Page 36 of Scarlet Sins (Yegorov Bratva #2)

Chapter Thirty-Two

DEMYAN

Ilya stands by my side on the beach.

Waiting for Erin to arrive and I’ve never been so nervous. I’ve faced death. It’s nothing on this.

But there’s one thing I know. She’s coming.

She’s not backing out or anything like that. I’m nervous because I don’t think I’ve ever loved like this. What if I get it wrong, what?—

“Breathe,” Ilya says in Russian. “Breathe. You’ve got this.”

I do, I realize.

And the nerves aren’t a bad thing. It means I need her so much that I’ll never take her for granted. I know how blessed I am. I’m scared I won’t live up to her. So, I guess I’ll have to. And she’s both my inspiration and safety net.

“I’m going to have to prove I’m good enough for her. For the rest of my life. I have to step up. And if I ever fumble, she’ll catch me.” I look at Ilya. “I don’t want to fumble.”

“Then don’t. My friend, you’re the most determined man I’ve met. This is it, your happy ever after.”

Oh fuck. It is.

Mine .

The day is perfect. The sun shines above and gentle waves lap the snowy-white sand.

The private beach is pristine, like page one of a new book I have to explore.

Suddenly, the nerves dissipate.

This is mine. I’ve got it.

Mine and Erin’s. Together, we have it.

Together.

And like that, I’m relaxed. The future’s bright and her name is everywhere. With her by my side, the chapter will write itself. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed.

I don’t know what’s going to come, except it’ll be with Erin.

And that’s perfection.

Ilya elbows me. “So, figured it’s been a hot minute. How are you feeling now?”

I grin at him. “I feel… pretty fucking amazing.”

The music starts. A lone cellist on a special platform plays and I look up.

Sasha walks down the little sandy aisle in his bright-blue tuxedo and bare feet. His face is a scrunch of concentration as he holds a velvet black cushion with two rings on it.

He takes his time, like his little life depends on getting this right.

When Sasha reaches me, he looks up. “Daddy?”

I grin and go down on my knees and kiss his cheek. “You did great, Sasha. Perfect.”

And he beams.

I rise.

Next, Kara and Alina walk down that sandy aisle in their lavender dresses, looking stunning.

And then I see Erin.

Holy shit.

My mouth goes dry and my knees shake .

Erin smiles shyly at me, her blond hair swept up in a simple twist and she’s so fucking gorgeous, so utterly breathtaking I’m not sure I’ll be able to breathe again.

How is this woman mine?

The dress is a tight ivory satin number that’s covered with delicate lace, and she glides, barefoot along the sand, simple red roses in her hands, fresh, like they’d been plucked that morning.

I hold out my hand. And she takes it, letting me pull her close so I can kiss her cheek. “You look fucking amazing. So beautiful, Lyubimaya .”

And her cheeks turn pink.

The celebrant begins, simple, to the point.

It’s my turn for my vows.

“Erin, when I met you, I knew you were different. It took us a minute to let fate bring us back together, but it did so with precious cargo. Sasha. And I know I’m blessed.

I love you. With everything I am and ever could be.

You’ve helped me grow to be a father I hope our children will be proud of.

But it’s you. Always you, Erin. My Lyubimaya .

You’re the sun and my stars. I love you. ”

She blinks back tears as I slip on the ring.

“Demyan, I love you more than I can say. I’ve made mistakes in my life, but you were never one of them.

You gave me Sasha, and more importantly, you’ve given me a family.

Best of all, you’ve given me you. The secret you.

The man inside. I will follow you anywhere.

You are my life, you’re Sasha’s life, and you’ll be our baby’s life, too. ”

“I’m naming the baby!” Sasha breathes.

Erin half laughs, and then she sobers, looking at me and the rest of the world fades. It’s just her and me.

“You’re everything, Demyan. Everything I never knew I wanted, everything I knew I did.

” Then she motions me close. I step forward.

Her voice drops so only I can hear. “ Last night you said you loved me more than life itself. That’s private.

But I wanted it in our vows. You told me that.

And I wanted you to know I love you more than life itself.

You, Demyan. You’re the best man I’ll ever know, and I’m humbled by your love. ”

I kiss her softly. “I’m humbled by you. The best woman I’ll ever know.”

Then I step back. And she raises her voice. “Through the good times, the bad, through everything, Demyan, I promise I’ll always be there. Every step of the way.”

“Congratulations,” the celebrant says, “you’re officially husband and wife.”

Everyone cheers and claps and hollers. It’s a lot of noise for a small, intimate crowd.

And I’m so close to fucking tears it’s not funny.

Her last words said to everyone, I know what they were about. She’s letting me know I’ll never miss another moment of her life, of our children’s. Ever.

“You may kiss the bride,” the celebrant says, “again.”

And I do, our first one in our new chapter.

Her mouth is warm and welcoming, and as her tongue slides over mine, it’s full of promises of what waits for us tonight.

I slide my arm around her, pulling her close, and suddenly I want to blow off the dinner and dancing and drag her to our honeymoon cottage and fuck her senseless, spend days like I planned, worshipping her, but I want to do it now.

Erin pulls back slightly, and her laughing blue eyes meet mine. It’s like she can read my mind.

“No way, Demyan. They’ll kill us.”

“If you know what I want, you want it, too.”

The scent of roses grows strong as she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me again. “Because I want it too. Oh, the things I plan to do with you…”

“Do tell… or show… ”

She laughs again. “Demyan, I promise you the night of your life after we’ve celebrated with everyone, including Sasha.”

“Fuck. Okay.”

But I’m not miffed. I pick Sasha up as we head back to the resort. The whole place has been transformed into a perfect fairy-tale ending. Flickering lanterns in the gardens that overlook the ocean, with tables set up and room to dance.

Even the pool glows with floating lights beyond its childproof gating.

We sit and eat, the laughter and conversation that flows almost negates my need for her now.

But she’s so fucking gorgeous, with the light in her hair, and even the ice-blue sapphire and diamond comb in her hair turns me on because it exposes her elegant neck.

I can see the light bruise I left when I sucked on a spot last night.

She adjusts Sasha’s napkin, but he’s wearing his dinner because he’s two. And I slide a hand up her thigh under the table, making her jump.

There’s lobster and seafood, lamb and chicken. And mac and cheese that Sasha’s demolishing.

“Demyan,” she whispers, batting my hand away, “behave.”

“Fuck no.” I grin at her. “Where’s the fun in that?”

But as much as I want my wife, I’m happy that my family and friends are here.

When Erin gets up to go to the bathroom, I seize the opportunity and follow her. The moment she steps out in the quiet of the resort’s main building, I take her hand and pull her back in, kissing her hard, devouring her.

Christ, she’s so fucking delicious. I lift my head and push her into the door of the bathroom. “You’re so fucking irresistible, Erin. All I can think of is ripping off that dress and fucking you senseless.”

“Really,” she breathes.

I kiss a path along her exposed throat. “Really, I want to pleasure you for hours.”

She bites her lip and gazes at me. “How is five minutes?”

“I can do five minutes.”

“It has to last you through the rest of dinner and the evening ahead. You have to then wait until we’re in our honeymoon cottage.”

“I can,” I say, lifting her and dumping her on the marble vanity, “do that.”

Stepping away for a moment, I flick the lock on the door, then come back to her, shoving her dress up over her thighs and around her waist.

I look down.

“Fuck.”

The lace of her panties is flimsy, narrow. It’s perfection. I nudge it out of the way and plunge my fingers into her, and then I kiss her hard all over again. I ravish her mouth as I finger fuck her, the tight, hot wetness of her cunt making me so goddamn hard I’m aching.

I change the kiss to seduction, making her chase my mouth, giving in to deep, passionate kisses before pulling away. She tastes like life. Like mine. Like pure and unchartered waters I somehow know, waters that thrill and hold secrets for me to uncover.

She moans, and I add my thumb, sliding over her clit as I work her with my fingers.

I kiss her throat, biting, sucking, and her pussy starts to tighten, her hands biting into me.

She comes hard, shuddering, her muscles clenching down on me as she does .

I pull out of her and she starts to reach for me but I pull her off the vanity and help adjust her dress.

“Demyan.”

“What?”

I glance at my watch, then at her, and I suck my fingers of her juices.

“You didn’t come. I can?—”

“Fuck no, that was four minutes. Under five. And…” I lean in and I kiss her softly. “I can wait.”

“Demyan,” she says, shock in her voice. “Is that enough to hold you?”

Her fingers brush over my erection.

But I pick up her hand and kiss it.

“It’s enough.” Then I run the fingers that I sucked, the fingers that were in her, under my nose. “The scent of you on my fingers is more than enough to get me through the next few hours. But…”

“What?”

I crowd her up against the door and rub in against her so she can feel the hardness, my needs, and I kiss her again. “But I’ll have no mercy on you later. You’re mine. All night.”

She smiles and puts a hand on my cheek. “Demyan, I promise you, I’m yours. Forever.”