Page 18

I stand at the altar, my eyes scanning the rare sight before me—guests from both the Bratva and the American Mafia. It’s not often you see this mix. Two factions that were once enemies, now sitting side by side, all because of the woman who’s about to become my wife.

My gaze shifts toward the aisle as Sophia appears, her arm looped through Kristen’s. She walks slowly, her face pale, her frame smaller than it was just a week ago. Kace’s death hit her hard—I can see it in her hollowed cheeks, the weight of grief still pressing down on her. Yet, even with that sadness lingering in her eyes, she’s beautiful. Almost too beautiful.

Her dress clings to her in all the right places, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. As she gets closer, I notice the nervousness in her steps, the stiffness in her posture. She stops in front of me, her eyes avoiding mine as Kristen hands her over. It feels more like a transaction than a wedding. Because that’s what it is—business.

The ceremony begins, the exchange of vows a formality neither of us can escape. As Sophia speaks, her voice is soft, almost fragile, but there’s a strength beneath it. I catch myself staring, more entranced by her than I expected to be. The words pass by in a blur, but I’m aware of her presence in a way that feels unsettling. My mind drifts to what will happen later tonight, and I can’t help the desire that builds in me as I think about her, how I’ll claim her completely.

Finally, it’s time. I lift her veil, revealing her face fully for the first time today. Her eyes meet mine, wide and uncertain, but she doesn’t flinch. I lean in, my hand cupping her cheek as I press my lips against hers. The kiss is soft at first, her lips warm and pliable beneath mine, but I want more. The taste of her is intoxicating, and for a brief second, I forget everything else. I forget the crowd, the vows, even the business arrangement behind all of this.

All I want is her.

When I pull back, I notice the way her breath hitches, her cheeks flushed pink. I suppress the smirk threatening to form. She’s mine now. Completely. That thought, that certainty, only fuels the hunger inside me.

The day progresses into night, the reception a blur of toasts and polite conversation. My mind is elsewhere, already thinking about what’s waiting for me later. When I finally step into my room, she’s already there. She stands by the window, her back to me, her long dress flowing down her legs. She seems out of place, awkward and unsure.

She turns when she hears me, her hands nervously clasped in front of her. “Do we have to live in the same room?” she asks, her voice hesitant, unsure.

I step closer, my eyes never leaving her. “This may have been a marriage of convenience,” I say, my voice low, “but you’re my wife now, Sophia. You’ll fulfill all the duties that come with that.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and I can sense the nervousness radiating from her. She shifts her weight, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. I move closer until I’m standing right in front of her, so close I can feel the tension rolling off her in waves.

Her breath quickens as I reach for the zipper of her dress, slowly pulling it down. She doesn’t stop me, doesn’t push me away. Instead, she stands there, her body stiff, waiting.

I lean in, my lips brushing the shell of her ear as I whisper, “Why so nervous, Sophia? Don’t tell me… are you a virgin?”

Her silence is answer enough, but when she nods, a spark of something dark flares in me. The thought that no one’s ever touched her before, that I’ll be the first, stirs a primal satisfaction within me.

“I see,” I murmur, stepping back just enough to look at her. “Have you ever even kissed a man before today?”

She shakes her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. It’s almost too good to believe. She’s untouched, innocent in ways I hadn’t expected.

I lean in again, my breath hot against her neck. “Then I’ll be the one to ruin you.”

Her body tenses, but she doesn’t move away. She’s afraid, I can tell, but there’s something else there too. Anticipation. Curiosity. I can see it in the way her eyes dart to my lips, the way her breath comes faster now, shallow and shaky.

I reach down, letting the dress slip off her shoulders, revealing her soft, pale skin. Her chest rises and falls rapidly as the fabric pools at her feet, leaving her standing there in nothing but her undergarments.

My hands find her waist, pulling her closer. She shivers beneath my touch, her body trembling slightly as I hold her tight against me.

“You’re mine now,” I whisper, my lips brushing the corner of her mouth. “Completely. Understand?”

She nods, though her eyes betray a flicker of fear. She won’t fight back. She’s too submissive, too obedient to resist. I prefer it that way. She’ll learn to accept this, to accept me.

I push her down gently onto the bed, watching as she lies back against the soft sheets, her eyes wide and filled with nervous anticipation. Her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath, the tension in her body evident as I lean over her. My hands slide up her sides, fingers brushing against her skin, feeling the warmth beneath them. Her lips part slightly, but she doesn’t say a word, her gaze fixed on me.

Slowly, deliberately, I lower myself to kiss her, starting at her collarbone and trailing up to her neck. She tenses beneath me, but I can feel her surrender inch by inch. My lips move across her skin, leaving a trail of heat in their wake as I kiss her harder, deeper. Her breathing grows erratic, and when I glance at her, her cheeks are flushed, her lips trembling. She’s overwhelmed—exactly where I want her.

As I begin to help her out of the rest of her dress, my hands moving with a practiced ease, I feel her body stiffen beneath my touch. She tries to keep her composure, but I can sense the embarrassment in her movements, the hesitation in the way she responds to me.

“Do you remember that night?” I murmur against her skin, my voice low, deliberate. “You were on the phone, talking about me. Do you remember… what happened after?”

Her eyes widen, and she swallows hard, her body jerking slightly in surprise. She’s trying to hold back the embarrassment, but I can see it clearly now. She remembers. Of course, she does.

I smirk as I continue kissing her neck, my hands working to remove the last bit of her dress. “You had no idea I could hear every word, did you?” I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes, my voice laced with amusement. “The way you talked about me… how you said I was so much better than Jackson. You didn’t realize I was listening the whole time.”

Her face flushes deeper, her embarrassment almost palpable. She bites her lip, looking away, her cheeks burning under my gaze. Despite the clear mortification, there’s something else in her eyes—something that suggests she doesn’t entirely hate that I heard those words.

My cock is hard against the inside of her thigh as I press flush against her. The mattress creaks beneath our combined weight as I shift; she can feel me against her, and a shiver runs down her spine.

“I didn’t…,” she begins, her voice barely a whisper, trailing off as I bring my hand to her cheek, forcing her to look back at me.

“You didn’t what?” I ask, my lips brushing against hers as I speak. I grind against her, and a little moan escapes her lips. “Didn’t mean it, or didn’t want me to know?”

Her lips part, but no words come out. Instead, she swallows again, her breath catching as I lean in closer, my mouth hovering just above hers.

“You can deny it all you want,” I say, my voice low, teasing. “We both know the truth. You enjoyed thinking about me that night, didn’t you?”

She hesitates for a moment, her eyes searching mine, but I can see the way her body responds. She’s nervous, maybe even scared, but there’s a part of her that’s intrigued, curious about the very man she should hate.

“I… I didn’t know you were listening,” she whispers, her voice soft, filled with shame.

I chuckle softly, running my hand down her side, feeling her body tremble beneath my touch. “Doesn’t matter. I heard you.”

I don’t wait for her to respond. Instead, I kiss her again, harder this time, my lips claiming hers as I press her deeper into the mattress. She responds slowly, hesitantly at first, but then I feel her relax, her body melting against mine as she begins to kiss me back.

I pull her closer, my hands exploring her now bare skin, the heat between us intensifying with each passing second. My hands delve between her thighs to find her soaking. Warm. With a grin, I align myself with her entrance; she gasps as I enter her, back arching. It’s delicious.

Her soft whimpers fill the air, and I can tell she’s embarrassed by the sounds escaping her lips, but she can’t help it. She’s giving in to me, little by little.

I pull away slightly, my lips hovering just above hers as I set the pace, my voice a low growl. “I heard every word, Sophia. I know exactly what you were thinking… how you wanted to kiss me, how you hated Jackson. You’re mine now, and you don’t have to pretend otherwise.”

She squeezes her eyes shut, her face burning red as she tries to hide her embarrassment. Even as I pound into her, she flushes a pretty pink. Her tits bounce as I ride her, hair a beautiful blonde mess about her head.

I can feel her pulse quicken, her breath coming faster, and I know she won’t last long. It’s okay; I won’t either.

“I… I wasn’t… thinking,” she whispers, barely able to get the words out, her voice trembling.

“Don’t lie,” I say, my hands gripping her wrists and pinning them to the bed. I lean in close, my mouth brushing her ear as I whisper, “I’ll make you admit it.”

She squirms slightly beneath me, but not to escape. It’s more like she’s trying to control herself, trying not to react to the way my touch sets her skin on fire. I kiss her neck again, my lips trailing down her collarbone as I press her wrists harder into the mattress, holding her in place.

Her breathing quickens, and when I glance at her face, I can see the mixture of emotions playing across her features—fear, embarrassment, but also curiosity. She’s never felt anything like this before, and it shows.

I quicken the pace, pounding into her so fast, so desperately, it makes my head spin. Arousal makes my skin burn, coiling deep in my stomach.

“Don’t worry,” I murmur against her skin, and her back arches as I grind into her. “I’ll take care of you. You’re mine now, and I always take care of what’s mine.”

She doesn’t respond, her body still beneath me. Her breathing is ragged, her eyes squeezed shut. Her walls tighten around my cock as she comes, a gasp caught in the back of her throat. Nobody has ever looked so perfect.

With a grunt, my grip tightens around her. I reach my peak, spilling hot come inside her, whole body coiled tight. For a moment the world goes still, as our combined juices cool between our joined bodies.

I let go of her wrists, pulling back slightly to look down at her. Her face is flushed, her lips parted as she breathes heavily, and I smirk, knowing I’ve already won.

“Enjoy yourself?” I ask, smirking.

She looks breathlessly up at me, unable to form the words.

I lean down and kiss her again, this time slower, softer, savoring the way she responds to me, the way her body begins to melt under my touch. She’s inexperienced, yes, but that only makes it better. She’s mine to mold, mine to break.

I’m going to enjoy every second of it.