Page 6 of The Pakhan’s Arranged Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #2)

I’ve been roaming up and down this street pretending to shop for ages.

All I have to do is blend in until my source comes back to me with more information.

I received a message earlier saying that Miron will be in a restaurant very close by within the next hour or two, so I came here early, not willing to miss the opportunity.

I’ve been browsing stores, biding my time, blending in and trying to look like a normal girl just enjoying some shopping, but honestly, my nerves are frayed with an anxious undercurrent of impatience.

The lingerie store I’m in is only two or three buildings from where Miron is supposed to be. I’m close, but it’s still about twenty minutes before he’s supposed to arrive, and I can’t stand here staring at this black lace set for twenty minutes.

I run my hand over the soft sheer fabric. I’ve never worn lingerie before. I imagine it would feel empowering—seductive, and beautiful.

An image flashes through my mind of Benedikt’s expression if he saw me in something like this.

I giggle.

The way he looks at me when I’m wearing jeans and a hoodie basically says he wants to eat me alive—I’d love to see his face if I walked in wearing this.

I drop my hand from the lace, shaking my head. I don’t need thoughts of him and his over-the-top sexiness to be distracting me now, while I’m on a mission. He already distracts me enough at home.

I turn away from the black lace set, ready to leave this store, and to my horror, I walk right into Benedikt.

I crash head-first into his solid chest, and the familiar scent of pine washes over me, along with his mischievous chuckle. My heart races and my lips part as I take a deep breath in.

He reaches up and wraps his hand around my waist.

“Be careful, little fox. You looked lost in thought, there.”

I stare up at him in disbelief.

For a moment, confusion races through me. What the hell is he doing here?

But the confusion is very quickly replaced by anger.

“Did you follow me here?” I snap, stepping away from his heated touch against my skin.

“Am I not allowed to make sure my wife is safe?” He cocks his head to the side, challenging me. “Were you thinking of buying the black one?”

“Is that a yes? That you did follow me?” I push for an answer, my mind racing. Does he know why I’m really here?

“The black would look incredible on you—or the red, or the white—or that baby-blue set.” He looks around the store, a sly smile touching the corners of his mouth.

I close my eyes for a second and do the best I can to slow my racing heart. It’s fine. He’s my husband. He has a right to know where I am. I can’t be angry with him for following me here. It’s not unusual for a husband to surprise his wife while she’s out and about.

If I overreact about being followed, it’ll create suspicion.

Benedikt’s eyes shoot wide open.

I throw him a look that says I dare you to tell me I can’t.

His brows lift and his mischievous smile widens.

“I’ll give you my card, buy all of it if you like.”

“I don’t need your card,” I huff.

“I insist. Would you like to try it on, and I can tell you which looks best?” The glint in his eyes is shining so fiercely it’s making my cheeks heat.

“You can’t watch,” I stammer.

He steps closer to me, his solid body pressing in to me, his imposing height towering over me.

“I’d love to, though.” He reaches up and brushes his thumb over my cheek.

“Your gorgeous, sun-kissed skin would look amazing in any color, but personally I’d love to see you in that blue set.

It’s naughty and cute at the same time.”

My mouth drops open as I stare at him. My heart is racing a hundred miles an hour, and I have no idea what to say to that.

The way he’s looking at me know tells me he’s been watching me browse the lacy pieces for a while, and he’s already thought about this. Suddenly, I want to parade myself around for him in something sheer and erotic. Heat pools between my legs and my breathing catches.

He notices the subtle change and brushes his thumb over my lips.

“Try it on for me,” he whispers.

Focus, Ulyana, he can’t be here when Miron arrives. You have to get rid of him.

Shit.

“You can’t be here when I choose my lingerie. It would—"

“Spoil the surprise?” he asks.

“You have to go. You can come back later.”

“Mm. How much later?”

“However long it takes me to choose what I want. You can’t rush a girl when she’s shopping.”

“Fine,” he says, reluctantly stepping away from me. “I’ll be back in two hours.”

My entire body relaxes, releasing the panic that was starting to form. Two hours is perfect.

“Run along,” I say, as sassy as ever, gesturing for him to leave.

He laughs, a low, dark laugh that teases me, making me wonder what beautiful sounds he would make if I was straddling him.

Dammit. Focus.

Benedikt leaves the lingerie shop, and I sneak close to the window so that I can watch him climb into his car parked just down the road.

I need to make sure he’s really going. I glance at my watch, noting the time.

When he comes back, I better be ready, or there will be too many questions for me to answer.

Especially after getting caught snooping the other day.

My phone chimes in my back pocket. I pull it out, excited that it might be an update regarding Miron.

It is.

The guy I’ve hired to feed me information tells me that Miron is on his way now and should arrive at the restaurant within the next ten minutes.

My heart beats faster. The anticipation of seeing him makes me sick inside, but the anger I have towards him makes me excited. Excited to see him pay for what he did.

I hurry from the store, out onto the street, walking towards the restaurant. I want to find a good spot to wait where I have a view of the entrance.

I’ve been waiting a long time to find him.

The clock ticks, moving slower than usual as I sit at a coffee shop with my eyes glued to the restaurant door.

I keep glancing at my watch, thinking that ten minutes must have passed by now.

They have. It’s been twenty.

Did I miss him?

No, it ’ s not possible, I’ve been here the entire time. He just got caught up somewhere—delayed. He’ll be here. Don’t move now and miss this opportunity.

I wait.

The coffee I’ve ordered is cold in front of me, and I still haven’t taken my eyes off the restaurant.

No, something’s not right. It’s been forty-five minutes and he hasn’t arrived.

I leave the coffee shop, my coffee untouched.

Hurrying around the side of the restaurant, I check if there are any other entrances, a delivery door or some kind of back way into the place.

It’s chained up. The chains are rusted and old. I don’t think Miron would have come in this way.

Maybe I’m at the wrong restaurant.

I run around to the front and check the name. It’s the right place.

Panic and frustration surge through me and I start hurrying further down the street, then back up again, searching everywhere, hunting through the crowds, peering into windows, looking for Miron.

When I check my watch again, I only have fifteen minutes before Benedikt arrives, and I haven’t even purchased any lingerie.

“Fuck,” I mutter angrily.

Jogging back to the lingerie shop, I burst in through the doors, my heart racing from adrenaline.

I don’t have time to think about anything, so I take the baby blue set. It’s beautiful. Benedikt has good taste.

I carry it to the counter and the lady eyes me while she rings it up and packs it into a very pretty box for me.

“Are you okay?” she asks after a moment.

I smile as wide as I can. “I’m fine, shopping can be so crazy sometimes. I get a bit overwhelmed.”

She nods as though she understands. “Oh, yes, it’s hard to choose. But your husband is right, this color will suit you.”

She heard all that?

I bite my lower lip, hoping my cheeks don’t flush with embarrassment. “Thank you,” I mutter when she hands me the parcel.

I’m a few minutes over time.

It’s okay. He can wait. I have something to show for my shopping time.

I carry the parcel out onto the sidewalk and easily spot the most gorgeous man on the opposite side of the street. Benedikt is leaning against his car with his arms folded over his chest. He’s grinning as he watches me.

I look up and down the road, and then hurry across it towards him.

“What color did you choose?” he asks.

“None of your business.” I grin, fluttering my lashes at him.

He walks around the car to open the door for me, and I take the keys from my pocket. “I have a car here.”

“I’ll take that.” Jadon’s voice behind me makes me jump. He gently takes the keys from my hand.

“Thanks, J.” Benedikt says. “Come, wife.” He winks at me, gesturing for me to get in the car.

I narrow my eyes, wanting to argue and tell him that I am an independent woman who is perfectly capable of driving herself around, but somewhere inside, I want to be the pampered princess whose husband comes to fetch her to make sure she’s safe.

I can’t help the grin that touches my lips as I duck into his car.

My eyes follow him as he walks around the front to his side.

It’s crazy how hot he is. I notice the women walking past, gawking at him. It must be so easy for him to get girls.

The other thing I notice, though, is that he doesn’t even glance in their direction. This is surprising to me. Mr. Playboy didn’t even give them the time of day, despite them practically veering towards him just to get a closer look.

He climbs into the driver’s side and looks over at me before he starts the car.

“All of the shopping must have made you hungry. I’m thinking we should get one of those seafood platters in the skyrise restaurant. It has the most incredible views. One of the most sought after places to eat in Las Vegas.”

“I haven’t been there.”

“Do you like prawns? Oysters?”

“Of course.”

“Well, that’s where I’m taking you, then.” He starts the car and I glance down at what I’m wearing. Jeans and sneakers are hardly a good fit for an exclusive restaurant.

“Um, Benedikt, I can’t really go there looking like this.” I scrunch my nose, gesturing over my attire.

“Look in the back,” he smirks.

I turn to look and find a pink shopping bag.

I reach back to grab it.

He nods and I pull it open to find a long, beautiful dress. Soft viscose, the kind of fabric that floats in the slightest breeze.

“Baby blue,” I mutter, lifting it up to look at it.

He winks at me.

“I’m sure we can stop at one of the boutiques and ask them if you can use their change room.”

I unclip my safety belt and climb over the front seat, into the back. “No need, I’ll change back here quickly,” I say, already tugging my top off over my head.

Benedikt makes a sound in his throat that I can only interpret as panic mixed with surprise.

For some reason, the car slows as I wiggle out of my jeans, lying on the back seat with my legs in the air.

When I sit up, my hands over my chest, I glance at the mirror and find him staring at me in disbelief, his eyes taking in anything he can glimpse with a hungry need.

“Watch the road,” I insist, shooting him a warning, pretending to be offended while secretly enjoying the fact that I can tease him.

The dress fits snuggly over my waist. It’s a similar style to my wedding dress, with thin spaghetti straps and a simple, clean design that flares over my hips. But this one has a long slit up the front that goes as high as my hip bone.

Very sexy.

I scrunch the dress up around my legs as I climb back into the front seat. Benedikt reaches out to hold me steady while I wiggle through.

His hand slips beneath the skirt and brushes over my inner thigh and lighting shoots through me.

My heart is racing as I settle down again and clip the safety belt, sitting elegantly as though I didn’t just do a back seat car change.

Benedikt is laughing at me, shaking his head. “You’re full of surprises, little fox.”

“No, I’m just hungry and not in the mood to stop anywhere,” I grin at him.

The restaurant is as exquisite as he said it was. I can see why people have to book months in advance to get a table here —but as soon as Benedikt walks in, the staff are running around make a space for us. Not even a second of hesitation.

We’re sitting at the window, and my stomach is spinning because of the height. I swallow hard and turn away from it. I love the view, but the vertigo is intense.

“Are you doing okay there?” he asks, his eyes narrowed at me.

“Do you mind if we swap seats?”

“Of course.” He stands, pulling his chair out for me. I stand on unsteady legs, giggling at myself as I walk carefully to his seat and sit down in a rush.

“Are you scared of heights?”

“I’m not scared, exactly. I love the view, and I love being here—but I get vertigo, and it overwhelms me, making me think I’ve lost my balance in a way.”

He chuckles. “You are a weird little creature. If you’re uncomfortable here, we can go anywhere else.”

“No, I’m happy here. I can’t see the edge of the building from this seat, so it’s a lot better.”

Benedikt orders for us. Then sits back to let his eyes roam over me. “I was right about the baby blue,” he says, his eyes shining.

I grin, then press my lips together, not giving away any secrets.

He leans forward and lets out a slow breath as though he’s fighting his inner thoughts.

“Tomorrow night,” he says, officially changing the subject, “we are having dinner with my mother and sister. At the wedding, you didn’t have a chance to meet them properly, so I’m looking forward to introducing you. You’ll love Belle.”

He starts telling me about his little sister, talking fondly and happily about her.

My heart tightens in my chest.

Guilt washing over me as I think about him, his family, his life and me becoming a part of it.

I’m immediately hyperaware of how I was lying to him today—and how I’m using him for my own goals. It isn’t fair of me.

But he’s using you too, Ulyana.

He is, but that doesn’t make it right.

It’s fine, though, as long as we are both benefiting from it. Isn’t it?