smile as she gently squeezed against my fingers. “Your body might just be playing tricks on you.”

She was right about that. It was possible that my period was running behind schedule. In some women, it happened due to a number of reasons, one of which was stress, and I'd been stressing a lot these days.

I just hoped that this was the case…. I could only hope and pray that I wasn't pregnant. Not that I didn't like kids; I was simply afraid because I wasn't ready to be a mother. That was way too big a responsibility that I wasn't sure I was strong enough to carry.

Ravyn managed to keep me engaged with other stuff happening in her life and in the dorm as we ate. I tried my best to pay attention and not drift back to the scary thought lingering on the fringes of my mind.

My eyes caught the giant clock on the wall, and my heart stopped for a moment. It was getting late, and my husband wasn't aware I'd left the house. At the time I snuck out, he’d yet to return from work, and he was most likely on his way home by now.

I cleared my throat conspicuously. “I think it's time I went home, Ravyn.”

She turned around to look at the clock behind her. It was almost 6:00 P.M. “Oh. Okay.” She faced me. “I'll drive you home?”

That was a great idea because if, for some reason, my husband was home before me, his anger would lessen a little if he knew I’d been out with my best friend.

“Thanks, Ravie,” I said, my lips curling into a smile.

We picked up our bags and headed out, the evening sun casting a warm glow on our faces as she pushed the door open. We hadn't moved five steps from the restaurant when a sleek black Porsche pulled over by the pavement.

The driver honked the horn as if to get our attention, and they did. I lifted my head in time to see the window rolling down, revealing Alexei behind the wheel.

He held my gaze from within the car's cabin, his expression blank, infusing me with anxiety.

How the hell did he find me? I wondered, my heart racing in my chest. I hoped he wouldn't embarrass me out here in front of my friend.

“Isn't that your husband?” Ravyn asked, shifting her eyes from the Porsche to me.

My lips instantly squeezed out a smile to mask my nervousness. “Yeah, it is him, actually.”

“He came to pick you? That's amazing.” Her brows arched as she playfully pinched my arm.

“I'll see you around, Ravie,” I said, embracing her.

We smiled at each other before I walked away, wondering what fate awaited me in the vehicle, considering how defiant I’d been. However, I maintained an elegant posture as I sashayed my way to the car, heels clicking against the pavement.

I caught his eyes roaming my body, his expression still blank. I grabbed the front passenger door, opened it, and slid into the seat beside him. The door slammed shut behind me, and I waved at Ravyn as he drove away, the engine roaring to life.

It was silent between us for some time, and I couldn't look at him, even though he didn't seem like he wasn't upset. But why wouldn't he be?

Alexei's calmness was unexpected, and it threw me off, proving that he was more mysterious than I thought.

Maybe he was this calm because he'd seen me with Ravyn. But whatever the reason, his silence was alarming. Should I be worried? What was he thinking? What was running through that evil mind of his?

Of all the thoughts overlapping in my head, only one stood out, and I couldn't stop myself from asking for an answer.

I turned to look at him, my chest heaving slowly. His eyes were focused on the road. “How did you find me?”

His lips twisted into a sly smirk, and he stole a glance in my direction. “I like to keep track of my belongings.”

My face contorted into a frown at his words, laced with condescension, making me immediately regret why I asked in the first place.

“I'm not one of your cars, Alexei,” I spat, my voice dripping with venom. Deep creases formed between my brows.

“You're not,” he said, retaining that pesky little smirk as he shot a quick look at me. “Yet in bed, I drive you crazy.”

That was a good one, I had to admit, and I felt a flutter in my chest—a tingling sensation between my legs.

However, I wouldn't let him see how much his flirtatious response had affected me…again.

My scowl deepened, and I folded my arms across my chest, looking out the window. His arrogance made my blood boil, yet his words sent a spark jolting through me.

I hated this feeling of vulnerability; it was so frustrating. Couldn't a girl just hate a man in peace? Why all these complications?

My breath hitched in my throat as the possibility of a bigger complication flashed in my head. The missed period.

At this point, it was a 50-50 chance. I may or may not be pregnant, but there was only one way to find out.

My eyes caught a pharmacy across the road.

This was my chance to finally get to the bottom of this.

I swallowed hard against the dryness in my throat, my heart racing as I struggled to summon the courage I needed. My breathing was heavy, and my eyes were blinking frantically. Sweat slicked my palms. “Please, pull over at the pharmacy.” I pointed at the building, my voice low and polite. “I'd like to get something.”

He glanced at me, squinting slightly. “Are you sick?” he asked, probably more curious than concerned.

I wore a flat face and replied sternly, “Girl stuff,” a hint of arrogance creeping into my tone.

He scoffed, ignoring the attitude as he slowed down and took a gentle turn toward the pharmacy. I clenched my jaw, masking my nervousness, which seemed to heighten the closer we got to the building.

The plan was to get a pregnancy test strip so I'd know what exactly was going on with me.