Page 120 of Owned Bratva Bride

I watched her tiny fingers move over the keys, suddenly regretting not attending to the maintenance of the instrument.

I thought of staying there until she was done just to surprise her. But I considered that it might be too early. Maybe when she was more comfortable playing, when her fingers moved more confidently, when her relationship with the piano became warmer.

Somehow, I was sure that time would come soon.

Marielle knew how to make her way into people’s hearts.

Chapter 25 – Marielle

Utterly exhilarating.

It was the only description that came close to my regular state of mind.

When Lucien’s men told me that my abduction was a setup, I thought it was too late to tell Eduard about my new feelings. I broke down, feeling like the chance of us being together had been stolen.

But now the storm had passed.

So had the uncertainty I used to feel whenever Eduard pulled me in. I was no longer waiting for his withdrawal; it was gone for good.

Eduard said the words I thought I wouldn’t hear from him in a long time, if ever. He hadn’t said them again since then, but I felt them in everything he did. I felt his love in the way his eyes lit up when they landed on mine. It was obvious in the way he adjusted the covers over my body and shifted my pillow at night. Even his silence betrayed his affection in the way his body held onto mine.

The ping of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts.

Talk of the devil.

His message read:

“Baby, get ready. I’ll pick you up in 20 minutes.”

I smiled at my phone as I stood from the chair and rushed out of the study.

Since it was late afternoon and I didn’t know where he was taking me, I decided to dress neutrally. I put on a simple gold slip dress and my sandal heels. I applied my nude lipstick and a bit of dark eyeshadow. My low bun remained as it was, with a few waves framing my face.

Another text came in as I sprayed my perfume.

It read:

“I’m downstairs.”

An unfamiliar black Aston Martin slowed to a halt as I stepped out of the house. Eduard stepped out, turning around to meet me.

He had shed the suit he wore earlier in the morning, and his black shirt was rolled up. He looked every bit of a sex god, but the smile that automatically spread on my face was from something deeper.

“Never seen this car before,” I pointed out.

“It spends more time in my garage than on the road. It’s one of the special ones,” he explained, pulling me to him.

“Hi,” I greeted playfully as he released me.

“Hey, baby,” he answered. “You look ravishing. Absolutely mouthwatering.”

“You look great yourself.”

He led me into the passenger seat of the still-humming car.

“No driver today?”

“Just the two of us. I’m your designated driver,” he disclosed as he shut my door.