Page 79 of Scarlet Promise

Max wasn’t from our world, so in a weird way, Demyan didn’t see our relationship as losing me. Max was safe, a place for me to be out of the danger zone.

It didn’t work out that way, though. Not at all.

I stroke the satin of the thick ribbon, and then I pull it. Finally, I ease off the lid and peel back the layers of silver tissue paper.

“Oh my.”

I really think I should get ready.

The little blackdress makes my head spin as I tuck my arm into Ilya’s. It’s surface-level pretty and romantic, with a wide, flowing skirt with sweetheart cap sleeves and buttons down the front.

But under the sheer chiffon is a tight, short, sexy black dress.

It’s divine.

I lean into my handsome, tall husband, who shaved for the occasion and wears his black suit with the dark-gray shirt and tie.

I whisper, “Has this dress really been sitting there since Demyan made me go home?”

“I bought it before then. I’m not sure when it was delivered. I assume Svetlana put it in your room.” He smiles at me. “Do you like it? I saw it and thought of you,malyshka.”

“You bought it for me, so of course I love it.”

He stops me and brings me in for a slow kiss. My heart runs wild.

“Anything for you, Alina.”

It’s funny, because I know I love him, and he loves me. I can feel it in everything he does, but we don’t really say those words out loud. If I were paranoid, I’d wonder if he changed his mind.

It’s like he doesn’t want to trample boundaries.

And I don’t want to seem overeager, like I’m compensating for the loss of Max.

But this is enough, him here, us together.

I just wish we were free to be under the same roof to find our own way ourselves.

“You look fucking hot and sexy as hell,” he mutters as we step inside the flashy restaurant.

“And you don’t look too shabby, either.”

He laughs. “Flatterer.”

Ilya shakes hands with the host, who beams at him. The restaurant looks and smells so good. My stomach growls properly for the first time in a long time.

I grip his arm and look around, my steps faltering. My good mood tumbles, and everything stops smelling quite so good.

There, in a prime spot, sit two familiar people. One I want to see, but the other…

“Ilya, look. Demyan and Erin.” I nod discreetly in their direction.

“One moment,” he says to the host. Then he turns to me. “We’ll leave and go somewhere else. The Place, where I was going to take you?—”

“No.” I suck in a deep breath. “I do want to go there, but I’m also not getting chased out by my brother. Besides, Demyan needs to get used to seeing us together, and this is a perfect way for him to start.”

The confidence swirls through me as he nods to the host.

But it ebbs away as we’re led to the table right next to them.