Page 100 of Forgotten Vows

I heard her clearly despite the applause in the church.

I kissed her again, dipping her low as she smiled against my lips and kissed me back. Holding on tight, she giggled when I broke our lip lock.

I’d never drop her. Never let her go.

She was mine, forever, and I couldn’t have been happier.

40

RAISA

From the church, we went to the reception hall that Gabriella insisted upon. Now that Konstantin was dead and the Cartel wasn’t causing as much trouble about her marriage to Luka—or whatever flavor of a grievance they wanted to whine about this week—we were more or less free to party and celebrate. No more hiding in the house or feeling stuck there.

“I can’t believe we’re moving tomorrow,” Ivan said, holding my hand as we sat at the head table. He lifted our hands and kissed the back of mine.

“I can.” I laughed once. “As much as I love being at Luka’s and being around everyone else, I am so excited to have our own space. Our own home.”

He blew a raspberry. “Yeah, right. Like you won’t be over there all the time with Gabriella.”

I shrugged. “Or she can visit us.”

Knowing I had a friendanda family was more than I ever could’ve hoped for. It seemed like an entire new existence, so different from the struggle of the years when I was alone with Lev, looking over my shoulder and so scared of my father findingme. Of not knowing whether Luka Dubinin would ever approve of me as his nephew’s partner.

Being able to settle into one home, without having the worry about relocating in the back of my mind, was a blessing. Lev would never have to stress about packing up and being ready to just go. I would never need to always keep one foot out the door, prepared to start over in another new place where I knew no one else.

I would live with Ivan at that home near Luka’s for as long as we wanted to.

Forever.

“Lev’s excited about his new room, too,” Ivan said.

I smiled, recalling how thrilled he was when we went house-hunting together. He kept asking if this was for real, if we’d all live here as a family.

“And I’m also excited to have… privacy to start on that baby sister he’s hoping for,” I admitted.

He took hold of my chin and tugged me closer. That dark desire in his eyes intoxicated me. Beneath the table, he slid his hand up the slit of my wedding gown.

Yeah, he was excited to have me alone in bed, too.

“Ahem.”

I sighed and pulled back as Emil joined us. As much of a playboy as he was, I figured he’d be dancing all night and acting like a Casanova picking up women to take home. Ivan noticed that he wasn’t doing that either.

“So. You managed to make it to the wedding on time…” I teased.

He shrugged. “I got a little tied up.”

“With what?” Ivan asked.

Emil smiled wickedly and winked.

“I think you mean withwho.”

“That agent?” Ivan asked, raising both brows.

I laughed.Talk about enemies to lovers in the making…

I doubted he’d settle with this agent. Or anyone. He was truly the bachelor of these Dubinin leaders.